SFWMD says C-43 reservoir testing proceeding; district and Corps weighing deliveries

South Florida Water Management District staff updated the coalition that the C-43 Reservoir’s initial-fill testing is underway and the reservoir is currently at elevation 24. Director Jennifer Reynolds said the district will follow its deliberate initial-fill plan, accepting water as it becomes available and using staged raises to test embankment performance and monitoring equipment.

A district operations official who was introduced as Mr. Bartlett described operational goals at C-43 and C-44 and said the team is balancing deliveries to provide estuary benefits while testing. He told the board the operating protocol seeks deliveries near 1,002 cubic feet per second at S79, and that monitoring of salinities shows the Caloosahatchee estuary is stabilizing. Commissioners asked whether heavy rains would prompt more pumping into reservoirs; SFWMD said pumping decisions will follow the initial-fill plan and inspection outcomes.