County continues work on canal restoration project

The Monroe County government is continuing efforts helping restore water quality in residential canals throughout the Florida Keys as part of a multi-million dollar program in the past decade to protect the nearshore waters.

Monroe County Mayor Holly Merrill Raschein visited Canal 90 between Hilson and Ivanhoe courts on Key Largo recently to view the canal restoration efforts underway. Raschein was instrumental in obtaining the state funding for the canal restoration projects when she served in the state Legislature.

The restoration work includes backfilling the canal. Backfilling raises the canal bottom to an optimum depth of about 7 feet to allow maximum flushing and tidal flow in and out of the canal, according to Monroe County Chief Resilience Officer Rhonda Haag.

This restoration technique will increase the levels of dissolved oxygen throughout the canal. The work is funded by a Florida Department of Environmental Protection Keys Stewardship grant to the county, according to Haag.

“These improvements restore the canal’s impaired waters and bring the dissolved oxygen levels up to meet state water-quality standards, which will greatly enhance the levels of marine life in the canals,” Haag said. “Residents should see an immediate increase in marine life once the project is completed.”

The crew also continuously monitor the canal for manatees that have been seen in the area. Close observation is being kept to ensure their safety, and activity stops if manatees enter the area while restoration work is underway.

Additional restoration projects for other poor and fair water quality canals in the Florida Keys will move forward as additional grant funding allows. Canal restoration improves the overall health of canals and nearshore waters, Haag said.

The county has five projects on Big Pine Key, totaling $12 million, in the permitting and design phase, Haag said.

The county started the canal restoration program in 2014 and have conducted 14 projects , totaling $25 million. The projects are mostly funded through the annual state legislation program, the Florida Keys Environmental Stewardship Act.

To learn more about canal restoration or to see if a person’s canal is included in the county’s restoration plan, visit http://www.monroecounty-fl.gov/canals.