In 1992, U.S. Congress authorized the Water Resources Development Act to implement the Kissimmee River Restoration project, which is a cost-shared endeavor between the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The Riverwoods Field Lab serves as the central staging area for the SFWMD's research and monitoring of this world class restoration project.
The Kissimmee River Restoration Project will reestablish the ecological integrity of the river by backfilling the middle third of the C-38 canal to restore flow and the lost benefits of the original pre-channelized river. With its projected completion in 2015, over 40 square miles of the river/floodplain ecosystem will be re-established, including 43 miles of meandering river channel and 27,000 acres of wetlands as well as 96% species recovery.
SFWMD scientists have developed a comprehensive evaluation plan to measure the success of the restoration project, which will be in effect until 2018. Click here to learn more about the Restoration Sequence. As a part of the Restoration Project, two of the six water control structures will be removed. Upon completion of Phase 1 of the project in March 2001, 7.5 miles of C-38 were backfilled, 1.2 miles of new river channel were re-carved, and 15 continuous miles of river were connected. The S-65B Lock and Dam structure was also removed, resulting in recovery of 11 acres of wetland habitat. Phase 4A has already been completed and Phase 4B is projected to be completed by the end of 2009. Click here to view a slide show of the progress of the construction of Phase 4B. The final undertaking of the project, Phase 2/3, is scheduled to commence in 2012 and be completed by 2015.
To learn more about this exciting project, visit the South Florida Water Management District's Kissimmee River Restoration Project web page .
Download Kissimmee River Fact Sheet