kissimmee river restoration project case study

Kissimmee River restoration: a case study

Affiliation.

• 1 South Florida Water Management District, West Palm Beach 33458, USA.
• PMID: 12171366

Channelization of the Kissimmee River transformed a 167 km meandering river into a 9 metre deep, 75 metre wide, 90 km drainage canal (C-38) that is compartmentalized with levees and water control structures into a series of five stagnant pools. Channelization dramatically changed water level and flow characteristics, drained 21,000 hectares of floodplain wetlands and severely impacted fish and wildlife populations. A $500 million dollar restoration project will restore the ecological integrity of the river-floodplain system by reconstructing the natural river channel and reestablishing hydrologic processes. Sixty expectations have been established to quantify the ecosystem's recovery. The first phase of reconstruction was completed in February 2001 and included movement of 9.2 million cubic metres of earth to backfill 12 km of C-38, the explosive demolition of one water control structure, construction of two sections (2.4 km) of new river channel, and reestablishment of 24 contiguous km of river. Numerous social, political, and technical challenges have been encountered during the project's evolution. Recommendations are provided for future restoration projects.

• Conservation of Natural Resources*
• Engineering*
• Environment
• Social Conditions
• Water Movements
• Water Supply*

• ENVIRONMENT

Deep in Florida, an ‘ecological disaster’ has been reversed—and wildlife is thriving

Much of Florida’s Kissimmee River has been restored to its natural state, a milestone worth celebrating—and learning from.

If you’ve been to Disney World in Orlando, you’ve been to the Northern Everglades. Much of the water within the famous “river of grass” originates in Central Florida and flows south via the Kissimmee River—one of the more important and lesser-known waterways nationwide.

Sixty years ago, the Kissimmee meandered for more than 100 miles from the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes to Lake Okeechobee, and its floodplains were home to seasonal wetlands rich with life. But in the 1940s, in response to flooding and hurricanes, the state asked the federal government to help build a sprawling network of canals and waterways to drain the land.

The Army Corps of Engineers complied and, beginning in the 1960s, turned the meandering Kissimmee into a 30-foot-deep, channelized canal. Within a few years, populations of waterfowl dropped by 90 percent, bald eagle numbers by 70 percent, and some fish, bird, and mammal species vanished. The channel acted like a pipe, moving water quickly off the landscape to Lake Okeechobee, and then to the ocean. While that helped prevent some flooding in the short term, it robbed the stream of oxygen, which decimated the fish community and gave nutrient pollution no time to settle and be absorbed by the wetlands.

The disrupted hydrology and ecological problems were so glaring that, beginning in the 1990s, the Army Corps and a variety of state, federal, and local partners cooperated to undo the damage. More than 20 years later, at a cost of over $1 billion, the physical restoration of the river is now complete: 40 square miles of wetlands have been reestablished and rehydrated.

Already the biological impact of the project has become clear. As the wetlands have come back, so have the birds. “That response was immediate and pretty impressive,” says Lawrence Glenn, director of water resources with the South Florida Water Management District.

‘Triumph of imagination’

In all, nearly half of the river has been restored to its original state. The project involved filling in 22 miles of the canal, re-carving sections of the old river, and restoring 44 miles of the waterway’s natural meandering paths, according to the Army Corps.

FREE BONUS ISSUE

“It's a triumph of imagination [and] of partnership between the federal government and the state” and other organizations coming together, says Shannon Estenoz , assistant secretary for fish and wildlife and parks with the Department of Interior, who formerly worked for several different environmental organizations in Florida.

Populations of popular game fish, such as bass, have climbed, in part because the water is more oxygenated and invertebrates that demand such conditions, such as mayfly and caddisfly larvae, have returned. Populations of wading and waterbirds are already above intended targets; some species that disappeared during the days of the canal—including ibis, bitterns, avocets, and sandpipers—are back.

The restoration is a grand success story that “shows it’s possible to act at the landscape scale, and [it] demonstrates how quickly ecosystems can recover,” Estenoz adds. And it’s vitally important for water quality and the threatened species that live there, including limpkins, snail kites, and bald eagles, says Congressman Darren Soto, whose district abuts the river.

The Kissimmee will become part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, thanks to an act sponsored by Soto and signed into law as a part of the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act. The designation entails special protections and future funding for conservation work.  

