By STAFF REPORTS
On Wednesday, federal, state and local officials celebrated completion of the Picayune Strand Restoration Project in Collier County, which began in 2007.
The 55,000-acre project between Alligator Alley and Tamiami Trail included removal of 260 miles of roads and plugging 48 miles of canals, restoring the natural flow of water to the region, revitalizing wetlands and improving overall water quality. The project was a collaboration between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the South Water Management District, along with other state, local, and federal agencies.
“Historic Achievement. Monumental Day. Collaboration at its finest! We have worked for decades to get to the finish line of this vital Everglades restoration project,” said Charlette Roman, South Florida Water Management District Governing Board Member and Chair of the Big Cypress Basin. “I am enormously grateful to every single person who worked on this project every step of the way. The momentum we have seen under the leadership of Governor Ron DeSantis is truly amazing. In recent years, we have seen many large-scale projects come on-line, with more in the works. Only by working together with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and all of our federal, state and local partners and stakeholders can we accomplish these monumental feats of engineering, planning and construction. I am so proud to be a part of the critical effort to restore America’s Everglades and can finally say, we completed the Picayune Strand Restoration Project!”
The project will improve water flow into Collier Seminole State Park, Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge and the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Environmental benefits cited are:
- Restoration of wetlands that are already making a significant contribution to the landscape of Southwest Florida
- Restored and enhanced habitat for fish and wildlife including the Florida Panther
- Reduced drainage of adjacent sensitive ecosystems
- Improved aquifer recharge to protect underground water supplies and prevent saltwater intrusions
- Reduced freshwater releases/improved health of downstream estuaries
- These long-term benefits will ensure that the region’s natural resources are safeguarded for generations to come.
“Today we celebrated a significant step toward protecting Floridians from flood risk and restoring America’s Everglades. It is a great honor to be here as we mark the completion of the Picayune Strand Restoration Project, a cornerstone of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan,” said Adam Telle, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works. “Reducing flood risk to Floridians and completing rejuvenation of this natural wonder is a gargantuan challenge, the type that can only be successfully pulled off under the get-it-done leadership of President Trump and his Administration. The amount of time and effort that we are contributing to this project is extraordinary, and the result is a testament to the hard work of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, our partners with the State of Florida, and everyone involved in making today a reality.”
