Progress Toward Restoring the Everglades The Third Biennial Review - 2010 (2010) / Chapter Skim
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3 Implementation Progress
3 Implementation Progress
Pages 62-111
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From page 62... ...
CERP RESTORATION IMPLEMENTATION Progress restoring the South Florida ecosystem will come about only through implementation of restoration projects. The analysis of implementation progress provided in this section focuses on CERP projects, although many of these projects build upon restoration benefits provided by non-CERP projects, which are discussed in the next section.
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From page 63... ...
Funding is discussed in more detail later in this chapter. In the following sections the committee highlights CERP progress with a focus on progress in achieving natural system restoration benefits through incremental CERP project implementation and learning achieved through CERP pilot projects.
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From page 64... ...
4) Decomp Physical Model NA 2010–2015 NA C-111 Spreader Canal NA NA NA Design Test RESTORATION PROJECTS Melaleuca Eradication 2011 2007 2026 and Other Exotic Plants Winsberg Farm Wetlands 2005 2008 2010 Restoration (Fig.
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From page 65... ...
2004 WRDA 1999 Testing ongoing (Kissimmee River only) Not specified NA NA NA Ongoing 2012 PPDR Final Authorized in Completed Not begun May 2009 WRDA 2000 2013 NA Programmatic Completed Not begun Authority WRDA 2000 2011 NA Programmatic Completed Ongoing Authority WRDA 2000 2011 Final June 2010 Programmatic Ongoing Start anticipated Authority late 2010 WRDA 2000 Not specified Draft Feb.
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From page 66... ...
2) C-111 Spreader Canal*
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From page 67... ...
or Installation Construction Pilot Project and Testing Completion Design Report Authorization Planning/ Status for Date (PPDR) Status Design Pilots Not specified Final 2004; Construction submitted to Authorized in 2015 Congress Aug.
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From page 68... ...
The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) has decided to work with local interests to a complete the design and construction of the Acme Basin B Discharge project and the Lakes Park Resto ration project outside of the CERP.
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From page 69... ...
or Installation Construction Pilot Project and Testing Completion Design Report Authorization Planning/ Status for Date (PPDR) Status Design Pilots 2023 In development Ongoing 2011 Ongoing Ongoing; expedited by FL prior to authorization Not specified Ongoing Ongoing (part of Lakeside Ranch project)
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From page 70... ...
As noted in NRC (2008) , the lengthy and arduous CERP planning and authorization process had previously caused substantial delays in CERP project implementation.
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From page 71... ...
, enabling the flow of federal funding to these three projects, if appropriated. As of June 2010, four additional CERP projects (C-43 West Basin Storage Reservoir; C-111 Spreader Canal, Western Phase; Broward County Water Preserve Areas; and the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands, Phase 1)
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From page 72... ...
2) includes an aboveground reservoir adjacent to the Hillsboro Canal with a storage capacity of 6,400 acre-feet, an inflow pump station, spillways, and seepage management structures.
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From page 73... ...
7, and Figure 3-2) , currently under way, aims to restore and enhance more than 55,000 acres of public lands by plugging and filling canals and returning sheet flow to the project site and adjacent natural areas, including the Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve, Florida FIGURE 3-2 Components of the Picayune Strand project include road removal, canal plugs, pump stations, Figure 3-2.eps spreader canals, and levees.
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From page 74... ...
With expedited state funding, 65 miles of roads were removed, and 7 miles of Prairie Canal adjacent to the road removal area were plugged and filled in 2007. Two pump stations were also designed and permitted.
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From page 75... ...
, the project has been divided into two phases accompanied by separate PIRs (USACE and SFWMD, 2009b) and includes a pilot-scale test project (described FIGURE 3-4 Features of the western phase of the C-111 Spreader Canal Project.
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. Like most CERP projects, the C-111 Spreader Canal project has the potential to benefit multiple listed species, but the degree of benefit varies by species and the scale of analy sis (e.g., unavoidable local negative impacts vs.
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From page 77... ...
The state of Florida had originally planned to expedite the entire Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands -- Phase 1 project, but the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) is now relying on federal funding for portions of the project due to fiscal constraints.
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78 Progress Toward Restoring the Everglades FIGURE 3-5 Locations of the three project areas within Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands -- Figure 3-5.eps Phase 1: Deering Estate, Cutler Wetlands, and L-31 East Flow-way. bitmap SOURCE: USACE and SFWMD (2010d)
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However, the Acme Basin B project is the first of the originally proposed CERP projects to be completed, even though it is no longer considered a CERP project (L. Gerry, SFWMD, personal communication, 2010)
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80 Progress Toward Restoring the Everglades FIGURE 3-6 Locations of the five originally planned3-6.eps pilot projects. Ultimately, pilots were con Figure CERP ASR structed only on the Kissimmee River and the Hillsboro sites because of funding limitations or poor site bitmap conditions.
