1 U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND ST. JOHNS RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT Indian River Lagoon...

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U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS ANDAND

ST. JOHNS RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT ST. JOHNS RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT

Indian River Lagoon North Indian River Lagoon North RestorationRestoration

Feasibility StudyFeasibility StudyPublic MeetingPublic Meeting

September 2001

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PRESENTERSPRESENTERS

• David Schmidt, USACE• Troy Rice, SJRWMD

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STUDY AUTHORIZATIONSTUDY AUTHORIZATION The study will be conducted under the authority of Section 309 (l) of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 1992 and Section 528 (b) (1) (C) of WRDA 1996 to provide for the water related needs of the region served by the Central and South Florida project.

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WHERE?WHERE?

BREVARD

INDIAN RIVER

VOLUSIA

INDIAN RIVER LAGOON NORTH

INDIAN RIVER LAGOON SOUTH

ST. LUCIE MARTIN

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WHERE?WHERE?

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TONIGHT’STONIGHT’SMEETINGMEETING

Public coordination, Provide information, Answer questions, and Gather information on water

resource problems and

opportunities

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BACKGROUNDBACKGROUND

– St. Johns River Water Management District in the North, and

– South Florida Water Management District in the South

Administer Water Projects.

Local governments and Two Water Management Districts:

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BACKGROUND (cont.)BACKGROUND (cont.) This study will build upon previous and

ongoing projects including:

Indian River Lagoon South Upper St. Johns River Basin (~97% complete) Intracoastal Waterway C-1 Diversion

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PLANNING EFFORTS TO PLANNING EFFORTS TO DATEDATE

Indian River Lagoon Surface Water Improvement and Management Plan (SWIM) 1994.

Indian River Lagoon - Nine Volume Characterization Report 1994.

Indian River Lagoon Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) 1996.

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STUDY PURPOSESTUDY PURPOSE

Ecosystem restoration while meeting other water resources needs of area.

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STUDY PURPOSE (cont.)STUDY PURPOSE (cont.)

Possible examples: Improve Fish and Wildlife Habitat

– Seagrass– Wetlands

Improve Water Quality Increase Recreational Opportunities Maintain and Where Possible Improve

Flood Protection and Water Supply

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WHO WILL BENEFIT?WHO WILL BENEFIT?

Environment General Public

Commercial Users

Recreational Users

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MAJOR PROJECTS MAJOR PROJECTS ALREADY IMPLEMENTED ALREADY IMPLEMENTED

BY SJRWMD & NEPBY SJRWMD & NEP Volusia County & Municipalities Stormwater Cost-

Share Projects = $2.6 million Brevard County & Municipalities Stormwater Cost-

Share Projects = $7.1 million Indian River County & Municipalities Stormwater Cost-

Share Projects = $14.4 million Removal of +500,000 cubic yards of muck sediment

from Crane & Turkey Creeks

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MAJOR PROJECTS MAJOR PROJECTS ALREADY IMPLEMENTED ALREADY IMPLEMENTED BY SJRWMD & NEP (cont.)BY SJRWMD & NEP (cont.)

Reconnection of +18,555 acres of impounded wetlands

Acquisition of +52,600 acres of Environmental Endangered Lands within the watershed

Development of a Water Quality Model for the IRL for use in establishing PLRGs/TMDLs

Removal of +500 acres of Invasive Exotic Plants and +35 acres of Native Mangroves Replanted

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POTENTIAL ALTERNATIVESPOTENTIAL ALTERNATIVES Remove muck from lagoon and tributary areas Restore or reconnect wetlands Improve flow through or past causeways Develop sediment strategy, including retention and detention facilities Control water runoff Determine septic contributions and develop recommendations Remove exotic vegetation Ensure flood protection and water supply

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CORPS WATER RESOURCES CORPS WATER RESOURCES PROJECT PROCESSPROJECT PROCESS

Study - Develop plan, alternatives, costs and conduct NEPA with 50% Federal and 50% non-Federal cost sharing

Pre construction, Engineering and Design (PED) - Cost shared 75% Federal, 25% non-Federal Sponsor

Construction - cost shared according to project purpose and Federal law Operation & Maintenance - Normally 100% non-Federal, for CERP 50%

non-Federal

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PROCESSPROCESSPhase Estimated Duration

Project Management Plan 3 months

Cost Sharing Agreement 3 months

Feasibility 3-4 years

Pre-construction Engineering & Design 2-3 years

Construction 3 years estimated

Operation & Maintenance Project life

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*REMINDER**REMINDER*OPPORTUNITIESOPPORTUNITIES

Improve Fish and Wildlife Habitat– Seagrass– Wetlands

Improve Water Quality Increase Recreational Opportunities Maintain and Where Possible Improve Flood

Protection and Water Supply

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SJRWMD SJRWMD RESPONSIBILITIESRESPONSIBILITIES

Demonstrate intent to contribute 50% of study costs, 25% of PED costs, and non-Federal share of construction costs

Provide lands, easements, rights-of-ways, relocations, and disposal areas

Operate and maintain project

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CORPS RESPONSIBILITIESCORPS RESPONSIBILITIESIN COOPERATION WITH IN COOPERATION WITH

SJRWMDSJRWMD

Complete Project Management Plan Complete Feasibility Phase Provide Federal share of funds required Design and Construct project features

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LOCAL RESPONSIBILITIESLOCAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Help us!! Continue efforts on behalf of the Lagoon

to solve problems Provide input into alternative plan

development

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NOTENOTE

Prior to Q&A, just a note about the following:

Our goal is to help restore the IRL We are here to help you and your

community Please contact us anytime

– USACE, Erwin Wunderlich (904) 899-5055– SJRWMD, Troy Rice (321) 984-4950

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERSQUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

We will post information to the following Web site:

http://www.evergladesplan.org/projects.htm

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