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

Restoration Strategiesfor Clean Water for the Everglades

FEBRUARY 2016

A Plan for ImprovingWater QualityIn June 2012, the State of Florida and the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reachedconsensus on new restoration strategies forfurther improving water quality in America’sEverglades. Based on months of scientific andtechnical discussions, these strategies willexpand water quality improvement projects tohelp achieve the phosphorus water qualitystandard established for the Everglades.

n Under these strategies, the South FloridaWater Management District (SFWMD) isimplementing a regional water quality planto complete six water treatment and storageprojects between Lake Okeechobee and thegreater Everglades.• The projects in the technical plan includemore than 6,500 acres of newstormwater treatment areas (STAs).These constructed wetlands use “greentechnology” to remove excess phosphorus,which can harm the Everglades ecosystem.

• The technical plan also calls for 116,000acre-feet of additionalwater storage throughconstruction of flowequalization basins(FEBs). Theseimpoundments willcapture runoff duringstorm events and providea more steady flow ofwater to the STAs,helping to maintaindesired water levelsneeded to achieveoptimal performance.

n The technical plan is part ofa revised National Pollutant DischargeElimination System (NPDES) permit issued bythe Florida Department of EnvironmentalProtection (DEP) and approved by the EPA foroperation of the District’s current network offive STAs south of Lake Okeechobee.TheNPDES permit — along with a state-issuedEverglades Forever Act permit — establishesstringent phosphorus limits for water

discharged from the Everglades STAs.n The strategies also feature implementation ofadditional source controls — where pollutionis reduced at the source — in the easternEverglades Agricultural Area (EAA) wherephosphorus levels in stormwater runoff havebeen historically higher.

n In addition, a robust science plan willensure continued research and monitoring toimprove and optimize the performance of theSTAs.

Current RestorationStrategies ProjectsDesign and construction of the treatment andstorage projects in the Restoration StrategiesRegional Water Quality Plan will take place inthree phases, with completion of all projects setfor 2025. Work is already under way onseveral components for the plan’s first twophases. Projects in these two phases arescheduled to be finished by 2016 and 2018,respectively.

A-1 Flow Equalization BasinWith a capacity of 60,000 acre-feet, the A-1 FEBis the largest of three flow equalization basins inthe Restoration Strategies plan. The A-1 FEBattenuates peak stormwater flows, temporarilystoring water so it can be delivered at a steadyrate to STA-2 and STA-3/4 to improve theirperformance. As a shallow FEB, the A-1 also contains emergent vegetation to help reduce

The South Florida Water Manage ment Districtis a regional governmentalagency that manages the waterresources in the southern part ofthe state. It is the oldest andlargest of the state’s five watermanagement districts.

Our Mission is to manage andprotect water resources of theregion by balancing andimproving flood control, watersupply, water quality andnatural systems.

BACKGROUND:America’s Everglades wasonce a vibrant, free-flowingRiver of Grass, extending fromthe Kissimmee Chain of Lakesnear Orlando to the southerntip of the peninsula at FloridaBay. Over time, significantdevelopment allowed forpopulation and economicgrowth. The construction ofcanals and water controlstructures, along withincreased water needs due tourban and agriculturalexpansion, also contributedto unintended environmentalconsequences.

Recognizing that a healthyecosystem is vital to a healthyeconomy, a number ofinitiatives are under way toimprove water quality,increase storage andreestablish more historicflows.

RESTORATION STRATEGIES – FEBRUARY 2016

phosphorus concentrations before moving water to the STAs.• Project Status:Operational testing and monitoring ongoing

• Constuction Completion Date: November 2015

L-8 Flow Equalization BasinBuilding on a strategically located 950-acre former rock mine, the L-8 FEB is a deep below-ground reservoir capable of storing 45,000acre-feet of water. Initially, this project will function as amultipurpose FEB to capture, store and deliver stormwater to STA-1East and STA-1 West to improve their performance and to provideinterim benefits for other restoration purposes. When the STA-1 West expansion is operational, the L-8 FEB will transition toprimarily storing stormwater runoff and delivering flows to optimizethe treatment performance of STA-1 East and STA-1 West.• Project Status: Construction ongoing • Expected Construction Completion Date: December 2016

L-8 Divide Structure (G-541)The L-8 Divide Structure, also known as G-541, will be a fullyautomated water control structure located within the L-8 canal, just

east of the L-8 FEB. The structure will assist the movement ofstormwater into the L-8 FEB for storage and, when needed, assist indirecting FEB outflows south to STA-1 East and STA-1 West. G-541is designed to function within the current operational criteria for theL-8 canal to maintain flood control for the basin.• Project Status: Construction ongoing• Expected Construction Completion Date: September2018

