Audubon applauded the South Florida Water Management District (District) today for taking an important step in restoring the desperately-needed freshwater flows to Florida Bay.

The District Governing Board approved three construction contracts that will set in motion the implementation of the first phase of the C-111 Spreader Canal project.  This project is the only opportunity in the near future to bring the southern mangrove wetlands and Florida Bay back to their former abundance and productivity.

The successful completion and operation of the first phase of this restoration project will create a hydraulic ridge and push water back toward Taylor Slough, the intended freshwater entry point to Florida Bay.  Increasing freshwater flow volumes to Florida Bay through Taylor Slough will rehydrate wetlands that have long suffered from too little freshwater.

Among the ecosystem benefits expected from this project are a decrease in salinity across the southern mangrove zone, which will lead to greater abundances of submerged grass species that support higher densities of prey fish, which in turn support wading bird populations.