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A significant event took place on Dec. 9 in the Town of Cutler Bay, celebrating the completion of the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands (BBCW) Project, which is designed to aid in wetland rehydration — building coastal resiliency and improving water quality in this area of Miami-Dade County.
Representatives of the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), along with many federal, state and local officials attended.
All components of the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Project are now finished. It restores historical freshwater wetland habitat adjacent to the bay, supporting nursery habitat for key marine wildlife including shrimp, shellfish and fish.
“Biscayne Bay is not only an environmental jewel, it’s the economic linchpin of our community and an iconic waterbody of enormous significance for millions of Floridians,” said Scott Wagner, South Florida Water Management District Governing Board vice chair. “I grew up loving just the sight of Biscayne Bay, and now I’m proud to be a part of a great team protecting and restoring it. It comes with a great source of pride to see the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Project reach the finish line.”
Col. Brandon Bowman, Jacksonville District Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, agreed.
“Today’s ribbon-cutting ceremony marks not just the completion of a vital project, but a renewed promise to protect and enhance the unique ecosystems that define our coastal landscapes,” Col. Bowman said. “The achievement we celebrate today is the result of years of our collective hard work, our collaboration, and our dedication. Together, we have demonstrated that when we unite our resources and expertise, we can achieve remarkable outcomes for our environment.”
Cutler Bay Mayor Tim Meerbott was one of many speakers at the event.
“I am lucky enough, I guess honored enough, to serve on the advisory committee for Biscayne Bay both at the state level and the county level and so I know that the health of the Bay is something that’s in peril right now and we’re racking our brains trying to figure out what we can do,” Mayor Meerbott said. “A project like this is just amazing. We need to thank the governor again for the money that he committed to getting this project done, at $94 million. The work that the South Florida Water Management District has done, the Corps of Engineers, everybody coming together to make this project happen right here in Cutler Bay is amazing.”
Mayor Meerbott said that the project is not just functional from a water management standpoint. There’s a bike path, a recreational area for residents to enjoy, a bird line of about 50 acres which is one of the best bird watching places in all of Florida.
He added that Biscayne Bay is a $64 billion engine that drives the economy.
“I’m an avid boater,” he said. “I go out there a lot and I’ve seen that the health of the bay is not great, so to know that it’s going to be improving and that there so many organizations that are committed to improving the health of the bay from the governor all the way down, it just makes me real happy.”
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