Doral, FL
- At its monthly business meeting, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Governing Board gave Miami-Dade residents a detailed update of how their tax dollars are positively affecting needed Everglades restoration efforts in their community.
"These projects are all vital to the health and enjoyment of South Florida's unique environment," said SFWMD Governing Board Chairman Dan O'Keefe. "These District updates highlight staff's hard work to expedite these projects and bring restoration benefits as quickly as possible."
Florida Bay
Through a series of weir modifications, canal connections and other modifications to the
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SFWMD crews modify the S-333 Weir as part of the Florida Bay plan implemented to deliver more clean fresh water to the bay. Click on the image to see a larger version. |
South Dade Conveyance System achieved by District staff, the Governing Board's Florida Bay plan has become a tangible piece of infrastructure. The plan has already delivered an estimated 9.3 billion gallons of additional fresh water toward Taylor Slough, which connects to Florida Bay, since June. This innovative initiative is essential in helping to restore flows to the bay and reduce salinity levels.
Furthermore, due to the project's aggressive implementation, coupled with the unprecedented rainfall over this year's record-setting wet season, water managers estimate the Florida Bay plan components will continue deliver fresh water well into the traditional dry season when it is needed the most.
Central Everglades Planning Project
As the District works to move more water south, a critical piece of the plan is the Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP). This congressionally
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SFWMD is working to expedite the removal of a 5.5-mile section of Old Tamiami Trail and other components of the Central Everglades Planning Project. Click on the image to see a larger version. |
authorized $1.9 billion plan -- being cost-shared with the federal government -- will increase the amount of water that can be moved south into Everglades National Park.
The District is working to build a new structure next to the existing S-333 flood control structure that will increase the amount of water that can be released from Water Conservation Area 3A in Miami-Dade County into Everglades National Park. The combined total of the two structures will be up to 2,500 cubic feet per second (cfs) of water that can be released into the park. This project is essential to combating the high water emergency that has resulted in prolonged inundation of ecologically important tree island ecosystems in the water conservation areas.
Additionally, SFWMD is also working with the Florida Power and Light Co. to expedite relocation of power lines necessary to remove a 5.5-mile section of Old Tamiami Trail and increase the sheetflow of water south into the park.
Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands
To the east, the District and the state of Florida have invested more than $100 million into restoring the health of the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands through implementation of Phase I -- completion of which is paramount to receiving current and future benefits.
Land acquisition and construction is well underway on the first phase of this project, which aims to improve the delivery of water to Biscayne National Park, redistribute the flow of fresh water to help reduce
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SFWMD has invested millions of dollars in restoring the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands. Construction of the first phase of the project is well underway. Click on the image to see a larger version. |
point source discharges and re-establish connectivity between coastal wetlands. Several pump stations and other features have already been completed and operating since 2012.
To date, SFWMD has redirected more than 65,000 acre-feet of fresh water to the wetlands from project components in the Deering Estate region in Miami. This is in addition to another 38,000 acre-feet of water now directed to the wetland from the L-31 East Flow-way components. Completion of all Phase I infrastructure is critical to ensuring any future phases can be successfully implemented.
"These Miami-Dade County initiatives showcase some of the District's best work in restoration as well as flood control," said SFWMD Governing Board Member Federico Fernandez, a longtime Miami-Dade resident. "We will continue to invest our time and resources into the environment and beauty of this region by completing these and other projects to benefit the taxpayers of Miami-Dade County."
