As of December 12, 2023, this project is in the design phase. Further details regarding design and construction have not been identified. A firm timeline for construction have not been established; however, construction is anticipated to begin in 2026. A detailed scope has not yet been released. *The closed solicitation has been included below for reference: The Loxahatchee River Watershed is part of the Greater Everglades Ecosystem. Historically, the study area comprised an expansive network of uplands & wetlands of diverse habitat. Its rain-driven hydrology maintained natural communities throughout the watershed and provided unobstructed freshwater flows to the Loxahatchee River and to the Everglades. The Loxahatchee River is a blend of freshwater and estuarine environments. It was originally connected to the Everglades via the Loxahatchee Slough, where freshwater was freely exchanged with the Everglades based on water levels in the river and slough. Over time, natural areas across the watershed were converted to agricultural and urban uses, and roadway, canals, and levees infrastructure, and urbanization created barriers to freshwater flows, disconnecting the river and slough from the Everglades. The Loxahatchee River Watershed Restoration Project aims to restore and sustain the overall quantity, quality, timing, and distribution of fresh waters to the federally designated “National Wild and Scenic” Northwest Fork of the Loxahatchee River. The Recommended Plan will deliver 98% of the wet season restoration flow target and 91% of the dry season restoration flow target for the Northwest Fork of the Loxahatchee River. This will reverse the trend of increasing salinity levels and help conserve the remaining riverine cypress habitat. The Recommended Plan will improve wetland hydrology in the Pal-Mar natural area complex and restore 17,000 acres of various types of agricultural land that are part of the historical Greater Everglades. An additional 9,500 acres of natural areas will be improved in the J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area, Loxahatchee Slough, and Kitching Creek. The restoration actions also improve connectivity for over 78,000 acres of natural areas and restored wetlands that benefit many species of flora and fauna, both endangered and important recreational species, such as deer and ducks. While the overall project purpose is ecosystem restoration, the wetland restoration components will provide multiple recreation and economic opportunities for the local areas in the form of hunting, fishing, boating, and other outdoor recreation. After going on hold in 2011, project planning efforts were restarted in January 2016. USACE approved the tentatively selected plan on 31 July 2018. On 22 March 2019, the USACE made the draft PIR available in the Federal Register for 45-day public review. The FPIR/EIS was posted to the Federal Register on 05 February 2020 for public and state/agency review; the Chief’s Report was signed on 08 April 2020. The Loxahatchee River Watershed Restoration Project is awaiting authorization in Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) 2020. Pending authorization, engineering design is set to begin in 2022.
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