April 2022
FACT SHEET
COMPREHENSIVE EVERGLADES RESTORATION PLAN
Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands
Construction (C)
Congressional Districts: 23, 24, 25, 26, 27
1. DESCRIPTION
The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2000, Section 601 (b)(1)(A), authorized the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) as the framework for restoration of the South Florida ecosystem. The Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Phase I Project was authorized under Section 7002 (5) (5) of the Water Resources Reform Development Act (WRRDA) of 2014. The purpose of the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Project is to rehydrate wetlands and reduce point-source discharges into Biscayne Bay. The project, located in southeast Miami-Dade County, incorporates the Deering Estate, the Cutler Wetlands, the L-31E Flow-way/North Canal, and recreational features.
The decision to implement the project via two Project Implementation Reports (PIRs) was based on technical uncertainties and sponsor preference. Phase 1 of the project includes construction of seven pump stations, approximately 10 culverts reconnecting wetlands, and approximately three miles of spreader canals, and the plugging of 2,500 feet of mosquito control ditches. The Phase 1 project area covers approximately 3,761 acres, with the northern boundary at Deering Estates and the southern boundary at the Turkey Point Power Plant.
Phase 2 extends the project into the Barnes Sound area and includes construction of 4 pump stations, mosquito ditch plugs, and culverts. Phase 2 has been incorporated into the ongoing Biscayne Bay and Southeast Everglades Ecosystem Restoration (BBSEER) feasibility/planning study. Information gained through adaptive management actions in Phase 1 will support BBSEER planning.
2. FUNDING
| Estimated Total Cost |
$281,400,000 |
| Estimated Federal Cost |
$103,800,000 |
| Allocation thru FY21 |
$72,550,000 |
| Allocation for FY22 |
$2,000,000 |
| President’s Budget FY23 |
$0 |
3. SPONSOR
South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD)
3301 Gun Club Road
West Palm Beach, Florida 33406
4. STATUS
As part of the SFWMD Expedited Construction Plan, the SFWMD completed construction of the Deering Estate features in March 2012. These features include a pump station, spreader structure, canal extension.
The SFWMD is currently in the design phase of the Cutler Wetland features, which include a pump station, a concrete lined channel, a spreader canal, associated culverts, and recreational features. The SFWMD portion of L-31E Flow-way includes the addition of 4 culverts that were completed in May 2010.
The Corps and the non-federal sponsor, the SFWMD, executed a Project Partnership Agreement (PPA) in August 2016. Following execution of the PPA, the Corps constructed two culverts on the L-31E Flow-way and designed one pump station and four culverts (culverts constructed by SFWMD in 2018). In May and September of 2020, the Corps awarded two construction contracts for two L-31E Flow-way pump stations (S-709 and S-705), and associated components. Construction of S-709 will be completed in late 2022 and construction of S-705 will be completed in late 2023.
In August and September of 2021, the Corps awarded two L-31E Flow-way construction contracts for the remaining components, including three pump stations (S-703, S-710 and S-711) and associated spreader channel, spreader canal, spreader basin, seepage canal, and recreational components. S-703 will be completed in late 2023 and both S-710 and S-711 will be completed in late 2024.