The recently completed Taylor Slough Improvement Project delivers needed fresh water to the Everglades, improving habitat for fish, birds, alligators, and South Florida communities. Located within Everglades National Park, the improvement project was completed so quickly thanks to both the South Florida Water Management District team and the Army Corps of Engineers.
The Taylor Slough Flow Improvement Project will restore freshwater flows to Florida Bay. Located on the east side of the southern Everglades, Taylor Slough is one of two major freshwater sloughs in Everglades National Park. Due to both the infrastructure of the Central and Southern Florida System and the construction of Old Ingraham Highway, the latter of which inadvertently acted as a dam, water flow to Taylor Slough was cut off significantly. The project restores water connectivity through the installation of 18 culverts in nine different locations along Ingraham Highway and plugs several canals that had diverted water from the slough. These steps will redirect fresh water to its rightful path while also restoring natural plant communities in the area, including seagrass beds that prey and game fish need to survive and thrive in this region.
At Audubon, we have protected wildlife while studying the health of the Everglades—especially Taylor Slough—for almost 100 years. Because of our longstanding history here on Florida Bay, we know that the additional connectivity into Taylor Slough from this project will improve water conditions in this area and support habitat and wildlife. We look forward to continuing to monitor Taylor Slough and sharing the results of this project as the benefits are realized.