On the water  

To see the fruits of the restoration myself, I take a late summer ride down the river with photographer and National Geographic Explorer Carlton Ward , Jr., and Adam Bass , vice president of Conservation Florida. The first stretch of the river, directly south of Lake Kissimmee, consists of the old canal—300 feet wide and 30 feet deep, straight as a runway, with almost no birds or wildlife to mention. This part was left as a canal in part to prevent flooding in the Orlando area.

Passing through a lock to get the restored part of the river, the difference is stark and obvious as the river begins its natural flow. The abrupt edges are replaced by thickets and grasses and sabal palms and oaks—and we start seeing birds: herons, egrets, limpkins, and more.   Surveys show that there are 50 species of fish in the Kissimmee, nearly 70 species of wetland-dependent birds, over 20 types of reptiles and amphibians, and four mammals that only live in the rehydrated marshes.

It's the rainy season and the wetlands are flooded, partially submerging vast fields of grasses and flowers. We pass dozens of alligators and bass fishermen. Though we are in crowded South Florida, there are long stretches where we see no people and hear only the sounds of frogs and waterbirds. This is still a wilderness. The river wiggles and bends and sometimes braids, leaving multiple pathways to choose from.

The next morning we wake before dawn and head out. As light creeps over the water nearly 10 snail kites—a subtropical species that’s considered endangered in the United States—fly overhead, many with apple snails in their beaks, large mollusks nearly the size of my fist.

These medium-sized hawks have striking red eyes and hooked beaks; the males are an almost bluish gray, with cream-and-slate undertails, the females a mottled chestnut and white.

Near the town of Lorida, we pull off at the Istokpoga Canal Boat Ramp—one of the only direct ways to access the restored part of the river, and meet Paul Gray, science coordinator with Audubon Florida. He also explains how the restoration project adds 100,000 acre-feet of water storage, which helps prevent flooding, and slows much of the water down, allowing nutrients to settle out.

One night, we make camp along the river, serenaded by tree frogs and katydids—and watch fireflies flash in an open field, mirrored by twinkles of lightning in a brooding storm cloud on the horizon. Camping in Florida in August is not for the faint of heart, though, as a self-regenerating swarm of mosquitos appears at dusk—the likes of which I’ve never experienced.

You May Also Like

The harrowing 5,000-mile flight of North America's wild whooping cranes

In a warming climate, we need to radically rethink how we conserve nature

How a wild river became a national park—and sparked a movement

Back to the future  .

When the channelization was completed in the 1970s, everybody realized it was a mistake. Locals had been against it from the beginning, explains Monrad Chandler, a longtime resident of the area, because “a lot of people used to make a living on the river.”

We’re sitting on a parcel of land he owns right next to the Kissimmee. His son-in-law, Matt Pearce, ranches on this land, where he practices rotational grazing—cattle are currently excluded from this area, allowing the plants to recover and grow back.

“When they channelized the river, there was no marsh no more … then no ducks, no snipe, [no] wading birds,” he says. “A lot of people had to change their livelihood.”

“It was an ecological disaster,” Gray agrees.

But now, those birds are coming back—and the restored section looks essentially the way it used to, Chandler says, fondly recalling hunting and fishing on the river as a youngster.

These restored wetlands provide corridors for larger wildlife such as Florida panthers and bears and habitat for endangered species, including grasshopper sparrows. By storing water, they also help prevent flooding during storms. ( Related: How America’s most endangered cat could help save Florida .)

“The Kissimmee River accomplished an amazing feat last summer when Hurricane Ian slammed Florida,” Ward says. “It filled to the 100-year flood level and did its job naturally absorbing billions of gallons of water, with no loss of property, because of the restoration efforts.”

Yet there’s still much work to be done. About half of the Kissimmee consists of a canal, and there’s a big backlog of hydrological and research projects. One vital and imminent project involves raising the water level in Lake Kissimmee—and thus increasing water storage.

Gray explains that various areas of Florida—including Orlando—are running out of easily accessible water, draining the state’s aquifers. “These water projects are going to become more and more important for the future of Florida,” Gray says.

“This project is going to be saving water, going to be slowing it down—not only is that a benefit to wildlife, but to water management, and our ability to meet [our] water needs.”

Related Topics

• HABITAT PRESERVATION
• ANIMAL MIGRATION

What lurks beneath the surface of these forest pools? More than you can imagine.

