Water Resources Advisory CommissionJanuary 5, 2006
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Lake Okeechobee and Estuary Recovery
A combination of capital projects and numerous interagency initiatives
Designed to provide measurable and meaningful improvements to water quality and water quantity in Lake Okeechobee and the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee Estuaries
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LOER Components and District Lead Responsibilities
Lake Okeechobee Fast Track Projects
Revise Lake Okeechobee Operating Schedule (will require significant District support)
Set TMDLs for tributaries
Mandatory fertilizer BMPs
Revise ERP
Alternative storage/disposal of excess surface water
Innovative land use planning
Eliminate land application of wastewater treatment residuals
Lake Okeechobee Protection Program
CERP Lake Okeechobee Watershed Project
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LakeOkeechobeeFast-Track Projects5 construction projects north of Lake Okeechobee:
•Nubbin Slough STA Expansion•Taylor Creek Reservoir•Lakeside Ranch STA•Rerouting Runoff from the
S-133 Basin•Rerouting Runoff from the
S-154 Basin
5 construction projects north of Lake Okeechobee:
•Nubbin Slough STA Expansion•Taylor Creek Reservoir•Lakeside Ranch STA•Rerouting Runoff from the
S-133 Basin•Rerouting Runoff from the
S-154 Basin
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Lake OkeechobeeFast-Track Projects
Constructed wetland for treating basin runoff before it enters the lake
Approximately 1,300 acres in size
Removes about 22 to 24 metric tons of phosphorus/year
Nubbin Slough STA Expansion
Wetland restorationarea
Wetland restorationarea
Wetland Inflow structureWetland Inflow structure
Wetland Inflow structureWetland Inflow structure
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Lake OkeechobeeFast-Track Projects
Storage for holding water before treatment in an STA
4,000-acre footprint, holding 32,000 acre-feet of water
Also removes about 3 to 5 metric tons of phosphorus/ year
Taylor CreekReservoir
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Lake OkeechobeeFast-Track Projects
Constructed wetland for treating basin runoffbefore it enters the lake
Approximately 2,700 acres in size
Removes about 39 to 48 metric tons of phosphorus/year
Lakeside Ranch STA
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Lake OkeechobeeFast-Track Projects
Canals and pumps to divert stormwater runoff into an STA for treatment
Rerouting runoff from the City of Okeechobee
Additional connection moves only treated water into Lake Okeechobee
Rerouting Runoff from the S-133 Basin
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Lake OkeechobeeFast-Track Projects
Canals and pumps to divert stormwater runoff into an STA for treatment
Keeps untreated water from entering the southern end of the Kissimmee River (C-38 canal)
Rerouting Runoff from the S-154 Basin
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Lake Okeechobee Fast Track Projects
Point of Contact: Harold Aiken/Mark Long/Denise Arrieta
Steps to implementation/Schedule: Initial design and data collection Nov ‘05 – Mar ’06
(Conceptual design being conducted by CDM) Develop Basis of Design Report Apr ‘06 – Oct ‘06 Obtain Design Criteria Approval Nov ‘06 Obtain Permits Oct ‘06 – Sept ‘07 Nubbin Slough expansion permits Jan ‘06 – Aug ‘06 Nubbin Slough construction Sep ‘06 – Dec ‘07 Construct remaining Fast Track Oct ‘07 – Dec ‘09
projects
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Permanent Forward Pumps for Water Supply during Droughts
Point of Contact: Larry Carter/Karen Counes
Steps to implementation/Schedule: Develop Basis of Design Report Jan ’06 – Aug ’06
(SOW, preliminary operating criteria under development)
Obtain Design Criteria Approval Sept ‘06
Design Pumps/Structures Oct ’06 – Sept ‘07 Obtain Permits Oct ’06 – Sept
‘07 Construct Pumps/Structures Oct ’07 – Sept
’09
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Revise Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule
Revise the Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule
Work with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to revise federal regulation schedule levels
Achieve a better balance among lake management objectives
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Revise Lake Okeechobee Operating Schedule
Point of Contact: Kim O’Dell
Steps to implementation/Schedule: SSM & water shortage modeling Oct ’05 – Aug ‘06 Re-map lake sediments Apr ’06 – Apr ‘07 Review in-lake dredging options Jun ’06 – May ‘07 Ecological/hydrological modeling Oct ’05 – Sept
‘07 Purchase temporary pumps Feb ’06 – Aug
’06 Electrical, installation platforms for Aug ’06 – Jan ‘07
