In December 2014, South Florida Water Management District and the Army Corp of Engineers kicked off the Loxahatchee River Watershed Restoration Project, which is part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. The renewed purpose of the project is to restore and sustain the overall quantity, quality, timing, and distribution of freshwaters to the federally designated “National Wild and Scenic” Northwest Fork of the Loxahatchee River for current and future generations. This project also seeks to restore, sustain, and reconnect the area’s wetlands and watersheds that form the historic headwaters for the river and tributaries. 

Planning efforts for the project were put on hold in 2011 and were restarted on January 12, 2015. The project was re-scoped under the Corp’s New Planning Paradigm and existing plan formulation data and analysis was used in the development of a Project Implementation Report and Environmental Impact Statement, to prepare for congressional authorization. South Florida Water Management District and the Corp of Engineers conducted an alternative formulation and analysis process for the plan formation, which consisted of evaluating alternative plan selections for determining the best project scenarios. As a result of these evaluations and updated modeling, Alternative 5R was selected for the tentatively selected plan. On August 1, 2018, the Project Delivery Team was notified that the Corp’s Headquarters concurred with the Delivery Team’s recommendation for Alternative 5R. The Corp prepared a draft Project Implementation Report and Environmental Impact Statement. The draft report was released on March 22, 2019, and two public meetings were held in April 2019 to solicit public comment. The District submitted comments on May 6, 2019, concerning the plan. The Final Project Implementation Report and Environmental Impact Statement was published. On March 9, 2020, staff submitted a letter with comments, as well as a letter from the Board, restating the need for analysis. The Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of the Corp signed the Project Implementation Report on April 8, 2020. Congress passed the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 and on December 27, 2020, the President signed it. This act included authorization of the Loxahatchee River Watershed Restoration Project.

The Project Partnership Agreement between South Florida Water Management District and the Corp, which was planned to be executed by March 2024, is currently on hold, pending evaluation of a new cost estimate for the project. However, South Florida Water Management District is moving ahead as planned with design, anticipating that the Project Partnership Agreement will be sorted out eventually. 

The two new project features, the M-1 Canal Pump Station and Grassy Waters Preserve Triangle will be designed under the Flow-way 1 design contract. The design contract will also include modeling to determine if any modifications are needed for the existing G-160 and G-161 structures.

For detailed information and updates on these Intergovernmental Projects, see the District Engineer’s full Annual Report.