US Army Corps of Engineers Everglades Restoration A Program for Integrated Regional Management Garth...

US Army Corpsof Engineers

Everglades Restoration A Program for Integrated

Regional Management

Everglades Restoration A Program for Integrated

Regional Management

Garth W. Redfield, Ph.D.Chief Environmental Scientist,

South Florida Water Management District

Garth W. Redfield, Ph.D.Chief Environmental Scientist,

South Florida Water Management District

Greater Everglades EcosystemGreater Everglades Ecosystem

Orlando

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

Miami

Kissimmee River

Lake Okeechobee

Caloosahatchee River and Estuary

Big Cypress National Preserve

Everglades National Park

Water Conservation

Areas

St. Lucie River and Estuary

Biscayne Bay National Park

The Everglades EcosystemThe Everglades Ecosystem

Historical ProblemsLeading to Construction of C&SF Project

Historical ProblemsLeading to Construction of C&SF Project

Areas Floodedin 1947

Areas Floodedin 1926 &

1928

Hurricanes in 1926 and 1928 resulted in failure of the levee around Lake Okeechobee

Hurricane in 1947 resulted in wide-spread flooding throughout South Florida

State of Florida requested Federal assistance in 1947

Congress authorized the

C&SF Project in 1948

Central & Southern Florida ProjectCentral & Southern Florida Project

River Channelization

Herbert Hoover Dike

Water Conservation Areas

Protective Levees

– Everglades Agricultural Area

– Lower East Coast

Drainage Network

– Salinity Structures

Central and Southern Florida ProjectCentral and Southern Florida Project

2,800 kilometers of canals and levees

160 major drainage basins

Over 2,000 water control structures

200 major structures 36 pump stations

2,800 kilometers of canals and levees

160 major drainage basins

Over 2,000 water control structures

200 major structures 36 pump stations

C&SF Project InfrastructureC&SF Project Infrastructure

One of the world’s largest and most complex water resource management systems

HistoricHistoricFlowFlow

CurrentCurrentFlowFlow

System ModificationsSystem Modifications

Everglades Restoration & Water Management Challenges

Everglades Restoration & Water Management Challenges

Climate is subtropical with “extremes”

Regional system stressed by population & land use

Must balance: Multiple water

resource objectives

Objectives often conflict

Climate is subtropical with “extremes”

Regional system stressed by population & land use

Must balance: Multiple water

resource objectives

Objectives often conflict

An Ecosystem in Trouble….An Ecosystem in Trouble….

Too much or too little water for the South Florida ecosystem

6.4 million cubic meters of water per day is lost to the ocean

Declining estuary health

Massive reductions in wading bird populations

Degradation of water quality

Loss of native habitat to invasive exotic vegetation

70 Federally-listed threatened and endangered species

Too much or too little water for the South Florida ecosystem

6.4 million cubic meters of water per day is lost to the ocean

Declining estuary health

Massive reductions in wading bird populations

Degradation of water quality

Loss of native habitat to invasive exotic vegetation

70 Federally-listed threatened and endangered species

Half of the Everglades Lost to Urban and Agricultural Development

Half of the Everglades Lost to Urban and Agricultural Development

C&SF Project Comprehensive Review Study

C&SF Project Comprehensive Review Study

Study authorized by Congress in the Water Resources Development Act of 1992

Study was initiated in June 1993

Purpose of Study is to reexamine the C&SF Project to: Restore South Florida ecosystem Enhance water supplies Maintain flood control

Study authorized by Congress in the Water Resources Development Act of 1992

Study was initiated in June 1993

Purpose of Study is to reexamine the C&SF Project to: Restore South Florida ecosystem Enhance water supplies Maintain flood control

Interagency TeamInteragency Team

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

South Florida Water Management District

Federal agencies

State agencies

Miccosukee and Seminole Tribes

Local governments

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

South Florida Water Management District

Federal agencies

State agencies

Miccosukee and Seminole Tribes

Local governments

Rescuing an Endangered Ecosystem:

The Plan to Restore America’s Everglades

July 1999The Central and Southern Florida Project

Comprehensive Review Study (The Restudy)

Comprehensive Comprehensive Everglades Everglades

Restoration PlanRestoration Plan

On July 1, 1999, the Secretary of the Army and the State of Florida presented the Plan to Congress

On July 1, 1999, the Secretary of the Army and the State of Florida presented the Plan to Congress

Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan

Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan

Plan includes 68 components to be implemented over

35 years.

