S O U T H F L O R I D A W A T E R M A N A G E M E N T D I S T R I C T

Sam Jones/Abiaki PrairieC-139 Annex Restoration Project

The South Florida Water Manage ment Districtis a regional governmentalagency that manages thewater resources in thesouthern part of the state.It is the oldest and largestof the state’s five watermanagement districts.

Our Mission is to manageand protect water resourcesof the region by balancingand improving flood control,water supply, water qualityand natural systems.

The C-139 Annex Restoration Project is anapproximately 15,000-acre former citrus

grove that will be restored to its historiccondition as a wet prairie system withdepression marshes, cypress domes andhardwood hammocks. The project willprovide benefits to the groundwater, surfacewater and water supply. The project willprovide water for the environment, andcomplement other comprehensive efforts toimprove water quality for the Everglades.Once restoration is complete, the site will beevaluated for recreational opportunitiescompatible with permitting requirements andthe project’s purpose.

The LandThe project is situated between the SeminoleTribe of Florida Big Cypress Reservation andStormwater Treatment Area 5/6 insoutheastern Hendry County. At the District’sinvitation, the Seminole Tribe chose torename the project property the SamJones/Abiaki Prairie after their great spiritualleader and hero (known by both names) whowas thought to have lived on the property.Several tribal maps indicate his 19th centuryvillage was at the crossroads of numeroushistorical trails located on this site.

The District is coordinating with leaders of theSeminole Tribe of Florida to restore theenvironmentally sensitive land. Historically,environmental features on the site includedan Everglades mosaic of wet prairie, sloughs,depression marshes and tree islands, as wellas a drier prairie, wet flatwoods, oakhammocks and cypress swamp. Therestoration will improve wildlife habitatconditions for a variety of species, includingrabbits, wading birds, hawks, eagles, bobcats,black bears and panthers.

MARCH 2016

The 15,000-acre project site is shaded red in this map.

Native wildlife is expected to return to the land.

SAM JONES /ABIAKI PRAIRIE

The Restoration PlanThe restoration plan seeks to approximate the historical functionsof the ecosystem as much as possible. The restoration will occur intwo major phases, with the completion of the first smaller phaseeventually supplying the native plant material for the much largersecond phase. Restoration work began in 2015 and is expected tobe completed by 2022. The project will be implemented withmitigation funds from limestone mining activities in the Miami-Dade County Lake Belt region. The Florida Statute governingmining mitigation requirements allows funds to be used for thepurchase, enhancement, restoration and management of wetlandsand uplands in the Everglades watershed.

South Florida Water Management District3301 Gun Club RoadWest Palm Beach, Florida 33406561-686-8800 • FL WATS 800-432-2045www.sfwmd.govEN03/16

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The bold outline on this map is the project location. There arethree historical trails that meet at the site.

Step 2: Treatment of invasive exotic plant species, pluggingmajor drainage canals and excavating sloughs and dry seasonwetlands.

Initial Condition: 10,000 acres of citrus with degradednatural areas and a surface water management system thatincludes an extensive network of canals and ponds.

Step 1: Removal of citrus trees, removal of 100 shallowwells and the leveling of planting beds.

Step 3: Follow-up exotic treatments and planting nativewetland species over a period of several years.