The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) joined the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Miami-Dade County, along with local, state, and federal officials, to celebrate the completion of S-709. This new pump station, built by our partners at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is part of the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Project. This project serves as a key component of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) and our efforts to improve the bay.
Did you know that this important project will improve the health of Biscayne Bay and aid in wetland rehydration? The Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Project Phase I is comprised of three components: Deering Estate, L-31 East Flow Way and Cutler Wetlands. This pump station is the first of five pump stations to be completed as part of the L-31 East Flow Way component. It is designed to move over 25 million gallons a day of water to restore the southern wetlands.
The Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Project has many benefits including:
- 190 acres of freshwater wetlands will benefit from freshwater rehydration.
- Improved oyster bars, submerged aquatic vegetation and wetland vegetation.
- Increased abundance of fish and diversity of seagrasses.
- Improved habitat for alligators and juvenile crocodiles.
- High-functioning grassy wetlands will serve as critical habitat to prey fish and wading birds.
All components of the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Project will be complete by 2025.
When complete, it will restore freshwater flows to southern Biscayne Bay and Biscayne National Park while improving salinity distribution near the shore. It also restores historical freshwater wetland habitat adjacent to the Bay, which acts like a sponge, soaking up water in the wet season and slowly releasing it in a more natural pattern. Reestablishing productive nearshore habitat also supports nursery habitat for key marine wildlife including shrimp, shellfish and fish.
Be sure to check out the video from Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Project S-709 Pump Station Ribbon Cutting and you can download photos from the event.