The CERP was authorized by Congress in 2000 as a plan to "restore, preserve, and protect the South Florida ecosystem while providing for other water-related needs of the region, including water supply and flood protection." At a cost of more than $10.5 billion and with a 35+ year time-line, this is the largest hydrologic restoration project ever undertaken in the United States.

A unique Federal / State partnership guides the interagency plan. The South Florida Natural Resources Center (SFNRC) has a critical role to play in this partnership by ensuring that the mission of the National Park Service — to protect park resources unimpaired for future generations — remains at the forefront of CERP decision-making. SFNRC involvement in CERP supports Big Cypress National Preserve and Everglades and Biscayne National Parks.