Restoration of Florida's Iconic Springs: Legislative and "Turn Dirt" Solutions

Transcription

1 Restoration of Florida's Iconic Springs: Legislative and "Turn Dirt" Solutions FSA Annual Conference June 2016 Casey Fitzgerald Director, Springs Protection Initiative SJRWMD

2 Florida Springs Presentation Outline I. Springs of Florida Overview II. SJRWMD Springs Restoration A. Geographic Orientation B. Initiative Science Update C. Projects III. SRWMD Springs Restoration A. Geographic Orientation B. Projects IV. Questions 2

3 Florida Springs (More than 700 named in FGS database)

4 Changes in Florida Springs Weeki Wachee Spring 1951 Weeki Wachee Spring 2006

5 The Problems Ecological structure and function have changed in many springs. High nitrate concentrations Less native aquatic vegetation Blooms of attached algae Lower fish abundance Impaired ecosystem metabolism The springs are indicators of the state of the aquifer. 5

6 Challenges Protect/Improve water quality Protect/Recover flows 6

7 Springs in SJRWMD Silver Spring Blue Spring Wekiva Springs System 7

8 Springs in SJRWMD 148 springs identified Four first-magnitude (> 100 cfs) o Volusia Blue, Silver, Alexander, Silver Glen Sixteen second-magnitude (>10 cfs) 8

9 Springs Protection Initiative Regulation CUP ERP MFLs Outreach Applied Science Formulate cost-effective solutions and support regulatory programs Springs Protection Initiative Water Supply Planning Projects Identify and help fund cost-effective projects 9

10 Applied Science CRISPS Collaborative Research Initiative on Sustainability and Protection of Springs 10

11 Applied Science Approach Pursuant to RFP solicitation, SJRWMD/UF* entered into a 3-year, $3 million contract in March Assemble an integrated SJRWMD / University of Florida scientific team organized into work groups. Conduct an interdisciplinary study involving multiple spring systems. Identify key processes and data necessary to evaluate strategic management options. * Water Institute, IFAS, School of Natural Resources...

12 Springs Protection Initiative Science Questions and Objectives Question 1: Where and when is it most feasible and costeffective to reduce nitrate loading to the springs? Objective: Improve the scientific foundation for management of nitrate loadings to spring ecosystems. Question 2: Will nitrate reduction alone be sufficient to reduce algal abundance in springs? Objective: Determine the need for management of environmental factors other than nitrate loading in order to reduce algal abundance in springs. Question 3: What are the relative influences and manageabilities of nitrate and non-nitrate causes of excess algae in springs? Objective: Determine what other environmental factors might costeffectively be managed to reduce algal abundance in springs. 12

13 Springs Restoration Projects DEP BMAP Process (Collaboration with Stakeholders) SJRWMD Springs Protection Initiative (Data and Science) Funding and Projects Local Governments and Utilities Capital Improvement Plans (Primary action agents) 13

14 SJRWMD Springs Projects Projects funded primarily for Wekiva River / Spring System, Volusia Blue Spring, Silver Springs and Lower Santa Fe River Springs General project types Water conservation Reclaimed water system enhancements Alternative water supply development Water quality improvements o Wastewater treatment plant upgrades, septic tank conversions and stormwater treatment Innovative technologies o Potable reuse, biologically active media in RIBs, etc. 14

15 SJRWMD Springs Cost-Share By Contributor (Fiscal Years 2013/ /16) $59,640,79 8 $14,809,02 0 $27,013,43 9 DEP Cofund SJRWMD Contribution Total investment ~$101 million partner and local contribution 15

16 SJRWMD Project Metrics to Date 57 projects 26 partners/cooperators Total Nitrogen load reduction 0.97 million lbs/yr (540 metric tons/yr) Total groundwater withdrawal offsets 71 million gallons per day (mgd) 16

17 Featured "Turn Dirt" Solutions Silver Springs City of Ocala Septic Tank (OSTDS) and Well Elimination Project Volusia Blue Springs City of Deltona / West Volusia Water Suppliers Storage and Treatment System 17

18 City of Ocala Septic Tank and Well Elimination Program (FY15) Silver Springs in Marion County 850 OSTDS* Up to 5 package plants Elimination of ~ 150 private wells $10,000,000 total investment * as of April 2016, 263 sites connected 18

19 City of Deltona Alexander Avenue Water Management Site (Pending FY17) Identified in the District Volusia Blue Spring Prevention/Recover Strategy West Volusia Water Suppliers (Project 4) Phase 1 - Interconnects the city golf course to reclaimed $1.8M (Complete) Phase 2 - Treatment system and 4 MG of storage for stormwater, reclaimed water and future SJR $7.5M (pending FY17 funding) Flood control benefit - Stormwater source includes areas highly prone to flooding and lake storage system in landlocked Deltona 19

20 SJRWMD Pending Cost- Share Projrects (for FY17) Potentially funding 15 additional springs protective projects (6 water quality; 5 alternative water supply; 4 conservation) District contribution for these to be $8.9 million toward the total project costs of $30M 20

21 Florida Springs (More than 700 named in FGS database)

22 SRWMD Springs Projects Springs along the Suwannee, Santa Fe, Ichetucknee, Steinhatchee, Wacissa, Waccasassa, Withlacoochee & Alapaha Rivers Project Types Water Use Efficiency o Agriculture (nutrient leaching) o Urban Water Quality o Wastewater Septic tanks Improved WWTP treatment o Agriculture Pivot retrofits & fertigation Dairy wastewater Tailwater recovery/reuse Treatment Technology

23 SRWMD Springs Cost-Share By Contributor (FY 2013/ /16) DEP SRWMD Local $20,352,366 $26,533,960 $9,206,838 Total investment ~$56.1M

24 SJRWMD Featured Project Mallory Swamp Recharge Recharge 10 MGD Mallory Swamp Restoration 4K acres of wetlands High Recharge Drainage Canals

25 Future Springs Projects Web Page Project Portal Public Input for SWIM Plan Updates Ag Cost-Share Programs Evaluation Looking for Public-Private Partnerships Local Government Project Ideas

26 Conclusions Restoring Florida s springs to ecological health is an immense challenge. Existing programs in regulatory, planning and management programs have been beneficial and can aid in their recovery. Enough is currently understood scientifically to warrant substantial funding for conventional restoration programs and projects. Deeper scientific understanding is vital to identify the most cost-effective, long-term springs restoration project investments and to properly inform enlightened future management approaches. 26

27 Questions? 27