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From page 81... ...
Cycle tests to better understand the relationship between storage zone properties, water quality, recovery rates, and recharge are now under way at the Hillsboro Canal and Kissimmee River sites, although these tests will be of shorter duration and with fewer monitoring wells than recommended in the 2002 NRC report. The regional study has made good progress on hydrogeologic and geophysical studies of the Upper Floridan aquifer.
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From page 82... ...
3B into northeast Shark River Slough in Everglades National Park. The L-31N Seepage Management Pilot Project is intended to inform the design of large-scale seepage management solutions for the L-31N levee.
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From page 83... ...
, along the L-31N levee, approximately 1 mile south of the CERP seepage pilot project. The LPA seepage control pilot is part of a larger proposal to privately fund groundwater seepage control adjacent to Everglades National Park to mitigate the effects of expanded limestone mining in the Lake Belt region.
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From page 84... ...
There is also uncertainty about the need for partial versus complete removal of levees and about the impact of higher water levels in WCA-3B and northeast Shark River Slough on seepage to the Lower East Coast. The Decomp Physical Model (DPM)
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From page 85... ...
ecological benefits from restoring sheet flow and connectivity; (3) effects of levee removal and the need for complete levee removal; (4)
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A 2003 NRC report recognized the ecological role of sheet flow as a critical uncertainty in CERP implementation (NRC, 2003a)
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. The DPM will produce the most detailed observation data to date on the hydrology and ecology of sheet flow in the ridge and slough system.
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Refinements to models such as the South Florida Water Management Model (SFWMM) and the Everglades Landscape Model (ELM)
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The eastern project will replace existing portions of the lower C-111 Canal with a spreader canal to enhance sheet flow to Florida Bay and restoration efforts within the Southern Glades and Model Lands. During plan formulation, two major decision-critical uncertainties were identified that were preventing consensus on the appropriate design for the eastern phase (USACE, 2009b)
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From page 90... ...
The committee is not aware of any efforts under way to address the second decision-critical uncertainty regarding the water quality of S-178 discharges. Everglades National Park scientists have voiced concerns over increased cattail growth in Taylor Slough suspected to be caused by water management changes that have increased hydroperiods and thus increased phosphorus loading.
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From page 91... ...
plan increases the urgency to proceed more quickly to implement the additional necessary Tamiami Trail modifications through the CERP, or some other mechanism, so that the restoration benefits for Everglades National Park outlined in the WRDA 2007 conference report4 can be achieved as soon as possible." The Department of the Interior released an analysis of alternatives and a proposed plan for additional bridging along Tamiami Trail in May 2010 (SFNRC, The WRDA 2007 conference report tasked the USACE "to pursue immediate steps to increase 4 flows to the Park of at least 1,400 cubic feet per second, without significantly increasing the risk of roadbed failure." The report also stated that flows to the park should have "a minimum target of 4,000 cubic feet per second so as to address the restoration envisioned in the 1989 [Mod Waters]
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From page 92... ...
A full understanding of the potential value of spreader swales should consider canal stages up to 9.7 feet and compare these results to that achievable through additional culverts or bridges. In addition to the commencement of the Tamiami Trail work, the Mod Waters project involves flood mitigation for the 8.5-square-mile area adjacent to Everglades National Park, conveyance and seepage control features, and implementation plans for monitoring and operation.
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. Kissimmee River Restoration The Kissimmee River was a meandering stream with an extensive flood plain draining into the northern edge of Lake Okeechobee (Figure 3-11)
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94 Progress Toward Restoring the Everglades FIGURE 3-11 Phased construction zones in the Kissimmee River Restoration Project. Figure 3-11.eps bitmap SOURCE: Jones et al.
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From page 95... ...
have not yet provided all the expected ultimate benefits in flow characteristics or water quality. The full regulation schedule will not be implemented until 2013, and until that time, the USACE has authorized the SFWMD to make releases into the river when upstream lake levels are sufficient and the releases are not required for other purposes.
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96 TABLE 3-2 Phased Construction of the Kissimmee River Restoration Project TABLE 3-2 Phased Construction of the Kissimmee River Restoration Project SOURCE: Jones et al.
