In 1992, Congress backed a plan to restore Florida’s Kissimmee River after decades of flood control. 28 years later, wetlands and wildlife were returning

For much of its history, Florida’s Kissimmee River did not run in a straight line. It wandered through central Florida, spreading across a broad floodplain that filled with water during the rainy season. That slow, shifting landscape supported fish, wetland plants and large numbers of birds. Then, in the 1960s, the river was reshaped into a deep, straight canal to reduce flooding.

Get breaking news anytime, anywhere. Download the TOI app now!