Florida Completes $50M C-23 Canal Diversion Project in Martin County

Highlights

• Florida completed the $50 million C-23 Canal Estuary Discharge Diversion Project.
• The project includes a new seven-mile canal and three-pump station.
• The pumping system can move up to 112,000 gallons of water per minute.
• More than 4.8 billion gallons were diverted during operational testing.
• The project is designed to reduce harmful discharges into the St. Lucie Estuary and Indian River Lagoon.

A $50 million water infrastructure project in Martin County, Florida, has completed construction and operational testing, adding new capacity to manage excess canal flows before they reach the St. Lucie Estuary.

The C-23 Canal Estuary Discharge Diversion Project was developed as part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan and provides a new route for excess water from the C-23 Canal to the C-44 Reservoir and Stormwater Treatment Area.

Seven-Mile Canal and Pump Station Complete

The project includes approximately seven miles of newly constructed canal infrastructure and a pump station equipped with three pumps. The station has a combined pumping capacity of 112,000 gallons per minute.

During its operational testing period, the system diverted approximately 4.8 billion gallons away from the St. Lucie Estuary. The diversion is intended to help manage freshwater flows and reduce the effects of nutrient-laden discharges on the estuary and the broader Indian River Lagoon system.

The project adds water-management infrastructure designed to provide greater control over flows within South Florida's interconnected canal and reservoir network.

Infrastructure Supports Everglades Restoration

The C-23 project forms part of broader state and federal efforts under the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan to improve water storage, flow management and water quality across South Florida.

The completed infrastructure works alongside other restoration projects, including the C-44 Reservoir on the east coast and the C-43 Reservoir on the west coast. Florida officials said additional restoration projects are planned to expand water storage and improve the movement of water through the regional system.

Why It Matters

Large-scale water infrastructure projects can require extensive canal construction, pumping capacity, environmental coordination and integration with existing regional water systems.

For contractors, engineers and public-sector owners, the C-23 project demonstrates how new conveyance and pumping infrastructure can be incorporated into broader watershed management programs. Its completion also adds operational capacity for managing excess water flows while supporting long-term restoration objectives in the Indian River Lagoon and Everglades region.

Source: Florida Government.