Project to restore the Everglades could create hundreds of new jobs in Western Martin County

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Photographer: Bob Leak, WPTV
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Posted: 10/28/2011

By: Mike Trim

WESTERN MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. - Restoring the Everglades while possibly creating hundreds of new jobs? A project's groundbreaking in western Martin County Friday could lead to both.

The groundbreaking site of the C-44 Reservoir Storm water Treatment Area off Southwest Citrus Boulevard in Indiantown is a $730 million project to stop the flow of sediment, phosphorus and nitrogen into the St . Lucie River estuary and Indian River lagoon

The Army Corps of Engineers says in all, the project will cover 12,000 acres.

If this sounds familiar that's because a similar groundbreaking for this project was held in 2006.

Back then, NewsChannel 5 documented how people living around this area were dealing with a water quality drop.

Neon green algae, dead fish and swimming restrictions were some of the issues when this project was starting in 2006.

Today's groundbreaking comes a day after an Everglades Restoration Task Force met in West Palm Beach.

There, plans were discussed to combine federal and state efforts to streamline central Everglades restoration from a 6-year timeline to an 18-month timeline.