Follow the monarch on its dangerous 3,000-mile journey across the continent

Here are the hotels we love for 2024

These are the real dunes that inspired Dune—and you can visit them

American crocodiles are spreading north in Florida. That’s a good thing.

• Environment
• Perpetual Planet

History & Culture

• History & Culture
• History Magazine
• Mind, Body, Wonder
• Paid Content
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Your US State Privacy Rights
• Children's Online Privacy Policy
• Interest-Based Ads
• About Nielsen Measurement
• Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
• Nat Geo Home
• Attend a Live Event
• Book a Trip
• Inspire Your Kids
• Shop Nat Geo
• Visit the D.C. Museum
• Learn About Our Impact
• Support Our Mission
• Advertise With Us
• Customer Service
• Renew Subscription
• Manage Your Subscription
• Work at Nat Geo
• Sign Up for Our Newsletters
• Contribute to Protect the Planet

Copyright © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society Copyright © 2015-2024 National Geographic Partners, LLC. All rights reserved

Florida has brought this dying river back to life – here’s how its biodiversity bounced back

The world’s biggest river restoration project has returned Florida’s Kissimmee River to good health. Image:  Unsplash/kellysikkema

.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo{-webkit-transition:all 0.15s ease-out;transition:all 0.15s ease-out;cursor:pointer;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;outline:none;color:inherit;}.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo:hover,.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo[data-hover]{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo:focus,.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo[data-focus]{box-shadow:0 0 0 3px rgba(168,203,251,0.5);} Johnny Wood

.chakra .wef-9dduvl{margin-top:16px;margin-bottom:16px;line-height:1.388;font-size:1.25rem;}@media screen and (min-width:56.5rem){.chakra .wef-9dduvl{font-size:1.125rem;}} Explore and monitor how .chakra .wef-15eoq1r{margin-top:16px;margin-bottom:16px;line-height:1.388;font-size:1.25rem;color:#F7DB5E;}@media screen and (min-width:56.5rem){.chakra .wef-15eoq1r{font-size:1.125rem;}} Future of the Environment is affecting economies, industries and global issues

.chakra .wef-1nk5u5d{margin-top:16px;margin-bottom:16px;line-height:1.388;color:#2846F8;font-size:1.25rem;}@media screen and (min-width:56.5rem){.chakra .wef-1nk5u5d{font-size:1.125rem;}} Get involved with our crowdsourced digital platform to deliver impact at scale

Stay up to date:, climate and nature.

Listen to the article

• The world’s biggest river restoration project has returned Florida’s Kissimmee River to good health.
• Flood-prevention engineering projects in the 1960s caused severe ecosystem damage and biodiversity loss to the more than 100-mile-long waterway.
• Undoing the damage to the river has seen bird, fish, insect and marine life populations thrive once again.
• Biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse is seen as the fourth-largest threat to humans in the next decade.

What happened to the birds, fish and marine wildlife that used to thrive in the wetland banks of Florida’s Kissimmee River?

Against all odds… they are returning.

Much of the Kissimmee’s original course and ecosystem have now been restored following a $1 billion restoration project that has been more than 20 years in the making. A rescue project has reversed decades of biodiversity decline caused by building canals and waterways to control flooding and hurricanes.

In the last 100 years, more than 90 percent of crop varieties have disappeared from farmers’ fields, and all of the world’s 17 main fishing grounds are now being fished at or above their sustainable limits.

These trends have reduced diversity in our diets, which is directly linked to diseases or health risk factors, such as diabetes, obesity and malnutrition. One initiative which is bringing a renewed focus on biological diversity is the Tropical Forest Alliance .

This global public-private partnership is working on removing deforestation from four global commodity supply chains – palm oil, beef, soy, and pulp and paper.

The Alliance includes businesses, governments, civil society, indigenous people and communities, and international organizations.

Enquire to become a member or partner of the Forum and help stop deforestation linked to supply chains.

Engineering an ecosystem collapse

The river meanders its way from the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes in northern Florida, winding more than 100 miles through lush wetlands to Lake Okeechobee further south, where its waters feed into the Everglades ecosystem. At least, it used to.

