Environmental Branch

C-111 South Dade Project

Project Overview

The project is located in the extreme southeastern portion of Florida, adjacent to Everglades National Park (ENP). Canal 111 (C-111) is a part of the South Dade County portion of the Central and Southern Florida (C&SF) project authorized in 1962 to provide flood control to agricultural lands in south Dade County and to discharge flood waters to Taylor Slough in ENP. In 1968, modifications were authorized to provide water supply to ENP and South Dade County. Environmental concerns caused construction to be discontinued before all authorized project features were completed.

C-111 separates Everglades National Park from highly productive subtropical agricultural lands to the east. Because of the extreme permeability of the Biscayne Aquifer in the Dade County area, the project canals have a direct impact on water levels in adjacent areas. The C-111 General Reevaluation Report (GRR) with integrated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was completed and approved in 1994. It recommended project modifications designed to maintain existing flood protection and other C&SF project purposes in developed areas east of C-111 while restoring natural hydrologic conditions in the Taylor Slough and eastern panhandle areas of ENP. Increased freshwater flows in these areas will also help conditions in Florida Bay, a part of ENP.

Current Status

The Project Delivery Team (PDT) is preparing a Post Authorization Change (PAC) report to document design and cost changes to the project. The team is also in the process of amending the Project Cooperation Agreement (PCA). The PCA amendment is needed to modify the cost-share of the project, as directed in the Water Resources Development Act of 1996.

The project is approximately 75 percent complete and has two construction contracts remaining:

• Contract 8 will construct a detention area that will connect to the Modified Water Deliveries to Everglades National Park project and is planned for fiscal year 2012.
• Contract 9 will establish plugs in the L-31W Canal for the purpose of reducing the canal's ability to drain water out of Everglades National Park. The Combined Operational Plan (COP) will be the final operating plan for the project and is expected to be complete by 2015.

Point of Contact & Sponsorship Information

Project Manager:  Michael Collis - Phone: ( 904) 232-1889

Sponsor:

Jorge Jaramillo South Florida Water Mgt District 2301 Centre Park West Drive West Palm Beach, FL 33409 Phone: (561) 242-5520 ext. 4021