Kissimmee Chain of Lakes Long Term Management Plan (KCOL LTMP)

Kissimmee Chain of LakesLong Term Management

Plan(KCOL LTMP)

Kissimmee Chain of LakesLong Term Management

Plan(KCOL LTMP)

BackgroundBackground

Initiated in April 2003 through a SFWMD Governing Board resolution

Resolution in response to the controversy surrounding the 2003 Lake Tohopekaliga Extreme Drawdown for Habitat Preservation and Enhancement

Initiated in April 2003 through a SFWMD Governing Board resolution

Resolution in response to the controversy surrounding the 2003 Lake Tohopekaliga Extreme Drawdown for Habitat Preservation and Enhancement

Step # 1: (Aug ’03 – April ’04)

Step # 1: (Aug ’03 – April ’04)

Identify goals and objectives Scope & Goal Document

Identify goals and objectives Scope & Goal Document

Step # 2: (April ’04 – August ’07)

Step # 2: (April ’04 – August ’07)

Build consensus among stakeholders on what lake ecosystem health means

Establish the technical and scientific basis for assessing lake ecosystem health Annotated Bibliography Stakeholder Value Survey Conceptual Ecosystem Model Assessment Performance Measures 2007 Peer Review

Build consensus among stakeholders on what lake ecosystem health means

Establish the technical and scientific basis for assessing lake ecosystem health Annotated Bibliography Stakeholder Value Survey Conceptual Ecosystem Model Assessment Performance Measures 2007 Peer Review

Step # 3: (Sept ’07 – Aug ’08)

Step # 3: (Sept ’07 – Aug ’08)

Defined Management Objectives, Targets, and Priorities

Developed the Plan

Defined Management Objectives, Targets, and Priorities

Developed the Plan

Partner OrganizationsPartner Organizations

South Florida Water Management District

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Osceola County

Interested Stakeholders

South Florida Water Management District

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Osceola County

Interested Stakeholders

Geographic Scope

Geographic Scope

Kissimmee Chain of Lakes and lands hydrologically connected to the lakes

PurposePurpose

Enhance and/or sustain lake ecosystem health while balancing impacts across ecosystems including the Kissimmee River and Lake Okeechobee

Enhance and/or sustain lake ecosystem health while balancing impacts across ecosystems including the Kissimmee River and Lake Okeechobee

Plan GoalsPlan Goals

Ecological: Enhance and/or sustain healthy lake ecosystems so that they are capable of supporting the full array of biological communities that are currently dependent upon the KCOL for life cycle requirements.

Societal: Define strategies to accommodate human activities that minimize the adverse effects of those activities on native ecosystems (Grumbine, 1994; Carr et al, 2007). This includes both watershed management and lake management activities.

Agency Coordination: Coordinate lake management activities between plan stakeholders through a partnership effort and a management framework designed to monitor, assess, respond, and adapt to management needs.

Assessment: Assess lake ecosystem health through routine monitoring and system assessment, modify and identify new management targets as needed, and determine success of management actions.

Ecological: Enhance and/or sustain healthy lake ecosystems so that they are capable of supporting the full array of biological communities that are currently dependent upon the KCOL for life cycle requirements.

Societal: Define strategies to accommodate human activities that minimize the adverse effects of those activities on native ecosystems (Grumbine, 1994; Carr et al, 2007). This includes both watershed management and lake management activities.

Agency Coordination: Coordinate lake management activities between plan stakeholders through a partnership effort and a management framework designed to monitor, assess, respond, and adapt to management needs.

Assessment: Assess lake ecosystem health through routine monitoring and system assessment, modify and identify new management targets as needed, and determine success of management actions.

Plan PrinciplesPlan Principles Modify lake regulation schedules to promote plant diversity, quality lake

substrate, and fish and wildlife productivity within lake littoral zones.

Manage lake inflows to maintain desired lake trophic state and fish and wildlife habitat.

