Kissimmee River Restoration Scheme

Location

Kissimmee River, central Florida

History

Once meandered 165km, floodplain 5km wide

to manage floodwaters and protect adjacent land.

90km 10m deep drainage canal 1962 - 1971

Wetlands

Loss of 2,000 to 14,000 hectares/habitats 92% less wading birds

Flow rates

0.42 m/s to 0.05 m/s

Shortened floodwater retention time

11 days to 1 day.

Restoration started

1999 - 2015

restored

100km2

Wildlife

320 fish and wildlife species, 11,000 hectares of wetlands

Dechannelisation

backfilling half of the flood control channel
re-establishing natural river flow
Flood-control channel residential areas stays

Cost

$400 million (initial channelization cost $20 million).

Benefits

Ecosystem
Doubled dissolved oxygen levels vital for aquatic species