Eric Eikenberg: Everglades Foundation CEO spearheads restoration plans

Since taking on the role of Everglades Foundation’s CEO in 2012, Eric Eikenberg has been South Florida’s leading voice on expediting restoration efforts and bringing extensive public awareness for the Everglades. 

During Mr. Eikenberg’s tenure as CEO, The Everglades Foundation has provided scientific, technical, and policy support to numerous decision-makers in expediting Everglades restoration and engaging partners in the corporate, philanthropic, and political arenas. 

He led an intense public awareness campaign that ultimately led to the passage of state and federal legislation authorizing the construction of a $1.7 billion Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee. 

“This is the most impactful of all the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan projects. It will provide the necessary storage to reduce harmful discharges to our coastal estuaries and send much-needed clean water south to the Everglades and Florida Bay,” he said of the reservoir, which is set to be completed by 2030. 

Everglades restoration is about storing, cleaning and sending Lake Okeechobee’s water south through reservoirs, stormwater treatment areas (STA) and canals, he said. The Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir, and its accompanying STA, along with other restoration projects, will cut discharges to our estuaries by 55%. The Everglades restoration also provides drinking water security for millions of Floridians and tourists, serves as a massive carbon sink, and builds ecological and community resilience.

Mr. Eikenberg’s team has also helped bring widespread attention to the perennial toxic algae crisis in Florida. They have been a leading voice on the need to incentivize technological solutions to these problems that threaten waterways. 

“Florida’s east and west coastal estuaries have suffered perennial outbreaks of toxic blue-green algae and red tide fueled by Lake Okeechobee’s nutrient-laden water. The reservoir will take that excess water, store it, clean it, and send it south where it belongs,” he said. “The EAA Reservoir has been called ‘the crown jewel of Everglades restoration,’ as it is the most important project from our Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. Restoring the Everglades is vital to all Floridians, as our state depends on robust tourism and real estate industries.”

Mr. Eikenberg has extensive policy and political experience in Tallahassee and Washington, D.C. He previously served as chief of staff to former Gov. Charlie Crist and former US Representative E. Clay Shaw Jr. He also serves as chairman of the Zoo Miami Foundation Board of Directors, and following the 2018 election cycle, he served on Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Transition Team, where he participated in a process that led the landmark $8.4 billion Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP).

On Earth Day 2019, he was selected chair of the Ocean to Everglades campaign by the Miami Super Bowl Host Committee for Super Bowl LIV to lead a diverse group of partners focused on educating the public on the issues facing the oceans and America’s Everglades. 

As CEO, he says he will be committed to overseeing a team of nationally recognized scientists, educators, lobbyists, and communications and development professionals to work together to achieve a decades-long campaign to restore America’s Everglades, which is roughly 3 million acres of endangered habitat vital to Florida’s economic and environmental viability. 

He was also one of the key leaders in launching and expanding a K-12 Everglades Literacy Program in 2014 that now reaches over 200,000 students across Florida.

“I’m around 41 other men and women who work at the Everglades Foundation and we have a dynamic board of 33 men and women, so I’m surrounded by brilliance,” he said. “I’m surrounded by hardworking, diligent, and loyal people.”

Mr. Eikenberg spoke with Miami Today reporter Abraham Galvan.

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