Florida's Kissimmee River: Reversal of an ecological disaster

The Kissimmee River in Florida has undergone a successful restoration project after channelisation in the 1900s.

Much of Florida's Kissimmee River has been newly restored to its natural state, after channelisation, also known as river straightening, which was completed in the 1970s.

Natural bends were replaced with straight channels, and the area was extensively drained with the idea of controlling flooding and supporting agriculture better.

However as soon as the project was completed, people realised how much of a mistake it was. It had destroyed the wildlife and their habitats, and diminished the amount of water entering the Everglades.

Local residents even had to change their livelihoods, which once relied upon the surrounding marsh and its wildlife for fishing.

Now, nearly half of the river has been restored back to its natural state by filling the channels with sediment. Over 70 km of the river has been rehabilitated, adding back 20,000 acres of wetlands.

The river's higher flood level now is also an aid for protecting properties in severe weather such as hurricanes, by absorbing large volumes of water. Future work is still needed however, in order to manage water resources and needs better.