NEWS

Photos: Water reservoir projects underway to help improve water quality

Srijita Chattopadhyay
Naples Daily News
Lake Hicpochee was once the part of a system of three lakes that made up the headwaters of the Caloosahatchee, before the river was connected to Lake Okeechobee as a way to drain the Everglades for farming and development. The channelizing of the river basically severed Hicpochee, and the lake dried up for the most part. Today, this is what remains of the historic lake.
Lake Hicpochee was once the part of a system of three lakes that made up the headwaters of the Caloosahatchee, before the river was connected to Lake Okeechobee as a way to drain the Everglades for farming and development. The channelizing of the river basically severed Hicpochee, and the lake dried up for the most part. Today, this is what remains of the historic lake.
Srijita Chattopadhyay/Naples Daily News,
Vijay Mishra, the construction manager of the Lake Hicpochee Shallow Storage and Hydrologic Enhancement Project explains the almost finished project and the benefits it will have to the environment.
Vijay Mishra, the construction manager of the Lake Hicpochee Shallow Storage and Hydrologic Enhancement Project explains the almost finished project and the benefits it will have to the environment.
Srijita Chattopadhyay/Naples Daily News,
Work continues at the southwwest corner of the 670-acre Lake Hicpochee Shallow Storage and Hydrologic Enhancement Project. The project will allow a controlled water flow into Lake Hicpochee from a new flow equalization basin that will rehydrate a portion of the historic lake bed, increasing natural wetland vegetation and improving approximately 1,279 acres of freshwater wetlands and habitat.
Work continues at the southwwest corner of the 670-acre Lake Hicpochee Shallow Storage and Hydrologic Enhancement Project. The project will allow a controlled water flow into Lake Hicpochee from a new flow equalization basin that will rehydrate a portion of the historic lake bed, increasing natural wetland vegetation and improving approximately 1,279 acres of freshwater wetlands and habitat.
Srijita Chattopadhyay/Naples Daily News,
Due to the construction of the pump station, the C-19 Canal will remain diverted until the completion of the project, which will eventually help hydrate the Hicpochee lake bed and reduce harmful nutrient levels.
Due to the construction of the pump station, the C-19 Canal will remain diverted until the completion of the project, which will eventually help hydrate the Hicpochee lake bed and reduce harmful nutrient levels.
Srijita Chattopadhyay/Naples Daily News,
The C-19 canal gurgles through the other side of the construction of the pump station, awaiting its completion in October 2018 when the canal will help rehydrate Lake Hicpochee.
The C-19 canal gurgles through the other side of the construction of the pump station, awaiting its completion in October 2018 when the canal will help rehydrate Lake Hicpochee.
Srijita Chattopadhyay/Naples Daily News,
Workers build the pump station at the Lake Hicpochee Shallow Storage and Hydrologic Enhancement Project. The reservoir is being built on 670 acres and is estimated to be completed in October 2018.
Workers build the pump station at the Lake Hicpochee Shallow Storage and Hydrologic Enhancement Project. The reservoir is being built on 670 acres and is estimated to be completed in October 2018.
Srijita Chattopadhyay/Naples Daily News
The South Florida Water Management District is in the final stages of an $18.4 million Lake Hicpochee Shallow Storage and Hydrologic Enhancement Project that will store about 1,200 acre-feet, or about 391 million gallons, of water while helping to rehydrate the north half of the lake.
The South Florida Water Management District is in the final stages of an $18.4 million Lake Hicpochee Shallow Storage and Hydrologic Enhancement Project that will store about 1,200 acre-feet, or about 391 million gallons, of water while helping to rehydrate the north half of the lake.
Srijita Chattopadhyay/Naples Daily News,
Work continues on the Lake Hicpochee Shallow Storage and Hydrologic Enhancement Project's pump station. The hydrological enhancement project is estimated to be completed by October 2018.
Work continues on the Lake Hicpochee Shallow Storage and Hydrologic Enhancement Project's pump station. The hydrological enhancement project is estimated to be completed by October 2018.
Srijita Chattopadhyay/Naples Daily News,
The South Florida Water Management District is in the final stages of an $18.4 million Lake Hicpochee Shallow Storage and Hydrologic Enhancement Project, in Moore Haven, that will store about 1,200 acre-feet, or about 391 million gallons, of water while helping to rehydrate the north half of the lake.
The South Florida Water Management District is in the final stages of an $18.4 million Lake Hicpochee Shallow Storage and Hydrologic Enhancement Project, in Moore Haven, that will store about 1,200 acre-feet, or about 391 million gallons, of water while helping to rehydrate the north half of the lake.
Srijita Chattopadhyay/Naples Daily News,
Work continues on the Lake Hicpochee Shallow Storage and Hydrologic Enhancement Project's pump station. The hydrological enhancement project is estimated to be completed by October 2018.
Work continues on the Lake Hicpochee Shallow Storage and Hydrologic Enhancement Project's pump station. The hydrological enhancement project is estimated to be completed by October 2018.
