In February of 2024, after years of planning, work began on the hydrologic restoration at MK Ranch. The property contains 55 miles of ditches and associated berms that were installed illegally decades ago by a previous landowner. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) now owns and manages this property as a Wildlife and Environmental Area (WEA) for public access.

When the Apalachicola and Jackson Rivers overflow, water moves across the adjacent floodplain habitats (bottomland forest, swamp, marsh), but the berm and ditch network at MK Ranch interrupts that natural sheet flow. FWC funded a contractor to develop a hydrologic model to restore the natural sheet flow across the area. This model identified specific locations where construction efforts would restore natural hydrology.

The restoration strategy involves removing berms and filling ditches at specific locations to re-establish historic flow regimes. Some of the berms are hundreds to thousands of feet in length. This design is a cost-effective restoration technique. It is estimated that the project will take at least one year to complete and will result in a more natural flow of water across the landscape, providing water filtration and nutrient uptake and improved habitats for fish and wildlife.

As part of the project, the entrance road to the property (Saul’s Creek Rd.) and the associated public boat ramp will be accessible more often. Existing low-water crossings will be widened and secured with concrete block matting, and an additional crossing will be installed to spread the water across a larger area.

DU secured the necessary funds for the final project design and to restore the site through a federal source, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, which distributes funds from the Deepwater Horizon settlement. DU and FWC have partnered to complete hydrologic restoration at MK Ranch.