In 1992, Congress backed a plan to dechannelize Florida's Kissimmee River and restore its watershed. 28 years later, the project had restored 19 of 44 river miles and 6,500 acres of floodplain wetlands, with wildlife returning

The Kissimmee River in central Florida was once a winding waterway stretching roughly 100 miles through a floodplain as wide as two miles. Seasonal rains regularly covered the floodplain, creating habitat for wetland plants, fish, and wading birds.

The flooding also affected nearby communities. After Florida officials began seeking federal help in the 1950s, the US Army Corps of Engineers was eventually tasked with cutting and dredging the river as part of a broader South Florida water-management program, as per a report.