MIAMI-DADE COUNTY — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District and the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) joined local, state, federal, tribal officials and stakeholders to at a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP) New Water Seepage Barrier Wall Project, which extends the successful underground wall that was built as part of the 8.5 Square Mile Area Seepage Wall Project on Wed. April 24, 2024.
The $60 million project supports ongoing restoration efforts to move water south through the Everglades and into Florida Bay while mitigating potential flooding impacts in communities
outside of Everglades National Park. It was completed 8 months ahead of schedule.
“Everglades restoration is an enormous undertaking that cannot be accomplished alone. We are fortunate to have such a strong partnership with the South Florida Water Management District,” said Maj. Cory Bell, U.S Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District Deputy Commander for South Florida. “These projects provide critical benefits to improve the health of the ecosystem, including endangered species habitat, improve the water supply, improve flood risk management, and improve resilience to climate change and sea level rise. Another piece of the puzzle is completed in an enormously complex system.”
The SFWMD completed the 2.3-mile first phase of the wall in September 2022 and then broke ground on the second phase in December 2022. The second phase adds five miles of the underground seepage wall. The total seepage wall is approximately 7.3 miles long, 63 feet deep and 30 inches wide. During heavy rain events, water that typically would flood communities remained inside Everglades National Park to support the park’s historic hydrology.
“It’s proven to be effective at fostering delivery of water south to Everglades National Park and Florida Bay, while simultaneously providing improved flood protection for the Las Palmas community in Miami-Dade County,” said South Florida Water Management District Governing Board Member “Alligator Ron” Bergeron.
“The work undertaken by the South Florida Water Management District over the years have significantly enhanced the ecological landscape within Miami-Dade County and set a precedent for regions statewide,” said Senator Ana Maria Rodriguez. “Moreover, the culmination of this landmark project underscores our commitment to safeguarding the enduring the beauty and ecological integrity of the Everglades, ensuring its paramount importance in state conservation efforts for generations to come.”
By supporting restoration flows of water through the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, the new underground wall supports the Combined Operating Plan (COP) and new infrastructure being put in place throughout the Everglades that delivers more water into Everglades National Park and Florida Bay - two key areas that need increased flows of water.
“This project is truly a lesson in innovation. For decades, the highly permeable limestone allowed water to seep out of Everglades National Park, where it was needed most,” said Superintendent Pedro Ramos of Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks. “Thanks to the collaborative work of our partners, this seepage wall will allow the park to receive and retain the vital water flows that are necessary to restore the Everglades.”
The goal of the Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP) is to deliver a finalized plan, known as a Project Implementation Report (PIR), for a suite of restoration projects in the central Everglades to prepare for congressional authorization, as part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP). The Central Everglades Planning Project will identify and plan for projects on land already in public ownership to allow more water to be directed south to the central Everglades, Everglades National Park, and Florida Bay.
The public can obtain news, updates and information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District on the district’s website at www.saj.usace.army.mil, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/JacksonvilleDistrict, Twitter at www.twitter.com/JaxStrong, and Instagram at www.instagram.com/jacksonvilledistrict.
Read more about the Central Everglades Planning Project
Jacksonville District > Missions > Environmental > Ecosystem Restoration > Central Everglades Planning Project (army.mil)