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 2017

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 water treatment and storageprojects between Lake Okeechobee and thegreater Everglades.• The projects in the technical plan includemore than 6,500 acres of new stormwatertreatment areas (STAs). These constructedwetlands use “green technology” to removeexcess phosphorus which can harm theEverglades ecosystem.

• The technical plan also calls for 116,000acre-feet of additional water storagethrough construction of flow equalizationbasins (FEBs). These impoundments willcapture runoff during storm events andprovide a more steady flow of water to theSTAs, helping to maintain desired waterlevels needed to achieve optimalperformance.

n The technical plan is partof a revised NationalPollutant DischargeElimination System(NPDES) permit issued bythe Florida Department ofEnvironmental Protection(DEP) and approved bythe EPA for operation ofthe District’s currentnetwork of five STAssouth of Lake

Okeechobee. The NPDES permit — alongwith a state-issued Everglades Forever Actpermit — establishes stringent phosphoruslimits for water discharged from STAs beforeit enters the Everglades.

n The strategies also feature implementation ofadditional sub-regional source controls —where pollution is reduced at the source — inthe eastern Everglades Agricultural Area(EAA) where phosphorus levels in stormwaterrunoff have been historically higher.

n In addition, a robust science plan will ensurecontinued 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 be completedby 2025. Work is currently underway onseveral components.

A-1 Flow Equalization Basin (FEB)With 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 steady

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 for flood controlpurposes, 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.

A-1 FEB

RESTORATION STRATEGIES – FEBRUARY 2017

rate to STA-2 and STA-3/4 to improve their performance. As ashallow FEB, the A-1 also contains emergent vegetation to helpreduce 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 theSTA-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: Summer/Fall2017

L-8 Divide Structure (G-541)The L-8 Divide Structure, also known as G-541 is a fully automatedwater control structure located within the L-8 canal, just east of theL-8 FEB. G-541 assists in the movement of stormwater into the L-8FEB for storage and, when needed, assists in directing FEB outflowssouth to STA-1 East and STA-1 West. G-541 is designed to functionwithin the current operational criteria for the L-8 canal to maintainflood control for the basin.• Project Status: Operational• Construction Completion Date: July 2016

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 were required to ensure more efficientoperations.• Project Status: Operational • Construction Completion Date: May 2016

S-375 StructureExpansion (G-716)The new G-716structure will expandthe capacity of theexisting S-375structure, located withinSTA-1 East. Duringhigh flow events in theC-51 West Basin orwhen STA-1 East isalready receivingoptimal flows, S-375and G-716 will direct stormwater runoff to the L-8 FEB for storageprior to being redirected to STA-1 East and/or STA-1 West fortreatment.• Project Status: Construction ongoing • Expected Construction Completion Date: December 2018

L-8 FEB

L-8 Divide

STA-1 West

S-5AS

STA-1 East

RESTORATION STRATEGIES – FEBRUARY 2017

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, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Everglades National Parkand 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 andoptimize 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.

Building on Water Quality 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 $2 billion toward lowering phosphorus levels inEverglades-bound waters through a combination of nutrient source

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 2017

controls and construction projects. Farming Best ManagementPractices (BMPs) prevent or reduce phosphorus in discharges at thesource. BMPs have worked in tandem with the Everglades STAs tocontribute to documented water quality improvements.

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

n In Water Year 2016, these constructed wetlands treatedapproximately 1.4 million acre-feet of water, reducingphosphorus loads by 86 percent. To date, the STAs have treatedmore than 17.4 million acre-feet of water and have retainedmore than 2,220 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 55 percent since 1995, more thantwice the amount required by State law.

n To date, BMPs and STAs together have prevented approximately5,275 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.