HENDRY COUNTY, Fla. -- Governor Ron DeSantis stopped in Southwest Florida Friday to share a big update when it comes to protecting our paradise.
He announced the groundbreaking of the C-43 reservoir in LaBelle. It's one of the major projects that's part of the governor's multi-million dollar Everglades restoration plan.
At least 100 people gathered there Friday for the groundbreaking of the reservoir. Standing amongst heavy machinery and piles of dirt, Governor DeSantis had big news to share.
“You can see the start of the work on the $524 million contract to build 19 miles of embankments, 15 miles of canals that will bring the Caloosahatchee River and Estuary back to health,” says DeSantis.
He says that breaking ground on the Caloosahatchee River West Basin Storage Reservoir -- or C-43 -- is part of an overall solution to restore the river and estuary.
“This is something our residents have been crying for for years,” said Chauncey Goss of the South Florida Water Management District.
Crying for this after toxic algae blooms that have plagued the Southwest Florida area. With C-43 construction underway, the reservoir is expected to be fully functional by 2023.
The massive six-mile by three-mile reservoir will be surrounded by 19-miles of earthen dam and average 25-feet deep.
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What it will do is capture and store local basin runoff and Lake Okeechobee releases. That'll reduce harmful discharges to the Caloosahatchee Estuary.
C-43 will also send fresh water to the estuary during dry season to help wildlife in and around the water stay healthy.
Daniel Andrews with Captains for Clean Water says this reservoir, along with the EAA Reservoir the governor has also worked to expedite, are what's needed to sustain the economy in Southwest Florida. “This specific reservoir is going to help maintain salinities in the upper estuary. The tarpon, the snook that I used to fish for and make a living off of depend on the upper estuary and the salinities have been imbalanced for so long.”
Andrews says it's refreshing to see this project break ground. A sight welcomed by water quality, conservancy and Everglades experts alike. All commending the governor for prioritizing projects like this.
The governor has also announced a comprehensive water quality bill based on the results of the Blue Green Algae Task Force, and plans to impose tougher penalties for people who pollute the waters.
He says they're seeking the same $625 million amount of record money for Everglades and water quality.
