AN HISTORICAL-PERSPECTIVE ON THE KISSIMMEE RIVER RESTORATION PROJECT

This paper reviews the events leading to the channelization of the Kis simmee River, the physical, hydrologic, and biological effects of chan nelization, and the restoration movement. Between 1962 and 1971, in or der to provide flood control for central and southern Florida, the 166 km-long meandering Kissimmee River was transformed into a 90 km-long, 10 meter-deep, 100 meter-wide canal. Channelization and transformatio n of the Kissimmee River system into a series of impoundments resulted in the loss of 12,000-14,000 ha of wetland habitat, eliminated histor ic water level fluctuations, and greatly modified now characteristics. As a result, the biological communities of the river and floodplain s ystem (vegetation, invertebrate, fish, wading bird, and waterfowl) wer e severely damaged. Following completion of the canal, the U.S. Geolog ical Survey released a report documenting the environmental concerns a ssociated with channelization of the river. This action led to the 197 1 Governor's Conference on Water Management in South Florida that prod uced a consensus to request that steps be taken to restore the fish an d wildlife resources and habitat of the Kissimmee basin. In 1976, the Florida Legislature passed the Kissimmee River Restoration Act. As a r esult, three major restoration and planning studies (first federal fea sibility study [1978-1985], the Pool B Demonstration Project [1984-199 0], and the second federal feasibility study [1990-present] were initi ated (1) to evaluate measures and provide recommendations for restorin g floodplain wetlands and improving water quality within the Kissimmee basin, (2) to assess the feasibility of the recommended dechannelizat ion plan, and (3) to evaluate implementation of the dechannelization p lan. The recommended plan calls for the backfilling of over 35 km of C -38, recarving of 14 km of river channel, and removal of two water-con trol structures and associated levees. Restoration of the Kissimmee Ri ver ecosystem will result in the reestablishment of 104 km(2) of river -floodplain ecosystem, including 70 km of river channel and 11,000 ha of wetland habitat, which is expected to benefit over 320 species of f ish and wildlife.