Back in the 1960s, in an engineering effort to control the threat of severe storms and flooding, the US Army Corp of Engineers clipped the meandering river’s curves, turning it into a 30-foot deep, 300-foot wide, 56-mile long, straight-line drainage canal . The deep-water channel swiftly moved river water through the wetlands to Lake Okeechobee, then through newly-built canals out to the ocean.

While the short-term impact prevented some flooding, the fast flowing water robbed fish populations of oxygen and left pollutants in the water , instead of the wetlands absorbing them, according to South Florida Water Management District.

The damage to river ecosystems devastated surrounding wildlife and their habitats, decreasing waterfowl numbers by around 90% of previous levels, while the area’s bald eagle population fell by more than two-thirds. Some other bird, fish and mammal species disappeared from the river’s ecosystem.

Have you read?

Diving into water restoration what it takes to prime a project, why wetlands are a versatile climate and biodiversity hack, peatland restoration is crucial but how do we pay for it, restored wetland habitats.

Fast-forward to today and the Kissimmee wetlands are once again rich with marine life, birds and mammals.

The transformation is the result of a collaborative effort by the US Army Corp, state, federal and local partners to repair the environmental damage. Forty miles of wetlands – almost half of the river’s length – have been regenerated by filling in more than 20 miles of the channel with sediment, and excavating the river’s natural bends to reestablish its old course.

The results speak for themselves. As oxygen returns to the waters, fish, insect and bird populations are increasing and some of the species that disappeared have returned, such as ibis and sandpipers.

Data shows that the restoration meets or exceeds the expectations set at the beginning of the project , according to the Center For Environmental Studies, Charles E Schmidt College of Science in Florida.

A similar success story can be found in Chicago where, 50 years after the city's Clean Water Act, the river is said to be thriving – most recently proved by the appearance of a giant snapping turtle in its waters.

Kissimmee river: A blueprint for tackling biodiversity loss

The scale of biodiversity loss and environmental damage to the planet has not gone unnoticed.

Large-scale environmental damage ranks sixth on the top 10 list of threats faced by humanity in the coming two years, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2023.

Looking further ahead, biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse is seen as the fourth-largest threat to humans in the next decade, while incidents of large-scale environmental damage – similar to what happened to the Kissimmee River – also feature in the top 10.

As the largest river restoration project in the world, reviving the Kissimmee River and its wetlands ecosystem could provide a blueprint to reverse other environmental damage to rivers and waterways.

Don't miss any update on this topic

Create a free account and access your personalized content collection with our latest publications and analyses.

License and Republishing

World Economic Forum articles may be republished in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License, and in accordance with our Terms of Use.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum.

The Agenda .chakra .wef-n7bacu{margin-top:16px;margin-bottom:16px;line-height:1.388;font-weight:400;} Weekly

A weekly update of the most important issues driving the global agenda

.chakra .wef-1dtnjt5{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-flex-wrap:wrap;-ms-flex-wrap:wrap;flex-wrap:wrap;} More on Nature and Biodiversity .chakra .wef-nr1rr4{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;white-space:normal;vertical-align:middle;text-transform:uppercase;font-size:0.75rem;border-radius:0.25rem;font-weight:700;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;line-height:1.2;-webkit-letter-spacing:1.25px;-moz-letter-spacing:1.25px;-ms-letter-spacing:1.25px;letter-spacing:1.25px;background:none;padding:0px;color:#B3B3B3;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;}@media screen and (min-width:37.5rem){.chakra .wef-nr1rr4{font-size:0.875rem;}}@media screen and (min-width:56.5rem){.chakra .wef-nr1rr4{font-size:1rem;}} See all

What is Arbor Day and why is it important?

April 24, 2024

The green skills gap: Educational reform in favour of renewable energy is now urgent

Roman Vakulchuk

5 ways sustainable forestry can support climate action, development and biodiversity

Charlotte Kaiser

April 23, 2024

4 lessons from the renewables playbook for today’s clean infrastructure boom

Jennifer Holmgren

Global forest restoration goals can be achieved with youth-led ecopreneurship

Agustin Rosello, Anali Bustos, Fernando Morales de Rueda, Jennifer Hong and Paula Sarigumba

The planet’s outlook is in our hands. Which future will we incentivize?

