Gov. Rick Scott was in Palm Beach County Monday morning to announce the completion of a water project that his office says will help with Everglades restoration.
Scott said a new gate project at the L-8 canal near Loxahatchee helps equalize the flow of water, creating a 1,000-acre reservoir.
The governor held a 15-minute news conference around 9:45 a.m. off State Road 80 to announce the project.
During heavy rain and Lake Okeechobee discharges, water can now flow into a 50-foot deep reservoir.
The water will stay there for a few days until they are ready to release it to a treatment area where the water is cleaned and sent to the Everglades.
"This will be an opportunity to store some water and also an opportunity to make sure our storm water treatment areas work well. We can decide when the water needs to go in so they're most efficient," said Scott.
The $56 million project was under construction since 2012.
Scott said this project highlights his proposed $3.8 billion investment in Florida’s environment.