Advancing Key Priority Projects
To ensure the conservation of Florida’s natural resources, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Executive Order 19-12 soon after coming into office in 2019. The executive order, also known as “Achieving More Now For Florida’s Environment,” accelerates 29 key priority projects that focus on Everglades restoration and improving and maintaining water quality in Florida. Completing these projects is vital to SFWMD’s mission of protecting South Florida’s communities from flooding and safeguarding and restoring local water resources and ecosystems.
Below, SFWMD has provided descriptions for all 29 priority projects. Members of the public and stakeholders can view this webpage frequently to stay updated and informed on the actions SFWMD is taking to accelerate and prioritize each project.
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Priority Projects Details
Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir Project
The Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir Project reduces damaging discharges from Lake Okeechobee to the Northern Estuaries. The 10,000-acre reservoir component includes 240,000 acre-feet of storage and delivers water to the 6,300-acre C-44 Stormwater Treatment Area for water quality treatment. The project provides an additional average annual 370,000 acre-feet of clean water sent to the Everglades.
Caloosahatchee Reservoir
The 10,700-acre Caloosahatchee (C-43) West Basin Storage Reservoir will store 170,000 acre-feet of water and reduce harmful discharges to the Caloosahatchee Estuary. The reservoir will provide beneficial freshwater flows to the Caloosahatchee Estuary in the dry season.
C-44 Reservoir and Stormwater Treatment Area
The C-44 Reservoir and Stormwater Treatment Area (STA) provides clean freshwater to the Indian River Lagoon and St. Lucie Estuary. The reservoir component includes 50,600 acre-feet of storage and delivers water to the 6,300-acre C-44 STA for water quality treatment.
Structure S-333N
The S-333N water control structure doubles the amount of water that can be moved south into Everglades National Park.
Old Tamiami Trail Removal
Removal of Old Tamiami Trail removes six-miles of old roadbed and improving natural sheet flow south into Everglades National Park.
Picayune Strand Restoration Project
The Picayune Strand Restoration Project includes plugging 48 miles of canals, removing 260 miles of roads, and constructing three major pump stations, all of which restores 55,000 acres of natural habitat.
Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands
Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands rehydrates more than 3,760 acres of near shore wetlands by diverting damaging discharges. Restores flow of freshwater to historic tidal creeks and coastal wetlands along Biscayne Bay.
Lakeside Ranch Stormwater Treatment Area (STA)
The Lakeside Ranch Stormwater Treatment Area (STA) is a 2,700-acre Stormwater Treatment Area. It helps improve the water quality of water entering Lake Okeechobee by reducing nutrient pollution from the Taylor Creek and Nubbin Slough watersheds.
Brighton Valley Dispersed Water Management Project
The Brighton Valley project is a public-private partnership that stores water on 8,100 acres of privately-owned land. The project allows 40,000 acre-feet of water to flow across the land each year, reducing nutrient pollution before entering Lake Okeechobee.
Bluefield Grove Water Farm
Bluefield Grove Water Farm stores more than 28,000 acre-feet of water on 6,100 acres of privately-owned property in the C-23 watershed. The project decreases harmful discharges to the Indian River Lagoon and St. Lucie Estuary.
Scott Water Farm
The Scott Water Farm project is a public-private partnership that stores local runoff on 7,500 acres of privately-owned land in the C-25 watershed. The project reduces harmful discharges to the St. Lucie Estuary and can store more than 29,000 acre-feet of water per year.
Nubbin Slough Stormwater Treatment Area (STA)
The Nubbin Slough STA is an 800-acre Stormwater Treatment Area. It helps improve the water quality of water entering Lake Okeechobee by reducing nutrient pollution from the Nubbin Slough watershed.
Lake Hicpochee Storage and Shallow Hydrologic Enhancement Project
The Lake Hicpochee Storage and Shallow Hydrologic Enhancement Project captures water that discharges into the Caloosahatchee River. The project holds water in shallow storage and redistributes it into Lake Hicpochee to reduce harmful discharges to the Caloosahatchee Estuary.
