Lee CountyWater Resource Initiative:

Community Sustainability Committee June 16, 2010

Kurt HarclerodeKurt HarclerodeOperations ManagerOperations Manager

Lee County Natural Resources DivisionLee County Natural Resources Division

Overview

• Launched in 2005

• Issues, Updates and Accomplishments

• Issues on the Horizon: 2010 Water Resource Initiatives and Challenges

The River is Central To Our Economy

• Our first “Highway”

• Central to our ecotourism-based economy

• Its management is central to the success of our fishing industry

• When it suffers, we suffer

Too Much, the Water Turns Red

Too Little or Too Much and the Water Turns Green

Our Industry: Tourism

• A $3 billion a year industry, tourism is attracted primarily to the coast

• Surveys here and elsewhere depict impacts as high as 35% on lodging and 29% on restaurants

• Using an impact of 20% during a 2 month red tide, Lee County suffered a $90 million loss

Lee CountyWater Resource Protection Initiative:

Key Goals

• Implementation of Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (“CERP”)

• Watershed approach for Protection of Caloosahatchee River & Estuary

• Water Quality and Water Quantity Projects

• State Legislation• Public, Environmental and Elected

Official Outreach

Goals and Accomplishments

• Caloosahatchee West Basin Storage Reservoir (The C-43 Project)

• Phase II PIR (The Water Quality Project)

• Southwest Florida Feasibility Study• Southern Flow-way/Storage – The

River of Grass / U.S. Sugar Deal

Caloosahatchee River West Basin Storage Reservoir Project

(The C-43 Project)

• Provide essential flows during the dry season resulting in improved salinity balance and ecological health of the Caloosahatchee

• The Federal and State governments have invested over $200 million in land acquisition and engineering costs

C-43 Phase II PIR (Water Quality Treatment )

• Commitment for Phase II of project to address upper basin needs (storage and water quality)

• Test Cell project (for water quality analysis BOMA 1,770 acres). Permits obtained (ready to go).

• C-43 Project – Log jam resolved: Chief’s Report approved by Corps Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

• Potential WRDA 2010

Northern Everglades and Estuary Protection Act (NEEPA)

• Created the Caloosahatchee River Watershed Protection Plan. Contains major initiatives and programs

• Watershed Construction Projects• Watershed Pollutant Control

Program

• Watershed Research and Water Quality Monitoring Program

Caloosahatchee River Watershed Protection Plan – Job Done

• Accepted by the Lee County Commission and the SFWMD Governing Board in January, 2009

• Accepted by the 2009 State Legislature

What’s Next? 2010 Priorities

• Almost every year the Caloosahatchee has exceedances or violations of minimum and maximum surface water flows

• Significant Regulatory, Planning and Project Initiatives are underway and needed.

Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule

• Corps developed new Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule (2006-2008)

• Extensive written comments and advocacy to achieve best schedule for Caloosahatchee – LORS 2008– Reduces damaging wet season discharges– Low Flows for dry season

What’s Next?2010 Priorities

• Caloosahatchee River Watershed Protection Plan– Implementation and funding

• Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule– Development of Adaptive Protocols for new

Schedule to address lower Lake levels and deliveries to prevent environmental harm to Caloosahatchee Estuary

Future Needs and Challenges: Caloosahatchee Watershed

Regulatory/Permitting Issues

• Basin Permitting Programs

• New versus existing land uses

2010 Priorities

• C-43 Project:

• Congressional Authorization and Implementation

• Phase II: Expedite and Implement• Project Implementation Report (PIR) • C-43 Project Phase II – Water Quality

Component• Prioritizing and funding

2010 Priorities

• Water supply for Caloosahatchee: – Water Reservations

• Water Quality:– Finalize TMDLs– Develop BMAP to implement TMDLs– Basin Rules– Numeric Nutrient Criteria– Funding and construction of BOMA

2010 Priorities

• Completion of the SWFFS

• Implementation and funding of the CRWPP

• Adaptive Protocols to deliver Lake Okeechobee water during dry times