The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Governing Board today unanimously approved a contract to build the final component of the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Project, a crucial environmental restoration project in Miami-Dade County. Read more to see what officials and stakeholders are saying:
“Since his first week in office, Gov. Ron DeSantis has been a strong advocate for the Everglades,” said Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Shawn Hamilton. “The Governor originally called for a $2.5 billion investment in Everglades restoration and water resources over four years, and I am proud to share that his administration has since made a historic commitment of $3.3 billion, with $1.7 billion specifically directed to critical Everglades restoration projects, such as the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Projects. We are thankful for Governor DeSantis’ leadership as Florida works to restore America’s Everglades, as well as for our partners who join us in advancing efforts to reduce harmful discharges and restore freshwater flows to Biscayne Bay.”
"Today is a great day for Biscayne Bay! Miami-Dade County is proud to be a partner in Everglades restoration and we are grateful to SFWMD for advancing one of the last components needed to complete Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Phase 1 and deliver much needed fresh water to the Bay," said Irela Bague, Chief Bay Officer for Miami-Dade County.
“Everglades restoration continues to achieve significant momentum and progress. Today’s important decision by the South Florida Water Management District moves the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands project closer to completion. Delivering freshwater to Biscayne Bay is vitally important to its improved health and future,” said Eric Eikenberg, CEO of The Everglades Foundation. “We commend the SFWMD Governing Board for their continued progress on the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. The action today will begin construction of the Cutler Flow Way Phase 1, Pump Station S-701, part of the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands project. Once complete the S-701 will ultimately deliver freshwater from the C-1 Canal to rehydrate coastal wetlands to Biscayne Bay. We applaud the continued momentum and progress under the leadership of this Governing Board.”
"Today’s decision from the Board will bring us one step closer to completing the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Project. This initiative will provide important water quality benefits to Biscayne Bay and will also aid in wetland rehydration – building coastal resiliency for this area of Miami-Dade County. We are happy to see the project reaching the home stretch and look forward to final implementation," said Kelly Cox, Director of Everglades Policy, Audubon Florida.
“Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands is the one Everglades restoration project solely focused on restoring Biscayne Bay, which has faced decades of declining habitat health. This project will bring much-needed freshwater to the bay, and help breathe new life into Biscayne National Park, our country’s largest marine park and home to part of the only coral reef tract in the continental United States," said Marisa Carrozzo, Senior Coastal & Wildlife Program Manager for the National Parks Conservation Association. "Today’s contract approved by the South Florida Water Management District Governing Board will help rehydrate and restore coastal wetlands and improve water flow to Biscayne National Park. We appreciate the leadership and stewardship of the District in advancing this critical project, which will help safeguard this one-of-a-kind estuarine habitat and our interconnected national parks in South Florida for generations to come.”
The Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Project is a part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP). The 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. Reestablishing productive nearshore habitat also supports nursery habitat for key marine wildlife including shrimp, shellfish and fish.