Historically, the Kissimmee River meandered approximately 103 miles from Lake Kissimmee to Lake Okeechobee through a 1-2 mile wide floodplain. The River and its flanking floodplain consisted of a mosaic of wetland plant communities and supported a diverse group of waterfowl, wading birds, fish, and other wildlife. The historic Kissimmee River was hydrologically unique among North American river systems in that it had prolonged periods of extended floodplain inundation. The headwater lakes once were the deeper portions of a vast marsh complex. During the wet summer months and periods of heavy rainfall, natural drainage occurred by the overtopping of the upper lakes and the overflow of water across the wide shallow marshes. The broadleaf marsh and wet prairie communities once dominated the vast wetlands marsh complex which connected the headwater lakes.

The basin was modified for navigation and flood control purposes in the late 1800s when the lakes were connected. The most significant alterations occurred between 1962 and 1971, as a result of the C&SF Project. That project established a regulation schedule for the upper basin lakes and culminated in channelization of the 103-mile system of Kissimmee River oxbows and floodplains into the 56-mile C-38. Six water control structures in C-38 maintain water elevation, control water releases, and provide lockage.

Most of the upland portions of the lower basin have been converted to large tracts of improved pasture and some row crop cultivation. However, native prairie, scrub, and pine flatwoods remain on both sides of the historic river floodplain. This native upland vegetation provides habitat for a number of threatened and endangered species, including red-cockaded woodpecker, Florida scrub jay, Florida grasshopper sparrow, and Audubon’s crested caracara. In addition to native mammals such as black bear and bobcat, the basin once supported a notable warm-water fishery for species such as bass, bluegill, and black crappie. The lakes are important nesting areas of the endangered snail kite, and the wetlands support significant wading bird populations. The basin also provided important over-wintering habitat for migratory waterfowl.

The River was channelized between 1962 and 1971. Two thirds of the historical floodplain was drained. One third of the channel was destroyed by excavation of the canal and placement of the spoil material. Along with the channelization the headwater lakes were regulated for flood control purposes as part of this flood control project. This regulation eliminated the natural water level fluctuations in the lakes. The interconnecting marsh was drained and the extreme highs and lows which provide critical functions in the maintenance of fish and wildlife habitat were eliminated. Implementation of the Kissimmee Flood Control project led to drastic declines in wintering waterfowl, wading bird and game fish populations, as well as loss of ecosystem functions.

As the headwaters of the entire Everglades system, the Kissimmee River basin is critical to restoration success. The broad wetland/riverine connection between the Kissimmee River and Lake Okeechobee needs to be re-established because basin wetlands provide critical habitat for a number of endangered and threatened species; support a diversity of game fish, wading birds and waterfowl; and improve the quality of waters entering Lake Okeechobee. Lying just south of the extensive urban development surrounding Orlando, the Upper Chain of Lakes is threatened by anthropogenic impacts. The large tourist area of Kissimmee-Walt Disney World is within the borders of the Sub-region.

Ecological impacts in the Kissimmee basin include diminished floodplain habitat diversity, reduction of wading bird populations and loss of fishery forage and riverine fish species.

The impacts of flood control, navigation, agriculture, and development in the Kissimmee basin are well documented. The impacts of channelization are significant. In addition to direct physical destruction of the river and floodplain habitat from canal excavation and deposition of soil, channelization and lake regulation has impacted the basin primarily by altering hydrologic regimes.

The nature and rate of energy exchange between the river and floodplain also have been disturbed, affecting the functional integrity of the system. Lack of flow has degraded water quality, caused excessive sedimentation, diminished habitat quality and diversity, and degraded biological communities. The impacts of channelization were quickly recognized, and calls for restoration of the river began before the Kissimmee River Flood Control Project was complete. Several major studies have been conducted to evaluate restoration alternatives. A collaborative effort of numerous Federal and State agencies reached the conclusion that re-establishing a fully functional river and floodplain required recovery of the natural hydrologic regime. That could only be done by backfilling a long, continuous section of C-38, connecting the remnant portions of the original river, and delivering water from the upper basin in a manner that mimics the natural system.

Efforts are now underway to restore the ecological integrity of the River and floodplain by implementing these recommendations. The Kissimmee River Restoration Project is the world’s largest such effort and the first of its kind in the United States. While Kissimmee River Restoration is the largest restoration effort in the basin other efforts are being implemented to address the impacts to the ecosystem beyond river/floodplain ecosystem. These efforts are critical to the holistic ecosystem response in the basin.

The restoration objectives of critical importance for the Sub-region 1 have been identified by the Working Group and are listed as follows:

• Restore the ecological integrity of the water bodies and their associated flood plain ecosystem.
• Restore historical hydrologic conditions to the greatest extent possible.
• Recreate the historical watershed connectivity to the greatest extent possible.
• Restore basin wetlands, while maintaining or enhancing adjacent upland habitats.
• Improve water quality of surface waters.
• Restore/enhance fish and wildlife habitat.
• Decrease the standing populations of aquatic invasive plant to lowest possible level in the Kissimmee subregion.

Important restoration projects in progress or proposed for the Sub-region are identified on the following pages: