The purpose of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection is to protect, conserve, and manage Florida's natural resources and enforce the state's environmental laws. Additionally, the department has general supervisory authority over the state's five regional Water Management Districts—Northwest Florida, Suwanee River, St. Johns River, Southwest Florida, and South Florida.

The department's activities include the following.

• Recreation and Parks includes the Florida Park Service and the Office of Greenways and Trails. The Office of Greenways and Trails provides statewide leadership, planning, and coordination to establish, expand, and promote the Florida Greenways and Trails System (FGTS). The Division of Recreation and Parks appraises the recreation needs of the state and disseminates information relating to recreation. The Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan acts as the state's official outdoor recreation planning document and is a companion to the FGTS Plan.
• State Lands receives and approves land management plans and conducts appraisals, surveys, and negotiations for land transactions on behalf of the state for conservation and non-conservation lands. The Florida Forever program is the state's conservation and recreation lands acquisition program to conserve the state's natural resources and cultural heritage.
• Air Resource Management manages air permitting, compliance assurance and enforcement, emissions inventory, Clean Air Act related activities, and ambient air monitoring.  
• Water Resource Management is responsible for implementing state laws that protect the quality of Florida's drinking water, ground water, rivers, lakes, estuaries, wetlands, and the reclamation of mined lands.
• Waste Management implements state and federal laws to protect the environment from the improper handling and disposal of solid and hazardous wastes and petroleum storage systems and conducts assessments of known or suspected soil and groundwater contamination across the state.
• Florida Geological Survey collects, maintains, interprets, and distributes geological information to improve understanding of water and mineral resources and geological hazards and promote economic growth.
• Division of Law Enforcement enforces environmental laws and responds to incidents where environmental impacts are reported or discovered. The division consists of the Office of Emergency Response, which provides assistance in incidents involving hazardous materials and the Environmental Crimes Unit, which is composed of sworn law enforcement officers.
• Resilience and Coastal Protection manages submerged lands and coastal uplands, including aquatic preserves, national estuarine research reserves, coastal conservation areas, and a marine sanctuary. Additionally, it oversees the Florida Coastal Management Program, the Outer Continental Shelf Program, Clean Boating Programs, the Resilient Florida Program, the Coral Protection and Restoration Program, and the Beaches, Inlets and Ports Program.
• Environmental Assessment and Restoration monitors and assesses Florida's water quality; identifies, verifies, and prioritizes pollution problems; develops and implements restoration strategies; manages water quality data; and provides laboratory services and technical support for water quality analysis.
• Water Restoration Assistance provides grants and loans for project that improve water quality and quantity and manages springs projects, alternative water supply projects, and water-related projects appropriated by the Legislature.
• Water Policy and Ecosystems Restoration is responsible for program areas that focus on environmental restoration and water supply protection. The Water Policy section develops water policies based on statutory direction and coordinates with water management districts, other agencies, and local governing entities. The Ecosystems Restoration section oversees Everglades restoration, including planning, permitting, and compliance assistance, as well as working to ensure resources are available for current and future projects.

The funding information listed below is provided by Transparency Florida. Additional information can be obtained on the State of Florida Fiscal Portal or by contacting the department.

Information on the department’s performance may be found in its Website Index.

OPPAGA Reports and Presentations
A complete list of OPPAGA reports and presentations is available on our website.

Other Reports
Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Inspector General Final Audit Reports
Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Water Quality Restoration Program Statewide Annual Report
A complete list of Florida Auditor General reports is available on its website.

Websites of Interest
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Chapters 373, 376, and 403 and s. 20.255, Florida Statutes

Florida Department of Environmental Protection Contact Page
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
3900 Commonwealth Boulevard
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3000
(850) 245-2118
Website