The Historic Kissimmee River flowed 103 meandering miles from the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes into Lake Okeechobee. Its 1-2 mile wide floodplain offered a large patchwork of wetland habitats for many unique species. Over 35 species of fish, 16 species of wading birds, 16 species of waterfowl, river otters, many species of invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles and other plants and animals swam, roamed, waded and flew over the extensive 18,000 ha floodplain.

In the 1960s, the river was channelized by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a result of public pressure to provide more adequate flood protection. The 103-mile winding path of the Kissimmee River was transformed into 56-mile long, 30-ft. deep, 300-ft. wide canal, known today as the C-38 canal.

Before the channelization was even complete, negative impacts on the ecosystem were being noted, such as a decline in water quality and the 90% decline in water fowl along the river.

Learn about the Kissimmee River Restoration Project.

In 1999, Captain Robert Turpin wrote "Song of the Kissimmee River".