Released on = January 17, 2007, 10:45 am

Press Release Author = Jesus Rodriguez

Industry =

Press Release Summary = Water managers at the South Florida Water Management
District (SFWMD) announced today that construction of the G-161 Northlake Boulevard
Water Control Structure, a component of both the Northern Palm Beach County
Comprehensive Water Management Plan and the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration
Plan (CERP), is now complete. Built in cooperation with the City of West Palm Beach
and Palm Beach County, the project aims to improve water levels in the Loxahatchee
Slough and increase fresh water deliveries to the Northwest Fork of the Loxahatchee
River during dry periods.


Press Release Body = West Palm Beach, FL - Water managers at the South Florida Water
Management District (SFWMD) announced today that construction of the G-161 Northlake
Boulevard Water Control Structure, a component of both the Northern Palm Beach
County Comprehensive Water Management Plan and the Comprehensive Everglades
Restoration Plan (CERP), is now complete. Built in cooperation with the City of
West Palm Beach and Palm Beach County, the project aims to improve water levels in
the Loxahatchee Slough and increase fresh water deliveries to the Northwest Fork of
the Loxahatchee River during dry periods.

The new G-161 structure consists of remotely operated gates and dual 60" steel
culverts installed under Northlake Boulevard near its intersection with the
Bee-line Highway in northern Palm Beach County. The structure will assist with
achieving the desired environmental hydro-periods in the City of West Palm Beach
Grassy Waters Preserve as well as the Loxahatchee Slough. It also will facilitate
gravity flows from these environmental areas to the C-18 Canal and the Northwest
Fork of the Loxahatchee River during dry periods.

The G-161 structure is currently undergoing standard acceptance testing for
operational purposes before the District brings the structure online with remote
operations.

"Now that the Governing Board has approved a restoration plan for the Northwest Fork
of the Loxahatchee River, it is a matter of policy that this agency is going to
achieve much more than the State-mandated minimum flows and levels for the Northwest
Fork," said SFWMD Governing Board Chairman Kevin McCarty. "Today's milestone
affirms this agency's commitment to Everglades restoration and to the timely
completion of CERP projects, which are helping to revitalize South Florida's natural
environment."

The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Project in this area of Palm Beach County
includes the construction of a number of water delivery projects to restore the
environmental hydro-periods and water deliveries to the environmental areas.

"By improving water deliveries to the area, these new water structures will help to
enhance the natural environment," added SFWMD Executive Director Carol Ann Wehle.
"We are ahead of schedule in the construction of all water structures related to
restoration of the Loxahatchee Slough, a vital component of the Comprehensive
Everglades Restoration Plan."

The SFWMD and City of West Palm Beach will work together to operate and maintain the
G-161 structure and associated flow channel. The total cost of the construction for
G-161 was more than $2 million. More than half of this total was provided through a
special appropriation from the State of Florida, with the remainder derived from the
SFWMD's operating budget.

The Loxahatchee Slough covers more than 14,000 acres and is one of the largest,
relatively undisturbed wetlands remaining in Palm Beach County. It contains a
mixture of habitats, including pine flatwoods, cypress forest and wet prairie.
Historically, the slough provided drainage into both the Everglades and the
Loxahatchee River.

CERP is the largest environmental restoration program in history. This unique
effort will enhance the Everglades and associated lakes, rivers and bays in South
Florida, as well as improve the quality of life for both people and wildlife.

# # #

The South Florida Water Management District is a regional, governmental agency that
oversees the water resources in the southern half of the state - 16 counties from
Orlando to the Keys. It is the oldest and largest of the state's five water
management districts. The agency mission is to manage and protect water resources of
the region by balancing and improving water quality, flood control, natural systems
and water supply. A key initiative is cleanup and restoration of the Everglades.









Web Site = http://

Contact Details = Jesus Rodriguez
South Florida Water Management District
Office: (561) 682-6060 Cellular: (561) 568-8025