Plan includes 68 components to be implemented over

35 years.

QualityQuantity

Timing Distribution

Getting the Water Right:

Getting the Water Right:

A Rational Premise

or

Risky Assumption

A Rational Premise

or

Risky Assumption

Balancing Water Needs of the EcosystemBalancing Water Needs of the Ecosystem

70%70%30%30%

Environment

Urban & Agricultural

Current Deliveries 1.5 Billion Cubic Meters

per year

Deliveries with CERP 3 Billion Cubic Meters

per year

50%50% 50%50%

Urban & Agricultural

Environment

Primary Goal - Increase the Amount of Available WaterPrimary Goal - Increase the Amount of Available Water

Wetlands RestorationWetlands Restoration

Wetland Restoration

Wetland Restoration

Orlando

Florida Keys

Florida Bay

Big CypressNational Preserve

EvergladesNational

Park

Lake Okeechobee

Ft. Myers

WaterConservation

Areas

Bis

cayn

e B

ay Miami

Fort Lauderdale

West Palm

Beach

Kissimmee River

Comprehensive Everglades Restoration

Program

Comprehensive Everglades Restoration

Program

185,000 acres (75,000 hectares)

Surface Water Storage Reservoirs

Surface Water Storage Reservoirs

15 Surface Water Storage

Reservoirs

15 Surface Water Storage

Reservoirs

West Palm

Beach

Orlando

Florida Keys

Florida Bay

Big CypressNational Preserve

EvergladesNational

Park

Lake Okeechobee

Ft. Myers

WaterConservation

Areas

Bis

cayn

e B

ay

Miami

Fort Lauderdale

Kissimmee River

Comprehensive

Everglades Restoration

Plan

Comprehensive

Everglades Restoration

Plan

Total Storage Capacity: 1.8 billion cubic meters

Aquifer Storage and Recovery:

A Challenging Approach

Aquifer Storage and Recovery:

A Challenging Approach

Aquifer Storage Aquifer Storage and Recoveryand Recovery

Orlando

Florida Keys

Florida Bay

Big CypressNational Preserve

EvergladesNational

Park

Lake Okeechobee

Ft. Myers

WaterConservation

Areas

Bis

cayn

e B

ay Miami

Fort Lauderdale

West Palm

Beach

Kissimmee River

Comprehensive Everglades Restoration

Plan

Comprehensive Everglades Restoration

Plan

330 ASR Wells Possible330 ASR Wells Possible 3 Pilot Projects in progress3 Pilot Projects in progress 10 wells being installed in 10 wells being installed in

the L.O. watershedthe L.O. watershed

Total ASR Capacity: Total ASR Capacity:

6 million cubic meters per day6 million cubic meters per day

Seepage Management

Seepage Management

Comprehensive Everglades Restoration

Plan

Comprehensive Everglades Restoration

Plan

Orlando

Florida Keys

Florida Bay

Big CypressNational Preserve

EvergladesNational

Park

Lake Okeechobee

Ft. Myers

WaterConservation

Areas

Bis

cayn

e B

ay Miami

Fort Lauderdale

West Palm

Beach

Kissimmee River

Stormwater Treatment AreasStormwater Treatment Areas

Stormwater Treatment

Areas

Stormwater Treatment

Areas

Orlando

Florida Keys

Florida Bay

Big CypressNational Preserve

EvergladesNational

Park

Lake Okeechobee

Ft. Myers

WaterConservation

Areas

Bis

cayn

e B

ay Miami

Fort Lauderdale

West Palm

Beach

Kissimmee River

Comprehensive Everglades Restoration

Plan

Comprehensive Everglades Restoration

Plan

22 Treatment Areas18,000 hectares of wetlands

Removing Barriers to Sheet Flow

Removing Barriers to Sheet Flow

Orlando

Florida Keys

Florida Bay

Big CypressNational Preserve

EvergladesNational

Park

Lake Okeechobee

Ft. MyersB

isca

yne

Bay

Miami

Fort Lauderdale

West Palm

Beach

WaterConservation

Areas

Kissimmee River

Comprehensive Everglades Restoration

Plan

Comprehensive Everglades Restoration

Plan

$$$

Project Cost Sharing

Project Cost Sharing

Estimated Cost Estimated Cost

$10.9 billion over 35 years to implement (2004 dollars)

