May 2024
FACT SHEET
Kissimmee River, FL
Construction (C)
Congressional Districts: 7, 9, 10, 18
1. DESCRIPTION
Congress authorized the Kissimmee River, Florida, project in the Water Resources Development Act of 1992. The Kissimmee Basin includes 3,000 square miles stretching from Orlando to Lake Okeechobee in central Florida. The project involves the ecosystem restoration of the historic floodplain to re-establish wetland conditions by implementing the following: modifications to the operation of the upper chain of lakes, modification of various structures, enlargement of canals C-36 and C-37, backfilling 22 miles of C-38, excavation of about nine miles of new river channel, removal of two water control structures and locks, flood proofing of developments around the lakes, and land acquisition of over 100,000 acres.
2. FUNDING
a. Regular Civil Works Funds:
| Estimated Total Cost |
$854,500,000 |
| Estimated Federal Cost |
$427,250,000 |
| Allocation thru FY23 |
$412,509,748 |
| Allocation for FY24 |
$11,500,000 |
| President’s Budget FY25 |
$1,500,000 |
b. P.L 117-328A: 2023 DRSAA Funds:
| Estimated Total Cost |
$500,000 |
| Allocation thru FY23 |
$1,378,424 |
| Allocation for FY24 |
$3,621,576 |
3. SPONSOR
South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD)
3301 Gun Club Road
West Palm Beach, Florida 33406
4. STATUS
As of July 2022, all 22 miles of canal backfill were completed, restoring continuous water flow to 44 miles of the historic Kissimmee River. As a result, more than 18,000 acres of floodplain habitat has been partially restored. The response of the natural system has greatly exceeded expectations. Many species of ducks and wading birds, including the ring-necked duck, American avocet, and black-necked stilt, are now present.
Construction in the Reach 2 backfill area was completed in June 2021 and has resulted in the removal of the S-65C and tieback levee and backfill of approximately 9 miles of C-38 canal. Construction in the downstream Reach 3 area finished in July 2021 completing Reach 3 backfill repairs required due to Hurricane Irma. The northern section of Reach 3 backfill repair was completed in June 2020. Repair work is ongoing for structure S-69 Weir due to exceptional rainfall caused by Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Nicole producing a partial failure at the corners of the weir. A temporary repair was completed in May 2023 to preserve function and integrity through the 2023 wet season. The permanent repair construction contract was awarded in November 2023 with construction completion schedule by June 2024. The Corps is currently designing the final phase of the repair to address a large downstream scour hole threatening integrity of the structure. The Corps awarded a contract for the construction of the KRR Navigational Warning Signage project at the end of FY 23 with a scheduled completion by October 2024.
Additional efforts are focused on developing a phased implementation of post construction operations including the Headwaters Revitalization Schedule for Lake Kissimmee. The first increment will be put into operation in June 2024. The required NEPA coordination and documentation to implement the full Headwaters Revitalization Schedule will continue through 2026. Five years of required post-construction monitoring to measure progress toward ecosystem restoration will commence after implementation of the full HRS, which is required to restore the hydrology to the system and achieve the desired ecological response.
