SFWMD advances final EAA Reservoir pump station amid $1.62B budget approval

SFWMD advances final EAA Reservoir pump station amid $1.62B budget approvalThe South Florida Water Management District will solicit bids for the S-636 seepage pump station following clearance from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, leveraging a $280 million increase in federal funding for Everglades restoration.

SFWMD received USACE approval to release the solicitation package for the S-636 seepage pump station, aiming to finalize a contract by the end of 2026.

The governing board adopted a $1.62 billion tentative budget for FY2026-2027, which includes a $280 million increase driven by federal revenue for the pump station and Blue Shanty flowway.

Thomas Marine Construction, Inc. secured a $9.37 million contract to replace the Big Cypress Basin I-75 Weir 2 structure in Collier County.

The board approved a $912,712 change order to Phillips Heavy, Inc. for a full culvert replacement on the C-23/24 South Reservoir Package I project.

The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) is advancing procurement for the final pump station of the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir, supported by a significant influx of federal funding. During the September 10, 2026, governing board meeting, Executive Director Drew Bartlett announced that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) approved the solicitation package for the S-636 seepage pump station. The District plans to release the solicitation shortly, aiming to bring a contract to the board for approval in November and sign it by the end of the year. The facility will control seepage out of the reservoir and provide flood control for neighboring areas. The project's advancement aligns with the board's approval of a $1.62 billion tentative budget for fiscal year 2026-2027. Candida Heater, Division Director for Administrative Services, noted that the budget marks a $280 million increase over the currently adopted budget. This rise is attributed to federal revenue recognized through the Section 1043 process specifically to support the S-636 pump station and the Blue Shanty flowway. In other procurement actions, the board approved a $9.37 million contract to Thomas Marine Construction, Inc. for the Big Cypress Basin I-75 Weir 2 Structure Relocation in Collier County. The 895-day contract involves decommissioning a 34-year-old fixed crest weir and constructing a new remotely operated, three-gate water control structure with a 600 cubic feet per second flow capacity. The board also authorized a $912,712 change order for Phillips Heavy, Inc. on the C-23/24 South Reservoir Package I project in St. Lucie County. The change order allows for the full replacement of Culvert CS#11, increasing the total contract value to $61.5 million. Operationally, the District is preparing its infrastructure for a forecasted strong El Niño event that could deliver up to 37 inches of rain over the upcoming dry season, well above the historical average of 11 to 12 inches. To create storage capacity, the District is actively managing reservoir levels, while the newly constructed C-43 Reservoir undergoes its initial fill. The C-43 facility has reached an elevation of 25 feet and will be held at that level for 30 days to conduct dam safety inspections.