DEP ISSUES OPERATING PERMIT FOR MERRITT PUMP STATION TO HELP RESTORE PICAYUNE STRAND STATE FOREST

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 16, 2015

CONTACT: DEP Press Office, 850.245.2112, DEPNews@dep.state.fl.us 

PICAYUNE STRAND RESTORATION ADVANCES WITH PERMITTING OF MERRITT PUMP STATION

~First pump station for critical CERP project now fully operational~

 

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. – Today, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection authorized the long-term operations at the Merritt Pump Station to the South Florida Water Management District to continue restoration efforts around America’s Everglades. This pump station located in Collier County is a crucial part of the Picayune Strand Restoration Project, a component of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, commonly called CERP.

"The operation of the Merritt Pump Station is another step forward to helping restore and protect the wetlands in Picayune Strand and the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge," said DEP Deputy Secretary for Ecosystem Restoration Drew Bartlett. "Restoring the natural lands and habitat in this part of Florida provides another unique resource not found anywhere else in the country."

The Merritt Pump Station is the first fully operational pump station for the Picayune Strand Restoration Project. Along with the Faka Union and Miller pump stations, the Merritt Pump Station will direct water south to the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge providing freshwater recharge to the downstream estuaries in Pumpkin Bay and Faka Union Bay. Other components of the restoration project include backfilling 48 miles of canals and removing more than 250 miles of road. Collectively, these efforts will enable water from the pump stations to slowly flow south to restore wetlands, increase surface aquifer recharge, create essential habitat for species and benefit downstream estuaries, surrounding parks and wildlife reserves.

The Picayune Strand Restoration Project is a coordinated effort between many state and federal agencies including the United States Army Corps of Engineers, South Florida Water Management District, Florida Forest Service, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and DEP’s Office of Ecosystem Projects, Florida Coastal Office, Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and Division of State Lands.  

For more information about the Picayune Strand Restoration Project, click here.