January 12, 2017

SFWMD Governing Board  Takes Action 
To Help Save Florida Bay 
Governing Board approves construction contracts to deliver critical fresh water to Florida Bay

Click on the image to view the plan to help Florida Bay by delivering more clean fresh water to Taylor Slough.
 
West Palm Beach, FL - Today, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) reached a major milestone in its plan to help save Florida Bay,  as  the Governing Board approved several significant construction contracts . These project components received federal permitting approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in December.

"Today's action by the Board allows us to build on work already underway to deliver real benefits to Florida Bay," said SFWMD Governing Board Chairman Dan O'Keefe. "We appreciate the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' cooperation in the permitting process needed for our Florida Bay plan."

SFWMD Governing Board's Florida Bay plan will send billions more gallons of fresh water each year into Taylor Slough and on to Florida Bay. This means substantial flows of fresh water will reach the Bay to help reduce salinity levels and protect seagrasses that are repeatedly damaged by localized droughts.
 
Approved permits from the Corps authorize SFWMD to:
  • Rebuild a section of the L-31 West Levee and Weir
  • Install 10 plugs in the L-31 West Canal
  • Seal the discharge basin at the S-332D Pump Station to reduce seepage
"I echo the call of my constituents in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties to make more fresh water available to Florida Bay a top priority," said SFWMD Governing Board member Federico Fernandez. "Today signals the start of real progress to help save this treasured ecosystem. This Board is committed to getting projects built and working to improve South Florida's water bodies."
 
For More Information:
Media Contact: 
Randy Smith  |   rrsmith@sfwmd.gov    |  Office: 561-682-2800  |  Cell: 561-389-3386
The South Florida Water Management District is a regional governmental agency that manages the water resources in the southern part of the state. It is the oldest and largest of the state's five water management districts. Our mission is to protect South Florida's water resources by balancing and improving flood control, water supply, water quality and natural systems.


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