Historical Context: How has the Caloosahatchee River/Estuary been altered? How does it fit within the broader system?
Michael L. ParsonsCoastal Watershed InstituteFlorida Gulf Coast University
Areas Floodedin 1947
Areas Floodedin 1947
Areas Flooded
in 1926 & 1928
Areas Flooded
in 1926 & 1928
• Hurricanes in 1926 and 1928 resulted in extensive flooding around Lake Okeechobee
• Hurricane in 1947 resulted in widespread flooding throughoutSouth Florida
• State of Florida requested federal assistance in1947
• Congress authorized the C&SF Project in 1948
Historical Problems Leading to Construction of Central and South Florida (C&SF) Project Historical Problems Leading to Construction of Central and South Florida (C&SF) Project
• River Channelization• Herbert Hoover Dike• Water Conservation Areas• Protective Levees
Everglades Agricultural Area
Lower East Coast• Drainage Network
Salinity Structures
Major Features of the C&SF Project Major Features of the C&SF Project
A Brief History of the Caloosahatchee• The Caloosahatchee was a sinuous river originating in
the natural marshlands west of Lake Okeechobee. • In 1881, a canal (C-43) was dredged to connect the
Caloosahatchee River to Lake Okeechobee. • Three lock-and-dam structures were added to control
flow and stage height in the lake and canal. – S-77 at Moore Haven on Lake Okeechobee and S-78 at
Ortona were completed in the 1930s– S-79 (W.P. Franklin Lock and Dam) at Olga was completed
in 1966 to assure a freshwater supply for Lee County and to prevent saltwater intrusion.
• Dredging activities widened and deepened the river.