temporary pumps Seed bank evaluation Oct ’06 – Jan ‘07 Replant estuary SAV 2008
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Revise ERP Criteria
Revise the Environmental Resource Permit (ERP) criteria to better address the water quality impacts due to new development and land-use changes within the Kissimmee, Lake Okeechobee, Caloosahatchee Estuary and St. Lucie Estuary watersheds
Supplement the Environmental Resource Permit (ERP) Criteria
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Revise ERP Criteria
Point of Contact: Damon Meiers
Steps to implementation/Schedule: Revise Lake O Protection Act Jan ’06 - July
’07 Develop guidelines to determine Jan ’06 – Dec
’07
P loading and BMP credits ERP rule revisions Feb ’06 – May ’08 Coordination with State-wide ERP Feb ’06 – Dec
‘06
review
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Alternative Storage/Disposal of Excess Surface Water
Identify alternative sites on public, private, and tribal lands for moving and storing excess water from the lake and its tributary basins to help reduce high discharge volumes to the estuaries
Assess feasibility of deep well disposal and ASR options for Taylor Creek and the Brighton Reservation
Options for Storage and/or Disposal of Excess Surface Water
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Water Storage Assessments:Study Areas
Figure 2Figure 2
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Point of Contact:
Benita Whalen, P.E.
Steps to implementation, schedule:
Active communication with agricultural ongoing
land owners on storage opportunities
Complete public lands assessmentsDec ‘05
Complete private & tribal lands assessmentsMar ‘06
Complete construction of 4 pilot facilities Apr ‘06
Enter into agreements on additional sitesDec ‘06
Design, construct, monitor Jan ’07 – Dec ‘09
Alternative Storage/Disposal of Excess Surface Water
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Point of Contact:
Scott Burns / Robert Verrastro
Steps to implementation, schedule:
Assess feasibility of reactivating Taylor Jan ’06 – Jun ‘07
Creek ASR well
Conduct pilot ASR for Brighton Reservation Jan ’06 – Apr ‘08
Design and permitting of 10 deep wells Jan ’06 – Jan ‘07
Construct and operate 10 deep wells Feb ’07 – Dec ‘09
Alternative Storage/Disposal – Deep Well Injection and ASR
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Continued Implementation of the LOPP & CERP LOWP
Comprehensive, phased approach already under way to reduce phosphorus loadings and provide water storage to the lake by 2015
Continued Implementation of the Lake Okeechobee Protection Program and CERP Lake Okeechobee Watershed Project
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Point of Contact:
Susan Gray / David Unsell
Steps to implementation, schedule:
Ongoing water quality projects, lake 2004 – 2015
and watershed assessments for LOPP
Flow ways feasibility study Jun ’06 – Sep ‘07
LOWP CERP PIR completion Jan ’06 – 2008
LOWP CERP land acquisition Jun ’07 – 2012
LOWP CERP design and permitting 2009 - 2015
LOWP CERP Construction 2010 - 2015
Continued Implementation of LOPP and CERP LOWP
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Set TMDLs for Lake Okeechobee Tributaries - FDEP
Speed up development of total maximum daily loads of phosphorus allowed for the Lake Okeechobee watershed tributaries to protect and restore downstream water bodies
TMDLs = Total Maximum Daily Loads
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Mandatory Fertilizer BMPs – FDACS and local governments
Revised application rates for agriculture; low phosphorus for urban use
Reassess fertilizer application rates for agriculture and encourage the development and use of low phosphorus fertilizer in urban settings
Mandatory Fertilizer Best Management Practices (BMPs):
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Innovative Land-Use Planning - FDCA
Innovative land-use planning techniques, including use of Florida’s Rural Land Stewardship Areas Program, to facilitate the acquisition of lands for public works
Growth Management to Encourage Innovative Land-Use Planning
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Eliminate Land Applications of Residuals - FDEP
End the practice of depositing domestic wastewater residuals on land, which can result in excess nutrients getting in tributaries and estuaries
Residuals Contain Nutrients that are Imported into Phosphorus-Sensitive Basins
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Opportunities for Local Government Participation
Implement stormwater utilities and stormwater retrofits
Assist with BMP implementation for low P fertilizer in urban settings
Move forward to convert septic systems to central sewers
Land acquisition for preservation & Restoration