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Rehydration of Wetlands, Picayune Strand Restoration Project, July 2, 2021. (Photo by SFWMD) and habitats.
Governor Ron DeSantis, along with State and Local Officials, Breaks Ground on Embankments
and Canals to Advance the C-43 Reservoir on Oct. 25, 2019. (Photo by SFWMD)
CONSTRUCTION COMPLETE ON THE
KISSIMMEE RIVER RESTORATION PROJECT
In 2021, the SFWMD and the USACE hosted a ribbon
cutting to celebrate construction completion for the
Kissimmee River Restoration Project.
The Kissimmee River is a significant part of America’s
Everglades and this project is vital to restoring the Greater
Everglades Ecosystem. The historic Kissimmee River once
meandered for 103 miles through Central Florida. Its
floodplain, reaching up to two miles wide, was inundated
for long periods by heavy seasonal rains. Recurring
and prolonged flooding impacted local residents and
resulted in Congressional authorization of the Central and
Southern Florida Project, which included channelizing the
Kissimmee River and floodplain.
Construction of the C-38 Canal achieved flood reduction
benefits, but it also harmed the river-floodplain
ecosystem. The decline of the ecosystem spurred federal,
state and local partnerships to embark on one of the
world’s largest riverine restoration efforts: the Kissimmee
River Restoration Project.
Kissimmee River Restoration Project Ribbon Cutting, July 29, 2021. L-R: USACE Jacksonville District Col. Andrew
Kelly, SFWMD Executive Director Drew Bartlett, SFWMD Governing Board Member Charlette Roman, Acting
Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Jaime Pinkham, U.S. Department of Interior Assistant Secretary
for Fish and Wildlife and Parks Shannon Estenoz, SFWMD Water Resources Director Lawrence Glenn, SFWMD
Governing Board Chairman Chauncey Goss, DEP Secretary Shawn Hamilton, County Coalition Chairperson
Karson Turner, SFWMD Governing Board Member Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch, USACE Major General William (Butch)
H. Graham, SFWMD Governing Board Member Ben Butler and Rep. Toby Overdorf. (Photo by SFWMD)
2023 SOUTH FLORIDA ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT – Highlights 7
Kissimmee River Restoration Area. (Photo by SFWMD)
KISSIMMEE RIVER HEADWATERS
REVITALIZATION SCHEDULE
The completion of construction for the Kissimmee
River Restoration Project sets the stage for gradual
implementation of the new Headwaters Revitalization
Schedule (HRS), which regulates water levels in the
Kissimmee River to support restoration goals. Phased
HRS increments will allow successively higher stages in
the Headwaters Lakes (Lakes Kissimmee, Cypress, and
Hatchineha) until approximately 2026, when the HRS is
currently projected to be fully implemented.
The objective of the HRS is to provide sufficient water
storage to reestablish historical (pre-channelization)
flow patterns to the Kissimmee River. The higher stages
allowed by the schedule are also expected to improve
littoral zone habitat in the lakes.
EVALUATING THE SUCCESS OF THE
KISSIMMEE RIVER RESTORATION PROJECT
Monitoring and evaluation efforts to measure the
success of the Kissimmee River Restoration Project
continued, along with adaptively controlling invasive
and undesirable species:
• Many methods are used to control invasive plants
in the Kissimmee River floodplain. For example,
populations of the brown lygodium moth continue
to be released to combat the invasive exotic Old
World climbing fern.
• Fish abundance increased by 60% in the Kissimmee
River Restoration Project Phase I restoration area
due mostly to an increase in bluegill sunfish and
other sunfish.
• In the Phase IV restoration area, the abundance
of largemouth bass increased during winter.
Largemouth bass accounted for more than 70%
of the total fish biomass.
2023 SOUTH FLORIDA ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT – Highlights 8
PROGRESS CONTINUES ON
INCREASING WATER STORAGE
NORTH OF LAKE OKEECHOBEE
Progress continues to increase water storage and restore
wetlands north of Lake Okeechobee. The SFWMD is
continuing to implement the Lake Okeechobee Watershed
Restoration Project (LOWRP) in accordance with its science
plan in addition to supporting above-ground storage
opportunities north of Lake Okeechobee.
SFWMD C38-S and C38-N Drill Rigs. (Photo by SFWMD)
DISPERSED WATER MANAGEMENT (DWM) PROJECTS
Brighton Valley DWM, Bluefield Grove Water Farm and Scott Water Farm provide
water storage on private property by holding stormwater or even pulling excess
water from a regional canal system. These projects help improve water quality and
enhance plant and wildlife habitat. All three projects are complete and operational.
Brighton Valley DWM Project
This 8,000-acre project pumps excess water from the C-41A Canal and is
estimated to treat up to 40,000 ac-ft of water per year and remove approximately
3 metric tons of phosphorus and 27 metric tons of nitrogen annually before it
enters Lake Okeechobee.
Bluefield Grove Water Farm
The Bluefield Grove Water Farm can capture over 9 billion gallons of regional
stormwater before it enters the St. Lucie Estuary and makes a difference in water
quality. This 6,100-acre project removes approximately 3 metric tons of
phosphorus and 12 metric tons of nitrogen annually from the C-23 Basin.
Scott Water Farm
The Scott Water Farm can store more than 9 billion gallons of local stormwater
runoff and was designed to reduce harmful estuary discharges. The project
will retain onsite rainfall and pump water from the C-25 Canal and store it on
approximately 7,500 acres of privately-owned land. The project has the capability
to reduce more than 3 metric tons of phosphorus per year and over 13 metric

Rehydration of Wetlands, Picayune Strand Restoration Project, July 2, 2021. (Photo by SFWMD) and habitats.