More than $170 million per year to operate and maintain

$10 million per year for monitoring and adaptive assessment

Cost sharing depends on federal authorization process

$10.9 billion over 35 years to implement (2004 dollars)

More than $170 million per year to operate and maintain

$10 million per year for monitoring and adaptive assessment

Cost sharing depends on federal authorization process

50%Federal

$

50%State

WRDA-2000 ProvisionsAssurance of Project BenefitsWRDA-2000 ProvisionsAssurance of Project Benefits

Reservation of water for the natural system

Savings Clause

No elimination of existing legal sources

No reduction in the level of service for flood protection

Reservation of water for the natural system

Savings Clause

No elimination of existing legal sources

No reduction in the level of service for flood protection January 9, 2002

Acceler8 ProgramAn Interagency Commitment

Acceler8 ProgramAn Interagency Commitment

State of Florida commits to fund a $1.6 Billion accelerated restoration effort

The Federal government agrees to expedite their planning and permitting decisions

Oct 14, 2004

Acceler8 ProgramEarly Restoration BenefitsAcceler8 ProgramEarly Restoration Benefits

To be Constructed by 2010:

Over 500 million cubic meters of reservoir storage capacity

Over 11,000 hectares of Stormwater Treatment Areas

Over 35,000 hectares of natural areas restoration

To be Constructed by 2010:

Over 500 million cubic meters of reservoir storage capacity

Over 11,000 hectares of Stormwater Treatment Areas

Over 35,000 hectares of natural areas restoration

Everglades Agricultural Area Storage ReservoirEverglades Agricultural Area Storage Reservoir

Current (2005)

Future (2010)

Everglades Restoration:Peer Review (CISRERP)Everglades Restoration:Peer Review (CISRERP)

National Academy of Sciences, first biennial review, 2006 concludes:

There are successes - Kissimmee Restoration has worked

Water quality programs are effective

Science is progressing –MAP is ready for implementation

Good adaptive management strategy

National Academy of Sciences, first biennial review, 2006 concludes:

There are successes - Kissimmee Restoration has worked

Water quality programs are effective

Science is progressing –MAP is ready for implementation

Good adaptive management strategy

Everglades Restoration:Peer Review (CISRERP)Everglades Restoration:Peer Review (CISRERP)

National Academy of Sciences, first biennial review, 2006 concludes:

CERP Project Status –Key projects have been delayed

More federal funding is needed

Improve project planning and fundingUse an Incremental Adaptive Restoration

approach to initiating and evaluating projects with large uncertainties

National Academy of Sciences, first biennial review, 2006 concludes:

CERP Project Status –Key projects have been delayed

More federal funding is needed

Improve project planning and fundingUse an Incremental Adaptive Restoration

approach to initiating and evaluating projects with large uncertainties

Everglades Restoration:Obstacles & Opportunities

Everglades Restoration:Obstacles & Opportunities

Obstacles:Massive Scale of Effort; Land Acquisition

Funding; Interagency Cooperation

Technical Limitations

Opportunities:Restore Valued Regional Resources

Provide Sustainable Balance of Management Objectives

Contribute Information for Large-Scale Restoration Projects Worldwide

Obstacles:Massive Scale of Effort; Land Acquisition

Funding; Interagency Cooperation

Technical Limitations

Opportunities:Restore Valued Regional Resources

Provide Sustainable Balance of Management Objectives

Contribute Information for Large-Scale Restoration Projects Worldwide

www.evergladesplan.orgwww.evergladesplan.org

www.evergladesnow.org

For more information, visit our Websites

Questions ?Questions ?

Thank youThank you