Historical Context: How has the Caloosahatchee River/Estuary been altered? How does it fit within the broader system?

Michael L. ParsonsCoastal Watershed InstituteFlorida Gulf Coast University

Areas Floodedin 1947

Areas Floodedin 1947

Areas Flooded

in 1926 & 1928

Areas Flooded

in 1926 & 1928

• Hurricanes in 1926 and 1928 resulted in extensive flooding around Lake Okeechobee

• Hurricane in 1947 resulted in widespread flooding throughoutSouth Florida

• State of Florida requested federal assistance in1947

• Congress authorized the C&SF Project in 1948

Historical Problems Leading to Construction of Central and South Florida (C&SF) Project Historical Problems Leading to Construction of Central and South Florida (C&SF) Project

• River Channelization• Herbert Hoover Dike• Water Conservation Areas• Protective Levees

Everglades Agricultural Area

Lower East Coast• Drainage Network

Salinity Structures

Major Features of the C&SF Project Major Features of the C&SF Project

Pre-drainage FlowsManaged Flows(circa 2010)

Water Flows

A Brief History of the Caloosahatchee• The Caloosahatchee was a sinuous river originating in

the natural marshlands west of Lake Okeechobee. • In 1881, a canal (C-43) was dredged to connect the

Caloosahatchee River to Lake Okeechobee. • Three lock-and-dam structures were added to control

flow and stage height in the lake and canal. – S-77 at Moore Haven on Lake Okeechobee and S-78 at

Ortona were completed in the 1930s– S-79 (W.P. Franklin Lock and Dam) at Olga was completed

in 1966 to assure a freshwater supply for Lee County and to prevent saltwater intrusion.

• Dredging activities widened and deepened the river.

Location of the three lock and dam structures

S-79

S-78

S-77

Caloosahatchee Watershed

The Caloosahatchee is a Managed System

• The river (and therefore its ecosystem) has been altered

• How has the system changed?• What can be done to reduce/reverse impacts?• What have scientific studies taught us in

relation to these questions?