Caulkins Water Farm
Caulkins Water Farm is a public-private partnership that stores local runoff and Lake Okeechobee releases on 3,200 acres of privately-owned land along the C-44 Canal. The project reduces harmful discharges to the St. Lucie Estuary and can store more than 60,000 acre-feet of water per year.
Caloosahatchee Reservoir Water Quality Feasibility Study
The Caloosahatchee Reservoir Water Quality Study provides options of water quality improvement opportunities for water leaving the Caloosahatchee Reservoir. After extensive public and stakeholder engagement, Phase 1 of the study is complete and identifies four water quality treatment opportunities. Phase 2 is underway and includes siting of the possible alternatives to determine cost and compatibility with other infrastructure.
Stormwater Treatment Area 1 East Modification
Modifications to the 5,000-acre Stormwater Treatment Area (STA) 1 East is a component of the Restoration Strategies Plan to improve Everglades water quality. The project improves topography in the STA to enhance treatment performance and reduce nutrient pollution.
Stormwater Treatment Area 5/6 Internal Improvements
Modifications to the 14,000-acre Stormwater Treatment Area (STA) 5/6 is a component of the Restoration Strategies Plan to improve Everglades water quality. The project removes high spots in the STA to improve treatment performance and reduce nutrient pollution.
Bolles Canal Hydrologic Improvements (G-341 Related Improvements)
Improvements to the Bolles Canal is a component of the Restoration Strategies Plan to improve Everglades water quality. The project enhances canal conveyance and provides an opportunity to move clean water into the Everglades.
Stormwater Treatment Area 1 West Expansion #1
Stormwater Treatment Area (STA) 1 West Expansion #1 is the first of two expansions and provides an additional 4,300 acre of water quality treatment capacity for the Everglades.
Stormwater Treatment Area 1 West Expansion #2
Stormwater Treatment Area (STA) 1 West Expansion #2 is the second of two expansions. The project provides an additional 6,500 acres of water quality treatment capacity to improve Everglades water quality.
C-139 Flow Equalization Basin (FEB)
The C-139 Flow Equalization Basin (FEB) is a component of the Restoration Strategies Plan to restore water quality in America's Everglades. The FEB stores water and helps control the flow of water to Stormwater Treatment Area (STA) 5/6 to improve vegetation health and reduce nutrient pollution.
Herbert Hoover Dike
Rehabilitation of Herbert Hoover Dike by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is a public safety project that improves the 143-mile earthen dam around Lake Okeechobee. The dam protects communities around the lake from flooding.
Lake Okeechobee System Operation Manual
Lake Okeechobee levels and discharges are managed according to a regulation schedule maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). USACE is developing the next regulation schedule called the Lake Okeechobee System Operation Manual.
Kissimmee River Restoration Project
The Kissimmee River Restoration Project restores portions of the Kissimmee River's natural flow and floodplain after it was channelized in the 1960s. The project reestablishes more than 40 square miles of the river's floodplain, including more than 12,000 acres of wetlands and 40 miles of historic river.
Kissimmee River Headwater Lakes Regulation Schedule
Lakes Kissimmee, Hatchineha, and Cypress are managed according to a regulation schedule maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is modifying the regulation schedule to maximize the benefits of the Kissimmee River Restoration Project and support the ecosystem of the Headwater Lakes.
Everglades National Park/South Dade Hydrologic Improvements (C-111 South Dade Project)
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers repaired water management infrastructure in southern Miami-Dade County to keep water in Everglades National Park to benefit the park’s ecology.
Improved Water Deliveries to Everglades National Park - Phase II Tamiami Trail Road Raising
Phase II Tamiami Trail Road Raising provides for bridges and approximately 6.5 miles of road raising along Tamiami Trail. The project allows for more water to flow south into Everglades National Park.
Improved Water Deliveries to Everglades National Park - Tamiami Trail 2.6 Mile Bridge
The Tamiami Trail 2.6-Mile Bridge removes barriers to water flow and allows more water to flow south into Everglades National Park.
C-139 Annex Wetland Restoration Project
The C-139 Annex Wetland Restoration Project restores 7,800 acres of former citrus grove to its natural wetland condition. The restoration improves habitat, groundwater and surface water supply, and overall Everglades water quality.