ABSTRACT

The goal of the Kissimmee River Restoration Project (KRRP) is reestablishment of ecological integrity to the river/floodplain ecosystem. Completed in 2001, Phase I of KRRP backfilled 12 km of the C-38 flood control canal, restoring flow to over 24 km of historic river channel and allowing partial inundation of the floodplain. When successive construction phases are complete, the project will restore an estimated total of 50 km² of floodplain wetlands and over 70 km of river channel. Full ecological response is partly dependant on implementation of a new headwaters water regulation schedule, projected for 2010, which will provide greater flexibility in releases to the Kissimmee River. The Kissimmee River Restoration Evaluation Program (KRREP) is designed to assess the success of the project in meeting its integrity goal. KRREP monitoring focuses on before-after measurements in impact and control areas of physical and biological components of the river channel and floodplain, including measurements of hydrology, geomorphology, dissolved oxygen, vegetation, invertebrates, fishes, and birds. This paper reports on predicted and measured responses in seven river channel metrics and two floodplain metrics in the Phase I area. These nine metrics are a subset of those monitored by KRREP, 47 of which are associated with formal restoration expectations. Responses to date in river channels have been more pronounced than on the floodplain, where change is dependant on the new schedule to mimic historic inundation patterns. Early results show that all nine metrics have followed the predicted trajectories of recovery, and in some cases have already met project expectations.