Manage hydrilla at lowest feasible level on lakes where eradication is no longer possible and for eradication where still possible

Minimize the cumulative impact of development on lake water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, flood protection levels, and recreational uses through application of smart growth and storm water best management practices.

Preserve/protect lakeshore marshes from development-related filling.

Reduce discharge and/or runoff volumes from existing and future land development by providing additional storage within the KCOL watershed.

Address emerging issues and concerns through the IAT using adaptive management principles and the proposed management framework

Implement the Agency Action Plan presented in Chapter 8.

Modify lake regulation schedules to promote plant diversity, quality lake substrate, and fish and wildlife productivity within lake littoral zones.

Manage lake inflows to maintain desired lake trophic state and fish and wildlife habitat.

Manage hydrilla at lowest feasible level on lakes where eradication is no longer possible and for eradication where still possible

Minimize the cumulative impact of development on lake water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, flood protection levels, and recreational uses through application of smart growth and storm water best management practices.

Preserve/protect lakeshore marshes from development-related filling.

Reduce discharge and/or runoff volumes from existing and future land development by providing additional storage within the KCOL watershed.

Address emerging issues and concerns through the IAT using adaptive management principles and the proposed management framework

Implement the Agency Action Plan presented in Chapter 8.

Hydrologic Management Objectives

Hydrologic Management Objectives

Promote plant diversity, quality lake littoral substrate, and fish and wildlife productivity within lake littoral zones.

Maintain current levels of flood protection.

Provide flow releases necessary to meet Kissimmee River Restoration hydrologic criteria.

Reduce undesirable inflows to Lake Okeechobee.

Promote plant diversity, quality lake littoral substrate, and fish and wildlife productivity within lake littoral zones.

Maintain current levels of flood protection.

Provide flow releases necessary to meet Kissimmee River Restoration hydrologic criteria.

Reduce undesirable inflows to Lake Okeechobee.

KBMOS Evaluation Performance Measures

KBMOS Evaluation Performance Measures

High and low stage events

Recessions, ascensions, and reversals

Intra-annual and inter-annual variability

High and low stage events

Recessions, ascensions, and reversals

Intra-annual and inter-annual variability

Normal High / Spring High

Extreme Low

Wet Low

Normal Low

0

20

75

90

PercentInundation

100

LittoralZone

Open Water

Extreme High

LakeFloodplain

95

Water Quality Mgmt ObjectivesWater Quality Mgmt Objectives

Meet or maintain state water quality standards including existing and future total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) in lakes and tributaries to the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes.

Reduce phosphorus runoff from properties exceeding phosphorus discharge limitations (Lake Okeechobee Works of the District).

Reduce municipal storm water nutrient inputs to lakes.

Reduce non-nutrient contaminant inputs to lakes.

Protect/enhance water clarity and lake swimmability.

Investigate sediment nutrient fluxes in Lake Tohopekaliga

Meet or maintain state water quality standards including existing and future total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) in lakes and tributaries to the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes.

Reduce phosphorus runoff from properties exceeding phosphorus discharge limitations (Lake Okeechobee Works of the District).

Reduce municipal storm water nutrient inputs to lakes.

Reduce non-nutrient contaminant inputs to lakes.

Protect/enhance water clarity and lake swimmability.

Investigate sediment nutrient fluxes in Lake Tohopekaliga

Fish & Wildlife Mgmt Objectives

Fish & Wildlife Mgmt Objectives

Support the life cycle requirements of KCOL dependent fish and wildlife resources.

Conserve and/or enhance aquatic and littoral habitats.

Protect lake-associated listed species.

Minimize development encroachment on lakeshore habitats.

Support the life cycle requirements of KCOL dependent fish and wildlife resources.

Conserve and/or enhance aquatic and littoral habitats.

Protect lake-associated listed species.

Minimize development encroachment on lakeshore habitats.

Aquatic Plant Mgmt Objectives

Aquatic Plant Mgmt Objectives

Maintain hydrilla at minimal feasible levels on those lakes where eradication is not possible and eradicate hydrilla where feasible.

