The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), in partnership with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Glades County, has begun work on the second phase of the Lake Hicpochee Project. The project is part of the Northern Everglades and Estuaries Protection Program and aims to improve water quality, reduce harmful discharges to the Caloosahatchee Estuary, and increase water storage capacity in the region.
Ben Butler, a member of the SFWMD Governing Board, said, “I grew up in Florida and the community here is very important to me. I am very invested in the future of our heartland, the future of our children and grandchildren, and I want them to be able to enjoy South Florida like I do. We live, work and recreate here, so investing in our environment and water management infrastructure is vital to maintaining our quality of life in the State of Florida. Under the leadership of Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature, we continue to have historic progress and momentum to conserve our natural resources and protect our waterways. I also greatly appreciate our hard-working staff at the District who routinely advance important projects that support our mission.”
Adam Blalock, Deputy Secretary for Ecosystem Restoration at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, stated, “The expansion of this project is critical because it improves water quality and expands water storage in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem. The State of Florida continues to make record investments to protect our natural resources and preserve our way of life. Thanks to the leadership of Governor Ron DeSantis and the hard work of our partners, including the South Florida Water Management District, we are proud to celebrate another major accomplishment.”
Historically, Lake Hicpochee was one of three lakes considered as headwaters for the Caloosahatchee River. However, channelization efforts in the 1800s altered its natural state by creating an artificial connection between Lake Okeechobee and the Caloosahatchee River. This led to changes that affected both hydrology and ecology throughout the basin.
The first phase of this project was completed in 2021 with a flow equalization basin and pump station designed to store more water and improve delivery timing for releases into the Caloosahatchee River.
The current expansion includes constructing an additional 2,200-acre flow equalization basin, a new pump station equipped with three pumps each capable of moving 75 cubic feet per second (cfs), two new water control structures, and increasing total storage capacity up to 9,300 acre-feet. Completion is anticipated by 2028.
Since 2019, over 75 Everglades restoration projects have either been completed or reached significant milestones across Florida.
