Prior to regional flood control projects, the North Fork of the New River was really a freshwater cypress marsh with just a hint of a channel working its way through it. Freshwater from the Everglades flowed into the North Fork from the west, while salt water from ocean tides also worked its way up the fork making its waters brackish.
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Today, the 3.5 mile long shallow tributary extends through the northwest section of Fort Lauderdale and connects with the C-12 Canal parallel to Sunrise Boulevard. With the construction of the Central and Southern Florida Flood Control Project that began in 1948, the North Fork was separated from the river's wider and deeper South Fork. Various flood control pump stations and levees were designed to cut off the North Fork's supply of freshwater from the Everglades, which increased salinity levels.
As the population in Fort Lauderdale and the county grew, more and more neighborhood stormwater drainage systems in the New River Basin were designed to discharge into the North Fork. During the 1970s, it was not unusual for more than half the flow in the North Fork to be runoff stormwater. Years of this accumulated runoff left a toxic layer of sediment and sludge on the river bottom.
With water quality degradation, other pollution followed. Appliances, glass bottles, rubber tires, and Styrofoam containers were dumped into the North Fork and along its shorelines. And like the rest of the Everglades, exotic plants such as Brazilian pepper and Australian pine began crowding out the native plants and trees along the banks. The land uses along the North Fork are divided by the Broward Boulevard Bridge because north of the bridge only small vessels can pass under its four foot clearance at high tide. South of the Broward Boulevard Bridge, ocean access has encouraged large boats, bulkhead seawalls, and residential homes similar to the South Fork. On the north side of the bridge, land use and river banks look very different.
North of the Broward Boulevard Bridge, a large majority of the shoreline has retained its natural state, with scenic areas of native pond apples, leather ferns, mangroves and cypress stands. But exotic and invasive species are also present, including Brazilian pepper, hygro and common reed.
Major changes and restoration are underway to revitalize the river. The South Florida Water Management District, Broward County, the City of Ft. Lauderdale and a host of environmental organizations and community associations are working together to restore the river -- and to generate awareness of the North Fork's natural and cultural heritage.
<strong>NOTE</strong>: <em>Click the map to view a PDF file with links to nine North Fork Projects photos and info. You can also click the links below to view the same photos and info.</em><br>
Big Cypress Basin
Projects
With water quality degradation, other pollution followed. Appliances, glass bottles, rubber tires, and Styrofoam containers were dumped into the North Fork and along its shorelines. And like the rest of the Everglades, exotic plants such as Brazilian pepper and Australian pine began crowding out the native plants and trees along the banks. The land uses along the North Fork are divided by the Broward Boulevard Bridge because north of the bridge only small vessels can pass under its four foot clearance at high tide. South of the Broward Boulevard Bridge, ocean access has encouraged large boats, bulkhead seawalls, and residential homes similar to the South Fork. On the north side of the bridge, land use and river banks look very different.
North of the Broward Boulevard Bridge, a large majority of the shoreline has retained its natural state, with scenic areas of native pond apples, leather ferns, mangroves and cypress stands. But exotic and invasive species are also present, including Brazilian pepper, hygro and common reed.
