Government Accountability Office (GAO) Archives

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) is an independent, non-partisan agency that prepares reports and testimony for Congress on ways to increase federal government efficiency and conserve fiscal resources. During the early stages of restoration planning, the GAO prepared reports on the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), the overall Everglades restoration program, and the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force (Task Force).

Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP):

• Additional Water Quality Projects May Be Needed and Could Increase Costs (Sept. 2000)

  • Testimony: Additional Water Quality Projects May Be Needed and Could Increase Costs (Sept. 20, 2000)

South Florida Ecosystem Restoration:

• An Overall Strategic Plan and a Decision-Making Process are Needed to Keep the Effort on Track (April 1999)

  • Testimony: An Overall Strategic Plan and a Decision-Making Process Are Needed to Keep the Effort on Track (April 22, 1999)

  • Testimony: A Strategic Plan and a Process to Resolve Conflicts Are Needed to Keep the Effort on Track (April 29, 1999)

• A Land Acquisition Plan Would Help Identify Lands that Need to be Acquired (April 2000)

  • Testimony: A Land Acquisition Plan is Needed to Supplement the Strategic Plan Being Developed (April 5, 2000)

• Substantial Progress Made in Developing a Strategic Plan, but Actions Still Needed (March 2001)

• Task Force Needs to Improve Science Coordination to Increase the Likelihood of Success (March 2003)

  • Testimony: Improved Science Coordination Needed to Increase the Likelihood of Success (March 26, 2003)

• Restoration Is Moving Forward but Is Facing Significant Delays, Implementation Challenges, and Rising Costs (May 2007)

  • Testimony: Some Restoration Progress Has Been Made, but the Effort Faces Significant Delays, Implementation Challenges, and Rising Costs (Sept. 19, 2007)