A Flurry of Ribbon Cuttings Illustrates Everglades Restoration Milestones

Critical Milestone in Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir Timeline

Audubon Florida joined the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and restoration partners in late September to celebrate the signing of the 10A construction contract for the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir. This is a critical milestone for the “Crown Jewel of Everglades Restoration.” The new contract advances key conveyance and protection features that will help move the project from planning to full-scale implementation.

Once completed, the EAA Reservoir and its associated treatment areas will be capable of storing and cleaning billions of gallons of water, reducing harmful discharges to the northern estuaries while sending clean, fresh water south to the Everglades and Florida Bay. This project is essential to restoring natural water flows, improving water quality, and supporting the health of wildlife and communities across South Florida.

Audubon Florida has long championed the EAA Reservoir as a cornerstone of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan and continues to work alongside state, federal, and local partners to ensure its timely completion. The 10A contract represents tangible progress toward a more resilient, restored, and thriving Everglades for future generations.

Lake Hicpochee Ribbon Cutting

In October, partners gathered in Glades County to celebrate the groundbreaking of Phase Two of the Lake Hicpochee Restoration Project. Representatives from the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Glades County, Audubon, and other local, state, and environmental stakeholders joined together to commemorate continued progress in restoring this critical part of the Northern Everglades.

Located near the headwaters of the Caloosahatchee River, Lake Hicpochee plays a vital role in regional water management. The project, part of the Northern Everglades and Estuaries Protection Program, aims to improve water quality, reduce the frequency and volume of harmful discharges to the Caloosahatchee Estuary, and provide much-needed shallow water storage in the surrounding watershed. Once complete, the restoration will help capture and treat stormwater runoff, promote natural wetland function, and enhance habitat for fish and wildlife.

Phase Two builds on earlier efforts to rehydrate and restore more than a thousand acres of former wetlands surrounding the lake. The new phase will expand water storage capacity, add treatment cells, and improve flow connectivity, designed to mimic the natural hydrology that once characterized this area before it was drained for agriculture.

Audubon Florida’s Everglades Science Coordinator, Paul Gray, PhD, spoke at the groundbreaking, noting that “the District and its partners are making record-breaking progress on water projects that benefit South Florida’s watersheds.” He also highlighted the unique collaboration driving this success. The District’s Governing Board member Ben Butler also spoke at the event, emphasizing that as a farmer, he sees these projects as vital to South Florida’s future. His comments dovetailed with those of Audubon. This shared vision underscores a growing consensus across sectors that restoring natural water flow benefits both people and the environment, strengthening the region’s resilience to droughts, floods, and nutrient pollution.

This article original appeared in the Fall 2025 State of the Everglades report. Read the full report here.