Florida announced completion of the C-23 Canal Estuary Discharge Diversion Project, describing it as a key element of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan intended to protect the St. Lucie Estuary and the broader Indian River Lagoon from large freshwater discharges. The milestone was marked on September 9 following a period of operational testing to verify performance. According to project information, the initiative is valued at approximately $50 million.
The completed works include a new pump station equipped with three pumps and a combined capacity of 112,000 gallons per minute, along with a newly constructed seven-mile canal. In operation, the system diverts surplus flow from the C-23 Canal away from direct estuary discharge and toward the C-44 Reservoir and its associated stormwater treatment area. During testing alone, the diversion infrastructure redirected 4.8 billion gallons, state figures indicate.
The project objective is to reduce the frequency and magnitude of freshwater releases to the estuary while improving water quality outcomes. Agencies involved in the effort include the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the South Florida Water Management District, which participated in marking the completion milestone.
State budgeting associated with Everglades and water quality work has been described as significant in recent years. Reports cite $3.3 billion committed during an earlier multi-year period, followed by a four-year goal of $3.5 billion for subsequent work. The 2026–27 state budget plan includes a further $1.2 billion targeted to Everglades restoration and water quality initiatives.
Officials point to regional outcomes attributed to the cumulative restoration portfolio, including more than 5.6 million pounds of nitrogen and 933,000 pounds of phosphorus removed annually across South Florida’s waterways. Storage capacity is reported as tripled to 176 billion gallons and projected to reach 336 billion gallons by 2035 as additional projects come online. Florida Bay has also reached salinity levels characterized as a first in decades, which state officials cite as an indicator of progress.
