PICAYUNE STRAND
Picayune Strand is a restoration project included in the 2000 Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan(CERP) that is located in eastern Collier County between Tamiami Trail (US-41) and Interstate-75 (Alligator Alley). Restoration activities in Picayune Strand began in 2007, and the project is nearing completion. This habitat restoration project will restore wetland conditions throughout the footprint of the Southern Golden Gate Estates—a failed housing development that drained more than 55,000 acres of wetland forest with 4 major canals and 279 miles of roads. Backfilled canals create new wetlands and deep water habitat for a variety of animal species. This has also improved wetland conditions and habitat quality for a variety of plant and animal species, including the endangered Florida Panther, black bear and bald eagle. The Picayune Strand project will also restore the quantity and quality of flows to downstream coastal wetlands and estuaries of the 10,000 Islands National Wildlife Refuge.
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​Other restoration projects that pre-date the 2000 CERP legislation are also nearing completion and showing
better-than-expected results.