Cape Florida, Florida
The intention of this project was to restore the upland
area within Cape Florida to its natural wetlands condition
that existed prior to 1926. A conceptual design was developed
by Coastal Systems International, Inc. based on a review
of 1926 aerial photography and results of topographic
and subsurface investigations. Six wetland areas were
established that represented a total of 100 acres.
 The
first wetland area encompasses approximately 75 acres
and restored the tidally connected mangrove with a series
of interior canals. In order to provide optimum tidal
flushing, the canal system utilized the expected natural
tidal water level difference between No Name Harbor
and the Pines Canal during flood and ebb tides. The
remaining five wetland areas average three acres each
and will restore the tidally isolated wetland swales
that existed between the sand ridges prior to 1926.
The overall design included the excavation of approximately
640,000 cubic yards of material from the designated
areas to restore the topographical variation of the
historical wetlands. Of this material, approximately
60 percent contains less than 12 percent fines and will
be suitable for use as a construction fill material
or for beach nourishment purposes. By recycling the
excavated material in these manners, construction costs
were cut from $5.5 million to less than $2 million.
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