Accountability & Transparency
The Office of Environmental Accountability and Transparency coordinates the science and data behind Florida's water quality decisions and makes those decisions visible to the public.
About the Office
The Office of Environmental Accountability and Transparency (OEAT) organizes and directs integrated scientific research and analysis to ensure all agency actions are aligned with Florida's key environmental priorities.
OEAT maintains a foundational strategy for data and analytics, makes resources available for DEP scientists to analyze environmental data, and provides funding to address water quality issues — all in direct support of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's mission. This enhances DEP’s accountability and responsibility to Florida's residents regarding water quality protection efforts.
OEAT is uniquely positioned to facilitate collaboration across all areas of DEP and with other state and federal agencies in support of Florida's water quality mission.
What the Office Does
Data & Analytics
OEAT leads DEP's enterprise-wide approach to data management. The office maintains an agency data catalog, facilitates a three-tier data governance framework, curates and delivers data literacy training, and develops advanced analytics and predictive models that strengthen agency decision-making.
Scientific Research & Monitoring
OEAT supports and enables scientific research aimed at understanding and improving Florida's water quality. This includes expanding water quality monitoring statewide, forecasting harmful algal blooms, and developing decision-support tools that help local governments and the agency direct resources where they will have the greatest environmental benefit.
Outreach & Communication
OEAT develops and maintains public-facing resources that give the public accessible information about water quality conditions and state restoration efforts. This includes the Protecting Florida Together website, which hosts the statewide water quality dashboard and a public notification system for information about blue-green algae and red tide.
Key Results
Producing measurable outcomes for Florida's environment, economy, and public health.
OEAT's statewide water quality dashboards give the public real-time visibility into algae, nutrients, and restoration progress on a website recognized internationally for public-interest digital design.
OEAT builds the foundation for consistent, well-managed data through data cataloging, governance support, and literacy training available across all DEP divisions.
OEAT's expansion of water quality monitoring gives scientists and decision makers the data they need to evaluate restoration investments and policy outcomes.
OEAT's seven-day bloom forecast helps protect public health, tourism, and the economy by enabling proactive, more cost-effective response to blue-green algae blooms in Florida’s lakes.
OEAT's Landscape Assessment of Nutrient Loading to Waterbodies decision-support tool helps local governments identify where septic-to-sewer conversions will deliver the greatest water quality benefit, improving the return on state investments.
OEAT’s grant portal connects eligible entities with a wide range of funding opportunities through a simplified process designed to support and advance ongoing efforts to protect and restore Florida’s water resources statewide.
Supporting Statewide Accountability and Transparency
OEAT's work enables DEP to demonstrate the outcomes of state environmental investments in measurable, verifiable terms.
How We Work
Operating as a cross-agency coordinator, the office brings together DEP scientists, data specialists, and program staff across divisions, with scientific direction provided by the Chief Science Officer. This ensures that environmental science and data management are integrated into agency decision-making at every level.
Key tools and resources developed or maintained by OEAT include:
- Statewide Water Quality Dashboard — Up-to-date, publicly accessible data on algae, nutrients, and restoration projects across Florida
- Public Notification Center — email and text alerts for blue-green algae and red tide conditions, customizable by location and topic
- Grants Portal — a streamlined application system for DEP, currently supporting water restoration and resilience programs with additional grant categories in development
- Educational Resources — infographics, coloring pages, story maps, and other hands-on activities designed for learners of all ages to explore waterways, land, and native plants and animals, in Florida and beyond
- Decision Support Tools — including the Landscape Assessment of Nutrient Loading to Waterbodies for septic-to-sewer prioritization and the Environmental Projects Unification Project for restoration project tracking and legislative reporting
OEAT also supports public communication around the work of the Blue-Green Algae Task Force and the Biscayne Bay Commission, helping make restoration efforts and meeting information accessible to the public.
Contact
For more information, contact OEAT at ProtectingFloridaTogether@FloridaDEP.gov.