Srijita Chattopadhyay/Naples Daily News,
The project eventually will become a mini-sanctuary for all kinds of birds, helping the project become a tourist spot for nature lovers, South Florida Water Management District regional representative Philip Flood said.
The project eventually will become a mini-sanctuary for all kinds of birds, helping the project become a tourist spot for nature lovers, South Florida Water Management District regional representative Philip Flood said.
Srijita Chattopadhyay/Naples Daily News,
Neon vests and hard hats hang at the temporary work space of the Caloosahatchee Reservoir project in Hendry County. The project is also known as C-43 West Basin Storage Reservoir.
Neon vests and hard hats hang at the temporary work space of the Caloosahatchee Reservoir project in Hendry County. The project is also known as C-43 West Basin Storage Reservoir.
Srijita Chattopadhyay/Naples Daily News,
Thomas McKernan, the principal construction canager of the Caloosahatchee Reservoir project, explains the placement of the reservoir. The Caloosahatchiee River (C‐43) West Basin Storage Reservoir Project was initiated under the Water Resources Development Act of 2000. The reservoir will help with environmental water supply benefits to the Caloosahatchee estuary.
Thomas McKernan, the principal construction canager of the Caloosahatchee Reservoir project, explains the placement of the reservoir. The Caloosahatchiee River (C‐43) West Basin Storage Reservoir Project was initiated under the Water Resources Development Act of 2000. The reservoir will help with environmental water supply benefits to the Caloosahatchee estuary.
Srijita Chattopadhyay/Naples Daily News,
From atop a mound looking west, the vastness of the C-43 West Basin Storage reservoir project stretches across up to 10,500 acres. Eventually, after the completion of the project, the area will be under 20 feet of water.
From atop a mound looking west, the vastness of the C-43 West Basin Storage reservoir project stretches across up to 10,500 acres. Eventually, after the completion of the project, the area will be under 20 feet of water.
Srijita Chattopadhyay/Naples Daily News
Mounds of dirt were formed for the C-43 West Basin Storage Reservoir project in 2017. The reservoir will have the capacity to store approximately 160,000 acre‐feet of water from Lake Okeechobee and the C‐43 Basin that spans Hendry, Glades, Charlotte, Collier, and Lee counties.
Mounds of dirt were formed for the C-43 West Basin Storage Reservoir project in 2017. The reservoir will have the capacity to store approximately 160,000 acre‐feet of water from Lake Okeechobee and the C‐43 Basin that spans Hendry, Glades, Charlotte, Collier, and Lee counties.
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A view of Hendry County looking east from a mound includes land that will host the main C-43 reservoir. The reservoir is a component of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. The 10,500-acre project is set to be completed in 2022.
A view of Hendry County looking east from a mound includes land that will host the main C-43 reservoir. The reservoir is a component of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. The 10,500-acre project is set to be completed in 2022.
Srijita Chattopadhyay/Naples Daily News,
A worker picks up a patch of grass to be placed on grass slopes near the C-43 Storage Reservoir pump station for erosion control.
A worker picks up a patch of grass to be placed on grass slopes near the C-43 Storage Reservoir pump station for erosion control.
Srijita Chattopadhyay/Naples Daily News,
Caloosahatchee River (C-43) West Basin Storage Reservoir Project is spread over 10,500 acres of land and divided into two reservoir cells and two pump stations. The irrigation pump station S-476 conveys water from the Townsend Canal into a perimeter canal for local irrigation.
Caloosahatchee River (C-43) West Basin Storage Reservoir Project is spread over 10,500 acres of land and divided into two reservoir cells and two pump stations. The irrigation pump station S-476 conveys water from the Townsend Canal into a perimeter canal for local irrigation.
Srijita Chattopadhyay/Naples Daily News,
A water level gauge, marked as measuring in North American Vertical Datum of 1988, stands near the C-43 West Basin Storage Reservoir project pump station on Townsend canal. The reservoir is being built to provide environmental water supply benefits to the Caloosahatchee River estuary by storing water that now is released from Lake Okeechobee and damages the downstream environment.
A water level gauge, marked as measuring in North American Vertical Datum of 1988, stands near the C-43 West Basin Storage Reservoir project pump station on Townsend canal. The reservoir is being built to provide environmental water supply benefits to the Caloosahatchee River estuary by storing water that now is released from Lake Okeechobee and damages the downstream environment.
Srijita Chattopadhyay/Naples Daily News,
Over the years of the C-43 reservoir project, multiple threatened and endangered species have been located on site. To preserve them in their natural habitat all workers are given training, and signs have been put up by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to make people aware. The project's various recreational benefits are expected to draw boaters, walkers, cyclists and nature lovers.
Over the years of the C-43 reservoir project, multiple threatened and endangered species have been located on site. To preserve them in their natural habitat all workers are given training, and signs have been put up by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to make people aware. The project's various recreational benefits are expected to draw boaters, walkers, cyclists and nature lovers.
Srijita Chattopadhyay/Naples Daily News