US Army Corps of Engineers Everglades Restoration A Program for Integrated Regional Management Garth W. Redfield, Ph.D. Chief Environmental Scientist, South Florida Water Management District
Mar 29, 2015
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
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