Picayune Strand Project Completed: Major Everglades Restoration Milestone

Major Milestone Achieved in Everglades Restoration with Picayune Strand Project Completion

Pictured from L-R: SFWMD Executive Director Drew Bartlett; USACE Jacksonville District Commander Brandon Bowman; Conservancy of Southwest Florida President and CEO Rob Moher; SFWMD Governing Board Chairman Chauncey Goss; SFWMD Governing Board Member and Chair of the Big Cypress Basin Charlette Roman; U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart; Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Adam Telle; DEP Secretary Alexis Lambert; SFWMD Governing Board Member “Alligator Ron” Bergeron; USACE Major General Jason Kelly; SFWMD Governing Board Member Ben Butler and USACE Jacksonville District Major Cory Bell

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. – In a significant step for ecological restoration, the Picayune Strand Restoration Project in Collier County has been completed, marking a key achievement in the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP). Federal, state, and local officials, including the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, gathered to celebrate this milestone.

“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.

Alexis A. Lambert, Secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, emphasized the state and federal collaboration, stating, “Thanks to the support of Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature and their steadfast commitment to Everglades restoration, we are seeing what is possible when state and federal governments, along with our partners, commit to this work and follow through.”

Spanning 55,000 acres, the Picayune Strand initiative involved the elimination of 260 miles of roads and the blocking of 48 miles of canals to restore natural water flow in the region, enhancing wetlands and boosting water quality. This project aids in channeling water into Collier Seminole State Park, Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge, and the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, yielding numerous environmental improvements.

Restoration of critical wetland areas in Southwest Florida

Enhanced habitats for fish and wildlife, including the Florida Panther

Reduced drainage of sensitive ecosystems

Improved aquifer recharge, mitigating saltwater intrusion

Better health for downstream estuaries

These benefits are expected to preserve the area’s natural resources for the future. The momentum of CERP projects continues to accelerate with several recent accomplishments, including the completion of the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Project and the initiation of the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir Inflow Pump Station.

Celebration of CERP’s 25th Anniversary and its transformative impact on Florida’s water systems.

Completion of the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Project, enhancing water quality and coastal resilience in Miami-Dade County.

Groundbreaking of the Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir Inflow Pump Station in Palm Beach County.

Launch of the Blue Shanty Flow Way in Miami-Dade County to deliver clean water southwards.

Start-up of the Caloosahatchee Reservoir in Hendry County.

Signing of a landmark agreement to fast-track the EAA Reservoir construction, now set for completion by 2029.

The Picayune Strand Restoration Project stands as a testament to the collaboration between the USACE and the SFWMD, with the initial Project Partnership Agreement established in 2009. Since 2019, over 80 Everglades restoration projects have either been completed, initiated, or reached significant milestones under this partnership.