New Recreational Trail Leads to Everglades Sites

Walkers, bikers and horseback riders in Broward County will soon have a chance to see the progress of Everglades Restoration first-hand with an extension to the C-11 Recreational Trail. The two mile expansion will border the C-11 Canal, which flows into Everglades Water Conservation Area 3 (WCA3).

“This trail will give people the opportunity to witness our ongoing restoration efforts. The planned projects, once completed, will improve the water quality and timing of flows to the Everglades.” said Greg Knecht, Director of DEP’s Office of Ecosystem Projects.

When it’s completed, the C-11 Recreational Trail will be a natural surface trail for bicyclists, joggers, hikers, walkers and equestrians featuring improvements such as new or enhanced signage, mounting steps, guardrails and embankments to improve accessibility.

The expansion is the second phase in the C-11 Trail. Both phases are being developed by the South Florida Water Management District with grants from the DEP’s Recreational Trails Program, which is a federally funded competitive grant program that provides financial assistance for the development of recreational trails and trailside facilities.

The restoration of America’s Everglades will revive habitat for more than 60 threatened and endangered species, establish a reliable supply of water for millions of Floridians and provide flood control consistent with the ecosystem needs. To date, Florida has invested more than $2 billion in the 30-year, $10.9 billion Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), the 50/50 state and federal partnership to restore and protect the Everglades.

Florida’s 2007-08 budget includes $200 million for the restoration and protection of the Everglades ecosystem, allocating $100 million for CERP, $54 million for the restoration of Lake Okeechobee, as well as $40 million to protect the health of the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries. For more information on Everglades Restoration, visit www.dep.state.fl.us/evergladesforever.

 For more information on the C-11 Trail and other South Florida Water Management District trails, visit SFWMD's Recreation website.