Everglades Restoration. Ernie Barnett Assistant Executive Director

Transcription

1 Everglades Restoration Ernie Barnett Assistant Executive Director Lake Worth Lagoon Symposium 2013

2 S O U T H F L O R I D A W A T E R M A N A G E M E N T D I S T R I C T Planning Everglades Restoration in what has become an Urban-Agricultural-Wetland Watershed Citrus and Livestock Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Sugarcane (65%) Sod (20%) Vegetables (rice, beans, lettuce, corn 15%) 124,000 acres Urban Centers (West Palm Beach, Ft Lauderdale, Miami) South Florida Agriculture Fruit (citrus, mangoes, strawberry - 20%) Winter Vegetables (tomatoes, lettuce, peppers, squash - 60%) Ornamentals (20%) 690,000 acres 5,800,000 people 247,000 acres

3 S O U T H F L O R I D A W A T E R M A N A G E M E N T D I S T R I C T Part 1. Defining the problem and understanding the history

4 S O U T H F L O R I D A W A T E R M A N A G E M E N T D I S T R I C T Planning Everglades Restoration in what has become an Urban- Agricultural Wetland How did this Become this?

5 S O U T H F L O R I D A W A T E R M A N A G E M E N T D I S T R I C T Scale is approximate 0 km 25 km 50 km

6 S O U T H F L O R I D A W A T E R M A N A G E M E N T D I S T R I C T Scale is approximate 0 km 25 km 50 km

7 S O U T H F L O R I D A W A T E R M A N A G E M E N T D I S T R I C T Scale is approximate 0 km 25 km 50 km

8 S O U T H F L O R I D A W A T E R M A N A G E M E N T D I S T R I C T " Lll --~1 '""'-"..., -..._,,. IU... Scale is approximate 0 km 25 km 50 km

9 S O U T H F L O R I D A W A T E R M A N A G E M E N T D I S T R I C T Scale is approximate 0 km 25 km 50 km

10 S O U T H F L O R I D A W A T E R M A N A G E M E N T D I S T R I C T ,, Scale is approximate 0 km 25 km 50 km

11 S O U T H F L O R I D A W A T E R M A N A G E M E N T D I S T R I C T S JJJ Scale is approximate 0 km 25 km 50 km

12 S O U T H F L O R I D A W A T E R M A N A G E M E N T D I S T R I C T > rlt A D A 'P Scale is approximate 0 km 25 km 50 km

13 S O U T H F L O R I D A W A T E R M A N A G E M E N T D I S T R I C T Scale is approximate 0 km 25 km 50 km

14 Part 1. Defining the problem and understanding the history Alterations to the Everglades 1. Nutrient enrichment 2. Seepage loss 3. Decreased flow 4. Loss of tree islands 5. Poor circulation

15 Part 1. Defining the problem and understanding the history S O U T H F L O R I D A W A T E R M A N A G E M E N T D I S T R I C T The Everglades has an imbalance of native flora and fauna WCA 1 Cattail Spa.- Mix Othel' WCA 2A WCA-3 Sawgrass Cattail EverglacMtl Division 0.t II Kilometers

16 Part Defining the the problem and and understanding the history g the history Everglades Phosphorus Enrichment Sawgrass ridge Sawgrass ridge Slough Sawgrass ridge Slough Sawgrass ridge Sawgrass ridge Slough Slough with water lilies (Nymphaea)

17 Restoring America s Everglades Water Quality Stormwater Treatment Areas (57,000 acres) Best Management Practices Water Quality, Quantity,Timing, and Distribution Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) Kissimmee River Restoration

18 Water Quality Existing Treatment 5 Stormwater Treatment Areas 57,000 acres of effective treatment 11,500,000 acre-feet (3.75 Trillion gallons) of water treated 1,470 Metric Tons of phosphorus removed Total phosphorus discharge concentrations for best performing STA (3/4) is 17 ppb for period of record

19 How Do We Achieve Compliance? Agricultural BMPs Wetland Treatment (STAs) + Phosphorus Reduction Original Design Target (BMPs + STAs) = 50 ppb

20 SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT Everglades Protection Area 1\ w~\_e TW s

21 Stormwater Treatment Areas STAs are constructed wetlands that remove and store nutrients through plant growth and the accumulation of dead plant material in a layer of peat.

22 Everglades Stormwater Treatment Areas - World renown for scale and function

23 S OUTH FLORIDA WATER MANA GE M E NT DISTRI C T More facilities will be built over the next 12 years to meet the 10 ppb ambient water quality standard G-508 Pump Station

24 Stormwater Treatment Areas Agricultural Land Constructed Wetland Constructed wetlands designed to remove phosphorus through natural physical, chemical and biological processes

25 Water Quality Key Projects Proposed projects developed to meet discharge limit necessary to achieve 10 parts per billion ambient water quality criterion established in rule for Everglades Protection Area More than 100 modeling simulations Project Types STA expansions Flow equalization basins (FEBs) Additional Components Sub-regional source controls Habitat restoration

26 SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT Stormwater Treatment Areas Optimized Opf Conditions Rainfall.... ' '. '. Stormwat~r containing phosphorus Plant litter accumulation, chemical precipmtion. particle settling Phosphorus uptake by floating plants :'~ ~ Water with less '>!' Algae and phosphorus ~ ~. ~p~e~ri p~hy~to_n P_u~pt_a_ke co_n_~~n~t----- Inflow _.seepage Outflow T $e~ge

27 SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT Stormwater Treatment Areas Dry Out - No Flow Conditions Sediment Oxidizes

