'Largest ecosystem restoration effort in the world': Everglades Project Reaches Epic Milestone

Photo from DEP footage

A monumental chapter in Florida's environmental history was written today with the completion of the construction phase of the Everglades Restoration Strategies Project, a project that promises to reshape the future of one of the world’s most unique ecosystems.

Under a blazing Florida sun, state leaders, environmental champions, and tribal representatives gathered to celebrate the final touches on the massive C-139 Flow Equalization Basin, a giant reservoir designed to purify water flowing into the Everglades—Florida's lifeblood.

"We are proud to celebrate this major accomplishment,” said Adam Blalock, Florida Department of Environmental Protection Deputy Secretary for Ecosystem Restoration. “The Everglades Restoration Strategies Project is critical because it improves water quality and expands water storage projects in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem. Another important piece of the puzzle is now complete as we continue to make progress on the largest ecosystem restoration effort in the world.”

After decades of pollution, harmful runoff, and legal battles, the Everglades is finally getting the lifeline it so desperately needs. The C-139 Basin will store and cleanse stormwater from surrounding areas, ensuring that nutrient-rich water will not poison the delicate Everglades ecosystem as it flows southward.

But this wasn’t just a technical feat—it was a human one. From the Miccosukee and Seminole Tribes to federal agencies and local officials, it took an army of dedicated people to reach this milestone.

"The Tribe and other environmental groups fought hard in the courts in past decades to ensure that the water quality in its lands was not being negatively impacted by untreated runoff," said Talbert Cypress, Chairman of the Miccosukee Tribe. "This project, among many others led by the District and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, are substantial steps towards fulfilling the court-mandated obligation to improve water quality in the Everglades. We are encouraged by the District including the Tribe’s voice and trusting our leadership in the implementation of Restoration Strategies."

With 6,000 acres of wetlands restored and 115,000 acre-feet of water storage, this is just the beginning. This project, born out of a 2012 agreement between Florida and the EPA, is part of a grander strategy to restore balance to the Everglades and ensure that it thrives for generations to come.
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The completion of the construction phase is a massive win, but the work does not stop here. Florida continues to lead the charge in ecosystem restoration, with even bigger projects in the pipeline—like the Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir and Caloosahatchee Reservoir—designed to store more water and improve water quality on a scale never before seen.