Today Gov. Ron DeSantis joined the South Florida Water Management District to celebrate the completion of an important milestone for Everglades restoration: the removal of nearly six miles of the Old Tamiami Trail roadbed! 

SFWMD Governing Board Member Charlette Roman activates the Faka Union Pumps

The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) reached a major milestone for the Picayune Strand Restoration Project in unincorporated Collier County and began using the Faka Union Pump Station for the first time last week. This pump station, coupled with other restoration activities, works to rehydrate drained wetlands in the Picayune Strand State Forest and restore the area's natural sheet flow.

The South Florida Water Management District Governing Board today unanimously approved the Lower Kissimmee Basin Stormwater Treatment Project, a large-scale water quality improvement project. Located north of Lake Okeechobee, the project will improve the quality of the water flowing into the lake and support ongoing restoration goals for the Lake Okeechobee watershed.

South Florida Water Management District Approves Final Agreement with U.S. Army Corps, Reservoir Component to Start Construction This Year. 

Wellington, Fla. –  Today, Governor Ron DeSantis was joined by Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Noah Valenstein and the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) to announce significant progress on the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir Project. 

Miami, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the advancement of an important Everglades restoration project to remove over five miles of roadbed from Old Tamiami Trail. Removing the roadbed improves the volume of water flowing south through the Everglades and supports reducing harmful discharges from Lake Okeechobee to the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie Estuaries. 

Jason Andreotta (DEP), Mayor Kristine Petersen (Clewiston), Director Drew Bartlett (SFWMD), Chairman Chauncey Goss (SFWMD), Commissioner Karson Turner (Hendry County), Andres Mendoza (Condotte America), Joseph Burke (Ryan Southern Inc). 

Aquatic plant nursery site at the C-44 Stormwater Treatment Area in Martin County

The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Governing Board awarded the final contract needed to build the Stormwater Treatment Area (STA) component of the EAA Reservoir Project. The EAA Reservoir Project reduces harmful discharges to the Northern Estuaries and moves clean water south to the Everglades.

The $175 million contract to create the natural wetland include:

PALM CITY, Fla. - The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Governing Board celebrated the completion of the Allapattah Flats Wetland Reserve Project in western Martin County this morning. The SFWMD Governing Board was joined by the Martin County Board of County Commissioners, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Busch Wildlife Sanctuary, and the public to celebrate 13,000 acres of land conservation, including 6,700 acres of restored wetlands.

The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) is taking another step to expedite and complete the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir Project at the direction of Gov. Ron DeSantis. With full funding in place, SFWMD began advertising the final contract today for the Stormwater Treatment Area component of the EAA Reservoir Project that moves clean water from Lake Okeechobee south to the Everglades. Bids are anticipated to be opened in January 2021.