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Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetland's Eastern Shore
The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Governing Board today unanimously approved the final component of the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Project in Miami-Dade County. This key restoration effort for Biscayne Bay is one of several Everglades restoration projects prioritized by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
"Everything we do in Miami revolves around the iconic Biscayne Bay. Our Bay is both an environmental treasure and economic engine for Miami, and I'm proud to see continued progress to further revitalize the Bay," said SFWMD Governing Board Member Charlie Martinez, a Miami-Dade native and member of the Biscayne Bay Commission. "Thanks to the robust support from Governor Ron DeSantis and our partners at the Jacksonville District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Miami-Dade County, we will soon break ground on the last component of the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Project."
The Governing Board's action today awarded a construction contract to Kiewit Infrastructure South Co. to build the S-701 Pump Station. This pump station begins Cutler Wetlands, the last component of the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Project.
The Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Project is a part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) and will be complete in 2025. The project restores freshwater flows to southern Biscayne Bay and Biscayne National Park while improving salinity distribution near the shore. It also restores historical freshwater wetland habitat adjacent to the Bay, which acts like a sponge, soaking up water in the wet season and slowly releasing it in a more natural pattern. Reestablishing productive nearshore habitat also supports nursery habitat for key marine wildlife including shrimp, shellfish and fish.
Improving the health of Biscayne Bay remains a priority for SFWMD. In partnership with Miami-Dade County and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, SFWMD also works to reduce litter and debris from reaching the bay through the regional canal system. Additional restoration efforts within the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan are currently being planned through the Biscayne Bay and Southeastern Everglades Ecosystem Restoration (BBSEER) Project.
The Governing Board also recognized recent Everglades restoration accomplishments in a video played during today's meeting.
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