Canal Restoration

Many canals do not meet the State’s minimum water quality criteria and are a potential source of nutrients and other contaminants to near shore waters designated as Outstanding Florida Waters. Implementation of waste water treatment and storm water management systems will reduce loadings to the canals but will not completely eliminate the impaired water quality conditions. A Canal Management Master Plan is needed to develop a prioritization for canal restoration and develop feasible strategies to improve the water quality in the artificial canals in the Florida Keys. The county is developing the Master Plan, and is performing extensive field work, to better understand the water quality conditions of every canal in the county. This includes the canals in the municipalities.

The County BOCC has also approved moving forward with a series of canal restoration demonstration projects. The results will be used to further define restoration costs and for information in future grant applications to state and federal sources.

The Canal Advisory Committee meetings are noticed in the Florida Administrative Register. Access the FAR notices.

FIU Water Quality Monitoring Project for Demonstration of Canal Remediation Methods Florida Keys:

Data from FIU's water quality monitoring program of the demonstration canals in unincorporated Monroe County and the Village of Islamorada.

Data from FIU's seagrass monitoring program of the demonstration canals in unincorporated Monroe County and the Village of Islamorada.

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Homeowner Questionnaire on Canals:

In November 2012, Monroe County, in association with AMEC, was awarded an EPA grant to complete a Canal Management Master Plan for the entire Keys. The effort is underway and is scheduled for completion by September 2013.

The management plan will prioritize the water quality problems in all of the Keys canals and provide recommendations for appropriate remedial measures for each canal. The Master Plan will be a tool for all Keys managers to assist in planning and budgeting for canal water quality improvements. You can assist in the effort by completing the Homeowner Questionnaire.

Eden Pines Canal YUK 002

Updates on Canal Restoration Efforts:

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Canals/Stormwater:

View Canal Restoration Data Files With Google Earth:

1.) You will need to download Google Earth. It's Free.

2.) You will need to download the data files that are in .KMZ format. Chrome or Firefox users can click the links below, and the .kmz file will download. I.E. users will have to click the links to download, change the file type from "Windows Zip" to "All Files" and append a ".KMZ" to the end of the file name to successfully download the file in the proper format.

3.) Install Google Earth. Instructions

4.) Double Click the .KMZ data file to open it, or launch Google Earth and open the .KMZ data files.