How Florida Brought its Dying Kissimmee River Back to Life
60 years ago, the Kissimmee River wound through central Florida for 166km. Its floodplain was home to an abundance of wildlife, from alligators and eagles to fish and waterfowl and many species of native wetland plants. But after a period of prolonged flooding in 1947, the US government repurposed the river as a flood barrier.
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How Florida Brought its Dying Kissimmee River Back to Life

The Kissimmee River is a 166-kilometer river in central Florida. It was once home to an abundance of wildlife, including alligators, eagles, fish, waterfowl, and many species of native wetland plants. However, in 1947, the US government repurposed the river as a flood barrier. Army engineers dredged and straightened the Kissimmee, turning it into a dead-straight 90-kilometer-long canal. This caused enormous damage to the local ecosystem.

The damage caused by the canal

The fast-running canal depleted the river of oxygen, leading to a collapse in the food chain. Waterfowl numbers fell by 90%, while the number of bald eagle nesting sites fell by 70%.

The Kissimmee River restoration project

In 1999, a $1 billion project to reverse this damage began. Led by the US Army Corps of Engineers and the South Florida Water Management District, they backfilled 35 kilometers of the canal, reconstructed old river channels, and reconnected them with the parts of the river that had been left behind. More than 100 square kilometers of floodplain and 81 square kilometers of wetland have been restored.

The results of the restoration project

Fish and aquatic invertebrates are returning to the oxygen-rich river. Waterfowl have also returned in expectation-defying numbers. The project has also added 12 million cubic meters of extra water capacity to the area, which will help prevent flooding in the future.

The restoration of the Kissimmee River is a success story. It shows that it is possible to reverse the damage caused by human intervention and restore a healthy ecosystem. The project has also provided a valuable lesson for other communities that are facing similar challenges.

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