09/11/2026
This week, state officials celebrated the completion of the C-23 Canal Estuary Discharge Diversion Project, which recently completed a successful operational testing period. The $50 million dollar project will prevent the risk of future harmful discharges into the St. Lucie Estuary. As part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, the C-23 Canal Estuary Discharge Diversion Project reduces harmful discharges to the St. Lucie Estuary by routing excess water from the C-23 Canal to the C-44 Reservoir and Stormwater Treatment Area (STA). The project includes the construction of a new 7-mile canal and a new pump station which has three pumps and can pump 112,000 gallons per minute. Since the project began operational testing, it has already diverted 4.8 billion gallons away from the St. Lucie Estuary, improving water quality to the broader Indian River Lagoon system and a more natural salinity gradient in the St. Lucie Estuary.