Allow multiple uses and protect natural functions of water bodies.

Restore natural lakeshore plant communities.

Maintain hydrilla at minimal feasible levels on those lakes where eradication is not possible and eradicate hydrilla where feasible.

Allow multiple uses and protect natural functions of water bodies.

Restore natural lakeshore plant communities.

Water Supply Mgmt Objectives

Water Supply Mgmt Objectives

Ensure that water supply withdrawals do not cause harm to the water resources of the are and the related natural resources.

Identify surface water withdrawals from the KCOL.

Operate reservoirs/STAs to improve current levels of flood protection.

Operate reservoirs/STAs to reduce nutrient loads to downstream water bodies.

Operate reservoirs/STAs to provide recharge opportunities for groundwater resources.

Ensure that water supply withdrawals do not cause harm to the water resources of the are and the related natural resources.

Identify surface water withdrawals from the KCOL.

Operate reservoirs/STAs to improve current levels of flood protection.

Operate reservoirs/STAs to reduce nutrient loads to downstream water bodies.

Operate reservoirs/STAs to provide recharge opportunities for groundwater resources.

Recreation and Public Use Mgmt Objectives

Recreation and Public Use Mgmt Objectives

Sustain existing recreational opportunities and land uses without increasing conflicts between lakefront owners and recreational users.

Establish public use opportunities compatible with protection of natural resources.

Manage airboat, ATV, mud truck, and boat traffic to reduce ecological and noise impacts.

Sustain existing recreational opportunities and land uses without increasing conflicts between lakefront owners and recreational users.

Establish public use opportunities compatible with protection of natural resources.

Manage airboat, ATV, mud truck, and boat traffic to reduce ecological and noise impacts.

1. Lake Tohopekaliga

2. East Lake Tohopekaliga

3. Alligator Chain of Lakes and Lake Gentry

4. Lakes Kissimmee, Hatchineha, and Cypress

5. Lakes Hart and Mary Jane

6. Lakes Preston, Myrtle, and Joel

1. Lake Tohopekaliga

2. East Lake Tohopekaliga

3. Alligator Chain of Lakes and Lake Gentry

4. Lakes Kissimmee, Hatchineha, and Cypress

5. Lakes Hart and Mary Jane

6. Lakes Preston, Myrtle, and Joel

LMA Priorities

LMA Priorities

Prioritization Considerations(with respect to level of difficulty for

future management)

Prioritization Considerations(with respect to level of difficulty for

future management)

Aquatic Plant Management

Water Quality

Development Pressure

Recreational User Conflicts

Habitat Quality

Aquatic Plant Management

Water Quality

Development Pressure

Recreational User Conflicts

Habitat Quality

Fish and Wildlife Species and Habitat Issues / Concerns

Flooding

Navigation

Water Supply Development

Fish and Wildlife Species and Habitat Issues / Concerns

Flooding

Navigation

Water Supply Development

LMA GoalsLMA Goals

Lake Tohopekaliga - Enhance

East Lake Tohopekaliga - Enhance

Alligator Chain of Lakes and Lake Gentry - Enhance

Lakes Kissimmee, Hatchineha, and Cypress - Enhance

Lakes Hart and Mary Jane - Enhance

Lakes Preston, Myrtle, and Joel - Sustain

Lake Tohopekaliga - Enhance

East Lake Tohopekaliga - Enhance

Alligator Chain of Lakes and Lake Gentry - Enhance

Lakes Kissimmee, Hatchineha, and Cypress - Enhance

Lakes Hart and Mary Jane - Enhance

Lakes Preston, Myrtle, and Joel - Sustain

Monitoring & Assessment Program

Monitoring & Assessment Program

IntegratedData Collection & Monitoring

Mgmt Objectivesfor Lake

ManagementAreas

Targets for DefiningEcosystem Health

- Hydrology- F&W and Habitat

- Aquatic Plant Mgmt.- Water Quality

Decision to Takean Agency Action

Implementation ofManagement Tools

Routine Reportingon Condition

Reporting onEffectiveness of

Management

Recommendations toRevise Targets

or EstablishNew Targets

Long-Term Monitoring to

Assess Conditions

Monitoring to Assess Mgmt. Effectiveness

Monitoring to ImproveUnderstanding of

Ecosystem Processesand Functions

Data Analysis & Assessment

Phased ImplementationPhased Implementation Initial Planning (May 2004 – Sept 2008)

