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Preserving Paradise Ventures to EAA, C-43 Reservoirs
On Sept. 2, our 2025 Preserving Paradise cohort ventured into the field for their first experiential learning course, which focused on Everglades restoration.
Preserving Paradise is a collaborative initiative between SCCF, Captains for Clean Water, the Everglades Foundation, and the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce, to engage business leaders in water quality advocacy through classroom sessions, panels and group discussions, and in-the-field experiences.
This year’s third session brought participants to the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir and Caloosahatchee River (C-43) West Basin Storage Reservoir — two critical projects in the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan for reducing harmful water quality events in South Florida. Participants had the chance to view the reservoirs up close after learning about their importance for water quality, thanks to presentations from leaders in the construction of these projects.
“Watching our Preserving Paradise class engage with these water quality projects first-hand is when we see true learning take place. It’s one thing to learn about a reservoir from a sheet of paper but a completely different experience to see it in person,” said SCCF Policy Associate Allie Pecenka. “Visiting the sites allows you to understand the enormous scale of these projects and how much water they will be handling. It’s so exciting to see our business community learn the nuances of water quality and management in order to become stronger advocates for our ecosystems and our economies.”
About the EAA Reservoir
The first stop of the day was the EAA Reservoir — referred to by many as the “crown jewel of Everglades restoration.” This massive reservoir is being constructed to store, treat, and send clean water south into the Everglades and Florida Bay, where it’s needed.
Construction of the EAA Reservoir and its associated Stormwater Treatment Area (STA) is a joint initiative between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD). The Army Corps is responsible for the building of the reservoir itself, while the SFWMD is responsible for the constructed wetland and canal improvements.
The reservoir, once completed, will have the capacity to store 78 billion gallons of water and lower levels in Lake Okeechobee by approximately 6 inches — improving the health of the lake’s ecology and reducing the need for damaging seasonal discharges to the coasts and Lake Worth Lagoon. The stored water will be filtered by the EAA Reservoir’s 6,500-acre STA, which will provide needed freshwater to the Everglades and Florida Bay.
About the C-43 Reservoir
The second stop on the tour was the recently completed C-43 West Basin Storage Reservoir, a key water storage project for our own watershed here in Southwest Florida. Another major component of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, the C-43 Reservoir’s primary function is to provide water storage to support healthy salinity levels in the Caloosahatchee Estuary.
Participants enjoyed a walking tour and presentation by Phil Flood from the SFWMD, then viewed the pump station and construction being finalized firsthand.
With an incredible 55 billion gallons of water storage, this project will manage excess watershed runoff and Lake Okeechobee releases in the wet season, while ensuring we have enough freshwater to maintain necessary salinities in the dry season. The completed reservoir footprint also features 15 miles of perimeter canals, 14 major water control structures, and 19 miles of dam embankments.
“Participants headed home from these tours with a heightened understanding of the vast scale of Everglades restoration projects and their critical importance to improving our water quality locally and state-wide,” Pecenka said.