Carlos Correa

April 22, 2024

• Previous Article
• Next Article

Kissimmee River restoration: a case study

• Article contents
• Figures & tables
• Supplementary Data
• Open the PDF for in another window
• Guest Access
• Cite Icon Cite
• Permissions
• Search Site

P.J. Whalen , L.A. Toth , J.W. Koebel , P.K. Strayer; Kissimmee River restoration: a case study. Water Sci Technol 1 June 2002; 45 (11): 55–62. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2002.0379

Download citation file:

• Ris (Zotero)
• Reference Manager

Channelization of the Kissimmee River transformed a 167 km meandering river into a 9 metre deep, 75 metre wide, 90 km drainage canal (C-38) that is compartmentalized with levees and water control structures into a series of five stagnant pools. Channelization dramatically changed water level and flow characteristics, drained 21,000 hectares of floodplain wetlands and severely impacted fish and wildlife populations. A $500 million dollar restoration project will restore the ecological integrity of the river-floodplain system by reconstructing the natural river channel and reestablishing hydrologic processes. Sixty expectations have been established to quantify the ecosystem's recovery. The first phase of reconstruction was completed in February 2001 and included movement of 9.2 million cubic metres of earth to backfill 12 km of C-38, the explosive demolition of one water control structure, construction of two sections (2.4 km) of new river channel, and reestablishment of 24 contiguous km of river. Numerous social, political, and technical challenges have been encountered during the project's evolution. Recommendations are provided for future restoration projects.

Affiliations

• ISSN 0273-1223 EISSN 1996-9732
• Open Access
• Collections
• Subscriptions
• Subscribe to Open
• Editorial Services
• Rights and Permissions
• Sign Up for Our Mailing List
• IWA Publishing
• Republic – Export Building, Units 1.04 & 1.05
• 1 Clove Crescent
• London, E14 2BA, UK
• Telephone:  +44 208 054 8208
• Fax:  +44 207 654 5555
• IWAPublishing.com
• IWA-network.org
• IWA-connect.org
• Cookie Policy
• Terms & Conditions
• Get Adobe Acrobat Reader
• ©Copyright 2021 IWA Publishing

This Feature Is Available To Subscribers Only

Sign In or Create an Account

Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer.

To browse Academia.edu and the wider internet faster and more securely, please take a few seconds to  upgrade your browser .

Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link.

• We're Hiring!
• Help Center

Kissimmee River restoration: a case study

2002, Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research

Channelization of the Kissimmee River transformed a 167 km meandering river into a 9 metre deep, 75 metre wide, 90 km drainage canal (C-38) that is compartmentalized with levees and water control structures into a series of five stagnant pools. Channelization dramatically changed water level and flow characteristics, drained 21,000 hectares of floodplain wetlands and severely impacted fish and wildlife populations. A $500 million dollar restoration project will restore the ecological integrity of the river-floodplain system by reconstructing the natural river channel and reestablishing hydrologic processes. Sixty expectations have been established to quantify the ecosystem's recovery. The first phase of reconstruction was completed in February 2001 and included movement of 9.2 million cubic metres of earth to backfill 12 km of C-38, the explosive demolition of one water control structure, construction of two sections (2.4 km) of new river channel, and reestablishment of 24 conti...

Loading Preview

Sorry, preview is currently unavailable. You can download the paper by clicking the button above.

RELATED TOPICS

•   We're Hiring!
•   Help Center
• Find new research papers in:
• Health Sciences
• Earth Sciences
• Cognitive Science
• Mathematics
• Computer Science
• Academia ©2024

• Skip to main content
• Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

Environment Story Of The Day NPR hide caption

Environment

• LISTEN & FOLLOW

Your support helps make our show possible and unlocks access to our sponsor-free feed.

Decades-Long Restoration Effort Has Returned Wetlands To Florida's Kissimmee River

Florida's Kissimmee River was channelized and dredged for flood control, but after a decades-long restoration effort, headwaters of the Everglades have returned to a more natural wetlands ecosystem.

AILSA CHANG, HOST:

In central Florida, an ambitious river restoration project that lasted for decades is now complete. Amy Green of member station WMFE reports on the change to one of the state's most significant waterways.

AMY GREEN, BYLINE: The project is part of a multibillion-dollar restoration of the Everglades, one of the world's most ambitious restorations. The goal is to revitalize the Kissimmee River. A ribbon cutting on a grassy bank at the Kissimmee, some 100 miles south of Orlando, drew leaders from all levels of government and advocates who have long been engaged in the project.

GREEN: Historically, the Kissimmee meandered slowly from Orlando to Lake Okeechobee, serving as the headwaters of the Everglades and a haven for wildlife. After the river was dredged and channelized, both water quality and wildlife populations plummeted. Shannon Estenoz of the U.S. Department of the Interior says the project is aimed at restoring the historic meanders of the Kissimmee.

SHANNON ESTENOZ: It's special in that it's very wiggly, and all the wiggles are back. It's like the river's just remembers the way it flowed once.

GREEN: Twenty-two miles of river were backfilled, enabling the old meanders to recarve their path. Two dams were blown up or demolished. In all, the project will restore more than 40 square miles of river floodplain. Here's Tim Gysan of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

TIM GYSAN: This really shows you what can happen when lots of organizations, both public and private, at all levels of government, come together with one focus to restore something as beautiful as the Kissimmee River.

GREEN: Alana Edwards of Florida Atlantic University was at the ribbon cutting. She remembers the groundbreaking back in the 1990s.

ALANA EDWARDS: This is a river that was channelized, and we thought it couldn't be fixed. And now we fixed it.

GREEN: Wildlife already is rebounding. Now that the river is flowing more naturally, more wildlife should be returning soon.

For NPR News, I'm Amy Green.

Copyright © 2021 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

Kissimmee River restoration: a case study.

P. Whalen , L. Toth , J. Koebel + 1 more authors

Jun 1, 2002

Influential Citations

Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research

Key Takeaway : The $500 million restoration project on the Kissimmee River aims to restore ecological integrity and hydrologic processes, addressing social, political, and technical challenges.

Channelization of the Kissimmee River transformed a 167 km meandering river into a 9 metre deep, 75 metre wide, 90 km drainage canal (C-38) that is compartmentalized with levees and water control structures into a series of five stagnant pools. Channelization dramatically changed water level and flow characteristics, drained 21,000 hectares of floodplain wetlands and severely impacted fish and wildlife populations. A $500 million dollar restoration project will restore the ecological integrity of the river-floodplain system by reconstructing the natural river channel and reestablishing hydrologic processes. Sixty expectations have been established to quantify the ecosystem's recovery. The first phase of reconstruction was completed in February 2001 and included movement of 9.2 million cubic metres of earth to backfill 12 km of C-38, the explosive demolition of one water control structure, construction of two sections (2.4 km) of new river channel, and reestablishment of 24 contiguous km of river. Numerous social, political, and technical challenges have been encountered during the project's evolution. Recommendations are provided for future restoration projects.

• news events
• dyk supporting restoration goals kissimmee river

Did You Know?

Meetings & notices, water conservation, flood protection, restoration, governing board, conservation, public advisory, lake okeechobee, news archive, recent posts, sfwmd celebrates ribbon cutting to support everglades restoration and mitigate flooding, dyk: celebrating earth day, upcoming sfwmd public meetings.

The Kissimmee Chain of Lakes form the headwaters of America’s Everglades, and the Kissimmee River Restoration Project is vital to restoring the Greater Everglades Ecosystem.

Construction on the Kissimmee River Restoration Project was completed in 2021, making it one of the largest successful restoration projects in history. This milestone set the stage for the phased implementation of a new regulation schedule to manage the water levels in the Kissimmee River and the surrounding lakes.

Did you know the Kissimmee River Headwaters Revitalization Schedule is the last piece of the Kissimmee River Restoration Project?  The new Headwaters Revitalization Schedule will be implemented in phases to hold more water in Lakes Kissimmee, Cypress and Hatchineha to achieve the benefits of restoration and allow historic flows to the Kissimmee River while supporting flood protection for residents. 

The SFWMD hosted two Open House meetings to share information about the gradual implementation of the new Headwaters Revitalization Schedule. Public and stakeholder input in the development and adoption of a new water management plan is important, and we thank everyone who participated in the Open House meetings and provided valuable input.

The Headwaters Revitalization Schedule is planned to be implemented in phases starting with Increment 1 in 2024 to allow successively increased water storage capacity in the Headwaters Lakes (Lakes Kissimmee, Cypress and Hatchineha).

Increment 1 details include:

• Increment 1 is a deviation to the current Interim Regulation Schedule.
• Development started in 2021 and it is anticipated to be approved in 2024. 
• Increment 1 proposes raising the regulation schedule elevation approximately 0.5 feet higher than the current regulation schedule in summer and winter. 
• After Increment 1 is approved and implemented, it will remain in effect until a subsequent increment is implemented, or upon implementation of the full Headwaters Revitalization Schedule, currently projected for 2026. 