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Colonies for new residents such as tri-colored herons and white ibis have appeared in substantial numbers. Densities of wading birds have substantially increased since the initiation of the Kissimmee River restoration, and expected targets have been surpassed.
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From page 98... ...
Sugar Corporation for $1.75 billion to maximize restoration opportunities for the South Florida ecosystem. Although not ideal as currently configured, these lands potentially offer the opportunity for additional water storage and treatment at a scale not previously envisioned in the CERP for the benefit of the Everglades ecosystem, Lake Okeechobee, and the St.
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From page 99... ...
The lands could also be used to construct new STAs to help address current water quality concerns and improve the functionality of the current STAs. The options for managing Lake Okeechobee could also be improved, as harmful phosphorus flows would be prevented from entering the lake and the need for "back-pumping" water would be eliminated.
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From page 100... ...
or how future River of Grass plans will be coordinated with the CERP. Everglades Restoration Transition Plan The USACE, with support from a multi-agency team, is leading a new initiative to examine operational flexibilities and improve water management within WCA-3 and Everglades National Park.
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From page 101... ...
bitmap SOURCE: https://my.sfwmd.gov/portal/page/portal/xrepository/sfwmd_repository_pdf/ rog_map_2010_0804.pdf the 2006 biological opinion in support of the Interim Operational Plan (IOP) , which outlines the current water management rules in WCA-3 to protect the Cape Sable seaside sparrow and its habitat (USACE, 2002)
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From page 102... ...
and NRC (2007) , CERP planners worked for more than a year to develop a revised project implementation schedule for the South Florida ecosystem restoration, termed the "Integrated Delivery Schedule" (IDS; Figure 3-13)
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From page 103... ...
West Basin Storage Reservoir 15 Melaleuca Eradication and Other Exotic Plants 16 Broward County Water Preserve Areas C-11 Impoundment C-9 Impoundment 2023 WCA 3A&3B Levee/S-356 17 ENP Seepage Management 18 Lake Okeechobee Watershed 2023 19 Herbert Hoover Dike Rehabilitation 2025 Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals 20 in the Everglades Protection Area Projects 21 EAA Reservoir/STA TO BE DETERMINED Projects are currently federal construction. Projects are currently non-federal construction, subject to change based on funding allocation.
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From page 104... ...
for CERP projects, which was last updated in 2005. Workshops were held with the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force (Task Force)
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From page 105... ...
Master Agreement A significant programmatic accomplishment of the restoration organizations has been a "master agreement" signed on August 13, 2009, by the Department of the Army and the South Florida Water Management District. The agreement was intended to promote cooperation between the two agencies for construction, operation, maintenance, and repair of CERP projects.
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From page 106... ...
, anticipated state funding for CERP projects declined to $146 million in FY 2010, a level that is less than 1800 ARRA, Non-CERP 1600 Federal, Non-CERP ARRA, CERP 1400 Federal, CERP State, Non-CERP Millions of dollars 1200 State, CERP 1000 800 600 400 200 0 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Year FIGURE 3-14 Federal and state Everglades restoration funding amounts including CERP and non-CERP activities (enacted 2001-2009 and requested 2010)
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From page 107... ...
Federal funding for Everglades restoration has long trailed funding from the state of Florida. Because of the lack of congressional authorizations for CERP project construction prior to 2007 and to address the large backload of unfinished non-CERP foundation projects that are essential to restoration, most of the federal funding has been concentrated on non-CERP projects (e.g., Kissimmee River Restoration, Mod Waters)
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From page 108... ...
Continued support for federal funding of Everglades restoration projects is critical to maintain the momentum and create near-term restoration benefits. The Task Force tracks and compiles expenditures and financial requirements for all South Florida restoration projects as reported by the sponsoring agencies in the annual Integrated Financial Plan (SFERTF, 2009)
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From page 109... ...
The Everglades restoration program has completed the arduous federal planning and authorization processes for three projects and is now moving forward with construction of the Picayune Strand project with federal funding. Additionally, despite budget challenges, the state of Florida continues to expedite the construction of three projects (C-111 Spreader Canal, Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands, and Lakeside Ranch STA)
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From page 110... ...
Sugar Corporation lands -- substantially less than what was previously announced -- near areas with historically high phosphorus loads. These lands could help the SFWMD come into compliance with current water quality requirements, yet this represents only a small step toward the goals of the River
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From page 111... ...
for the Decomp project, seepage management, and critical foundation projects. These projects offer significant restoration benefits to the remnant Everglades ecosystem, but the benefits cannot be fully realized without the provision of additional water, which will require substantial new storage and associated water quality treatment.
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