It’s been 25 years since America decided to save the Everglades. Where do we stand?

The 20th century was horrible for the Everglades. The broad shallow river, one of the most unique ecosystems on the planet, was labeled wasteland and ruthlessly dammed, carved into parcels, dried out and diverted into near oblivion.

But at the end of the century, 25 years ago this month, Democrats and Republicans from Florida and Washington, D.C., joined forces and signed the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan into law.

The ambitious 68-project plan was supposed to cost $7.8 billion, it was supposed to take 30 years to complete and it was supposed to save what was left of the Everglades.

That’s not how things have played out, at least not yet. Two of those three expectations have been vastly overshot — costs have tripled to $23 billion and it could take another 20 years to complete.

Experts say restoration success hinges on two things: The engineering has to work and the people of Florida have to be willing to pay for the job to be finished.

But where do we stand 25 years in? After decades of funding delays, after heated controversies over reservoir size, after “lost summers” due to toxic blue-green algae, the pace of construction has finally quickened. The “crown jewel” of restoration — the Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir — is finally under construction. More water is flowing under Tamia...