Central Everglades Planning Project Operation Plan: A Mouthful, but a Critical Step Forward for Long-Term Everglades Health

In 2000, Congress handed the Complete Everglades Restoration Plan — a blueprint to return well being and resilience to the River of Grass. With such an unlimited territory of overlapping restoration initiatives, longterm planning with companions throughout the ecosystem is essential. The U.S. Military Corps of Engineers, in cooperation with the South Florida Water Administration District, continues to maneuver ahead with one plan to function the decrease a part of the system: the Central Everglades Planning Undertaking Operational Plan. We name it CEPP 1.0.

What are the Targets of CEPP 1.0?

CEPP 1.0 helps the Complete Everglades Restoration Plan by gradual enhancements to the amount, high quality, timing, and distribution of water that flows from the northern estuaries, Water Conservation Areas, Everglades Nationwide Park, and Florida Bay. On the similar time, CEPP 1.0 goals to extend water provide for municipal, industrial, and agricultural customers.

Give Me the Particulars!

CEPP 1.0 will implement up to date working standards for Central Everglades Planning Undertaking infrastructure, together with the Tamiami Path, whereas integrating planning standards from the up to date Lake Okeechobee System Working Guide. One of many targets of CEPP 1.0 is to lift the appropriate water ranges within the L-29 Canal, which can enable extra recent water to movement from the Central Everglades and into Everglades Nationwide Park.

So The place are We Precisely?

Modeling Work: Full

Implementation: Spring 2027 

Future Planning: As main tasks come on-line (just like the Everglades Agricultural Space Reservoir), CEPP 1.0 will proceed to be refined and carried out. 

General Significance: CEPP 1.0 is an instance of adaptive administration, because it builds on earlier planning initiatives. Audubon hopes its profitable implementation will result in cleaner, extra pure water flows throughout the Everglades system.

This infographic originally appeared in the Spring 2026 State of the Everglades Report.