MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. - Today, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), along with many federal, state and local officials celebrated the completion of the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands (BBCW) Project. This project will improve the health of Biscayne Bay and aid in wetland rehydration — building coastal resiliency and improving water quality in this area of Miami-Dade County.
The Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Project is part of the larger Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) that aims to restore the quality, quantity, timing and distribution of water within the Greater Everglades Ecosystem. The BBCW Project includes three components: Deering Estate, L-31E Flow Way and Cutler Wetlands. All components of the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Project are now finished, which means another major CERP project is complete.
This project restores 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. Re-establishing productive nearshore habitat also supports nursery habitat for key marine wildlife including shrimp, shellfish and fish. The project will also deliver freshwater from the C-1 Canal to slowly rehydrate coastal wetlands instead of harmfully discharging it directly into the bay.
"Biscayne Bay is not only an environmental jewel, it’s the economic linchpin of our community and an iconic waterbody of enormous significance for millions of Floridians. I grew up loving just the sight of Biscayne Bay, and now I'm proud to be a part of a great team protecting and restoring it. It comes with a great source of pride to see the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Project reach the finish line," said South Florida Water Management District Governing Board Vice-Chair Scott Wagner. "Thanks to the unprecedented and unyielding support from Governor Ron DeSantis, the Florida Legislature, all of our stakeholders — and of course the District’s hard-working staff — this project will enhance our environmental treasure and economic engine for Miami, coming online to critically improve the health of Biscayne Bay. With the leadership of our Governor, the Legislature and the District, we will continue historic progress and momentum to harmonize the growth of our community with the conservation and protection of our natural resources and waterways.”
“Today’s ribbon-cutting ceremony marks not just the completion of a vital project, but a renewed promise to protect and enhance the unique ecosystems that define our coastal landscapes,” said U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District Commander Col. Brandon Bowman. “The achievement we celebrate today is the result of years of our collective hard work, our collaboration, and our dedication. Together, we have demonstrated that when we unite our resources and expertise, we can achieve remarkable outcomes for our environment.”
Supporting the health of Biscayne Bay remains a priority for the SFWMD. In partnership with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the SFWMD also works to reduce litter and debris from reaching the bay through the regional canal system. Additional restoration efforts are being planned within the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan in the Biscayne Bay and Southeastern Everglades Ecosystem Restoration (BBSEER) Project in partnership with the USACE.
The State of Florida and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have completed, broken ground or reached a major milestone on more than 80 Everglades restoration projects since 2019.
Media Resources
Download Video from the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Project Ribbon Cutting
Download High Resolution Photos from the Ribbon Cutting