On May 9, 2024, the South Florida Water Management District Governing Board officially declared this area as a Stormwater Treatment Area (STA).
A variety of nature-based recreational activities will soon be allowed at the newly designated C-44 STA. This STA is over 6,000 acres and future recreational activities will include hiking, bicycling, wildlife viewing, photography and limited entry waterfowl and alligator hunts that will be managed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). While the primary function of the STAs is to improve water quality, they also provide a prime habitat for wildlife including wading birds, ducks and alligators.
Audubon-led birding tours have started! The inaugural birding tour took place on June 15. Birdwatchers can spot sandhill cranes, snail kites, great blue herons, great egrets, mottled ducks, along with roseate spoonbills, white pelicans, wood storks and migratory shorebirds. There will be many more birding tours in the future. Visit audubonofmartincounty.org for more information.
Public use hours will be announced in the coming months.
For inquiries, email recreation@sfwmd.gov or visit SFWMD.gov/Recreation for the most up-to-date information.
Related Links
C-44 Recreation Placemat
C-44 Reservoir and STA Placemat
C-44 STA Birding Tour Path on June 15, 2024
Information about Stormwater Treatment Areas
STAs are large constructed wetlands with emergent and aquatic plants. The plants remove and store nutrients such as phosphorus that are found in stormwater runoff before it is moved out of the STA and into the Everglades. The South Florida Water Management District has built over 60,000 acres of STAs to restore water quality in the Everglades. Everglades STA’s have treated approximately 26.7 million acre-feet of water or 8.7 trillion gallons. They have also retained over 3,400 metric tons of total phosphorus and there has been a 77.4% total phosphorus load reduction. STAs are continually monitored and maintained to maximize water treatment capacity.