28 SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT Stormwater Treatment T Areas Deep Water or Rewetting after Dry Conditions Excessive Inflow Reduced phosphorus removal

29 SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT Stormwater Treatment Areas Optimized Opf Conditions Rainfall.... ' '. '. Stormwat~r containing phosphorus Plant litter accumulation, chemical precipmtion. particle settling Phosphorus uptake by floating plants :'~ ~ Water with less '>!' Algae and phosphorus ~ ~. ~p~e~ri p~hy~to_n P_u~pt_a_ke co_n_~~n~t----- Inflow _.seepage Outflow T $e~ge

30 Key Projects Restoration Strategies Lake Okeechobee Eastern Flowpath FEB ~45,000 ac-ft Western Flowpath STA 5/6 Central Flowpath STA Earthwork ~800 ac STA ~4,700 ac FEB ~54,000 ac-ft STA-3/4 STA-2 STA 1W STA 1E WCA-1 Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge WCA-3A WCA-2A

31 Key Projects Restoration Strategies Lake Okeechobee Eastern Flowpath FEB ~45,000 ac-ft Western Flowpath FEB ~11,000 ac-ft STA 5/6 Central Flowpath STA Earthwork ~800 ac STA ~6,500 ac FEB ~54,000 ac-ft STA-3/4 STA-2 STA 1W STA 1E WCA-1 Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge WCA-3A WCA-2A

32 Additional Components Restoration Strategies Lake Okeechobee Eastern Flowpath FEB ~45,000 ac-ft Replacement Features Sub-Regional Source Controls Western Flowpath FEB ~11,000 ac-ft C-139 Annex Restoration STA 5/6 Central Flowpath STA Earthwork ~800 ac FEB ~54,000 ac-ft WCA-3A STA ~6,500 ac STA-3/4 STA-2 STA 1W WCA-2A STA 1E WCA-1 Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge

33 Additional Components Sub-regional Source Controls Identify opportunities for additional cost effective sub-regional source control projects in S5A Sub-Basin to reduce total phosphorus inputs to STA- 1 West & 1 East Considerations - water quality, willing participants, proximity/impact on STAs Three conceptual projects Increase retention Reduce runoff rates Improve canal bank stabilization Sediment sumps Aquatic vegetation control East Beach WCD Southeast Cluster Lease North of STA-1W

34 Additional Components C-139 Annex Restoration Mitigation Project Restore historic Everglades hydrologic conditions to 15,000 acres of former citrus grove Contribute to the improvement of water quality in the Everglades Restore historic wetlands and upland habitat Expand habitat area for listed plant and animal species Promote the restoration of a self-sustaining ecosystem Maintain the current level of flood protection for surrounding properties

35 Proposed Projects May 2012 Lake Okeechobee Eastern Flowpath FEB ~45,000 ac-ft Replacement Features Sub-Regional Source Controls Western Flowpath FEB ~11,000 ac-ft C-139 Annex Restoration STA 5/6 Central Flowpath STA Earthwork ~800 ac FEB ~54,000 ac-ft WCA-3A STA ~6,500 ac STA-3/4 STA-2 STA 1W WCA-2A STA 1E WCA-1 Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge

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37 Kissimmee River Restoration Project Authorized in the Water Resources Development Act of cost-share partnership between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and SFWMD SFWMD responsible for land acquisition and restoration evaluation monitoring Corps of Engineers responsible for design and construction Current estimated cost = $575 million Estimated completion = 2011

38 SO UTH FLORIDA WATER MANA GE M E NT DISTRICT S-65B Demolition

39 Degraded Spoil Area Backfilled C-38 Canal Remnant River Channel New River Connection Remnant River Channel Completed January miles of C-38 Canal backfilled Approximately 12,000 acres of floodplain habitat restored 15 miles of continuous river channel reconnected Phase 1 Backfilling

40 Rapid Recovery of Floodplain Wetlands March 2000 September 2000 July 2001

41 SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT Restored Phase I

42 SO UTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT Sept 9, 2010 Looking north at Montsdeoca Run and adjacent inundated floodplain in the Phase I restoration area.

43 Phase I restoration area Sept 9, 2010

44 -- Sept 9, 2010 Wading birds forage in Phase I restoration area floodplain.

45 Sept 9, 2010 Wading birds congregate in isolated wetlands in the floodplain along the Kissimmee River for foraging. This is the northern section of the Phase I restoration area

46 Sept 9, 2010 Looking north at Montsdeoca Run and adjacent inundated floodplain in the Phase I restoration area.

47 Sept 9, 2010 Montsdeoca Run - Phase I restoration area.

48 Montsdeoca Run Sept 23, 2010

49 Looking south at Phase I restoration area from Montsdeoca-Fulford connector Sept 23, 2010

50 Looking south at Micco and MacArthur Runs at lower extent of Phase I restoration area Sept 23, 2010

51 Phase I restoration area at Montsdeoca-Fulford connector looking north Sept 23, 2010

52 Wading birds forage in a drying pool in the Phase I restoration area Sept 23, 2010

53 Wading birds take flight over the Phase I area floodplain Sept 23, 2010

54 Looking south at Phase IVB from north end. Sept 23, 2010

55 August 1, 2010 Phase IVB restoration area looking south from north end (left) and looking north from south end (left).

56 Phase IVB looking north from southern extent. Sept 23, 2010

57 Phase IVA looking south from northern extent Sept 23, 2010

58 Sept 8, 2010 Vegetation has completely choked the river channel due to lack of flow in Caracara Run in the unrestored section of the River. This section of the river is slated for restoration to begin in 2013.

59 Rainbow over the Kissimmee River. Caracara Run Sept 8, 2010