A state agency charged with managing the region’s waters spent millions of dollars on the Caloosahatchee and other reservoirs as well as smaller projects expected to improve water quality in Southwest Florida.
The South Florida Water Management District recently released its annual environment report, which details various projects the agency is working on throughout the 16-county district.
One of the most important projects for Southwest Florida coastal water quality, the Caloosahatchee Reservoir, often called C-43, when completed will hold about 55 billion gallons of water that would be collected mostly from basin flow during the wet season and stored until needed.
At a final cost of over $1 billion, the reservoir will be an important part of helping restore the Caloosahatchee estuary and coastal Lee County.
“I think the reservoir is anticipated to provide about 37% of the water needed to restore the estuary and it would, based on some assumptions, it would prevent significant harm to the estuary about 95% of the time,” said Calusa Waterkeeper John Cassani. “So it’s progress in the context of slowing down or reversing the significant harm that occurs every dry season.”
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