STA-1 West Expansion Located immediately northwest of the Arthur R. MarshallLoxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge (also known as WaterConservation Area 1), STA-1 West removes excess phosphorus andother nutrients from stormwater flowing into the Refuge and otherparts of the greater Everglades. The 6,500-acre expansion of STA-1West, which will take place in two phases, will double its effectivetreatment area and further reduce phosphorus concentrations.• Project Status: Construction of Phase 1 ongoing • Expected Construction Completion Date: December 2018(Phase 1)

S-5AS StructureModificationsImplementation ofprojects in theRestoration Strategiesplan will increase theuse of the existing S-5AS structure to directstormwater runoff northto the L-8 FEB forstorage. As a result,

some modifications and upgrades to the structure are required toensure more efficient operations.• Project Status: Construction ongoing • Expected Construction Completion Date: September2016

S-375 StructureExpansion (G-716)The new G-716structure willexpand the capacityof the existing S-375 structure,located within STA-1 East. During highflow events in theC-51 West Basin orwhen STA-1 East isalready receivingoptimal flows, S-375 andG-716 will direct stormwater runoff to the L-8 FEB for storage priorto being redirected to STA-1 East and/or STA-1 West for treatment.• Project Status: Construction ongoing • Expected Construction Completion Date: December 2018

RESTORATION STRATEGIES – FEBRUARY 2016

Science Plan ProjectsAs part of the Restoration Strategies Regional Water Quality Plan, theDistrict is implementing the Science Plan for the Everglades StormwaterTreatment Areas. The Science Plan was crafted by more than 35 SFWMDscientists and engineers in coordination with technical representativesfrom DEP, EPA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Everglades NationalPark and the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge.

n The Science Plan was developed to identify studies thatinvestigate the critical factors that collectively influence ultra-lowtreatment performance and phosphorus reduction in the STAs.

n Results from Science Plan studies will be used to inform thedesign and operation of water quality projects in order to meetthe stringent phosphorus standard for the Everglades. Inaddition, data and information gathered from the studies will beincorporated into the development and refinement of the District’smodeling tools.

n The Science Plan is structured around six key questions:1. How can the FEBs be designed and operated to moderate and

optimize phosphorus concentrations, phosphorus loading ratesand hydraulic loading rates entering the STAs, possibly incombination with water treatment technologies or inflow canalmanagement?

2. How can internal loading of phosphorus to the water columnbe reduced or controlled, especially in the lower reaches of thetreatment trains?

3. What measures can be taken to enhance vegetation-basedtreatment in the STAs and FEBs?

4. How can the biogeochemical or physical mechanisms bemanaged to further reduce soluble reactive, particulate anddissolved organic phosphorus concentrations at the outflow ofthe STAs?

5. What operational or design refinements could be implementedat existing STAs and future features (i.e. STA expansions,FEBs) to improve and sustain STA treatment performance?

6. What is the influence of wildlife and fisheries on the reductionof phosphorus in the STAs?

n The Science Plan was published in June 2013, andimplementation is ongoing. It can be viewed atwww.sfwmd.gov/rs_scienceplan.

Restoration Strategies – Key ProjectsS 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

South Florida Water Management District3301 Gun Club RoadWest Palm Beach, Florida 33406561-686-8800 • 1-800-432-2045www.sfwmd.gov

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RESTORATION STRATEGIES – FEBRUARY 2016

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Building on WaterQuality ProgressThe Restoration Strategies Regional Water Quality Plan will build onthe significant progress already made by the State of Florida toprotect and improve the Everglades. Since 1994, the State hasinvested more than $1.8 billion toward lowering phosphorus levelsin Everglades-bound waters through a combination of nutrientsource controls and construction projects. Farming BestManagement Practices (BMPs) prevent or reduce phosphorus indischarges at the source. BMPs have worked in tandem with theEverglades STAs to contribute to documented water qualityimprovements.

n Five Everglades STAs are operational with an effective treatmentarea of 57,000 acres, including 12,000 acres completed in2012.

n In Water Year 2015, these constructed wetlands treated morethan 1.4 million acre-feet of water, reducing phosphorus loadsby 83 percent. To date, the STAs have treated more than 16.1 million acre-feet of water and have retained more than2,012 metric tons of phosphorus.

n Improved farming methods on 470,000 acres of agriculturallands south of Lake Okeechobee have resulted in annual averagephosphorus reductions of 56 percent, more than twice theamount required by State law.

n To date, BMPs and STAs together have prevented approximately4,860 metric tons of phosphorus from entering the Everglades.

For more information on Restoration Strategies for Clean Water forthe Everglades, visit www.sfwmd.gov/restorationstrategies.

As part of the Restoration Strategies Water Quality Plan, the South Florida Water Management District is implementing the Science Plan for theEverglades STAs. Developed by more than 35 District scientists and engineers in coordination with technical representatives from other state andfederal agencies, the science plan identifies studies needed to increase phosphorus reduction and treatment performance in the STAs. Results fromthe Science Plan studies will be used to enhance design and operation of water quality projects in order to meet the stringent phosphorus standardfor the Everglades.