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