What is the Interconnect or C-23 Estuary Discharge Diversion Canal? What does it look like?
Today I am sharing my husband Ed’s aerials of this new South Florida Water Management District built canal that is part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan/Indian River Lagoon South project to help clean up the St. Lucie River. You may have seen it under construction when driving west on Highway 714?
Interconnect and C-23 canal
Interconnect and C-23 canal.
Northern Inflow Pump Station (S-457)
Another view C-23 canal and Interconnect
Interconnect Canal intersection with C-23 Canal
Interconnect Canal
Interconnect Canal
Interconnect Canal
Intake Canal C-44 Canal with C-44 Reservoir and STA
Interconnect Canal taken January 9, 2026 by Ed Lippisch.
“The C-23 Canal to C-44 Reservoir Interconnect Canal Project” as published by the South Florida Water Management District on 7-26-22 states that the project’s purpose is to remove excess water from the C-23 Canal to be diverted, via the Interconnect Canal, to the C-44 Reservoir and Storm Water Treatment Area and eventually cleaner to the C-44 Canal which leads to the St. Lucie River.
See north/south pink line connecting C-23 and C-44 Reservoir/STA.
~Project elements include a Northern Inflow Pump Station along the C-23 Canal (S-457)
~Culvert Crossings at CR 714 (S-458) and Coca Cola Road Areas (S-459S)
~Interconnect Canal’s official name is the (C-457)
~The North Segment (1) is three miles long; Middle Segment (2) is three miles long: and the South Segment (3) is one mile long.
~The Southern Fixed Weir Spillway and Service Bridge Structures is called (S-460)
Ed Lippisch’s aerial of the C23/24 STA looking east taken 1-6-26 in St. Lucie County. This STA will clean waters to the St. Lucie River from two reservoirs yet to be built. This STA is scheduled for completion by ACOE by end of 2026 but the reservoirs still need to be constructed.
Happy 2026! After a break the Florida Legislature is back in session and Everglades Restoration is back in the news. About a week ago, my husband Ed asked me what I wanted photographed for the new year, and I replied: “The C23/24 Strom Water Treatment Area in St. Lucie County.”
Ed came back after a morning of flight and said: “I can’t find it.”
“Hmmm, I thought. Maybe because it’s not full of water yet, it is hard to make out?”
After a little more study and pinpointing the entirety of the C23 and C24 Canals we found it! Because the reservoirs are not yet constructed there was little change to the look of the land. Thankfully storm water treatments areas “blend.”
So what “it”?
The C23/24 STA and Reservoirs are the northern part of Indian River Lagoon South. (IRLS) “Indian River Lagoon South” is the St. Lucie River’s portion of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP).
This is a very important part of the project and like the rest of Indian River Lagoon South has been a long time coming. And though Governor DeSantis did not mention it yesterday in his State of the State speech, it must be funded.
So where are things now?
Both the Army Corps and the South Florida Water Management District are responsible for completing the project.
Drew Bartlett, Executive Director of the South Florida Water Management District noted the following:
~C23/24 Strorm Water Treatment Area is under construction by the Army Corps of Engineers and should be finished in 2026. (above photo)
~C23/24 North Reservoir (to be built by the Federal/ACOE) is ready for construction, but not funded.
~C23/24 South Reservoir (to be built by the State/SFWMD) is ready for construction, but not funded.
~C25 Reservoir (State/SFWMD) is in design and will be ready for construction in 2027.
These giant projects are/have been a shared responsibility. The ACOE and the SFWMD are/have been a team…
Excerpt ACOE IRLS poster includes both Martin and St. Lucie counties. C23/24 is located just north of Highway 70 close to the St. Lucie County Fairgrounds. C25 is even further north and all majorly affect the St. Lucie watershed – once all connected to the famous Alpatiokee Swamp that cleaned and fed the beautiful St. Lucie River.
The Governor’s last budget request focused on fully funding the rest of the EAA Reservoir and CEPP, very important! But did not include a request for Indian River Lagoon South’s C23/24/25 components. If we’re going to finish the job for the St. Lucie River, “it” will need to be included too.
