THE EVERGLADES -- A seepage wall protects the 8.5 square mile development area from seepage from Everglades National Park.

THE EVERGLADES -- Construction is wrapping up on the Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP) new water seepage barrier wall project. SFWMD completed the 2.3-mile first phase of the wall last year and now 5 new miles of the underground seepage wall are nearly complete to support restoration flows of water south and flood mitigation for communities. The seepage wall allows more water to flow into Everglades National Park while protecting the neighboring 8.5 square mile developed area (aka Las Palmas) from seepage. This new picture, shared Nov. 2 by the South Florida Water Management District, demonstrates the success of the project. On the left side of the photo, water is staying inside Everglades National Park. On the right side of the photo, adjacent communities are dry, even after heavy rains. The 8.5 square mile area is between Everglades National Park and the East Coast Protection Levee.