River of Grass Saving the Everglades: Management and Restoration

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1 River of Grass Saving the Everglades: Management and Restoration K. R. Reddy and R G. Best Wetland Biogeochemistry Laboratory Soil and Water Science Department University of Florida and U. S. Geological Service 12th World Lake Conference October 28- November 2, 2007, Jaipur, India

2 Outline Introduction Eveglades hydrologic units Restoration efforts External vs Internal Loads Contaminant Memory implications to restoration

3 Sources of Pollution Rivers 266,000 km [165,000 miles] Lakes 3.3 million hectares [8.2 million acres] Land Disposal Construction 1% 2% Other 9% Land Disposal 5% 7% Other Hydromodification 4% Urban Runoff 5% Construction 13% 4% Resource Extraction 9% 6% Silviculture 64% Agriculture Hydromodification Urban Runoff 12% Resource Extraction 1% 1% Silviculture 57% Agriculture Source: A. E. Carey, 1991

4 Primary Types of Pollution Rivers 266,000 km [165,000 miles] Lakes 3.3 million hectares [8.2 million acres] Oxygen Demand 3% 2% 4% Toxics 6% Acidity Physical habitation alteration 7% 9% Pesticides Salinity 47% Sediment 2% Oxygen Demand 3% Toxics Acidity4% 3% Physical habitation 4% alteration 2% Pathogens Pesticides 3% Salinity 22% Sediment Pathogens 9% 13% 57% Nutrients Nutrients Source: A. E. Carey, 1991

5 Agricultural and Urban Lands Natural Resources Are agricultural and urban practices compatible with sustaining the quality of natural resources? Are agricultural and urban practices adequate to meet current demands and future needs to sustain the quality of our natural resources?

6 Agricultural and Urban Lands Current practices are compatible (?) but may not be adequate with sustaining the quality of natural resources During the past decade, implementation of best management practices (BMPs) have helped to improve water quality The future of global agriculture depends on: Meeting the food and fiber needs of a world population projected to exceed 7.5 billion by 2020 Protecting the quality of natural resources for future generations Challenge is to develop new practices that are compatible with future demands

7 Florida as a Case Example

8 2006 Existing Developed Lands and Permanent Conservation Lands Developed Land Conservation Lands Permanently Protected

2060 2060 Existing Developed Lands and Permanent Conservation

9 Existing Developed Lands and Permanent Conservation Lands Developed Land Conservation Lands Permanently Protected

10 Ecosystems Integral part of Watershed Management Forest ecosystem Urban ecosystem Agricultural ecosystem Riparian wetlands Rangeland ecosystem Isolated wetlands Urban ecosystem Water Quality Rivers, Lakes, and Estuaries

11 Fertilizers, Animal wastes Biosolids, Wastewaters Material Transfer Uplands [sink/source] Wetlands & Streams [sink/source] Lake Lake [sink] Okeechobee

12 Agricultural Impacts on Wetlands 1 Dot = 20,000 acres

13 Water Flow Kissimmiee River Basin Okeechobee Drainage Basin Lake Okeechobee Northern Everglades Everglades Wetlands National of Florida Park High Phosphorus Kilometers Low

14 Understanding the Everglades? Once the Everglades was a vast, free flowing river of grass extending from the Kissimmee chain of lakes to Florida Bay Wading and migratory birds, panthers, manatees, and deer were abundant Rich diversity of plants, fish, and other animals

15 Understanding the Everglades? Early 1900s canals were dug draining south Florida Approximately 1,700 miles of canals and levees changed the landscape Altered hydrology resulted in interruption of natural sheet flow, sending valuable freshwater to sea

16 Understanding the Everglades? In 1947, Marjory Stoneman Douglas wrote about the problems of the Everglades In 1948, massive project to provide flood protection and water management to south Florida was approved These programs resulted in rapid regional growth and development Marjory Stoneman Douglas ( ) courtesy of National Park Service

17 Understanding the Everglades? Everglades ecosystem is endangered as result of adverse changes in: Water quality (Phosphorus and mercury) Hydropatterns Water quantity Distribution Timing of flows

18 The Everglades Forever Act "The Everglades ecosystem must be restored both in terms of water quality and water quantity and must be preserved and protected in a manner that is long term and comprehensive." -The Everglades Forever Act (Florida Statute No )

19 Understanding the Everglades? Today, the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) approved and currently in the process of implementation. This plan will help to capture the freshwater and direct to the ecosystem. It will improve freshwater supplies to farms and people. It will cost over $11 billion (2004 dollars) and take more than 20 years (may be more) to restore.

