Southern Everglades Restoration Project

The Southern Everglades Restoration Project (Southern Everglades) seeks to use a series of water management features to improve the quantity, quality, timing and distribution of freshwater in Water Conservation Area 3B and eastern Everglades National Park.

Project Updates

Thank you for joining us for the NEPA Scoping Meetings on 9 April 2026. Scoping comments are due 27 April 2026.

Email comments can be sent to CESAJ-SouthernEverglades@usace.army.mil. Letters can be sent to the attention of Jacob Thompson, Project Biologist, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, 701 San Marco Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32207

Image of a map depicting the areas listed in the Project Background section

Image of a map depicting locations for alternatives for the Southern Everglades Restoration Project

Project Background

This study includes portions of two CERP Yellow Book Components and the Southeastern ENP area that focus on seepage management in western Miami-Dade County. Seepage management will improve the quantity, quality, timing and distribution of freshwater in ENP and Florida Bay; including:

Component BB - Dade-Broward Levee Seepage Management Areas: Improve the levee and associated water conveyance systems to reduce seepage losses to the east and improve the quality of the Pennsuco Wetlands and southeastern portion of Water Conservation Area 3B.
Component U - Bird Drive Recharge Area: Capture runoff from the western C-4 basin to recharge groundwater and reduce seepage from the buffer areas surrounding ENP.
ENP Southeastern Area: Improve seepage management to support flows in Taylor Slough and Florida Bay.

Southern Everglades Objective

Improve freshwater flow volumes, timing and seasonal hydroperiods to restore and re-establish ecological resilience of wetlands in ENP, WCA-3B and Pennsuco wetlands over the 50-year period of analysis from 2030 to 2080.

Initial Array of Alternatives

To address the problems identified in the study area, a total of 33 management measures were identified and discussed at various locations. The management measures were then screened to 25 management measures and then used to create a draft initial array of 13 alternatives.  Based on screening criteria, an initial array of 4 alternatives was selected. Of those, Alternative 13 was determined to be the Preliminary Tentatively Selected Plan because of the ability to provide benefits in both WCA-3B and ENP, better meeting the project objective.

Alternative 2 (green dashed line): Construction of a semi-confining seepage wall (24-30 inches thick) west of the L-30 levee between the S-337 and S-335 structures and L-30 operations changes to reduce groundwater seepage from WCA-3B.

Alternative 4 (pink dashed line): Construction of a semi-confining seepage wall (24-30 inches thick) in the L-30 levee crown between the S-337 and S-335 structures and L-30 operations changes to reduce groundwater seepage from WCA-3B.

Alternative 11 (yellow dashed line): Construction of a semi-confining seepage wall (24-30 inches thick) in the L-31S levee crown between the S-331 and S-177 structures and South Dade Conveyance System operations changes to reduce groundwater seepage from ENP.

Alternative 13 (pink and yellow dashed line): Construction of a semi-confining seepage wall (24-30 inches thick) in the L-30 levee crown and the L-31S levee crown with operations changes in the L-30 canal and South Dade Conveyance System to reduce groundwater seepage from WCA-3B and ENP.

Project Schedule

NEPA Scoping Meetings: 9 April 2026

Anticipated release of Draft PIR/NEPA:  February 2027

Anticipated release of Final PIR/NEPA:  August 2028

Anticipated Chief’s Report Milestone:  January 2029

Sign Up for Email Updates

To sign up for Southern Everglades email updates email: jeff.d.prater@usace.army.mil

Points of Contact

Project Manager
US Army Corps of Engineers
904-232-1133

Project Manager
South Florida Water Management District
561-682-6536

Public Meeting Materials

Pending

Project Documents