The SFWMD will continue to engage with the public and stakeholders on this important project. We encourage you to follow the SFWMD on our social media channels for the latest news on Everglades restoration.

Recent News

View of the Santa Clara River and associated native Cottonwood-willow, and non-native Giant Reed riparian vegetation (photo courtesy of Bruce Orr).

Restoration and Conservation in Southern California: The Santa Clara River Parkway

By Bruce Orr, Senior Ecologist, Stillwater Sciences

Conservation and restoration of California’s semi-arid river corridors is a daunting challenge, particularly in light of increasing demands for water and land coupled with global climate change. The Santa Clara River (SCR) is the largest river system in Southern California remaining in a relatively natural state and retaining much of its natural hydrology. Over 100 bird species have been documented using riparian vegetation along the Santa Clara River since 2010. “The Big 5” riparian bird species of concern on the Santa Clara River are Yellow-breasted Chat, Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Least Bell’s Vireo, and Yellow Warbler. The relatively high species diversity for a river bounded along much of its length by agriculture and urbanization makes it notable for southern California. The watershed, which covers large portions of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, supports numerous rare natural communities and 38 special-status plant and wildlife species, including >20 that depend on the waters of the SCR and/or its associated riparian ecosystems. It also provides relatively intact patches of riparian and floodplain habitats, headwaters-to-ocean aquatic habitat linkages, and a regionally important north-south connection between protected terrestrial wildlife areas. However, portions of the SCR have been significantly altered by levees, water diversions, agriculture, and urbanization that have modified geomorphic and hydrologic processes, often causing aquatic and riparian habitat loss or degradation. The SCR was listed by American Rivers in 2005 as one of the most threatened rivers in the U.S. because of the juxtaposition of its environmental and conservation values with threats from urban and industrial development.

Because of its regional importance, the California State Coastal Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy, and numerous partners have been developing the Santa Clara River Parkway, which envisions a 30 mile-long floodplain corridor along the lower SCR in Ventura County (and ultimately may extend upstream another 20 miles into Los Angeles County) that ameliorates habitat degradation, conserves existing aquatic and riparian habitats, and provides for appropriate public access for recreation and education. The overall vision is to integrate ecosystem research, natural resource planning and management, and agricultural and commercial development to illustrate how science and regional planning may lead to cost-effective conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem functions, and sustainable communities.

Recognizing its importance as an example of approaches and lessons learned for multiple-benefit river restoration in California, the organizers of the Riparian Summit 2017 ( click to access all the presentations listed below), which was held at UC Davis in October 2017, requested that we convene a special case study session focused on the SCR. This session included the following talks: (1) an overview of the Santa Clara River Watershed and its riparian and floodplain habitats, including assessment of current and historical conditions (Orr et al.); (2) a review of riparian bird species and their habitat along the SCR, plus some current monitoring and modeling efforts (Hatten et al.); (3) discussion of the Least Bell’s Vireo strategic habitat conservation planning effort for the SCR (Marek et al.); (4) a review of various techniques for floodplain protection and restoration that provides multiple benefits (Reige); (5) an update on development of a multi-species habitat conservation plan for the lower SCR (McCalvin); and (6) a review of the efforts undertaken by the SCR Steelhead Coalition (Meneghin), including a public outreach video, Santa Clara River: Restoring Resilience, that was shown at the end of the session.

Restoration, conservation, and research by the various SCR Parkway partners are continuing. One new area of focus is the influence of shallow groundwater on aquatic and riparian species and habitats, collectively referred to as groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs), and the long-term sustainable management of GDEs and groundwater supplies under the requirements of California’s recently enacted Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). Another area of active investigation is exploration and application of technological advances in airborne laser mapping (also referred to as light detection and ranging or LiDAR) and other types of remote sensing. These advances are providing new tools for environmental assessment that can be used, in conjunction with focused field data collection, to conduct river floodplain and riparian assessments and restoration planning at multiple scales (e.g., river corridor, reach, and site scales).

