Phase I of the Kissimmee River Restoration Project: Initial River ChannelResponses

摘要

Completed in 2001, Phase I of the Kissimmee River Restoration Project (KRRP)backfilled 12 km of the C-38 flood control canal, restoring flow to over 24 km of historicriver channel. The goal of KRRP is reestablishment of ecological integrity to theriver/floodplain ecosystem. Ultimately, the project is expected to restore 50 km~2 offloodplain wetlands and over 70 km of river channel. This paper reports on predicted andmeasured responses in seven river channel metrics. Monitoring focused on before-aftermeasurements of physical and biological components of the river channel, includinghydrology, geomorphology, dissolved oxygen, vegetation, invertebrates, fish, and birds.Preliminary results for these metrics show that they have followed the predicteddirections of recovery, and in some cases have already met project expectations.