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The project involves constructing a 2,000-acre wetland that will use emergent vegetation to remove phosphorus from stormwater runoff in the Taylor Creek/Nubbin Slough basin before it enters Lake Okeechobee.
Lakeside Ranch STA
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Lakeside Ranch STA is in the Taylor Creek/Nubbin Slough sub- watershed, one of the nutrient “hot spots” in the Lake Okeechobee watershed.
The 2,600-acre Lakeside Ranch project is a key component of the 2007 Northern Everglades & Estuaries Protection Program. This landmark state restoration initiative expanded the Lake Okeechobee Protection Act to strengthen protection for the Northern Everglades, recognizing connectivity of the entire Everglades ecosystem and the importance of capturing and cleaning water before it flows into Lake Okeechobee. The Lakeside Ranch Stormwater Treatment Area (STA) is featured in the Lake Okeechobee Watershed Construction Project Phase II Technical Plan.
On my tour I also visited the Lakeside Ranch Stormwater Treatment Area. The rest of this week will largely be dedicated to background, commentary and images of the amazing Lakeside Ranch Project!
The Taylor Creek - Nubbin Slough (TCNS) Basin is directly north of Lake Okeechobee. The watershed covers 120,000 acres of a typically flat landscape with generally poorly drained, coarse textured soils (Spodosols) that have a low phosphorus retention capacity. Water flow from the basin tributaries enters Lake Okeechobee through a flow control structure (S-191).
Lake Okeechobee provides drinking and irrigation water, supports commercial and sport fishing, and is a habitat for many migratory as well as endemic bird species. High phosphorus (P) concentrations in Lake Okeechobee promote eutrophic conditions that impair all water uses.
http://www.water.ncsu.edu/watershedss/info/rcwp/fl1prof.html
How can I receive the latest information?
For additional information on the Lake Okeechobee Critical Restoration Project, please contact Lisa Kreiger, 863-462-5260, e-mail HYPERLINK "mailto:lhornun@sfwmd.gov" lkreiger@sfwmd.gov. To learn more about the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, please visit our website at HYPERLINK "http://www.evergladesplan.org" www.evergladesplan.org.
Construction of a 170-acre Stormwater Treatment Area for Taylor Creek is complete on a publicly held portion of the Grassy Island Ranch, east of Taylor Creek. The purpose is to divert and treat about 10% of the water flow from Taylor Creek. This is accomplished by allowing the water to flow parallel to the creek for about 1.6 miles through emergent vegetation, before returning to the creek. This STA started up in October 2006, and was opened for public use in November 2007.
The goal for water quality improvement in the Stormwater Treatment Areas is to reduce phosphorus to the maximum extent possible, given the limited area of the Stormwater Treatment Areas to the amount of water available in Taylor Creek and Nubbin Slough.
Project Description:
The project includes two Stormwater Treatment Areas: Nubbin Slough and Taylor Creek, and one isolated wetland/retention pond sites: Byrd Stockyard.
Public Lands – Stormwater Treatment Areas
Construction of a 780-acre Stormwater Treatment Area for Nubbin Slough is complete on the former New Palm/Newcomer Dairy. The purpose of this Stormwater Treatment Area is to divert and treat the majority of runoff from Nubbin Slough. This would be accomplished by delivering water from the slough to the east end of the Stormwater Treatment Area. The water would then flow through the treatment wetland and discharge back to the slough. The Nubbin Slough STA is not currently operational. .
Project Purpose:
The purpose of this project is to store water runoff and reduce phosphorus on various parcels in the project’s basins. Two approaches are used: construction of Stormwater Treatment Areas on publicly held lands and restoration of isolated wetlands or construction of retention ponds on private lands. In addition to providing immediate water management and water quality benefits, these Stormwater Treatment Areas will also provide critical information in the design of the larger reservoirs and Stormwater Treatment Areas that are being planned for the Lake Okeechobee Watershed Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan Project.
The Corps is responsible for the design and construction of the Stormwater Treatment Areas. The South Florida Water Management District is responsible for operations and maintenance of the facilities and will conduct monitoring to measure the performance and phosphorus reduction at these sites. The Project Cooperation Agreement anticipated costs for this project to reach $16.4 million dollars in year 2000. These costs will be split 50/50 by the SFWMD and the Department of the Army.