For example, we are currently updating the existing vegetation classification and mapping data for the lower 50 miles of the SCR. These efforts are directly benefiting from the use of LiDAR to estimate stand and even individual tree canopy height along with relative elevation (height above the low flow river water surface, which can serve as a proxy for factors such as depth to groundwater which affects patterns of riparian plant distribution and establishment). The results of these efforts are being incorporated into habitat suitability models for the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher and Yellow-billed Cuckoo, as part of a study currently underway. We have also initiated a pilot study to explore the use of LiDAR to provide a more detailed estimate of vertical vegetation structure (from ground surface to top of canopy) that may be used in modeling habitat suitability for other riparian wildlife species, such as the Least Bell’s Vireo.

Scientists confine, study Chinook at restored Snoqualmie River habitat

FALL CITY, Wash. — In newly restored river channels on the Snoqualmie, baby Chinook salmon are confined in 19 enclosures about the size of large suitcases as they munch on little crustaceans and invertebrate insects floating or swimming by.

What’s in the salmon’s stomachs, tracked by scientists, could hold clues about the species’ survival.

The river channels near Fall City were excavated with heavy machinery and restored over the past two years — as part of the biggest habitat restoration project completed by King County. The channels span nearly a mile and give the river room to widen and narrow, and, crucially, provide slow-moving water with logs and plants in which juvenile salmon can thrive.

Puget Sound Chinook are threatened under the Endangered Species Act, so these new refuges could help sustain the fish and their importance to local tribes, as well as to endangered southern resident orcas, which depend on Chinook as a primary prey.

Decades ago, the Snoqualmie ran unobstructed — constantly changing paths and bending across floodplains — gathering water from the mountains and eventually joining the Snohomish River and flowing to the sea. That changed when settlers hardened the river banks with levees and revetments made out of stone.

That process removed the logjams and slow-moving waters crucial to young salmon. Streams and rivers that are warming because of climate change also threaten salmon throughout the Northwest.

To figure out how the fish are faring in the reconstructed channels, King County research scientist Josh Kubo on Wednesday swept a net through the river to see what kind of tiny salmon food is available.

Kubo also analyzes the stomach contents of 90 salmon held in the enclosures, as well as the stomachs of wild chum, pink, coho and Chinook salmon. To complete the task, he flushes the fish’s stomach with a small tube of water.

The study will evaluate the first six to eight weeks of the juvenile Chinook salmon’s life, when it is most threatened in the watershed.

“It’s what’s called the ‘bottleneck area,’ where there is one of the biggest losses and so we have the biggest chance to help improve that survival,” Kubo said.

The results of the study will eventually be published, but recent observations showed the juvenile Chinook in the enclosures were eating well, with stomachs full of aquatic and terrestrial insects and even zooplankton, Kubo said.

The tiny baby Chinook salmon — each around 2 inches long — are just part of one of the science experiments along the river. The Snoqualmie Tribe is also monitoring 17 wells around the area to see how the restored flood plain will interact with groundwater and temperature. That information is crucial, especially in the summer when salmon rely on groundwater to replenish parts of the river with cool water.

The project, which costs $19 million and consists of 145 acres, involved removing a levee from the one bank and a stone revetment from the other. King County planted native trees and shrubs and added new structures to prevent flooding and erosion. Ground work like excavating the channel was completed last year, according to project manager Fauna Nopp.

Representatives from the local flood district and agriculture interests were also involved with the project, she said. Local landowners were enthusiastic about the restoration project since large floods have damaged local roads, structures and farmland, Nopp said.

In 2009, a flood scoured a large amount of topsoil from land owned by nearby Fall City Farms, and floods have routinely damaged a nearby asphalt road near the river, King County geologist Todd Hurley said. The restored flood plain, which will give the river more room during heavy rains, is expected to lessen flooding upstream near a pumpkin patch, barn and rental house owned by Fall City Farm, Nopp said. The project also rebuilt and rerouted a portion of the local road away from the river.

The Raging River empties into the Snoqualmie River just upstream around Fall City, which means the restored flood plain should have a good source of gravel and wood for salmon habitat. Due to the confluence with the Raging River, the area had long been used by Native Americans before white settlers arrived, Hurley said.

“We saw thousands of fish in this reach this year, the first year that it was constructed, so it’s a little hard for me not to get too excited,” he said.

The truth about Gigs, Gs and other internet marketing jargon

My phone runs on 5G. I also just saw a bunch of ads about “10G”. Is it twice as fast?