Taylor Slough Improvement Project Completed

Improvements will increase the flow of clean, freshwater south.

May 30, 2023 - The Everglades Foundation joined the South Florida Water Management District, National Park Services, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and other partners to celebrate the completion of the Taylor Slough Flow Improvement Project. This restoration project will increase the volume and distribution of clean, freshwater into Florida Bay through Everglades National Park's natural water channel of Taylor Slough.

Infrastructure Upgrades Restore Natural Water Distribution

The Taylor Slough Flow Improvement Project included the installation of 18 culverts at nine locations along a 3.2-mile section of Old Ingraham Highway in Everglades National Park to improve the distribution of freshwater flows and restore natural plant communities and wetlands.

Restoration in Record Time: Immediate Benefits for Florida Bay

“Partnership projects such as this Taylor Slough Flow Improvement Project are essential to getting the water right in Everglades National Park,” said Pedro Ramos, superintendent of Everglades and Dry Tortugas national parks. “Completing this project in time for the rainy season means Florida Bay will benefit immediately from additional flows of the clean fresh water it needs to thrive." A groundbreaking was held for this project just 4 months ago.

Taylor Slough is located in the southeastern part of Everglades National Park and was historically a major contributor of freshwater to Florida Bay. The duration, timing, and extent of wetland inundation of Taylor Slough’s interconnected wetlands and freshwater flows through Florida Bay are a critical component of the Everglades ecosystem.

Historic Modifications Disrupted Natural Flow for Decades

In the early 1920s surface flow was substantially reduced by the construction of Old Ingraham Highway, which acted as a dam, cutting off and redirecting freshwater flow away from Taylor Slough. Additional infrastructure changes, including the building of the regional flood control system known as the Central and Southern Florida (C&SF) Project, have also reduced the flow of water to this important ecological resource.

Watch the event recap video below:

And in Spanish: