New Water Infrastructure Project in Big Cypress Basin

The entire Big Cypress Basin (BCB) Board along with officials from Collier County celebrated the completion of a new water control structure in Naples. Improvements to water management infrastructure are designed to enhance water resources and ecosystems while protecting communities from flooding. 

The new, fully automated weir provides:

Improved water quality with better timing and distribution of flood waters. 

Improved flood protection with enhanced flood control operations. 

Enhanced operational flexibility. 

Supporting water conservation efforts by being able to hold more groundwater during the dry season. 

"New water management infrastructure is a long-standing priority for the Big Cypress Basin and today we are celebrating the completion of a new weir that will meet the region's needs into the future," said Charlette Roman, Chair of the Big Cypress Basin Board and Governing Board Member of the South Florida Water Management District. "We will continue working to improve the resilience of Florida's communities by protecting and restoring Florida's water infrastructure and resources. It took a lot of hard work to get here, and I want to thank the staff at the South Florida Water Management District and the Big Cypress Basin who were dedicated to completing this project."

The project is part of the BCB's 5-Year Capital Improvement Plan. The Big Cypress Basin is one of two major watershed basins within the South Florida Water Management District's 16-county region and includes a network of over 134 miles of canals and 35 water control structures while providing flood protection in Collier County. The Big Cypress Basin Board sets regional policy and works with stakeholders, as well as local governments and agencies to set the basin's priorities