Kissimmee River Restoration Project

View of part of the Kissimmee River and the backfilled canalThe Kissimmee River Restoration project, authorized by Congress in 1992, is sponsored by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD). When the project is completed in 2020, more than 40 square miles of river-floodplain ecosystem will be restored, including nearly 20,000 acres of wetlands and 44 miles of historic river channel.

Background

The Kissimmee River once meandered for 103 miles through central Florida. Its floodplain, reaching up to two miles wide, was inundated for long periods by heavy seasonal rains. Wetland plants, wading birds and fish thrived there.

Because prolonged flooding caused severe impacts to human habitation, Florida officials asked Congress for assistance. Congress tasked the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers and, between 1962 and 1971, the Corps cut and dredged the Kissimmee River into a 30-foot deep straightaway called the C-38 canal. The project achieved flood reduction benefits, but it also harmed the river-floodplain ecosystem.

After extensive planning, construction for environmental restoration began in 1999. The project is now more than halfway complete. In the lower Kissimmee River Basin, Phase1 construction was completed in 2001 and Phase 4 was completed in 2010, restoring continuous water flows to approximately 19 of 44 miles of the Kissimmee River. Phases 2 and 3 are now underway and includes backfilling the C-38 canal, and restoring flow to 9 miles of the river. Approximately 99 percent of lands needed to complete Kissimmee River Restoration have been acquired — a total of 102,061 acres. More than 15 of 22 miles of canal have been backfilled and 6,500 acres of floodplain wetlands have been 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. These species were not present during pre-construction surveys.

Additional information is available on the Kissimmee River Restoration Project fact sheet and placemat .

 

Info & Meetings

Current

USACE to hold Kissimmee River Headwaters Revitalization Schedule Public Scoping Meetings

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District (USACE), in partnership with the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), is preparing a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) assessment for the Kissimmee River Restoration (KRR) Project Headwaters Revitalization Schedule (HRS) and will hold two public scoping meetings on September 4 – 5, 2024.

We invite the participation of Federal and state agencies, native American tribes, local agencies, interested parties and individuals in providing comments and identifying any issues or concerns. 

Scoping comments may be transmitted electronically to KRRHeadwaters@usace.army.mil during the scoping period, which will conclude on September 20, 2024. All comments will be summarized, addressed, and used to inform the NEPA assessment. 

Comments may also be provided at the public scoping meetings, which will be held at the following dates and locations:

•             Sept 4, 5:30-6:30 PM, Alton Chandler Civic Center, 20350 Highway 98 N, Okeechobee, FL 34972

•             Sept 5, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM, Valencia College – Osceola Campus, Building 1, 1800 Denn John Lane, Kissimmee, FL 34744, please park in Lot F (refer to attachment)

Open house poster sessions will begin approximately one hour prior to the start of each scoping meeting, at their respective locations, where staff from USACE and SFWMD will be available to answer questions.  Meeting participants may attend the second scoping meeting virtually at: https://sfwmd.link/4cpXVFL  

The KRR HRS Public Scoping Letter is available at: https://www.saj.usace.army.mil/About/Divisions-Offices/Planning/Environmental-Branch/Environmental-Documents/ under Multiple Counties, row 54.

View News Release about KRR Public Scoping Meetings

Previous

Corps announces additional changes to navigation on Kissimmee River - December 16, 2019

View the news release (w/map of closures)

Corps continues construction on Kissimmee River Restoration Project; Navigation closures remain in effect - February 13, 2017


Corps awards contract for Kissimmee River Restoration Project; Navigation closures scheduled to begin this fall - August 5, 2016


Backfilling work begins for Kissimmee River Restoration Project; Navigation will be interrupted on part of C-38 Canal - March 2, 2016


Construction contract awarded for Reach 3 Backfill and Bass Embankment Degrade - Sept. 28, 2015


Construction contract awarded for MacArthur Ditch Backfill - Jan. 15, 2015

Points of Contact

Corps Project Manager
904-232-1662

Project Manager
South Florida Water Management District

561-682-6453

 

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