Initial Implementation (Oct 2008 – 2013) Identification of additional assessment performance measures to

address all management objectives Aligning assessment performance measures with Conceptual

Ecosystem Model Formal identification of ecosystem and management uncertainties Coordination, streamlining, and enhancement of monitoring and

assessment activities Development of first series of annual assessment reports Implement adaptive management

Full implementation (2014 - …)

Initial Planning (May 2004 – Sept 2008)

Initial Implementation (Oct 2008 – 2013) Identification of additional assessment performance measures to

address all management objectives Aligning assessment performance measures with Conceptual

Ecosystem Model Formal identification of ecosystem and management uncertainties Coordination, streamlining, and enhancement of monitoring and

assessment activities Development of first series of annual assessment reports Implement adaptive management

Full implementation (2014 - …)

Progress Made Since 2007 Peer Review

Progress Made Since 2007 Peer Review

Consolidated guild habitat measures into single PM for “Fish & Wildlife Habitat in Lake Littoral Zones”

Combined upland wetlands and near-lake wetlands into a single “Palustrine Wetland” measure

Revised and updated other measures, including Snail Kite and Bald Eagle (updated data and targets)

Reorganized information within measures for better readability

Identified targets specific to certain lakes or LMAs, where possible

Reduced number of measures from 33 to 26

Consolidated guild habitat measures into single PM for “Fish & Wildlife Habitat in Lake Littoral Zones”

Combined upland wetlands and near-lake wetlands into a single “Palustrine Wetland” measure

Revised and updated other measures, including Snail Kite and Bald Eagle (updated data and targets)

Reorganized information within measures for better readability

Identified targets specific to certain lakes or LMAs, where possible

Reduced number of measures from 33 to 26

Watershed Management Tools

Watershed Management Tools

Comprehensive and Water Supply Planning

Environmental Regulation and Permitting

Programs TMDL FDACS Agricultural Best Management Practices Program NEEPP

Projects Habitat Preservation and Storm Water Treatment

Watershed Management Best Management Practices

Comprehensive and Water Supply Planning

Environmental Regulation and Permitting

Programs TMDL FDACS Agricultural Best Management Practices Program NEEPP

Projects Habitat Preservation and Storm Water Treatment

Watershed Management Best Management Practices

Watershed Management Tool Gaps

Watershed Management Tool Gaps

Regulatory Gap # 1: Existing regulations do not regulate development of existing platted properties less than 10-acres in size.

Regulatory Gap # 2: Standards need to be developed for MS4 exempt developments, municipalities, and individually owned properties to align storm water management facilities with basin restoration/enhancement goals.

Urban BMP Program Gap

Land Acquisition

Regional Storm Water Retention and Treatment Facilities

Regulatory Gap # 1: Existing regulations do not regulate development of existing platted properties less than 10-acres in size.

Regulatory Gap # 2: Standards need to be developed for MS4 exempt developments, municipalities, and individually owned properties to align storm water management facilities with basin restoration/enhancement goals.


Land Acquisition

Regional Storm Water Retention and Treatment Facilities

Lake Management ToolsLake Management Tools Environmental Regulations and Permitting

Programs Aquatic Plant Management Program Lake Restoration 2020 Program Largemouth Bass Population Management Alligator Population Management

Enforcement

Projects Kissimmee Basin Modeling and Operations Study EIS for Modification of Kissimmee Basin Structure Operating

Criteria

Environmental Regulations and Permitting

Programs Aquatic Plant Management Program Lake Restoration 2020 Program Largemouth Bass Population Management Alligator Population Management

Enforcement

Projects Kissimmee Basin Modeling and Operations Study EIS for Modification of Kissimmee Basin Structure Operating

Criteria

Lake Management Challenges

Lake Management Challenges

Hydrilla management

Optimizing conditions for snail kite foraging and nesting while not jeopardizing other lake management needs such as lake drawdowns, flood attenuation, etc.

