It was a little less than a week ago when Florida lawmakers decided to set aside money to protect the Florida Everglades. And according to the South Florida Water Management District, the future looks bright.

The legislature voted to give an extra 200-million dollars to clean up Lake Okeechobee as well as the Kissimmee Basin. The districts director, Carol Wehle says she is confident that the Lake and Kissimmee can be returned to their former glory.

“I can understand people being skeptical because there has been so much negative…but our scientists assure us that the health of the estuaries can definitely come back, that the water quality in Lake Okeechobee can definitely improve, and I just firmly believe we have the wherewithal to do this but I believe we have to start now.”

Water management officials are already working with a 200-million dollar restoration budget. Wehle says some of the first projects lined up will include a number of water quality projects.