Kissimmee River, Florida, Straightened and Unstraightened

The Kissimmee River flows south Florida and feeds into Lake Okeechobee.  After hurricanes in 1947 Congress authorized the canalization of the river.   From 1962 to 1970 the Army Corps of Engineers dredged a canal through the middle of the river valley, replacing 103 miles of river with 56 miles of canal.  Almost immediately it was recognized as a mistake.  Fish and bird populations plummeted, and the floodplain dried out.  The canal brought many more pollutants to Lake Okeechobee.  Efforts to restore the river did not begin until 1997, and only 43 miles will be returned to their natural state.  Several locks have been removed, and others will be soon.  

Chandler Ranch Road, Kissimmee River, Florida

Lock, Chandler Ranch Road, Kissimmee River, Florida

Artificial Channel, Kissimmee River, Florida

Restored River, Kissimmee River, Florida

Restored River, Kissimmee River, Florida

Restored River, Kissimmee River, Florida

Dry Floodplain, Kissimmee Valley, Florida

Lake Okeechobee Part 3

Lake Okeechobee Part 2

    There are a few small towns around Lake Okeechobee, all appear to be economically depressed.

    Belle Glade Water Supply

    Pahokee Theater

    Canal Point

    Clewiston

    Sugar Burn

    South Bay Water Supply

    Hotel, Clewiston

    Alligators

    Collapsible Ride, Pahokee

    Belle Glade

    Belle Glade

    Canal Point

    Clewiston

Lake Okeechobee, Part 1

Lake Okeechobee in Florida drains (or used to drain) to the Everglades.  After a series of devastating storms in the 1920s, the lake was surrounded by a dike, and canals were built to the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts.  The result is a largely dead lake, and a severely endangered Everglades.  Because of the rules in place to prevent the lake from overflowing (as it used to do naturally), the canals bring water to the coasts, along with too many nutrients (from agricultural fertilizers) and at a volume too high for the outlets to handle.  The results are poisonous red tides and severe erosion.