20 Greater Everglades Ecosystem Restoration

21 South Florida - Flooding Kissimmee 1942 Flooding in the Everglades Fort Lauderdale 1948

22 Kissimmee River - Dredging Kissimmee River 1961 Kissimmee River Dredging

23 Kissimmee River Restoration First of many plugs in restoration of Kissimmee River Plug across Kissimmee River Canal Plug graded to elevation of surrounding floodplain Vegetation establishment and flow through old Kissimmee River and Floodplain

24 Kissimmee River-Okeechobee Drainage Basin

25 Okeechobee Drainage Basin Land use Sugar & veg. Forest Wetlands Urban Citrus 2.5 Dairies Pasture (ui) Pasture (i)

26 Evaluation of Best Management Practices for Protecting Water Quality

27 Florida Dairy Industry

28 Lake Okeechobee

29 Algal bloom in Lake Okeechobee

30 Lake Okeechobee Phosphorus (μg L -1 ) Water Column Phosphorus TP SRP TMDL SFWMD, 2005

31 km N Lake Okeechobee Sediment types Peat Littoral Sand Mud Rock

32 Figure 17.4

33 EAA WCA-1 HLRB WCA-2A WCA-3A WCA-3A BCNP WCA-3B ENP

34 Everglades Agricultural Area [Sugarcane]

35 Everglades Agricultural Area Soil Subsidence

38 Everglades Soil phosphorus Runoff Discharge from Everglades Agricultural Areas into Water Conservation Areas Reddy et al., 2007

39 Water Conservation Area 2A EAA WCA-1 WCA-2 Big cypress WCA-3 Shark slough Taylor slough

40 Water Conservation Area 2A Hydrology Fire

41 WCA-2A Ecosystem Alteration Near Inflows Interior Calcareous Periphyton

42 Detrital Floc and Soil [A] [B] Floc Benthic periphyton Calcareous soil Soil Soil

43 Calcareous Periphyton Mats

44 200 Ecological Changes along the WCA-2A Gradient Water-column TP (µg/l) c h a n g e in m a c r o p h y te s p e c ie s lo s s o f o p e n -w a te r h a b ita t s c h a n g e in p e r ip h y to n s p e c ie s d e c lin e in m e a n d a ily D O c h a n g e in m a c r o in v e r t e b r a t e s p e c ie s lo s s o f c a lc a r e o u s m a ts d e c lin e in m in d a ily D O Distance from Inflow (km)

45 Water Conservation Area 2A - Total P (0-10 cm Soil)

46 Stormwater Treatment Areas STA-2 and STA-6 are fully operational 6 5 3/4 1-W 2 1-E STA-1E, STA-1W, STA-3/4, and STA-5 have some flow-paths off-line SFWMD, 2005

47 External Load from EAA to WCAs Annual P load (tons yr -1 ) Load without BMPs & STAs Load with BMPs & STAs Cumulative load reduction Cumulative P load reduction (tons)

48 Internal Load External Nutrient Load Periphyton Vegetation Water Column Soil/ Sediment Microbial/Chemical Processes Internal Nutrient Load

49 Phosphorus Memory Phosphorus Concentration/Load External Load Reduction Internal Memory Lag time for Recovery Background Level Time - Years

50 Everglades Restoration Progress Everglades restoration can be framed into four interrelated factors. Water quantity Water quality External nutrient loads Inetrnal nutrient loads Timing of water flows Distribution of water

Everglades Restoration Progress The Kissimmee River Restoration Project has shown ecological improvements STAs and BMPs have aided in reducing phorphorus loads DECOMP project has been significantly

51 Everglades Restoration Progress The Kissimmee River Restoration Project has shown ecological improvements STAs and BMPs have aided in reducing phorphorus loads DECOMP project has been significantly delayed Federal funding need to be increased if the CERP plan to be implemented in timely fashion Land acquisition efforts should be continued Continue to maintain strong partnership with stakeholders Cost of CERP plan is $11 billion (2004 dollars)

52 Everglades Restoration Progress HL RB EAA WCA -3A WCA -2A WCA -1 EAA BC NP WCA -3A WCA- 3B ENP

53 Bridging The Gaps Users Extension/ Education Research

54 Bridging The Gaps Users Extension/ Education Research

Phosphorus Biogeochemistry of the Everglades: Implications to Restoration

Phosphorus Biogeochemistry of the Everglades: Implications to Restoration K. R. Reddy, S. Newman, L. J. Scinto, J. R. White, and M. S. Koch University of Florida South Florida Water Management District