Governor Ron DeSantis, along with State and Local Officials, Breaks Ground on Embankments

and Canals to Advance the C-43 Reservoir on Oct. 25, 2019. (Photo by SFWMD)

CONSTRUCTION COMPLETE ON THE

KISSIMMEE RIVER RESTORATION PROJECT

In 2021, the SFWMD and the USACE hosted a ribbon

cutting to celebrate construction completion for the

Kissimmee River Restoration Project.

The Kissimmee River is a significant part of America’s

Everglades and this project is vital to restoring the Greater

Everglades Ecosystem. The historic Kissimmee River once

meandered for 103 miles through Central Florida. Its

floodplain, reaching up to two miles wide, was inundated

for long periods by heavy seasonal rains. Recurring

and prolonged flooding impacted local residents and

resulted in Congressional authorization of the Central and

Southern Florida Project, which included channelizing the

Kissimmee River and floodplain.

Construction of the C-38 Canal achieved flood reduction

benefits, but it also harmed the river-floodplain

ecosystem. The decline of the ecosystem spurred federal,

state and local partnerships to embark on one of the

world’s largest riverine restoration efforts: the Kissimmee

River Restoration Project.

Kissimmee River Restoration Project Ribbon Cutting, July 29, 2021. L-R: USACE Jacksonville District Col. Andrew

Kelly, SFWMD Executive Director Drew Bartlett, SFWMD Governing Board Member Charlette Roman, Acting

Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Jaime Pinkham, U.S. Department of Interior Assistant Secretary

for Fish and Wildlife and Parks Shannon Estenoz, SFWMD Water Resources Director Lawrence Glenn, SFWMD

Governing Board Chairman Chauncey Goss, DEP Secretary Shawn Hamilton, County Coalition Chairperson

Karson Turner, SFWMD Governing Board Member Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch, USACE Major General William (Butch)

H. Graham, SFWMD Governing Board Member Ben Butler and Rep. Toby Overdorf. (Photo by SFWMD)

2023 SOUTH FLORIDA ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT – Highlights 7

Kissimmee River Restoration Area. (Photo by SFWMD)

KISSIMMEE RIVER HEADWATERS

REVITALIZATION SCHEDULE

The completion of construction for the Kissimmee

River Restoration Project sets the stage for gradual

implementation of the new Headwaters Revitalization

Schedule (HRS), which regulates water levels in the

Kissimmee River to support restoration goals. Phased

HRS increments will allow successively higher stages in

the Headwaters Lakes (Lakes Kissimmee, Cypress, and

Hatchineha) until approximately 2026, when the HRS is

currently projected to be fully implemented.

The objective of the HRS is to provide sufficient water

storage to reestablish historical (pre-channelization)

flow patterns to the Kissimmee River. The higher stages

allowed by the schedule are also expected to improve

littoral zone habitat in the lakes.

EVALUATING THE SUCCESS OF THE

KISSIMMEE RIVER RESTORATION PROJECT

Monitoring and evaluation efforts to measure the

success of the Kissimmee River Restoration Project

continued, along with adaptively controlling invasive

and undesirable species:

• Many methods are used to control invasive plants

in the Kissimmee River floodplain. For example,

populations of the brown lygodium moth continue

to be released to combat the invasive exotic Old

World climbing fern.

• Fish abundance increased by 60% in the Kissimmee

River Restoration Project Phase I restoration area

due mostly to an increase in bluegill sunfish and

other sunfish.

• In the Phase IV restoration area, the abundance

of largemouth bass increased during winter.

Largemouth bass accounted for more than 70%

of the total fish biomass.

2023 SOUTH FLORIDA ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT – Highlights 8

PROGRESS CONTINUES ON

INCREASING WATER STORAGE

NORTH OF LAKE OKEECHOBEE

Progress continues to increase water storage and restore

wetlands north of Lake Okeechobee. The SFWMD is

continuing to implement the Lake Okeechobee Watershed

Restoration Project (LOWRP) in accordance with its science

plan in addition to supporting above-ground storage

opportunities north of Lake Okeechobee.

SFWMD C38-S and C38-N Drill Rigs. (Photo by SFWMD)

DISPERSED WATER MANAGEMENT (DWM) PROJECTS

Brighton Valley DWM, Bluefield Grove Water Farm and Scott Water Farm provide

water storage on private property by holding stormwater or even pulling excess

water from a regional canal system. These projects help improve water quality and

enhance plant and wildlife habitat. All three projects are complete and operational.

Brighton Valley DWM Project

This 8,000-acre project pumps excess water from the C-41A Canal and is

estimated to treat up to 40,000 ac-ft of water per year and remove approximately

3 metric tons of phosphorus and 27 metric tons of nitrogen annually before it

enters Lake Okeechobee.

Bluefield Grove Water Farm

The Bluefield Grove Water Farm can capture over 9 billion gallons of regional

stormwater before it enters the St. Lucie Estuary and makes a difference in water

quality. This 6,100-acre project removes approximately 3 metric tons of

phosphorus and 12 metric tons of nitrogen annually from the C-23 Basin.

Scott Water Farm

The Scott Water Farm can store more than 9 billion gallons of local stormwater

runoff and was designed to reduce harmful estuary discharges. The project

will retain onsite rainfall and pump water from the C-25 Canal and store it on

approximately 7,500 acres of privately-owned land. The project has the capability

to reduce more than 3 metric tons of phosphorus per year and over 13 metric