Launched in 2024, the Corkscrew Watershed Initiative (CWI) is a new collaborative planning study by the South Florida Water Management District dedicated to the conservation and restoration of the Corkscrew Swamp in Southwest Florida, encompassing northern Collier and southern Lee counties.
Key components of the initiative include habitat restoration, increasing the duration of time that water remains on the landscape, and restoring natural flows of water. A primary focus is identifying projects that will increase the region’s resilience to flooding, wildfire, and climate change.
The CWI fosters partnerships among various stakeholders, local communities, and government agencies, emphasizing a collaborative approach to enhance biodiversity, promote ecological resilience, and educate the public on the importance of protecting this vital watershed. The initiative seeks to balance environmental health with community needs and interests, with Shawn Clem, PhD, and other scientists at Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary playing pivotal roles in its progress.
The Big Cypress Basin Board of the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) significantly contributes to the CWI by overseeing water resource management, habitat restoration, and conservation efforts in the region. Their involvement includes monitoring water quality, implementing water management practices, and supporting restoration projects that enhance the ecological health of the area.
Audubon’s long-term monitoring at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary has documented a significant reduction in the duration that water remains on the landscape and an increase in the rate at which water drains from the Sanctuary. These changes have had detrimental effects on the ecosystem—restoring Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is one of the best investments we can make in Southwest Florida.
In response, CWI is developing a comprehensive restoration strategy to address these critical issues which will guide restoration investments in Southwest Florida and the Corkscrew Swamp watershed.
“Partnerships are key to protecting and restoring the more than 60,000-acre Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed. Collaborating with our partners and sharing our cutting-edge science and historical data from the Sanctuary will continue to promote conservation efforts in Southwest Florida.” — Keith Laakkonen, Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary Director
First published in the Fall 2024 State of the Everglades report.
