The Plants and Infrastructure That Clean South Florida's Water

5 days ago
3 min read

April x, 2026

From engineered wetlands that mimic nature’s filters to giant basins that smooth out the highs and lows of water flows, Everglades restoration has a few unsung heroes. Dive into two critical tools that help restoration work and provide exciting recreational opportunities for Floridians: Stormwater Treatment Areas and Flow Equalization Basins.

What Are Stormwater Treatment Areas and Flow Equalization Basins?

Stormwater Treatment Areas (STAs) are constructed wetlands that remove harmful excess nutrients (especially phosphorus) from stormwater before it moves toward sensitive natural areas like the Everglades. Notably, vegetation within STAs absorbs and traps excess phosphorus – a nutrient that is essential for all life but is harmful to the Everglades ecosystem in high concentrations.

Flow Equalization Basins (FEBs) are large, engineered storage features designed to capture stormwater runoff, temporarily store it, and release it at controlled rates to downstream treatment systems. FEBs also aid in phosphorus removal, but by absorbing peak flows, FEBs function to ensure that STAs operate at optimal conditions for water quality treatment.

What Is the History of Stormwater Treatment Areas and Flow Equalization Basins in Everglades Restoration?

Both STAs and FEBs stem from a long-standing effort to improve water quality in South Florida. STAs were first developed under the Everglades Forever Act and expanded under Restoration Strategies, a collaborative plan between the State of Florida, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and water managers to meet phosphorus protective limits in water discharged to the Everglades.

The Restoration Strategies Regional Water Quality Plan, part of Florida’s approach to clean water, expanded STA capacity by thousands of acres and added 116,000 acre-feet of storage in FEBs.

Examples include the A-1 and L-8 FEBs, both now operational and delivering benefits. The C-139 FEB project, which recently added storage and improved treatment capacity in the C-139 basin, will help to hydrate and improve the functionality of STA 5/6.

What Are the Benefits of FEBs and STAs?

STAs and FEBs provide measurable ecosystem and operational benefits like:

Clean Water for Everglades and Downstream Ecosystems: STAs have treated millions of acre-feet of water and reduced phosphorus loads significantly, helping protect ecosystems that thrive under naturally low nutrient conditions. In 2017 alone, five Everglades STAs treated more than 1.1 million acre-feet of water, reducing phosphorus loads by approximately 80%.
Optimized Treatment Performance: By smoothing the volume and timing of water delivered to STAs, FEBs enhance treatment efficiency and reduce stresses from high flow events or dry-out conditions that can degrade performance.
Support for Broader Restoration Goals: Improving water quality is essential for restoring the Everglades’ quality, quantity, timing, and distribution of water, which are core goals of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) and state water quality efforts.
Recreational Opportunities: STAs in the Everglades offer public recreation opportunities in addition to improving water quality. The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) lists available activities such as bird‑watching, hiking, bicycling, fishing, photography, and nature viewing at select STAs like Stormwater Treatment Area 1 East. Some STAs also permit regulated hunting during designated seasons, and the C‑44 Reservoir STA hosts birding tours led by a local Audubon Society chapter.
Habitat for Wildlife: SFWMD reports that STAs provide important habitat for wildlife, including wading birds, fish, reptiles such as American alligators, and other native Everglades species. Shallow water conditions and diverse wetland vegetation create feeding, nesting, and refuge areas that support wildlife while contributing to broader Everglades restoration and water quality improvement efforts.

When Will All FEBs and STAs for Restoration Strategies Be Done?

Restoration Strategies STA and FEB expansions were completed in 2025, with assessments set to begin in 2026. Through other large-scale restoration plans like CERP and the Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP), however, additional construction may continue beyond this timeframe to support long-term restoration objectives.

Watch the Episode

[video embed]

Want to learn more?

You’re in the right place. For more than 30 years, The Everglades Foundation has been the premier organization fighting to restore and protect the precious Everglades ecosystem through science, advocacy, and education.

Join the movement to restore and protect the global treasure that is America’s Everglades. Sign up to learn more. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter). Give a gift of any amount you can to support our mission at EvergladesFoundation.org/Donate.