Inside the Project Restoring Water Flow to Biscayne Bay
- Apr 1
- 3 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
April x, 2026
Imagine being a fish in Biscayne Bay. One moment, the salty waters are calm and nourishing, the next, a torrent of freshwater rushes in from a canal, disrupting your habitat.
For decades, this abrupt influx of freshwater has impacted nearshore marine life, damaged seagrass beds, and stressed coastal mangrove wetlands. The Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Project is beginning to fix that.
What Is the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Project?
The Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands (BBCW) Project is a vital component of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) that aims to restore natural freshwater flows to Biscayne Bay and its adjacent mangrove wetlands, enhancing the health of these ecosystems and the wildlife they support.
Once complete, the project will allow water to slowly trickle into Biscayne Bay through the mangrove wetlands that fringe Biscayne Bay, just as nature designed.
How Did the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Project Start?
Authorized by Congress in 2014, the BBCW Project focuses on allowing freshwater to flow through coastal wetlands before reaching Biscayne Bay, reducing direct discharge from canals. The project is comprised of three components, including Deering Estate, the L-31 East Flow Way, and Cutler Wetlands.
Using pump stations, culverts, and flow-ways, the project is helping recreate the natural water flow patterns that have been disrupted over decades.
Key Benefits of the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Project
Restoration of Wetlands: So far, the project has rehydrated more than 190 acres of coastal wetlands.
Restored Wildlife Habitat: As wetlands are rehydrated and flow is restored along the coast, critical species like seagrass, oyster beds, game fish, manatees – and even alligators and baby crocodiles – will enjoy the benefits of healthier habitats.
Improved Water Quality: By reducing the abrupt influx of freshwater, the project helps provide more natural distributed and seasonal flows, improving water quality in Biscayne Bay.
Economic and Recreational Benefits: A healthier Biscayne Bay attracts tourists and supports local economies through activities like fishing, boating, and eco-tourism.
Recent Project Timelines and Future Outlook
Between 2022-2023, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) approved contracts for the final components of the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Project: The S-701 Pump Station and Cutler Flow Way Conveyance System Project.
In March 2023, SFWMD, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Miami-Dade County broke ground and started construction on the final components, including:
Construction of more than a mile of an above-ground concrete-lined channel to deliver water.
Concrete-box culvert and micro-tunnel culvert to allow passage under roadways.
A distribution canal that disperses water over approximately 2.5 miles of coastal wetlands.
A linear park and recreational features.
In May 2023, the S-709 pump station was completed. This project component is designed to move more than 25 million gallons of water each day to restore the southern wetlands by moving approximately 59% of the available water each year into wetlands rather than directly into Biscayne Bay.
Upon completion, the BBCW Project will have significantly restored natural water flows, improving the ecological health of the coastal mangroves and Biscayne Bay.
Through targeted restoration, the project will rejuvenate vital ecosystems, not only supporting biodiversity, but also ensuring a sustainable future for Biscayne Bay, its local communities, and the people from around the world who visit this unique ecosystem in the heart of Miami.
Cleaner water, healthier wetlands, happier wildlife – that’s how Restoration Works!
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