Managing competing boating interests such as jet skis, sailing, air-boating, hunting, fishing with other lake uses, such as passive lake recreation

Determining the maximum number of boats per lake given the differing desires of the above-listed boating interests (this will be increasingly difficult in the coming years)

Balancing shoreline and littoral aquatic vegetation habitat needs with shoreline resident desires to remove aquatic vegetation or fill shoreline wetlands

Hydrilla management

Optimizing conditions for snail kite foraging and nesting while not jeopardizing other lake management needs such as lake drawdowns, flood attenuation, etc.

Managing competing boating interests such as jet skis, sailing, air-boating, hunting, fishing with other lake uses, such as passive lake recreation

Determining the maximum number of boats per lake given the differing desires of the above-listed boating interests (this will be increasingly difficult in the coming years)

Balancing shoreline and littoral aquatic vegetation habitat needs with shoreline resident desires to remove aquatic vegetation or fill shoreline wetlands

Planning

DCA, County, Municipalities, DEP, Utilities,

WMD

ERP Regulatory Team

USACE, WMD, DEP, Counties

Resource Advocates

Lake Associations, Audubon, etc.

Coordination and Adaptive Management

Inter-Agency-Team

Assessment and

Monitoring

Science Team

Policy Makers

Agency Implementers

Compliance Officers

Stakeholders

Agency Representatives

Decision Makers

Proposed Management Framework

Proposed Management Framework

Adaptive Management Process

Adaptive Management Process

Identify

Problem

Design

Implement

Monitor

Assess

Adjust

Proposed Agency ActionsProposed Agency Actions Part 1: Become a Plan Partner

Allocate agency staff to serve on the IAT and Science Teams Adopt KCOL LTMP management objectives Allocate resources and/or realign current resources to support

implementation of the KCOL LTMP Monitoring and Assessment Program

Part 2: Fill Management Gaps

Part 3: Near-Term Coordination

Part 4: Develop an Integrated Watershed Management Plan specific to the KCOL

Part 1: Become a Plan Partner Allocate agency staff to serve on the IAT and Science Teams Adopt KCOL LTMP management objectives Allocate resources and/or realign current resources to support

implementation of the KCOL LTMP Monitoring and Assessment Program




Proposed Agency ActionsProposed Agency Actions

Part 1: Become a Plan Partner

Part 2: Fill Management Gaps Existing regulations do not regulate development of existing

platted properties less than 10-acres in size Standards need to be developed for MS4 exempt developments,

municipalities, and individually owned properties to align storm water management facilities with basin restoration/enhancement goals





Part 2: Fill Management Gaps Existing regulations do not regulate development of existing

platted properties less than 10-acres in size Standards need to be developed for MS4 exempt developments,

municipalities, and individually owned properties to align storm water management facilities with basin restoration/enhancement goals







Part 3: Near-Term Coordination TMDL Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP) Basin Rule Statewide Unified Storm Water Rule Kissimmee Basin Water Reservation




Part 3: Near-Term Coordination TMDL Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP) Basin Rule Statewide Unified Storm Water Rule Kissimmee Basin Water Reservation






Part 4: Develop an Integrated Watershed Management Plan specific to the KCOL Reauthorization of the S-64 Structure Construction of regional storm water retention facilities Add Off-line Storage to the C&SF System Land Acquisition




Part 4: Develop an Integrated Watershed Management Plan specific to the KCOL Reauthorization of the S-64 Structure Construction of regional storm water retention facilities Add Off-line Storage to the C&SF System Land Acquisition