Kissimmee River Restoration Ribbon Cutting Celebration!
July 29, 2021
CES Riverwoods Field Lab on the Kissimmee River
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SPECIAL NEWSLETTER EDITION |
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CES has managed the Riverwoods Field Lab as a research and education center for over 20 years in partnership with the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD). Working with the SFWMD scientists, we conduct ecological studies on wetland plant communities, water quality, hydrology, fisheries, wading birds, waterfowl, invertebrates and endangered species. In addition, we offer a comprehensive outreach program - Exploring the Kissimmee River for students and adults via pontoon boat.
We were honored to co-host the Kissimmee River Restoration Ribbon Cutting Ceremony with the SFWMD at Riverwoods Field Lab. On July 29, 2021, after 22 years of construction and backfilling of 22 miles of the C-38 canal, all the Kissimmee River projects have been completed! Leaders from the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the SFWMD, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC), as well as local governmental officials were in attendance. The highlights of the Kissimmee River Restoration Ribbon Cutting Celebration can be viewed at youtu.be/4NIoUBZayl8 or view the complete approximately 44-minute version at youtu.be/R60j72OS2yA
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The Kissimmee River Restoration Project (KRRP) construction projects completed include:
Backfilling of 22 miles of the middle third of the C-38 canal, reconnecting historic river runs to restore flow, removal of two water control structures, and acquiring more than 100,000 acres of land along the river.
To accomplish:
Restoring more than 40 square miles of the river floodplain ecosystem, 20,000 acres of wetlands, and flow to 44 miles of the historic river. Scientific monitoring and hydrological management will continue to measure the success of Florida’s iconic Kissimmee River.
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Reflections from VIP’s led the spirit of the celebration: |
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Col. Andrew Kelly, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District Commander - “The Kissimmee River Restoration Project was the first successful large-scale, active, riverine ecosystem restoration project in the country, and even in the world. All eyes were on us. The world watched as we set the standard and created the model for science-based ecosystem restoration projects worldwide. The Kissimmee River Restoration is proof positive that if we build it right, they will come, and serves as the foundation for the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. Today, we celebrate the completion of the construction phase with many of the people who have worked hard to maintain the momentum on this project for more than 30 years. We owe all of our partners a huge debt of gratitude for their continued support.”
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SFWMD Governing Board Chairman Chauncey Goss - “We continue to see these historic environmental achievements. Our partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is integral to the success of many critical Everglades restoration projects and the Kissimmee River Restoration Project. Completing these projects is vital to the South Florida Water Management District’s mission of protecting South Florida’s communities from flooding while safeguarding and restoring local water resources and ecosystems.”
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Kissimmee River History
The Kissimmee River Restoration is the largest river restoration in the world! The Kissimmee Chain of Lakes are the headwaters for the Greater Everglades watershed. Although it’s a critical component of southern Florida's watershed and ecosystems, most people are unaware of the national importance of the Kissimmee River Restoration Project (KRRP). The KRRP has proven to be a successful model for state and federal partnerships on a national scale. The project is cost-shared between the state of Florida through the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Since 1999, they have been working together to restore the physical form and ecological functions of the Kissimmee River.
The historic meandering river was a beautiful, wild and scenic destination for fishing, birding and wildlife with a wide floodplain for storing and filtering water before flowing south into Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades. In the 1960’s, the river was channelized for flood protection. The C-38 canal drained and degraded the water quality and, as a result, the wildlife populations in the region plummeted. Years of research determined that the best way to restore the river was to backfill the C-38, restoring the river’s historic form and flows.
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Riverwoods Field Lab on the Kissimmee River
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