Farmland Public-Private Partnerships by the SFWMD - Blog #7 List and Summary of Each Project...

FY2012 Projects: Northern Everglades – Payment for Environmental Services

Alderman-Deloney Ranch, 147 acre-feet, Okeechobee County - Two culverts with riser structures installed in drainage ditches will retain water at a higher level in 322 acres of two natural isolated wetlands.

Buck Island Ranch, 1,573 acre-feet, Highlands County - Thirty-seven culverts with riser structures installed in drainage ditches will retain water in the ditches, pastures and wetlands of 3,748 acres of agriculturally improved pasture.

Dixie Ranch, 856 acre-feet, Okeechobee County – Three water retention management areas in the Chandler Hammock Slough and Turkey Slough area will have stabilized water control structures to retain excess stormwater in on-site ditches and wetlands.

Dixie West, 315 acre-feet, Okeechobee County – Two water retention management areas will have stabilized water control structures to retain excess stormwater in on- site ditches and wetlands.

Lightsey Cattle Company, XL Ranch, 887 acre-feet, Highlands County – Seventeen water control structures and 20 sheetpile ditch weirs will reduce runoff, increase water storage and maintain higher groundwater levels on adjacent pasture. The project will also incorporate an existing 580-acre reservoir into the total 765 acres of water management service area.

Lost Oak Ranch, 374 acre-feet, Polk County – Multiple, stabilized water control structures will retain stormwater on the ranch and reduce excess volumes of runoff reaching Lake Kissimmee.

Triple A Ranch, 397 acre-feet, Okeechobee County – Construction of a 104.6-acre aboveground impoundment will provide additional on-site runoff retention.

Willaway Cattle & Sod, 229 acre-feet, Okeechobee County – Construction of a 60.1- acre aboveground impoundment will provide storage of excess runoff for later recycling as irrigation for sod.

Farmland Public-Private Partnerships by the SFWMD - Blog #6

For more information:

Water Storage Success in Action (picture)

As part of my continuing series on Public-Private Partnerships as a way to creatively solve environmental and economic problems, I wanted to show you a picture of one in action!  Storing water on ranches likes this one in Highlands County benefits both the ecosystem and the economy.

Also, if you haven't signed up to follow the South Florida Water Management District on Twitter, I highly recommend you do so: .

Farmland Public-Private Partnerships by the SFWMD - Blog #5

To expand the effort following the pilot Florida Ranchlands Environmental Services Project (FRESP), the District issued a solicitation in January 2011 aimed at ranch owners in the Northern Everglades region. A total of 14 proposals were evaluated and ranked in response to the competitive solicitation. The eight approved projects were determined through a Governing Board-approved negotiation process.

The selected ranchers will receive financial assistance in making the best use of existing infrastructure and/or developing new, simple infrastructure that will increase water and nutrient retention capabilities. All projects will be monitored under an agreement with the World Wildlife Fund to document that the contracts, known as Payment for Environmental Services (PES), are meeting the water retention goals.

“The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida, a supporter and contributor to the Northern Everglades – Payment for Environmental Services (NE- PES) initiative from the beginning, is excited and proud to be a part of one of the nation’s largest market-based payment for environmental services programs,” said Carlos Suarez, state conservationist for the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). “We anticipate that the NE-PES program will contribute toward sustaining cattle ranching as an important industry throughout the region, maintaining important wildlife habitats, improving wetlands and keeping working lands working.”

The Dispersed Water Management Program Northern Everglades – Payment for Environmental Services is being implemented in coordination with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and the NRCS, World Wildlife Fund and UF/IFAS. 

Farmland Public-Private Partnerships by the SFWMD - Blog #4

The benefits of public-private partnerships for both entities, and above all else the environment, are clear.  These are some summary facts for the PPP projects that the District has done. Quite impressive!

 

  •   Reduces excess water flowing into Lake Okeechobee during the wet season

  •   Reduces the amount of water discharged to the coastal estuaries for flood protection

  •   Provides valuable groundwater recharge for water supply

  •   Improves water quality and rehydration of drained systems

  •   Enhances plant and wildlife habitat

  •   Helps sustain the local economy

    By the numbers:

  •   Through a combination of public and private projects, 131,500 acre-feet of water retention/storage has been made available to date

  •   To date, the District has collaborated with more than 100 participating landowners

  •   The ultimate goal for the program is to provide 450,000 acre-feet of retention/storage throughout the Northern Everglades watershed

  •   450,000 acre-feet of additional storage equates to approximately 1 foot of water off of Lake Okeechobee


     

    Ernie Barnett, Senior Manager South Florida Water Management District

Farmland Public-Private Partnerships by the SFWMD - Blog #3

The projects in Okeechobee, Highlands and Polk counties, along with the amount of water able to be retained, include:

  • Alderman-Deloney Ranch: 147 acre-feet

  • Buck Island Ranch: 1,573 acre-feet

  • Dixie Ranch: 856 acre-feet

  • Dixie West: 315 acre-feet

  • Lightsey Cattle Company: 887 acre-feet

  • Lost Oak Ranch: 374 acre-feet

  • Triple A Ranch: 397 acre-feet

  • Willaway Cattle & Sod: 229 acre-feet

    Dispersed Water Management Program

    According to the SFWMD press release, since the start of its Dispersed Water Management Program in 2005, the District has collaborated with a coalition of agencies, environmental organizations, ranchers and researchers to enhance opportunities for storing excess surface water on private, public and tribal lands. In addition to utilizing regional public projects, the program encourages property owners to retain water on their land rather than drain it and to accept and detain regional runoff.

    “Storing large volumes of water north and south of Lake Okeechobee is one of the most significant water management challenges facing South Florida,” said SFWMD Executive Director Melissa Meeker. “Assembling a collection of shallow, on-site retention projects— that work in conjunction with planned regional reservoirs — sustains local economies and helps to meet the State’s Everglades restoration goals.”

Farmland Public-Private Partnerships by the SFWMD - Blog #2

With a $7 million investment over 10 years, the eight contracts will provide 4,800 acre- feet of water retention in the Northern Everglades to assist with meeting the storage and water quality improvement goals for the watershed. Within six months, all of the projects will be fully operational and demonstrating these cost-effective water retention services.

“It is imperative that we work to get the water right in South Florida, which includes both ensuring an adequate water supply and improving water quality,” said Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Herschel T. Vinyard Jr. “The projects approved by the South Florida Water Management District Governing Board will allow the district to collaborate with property owners to retain excess water on public, private and tribal lands to ensure a more reliable water supply for Florida’s future generations.” 

 

The pics below show just how important and effective water storage measures can be...

(Top) In early 2009, the Nine Gems property sat mostly dry. (Bottom) The District, in cooperation with Martin County, has since restored the land’s hydrology to add 2,000 acre-feet of regional water storage. 

Farmland Public-Private Partnerships by the SFWMD - A Blog Series

Last week,  the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Governing Board approved eight cost-effective projects to increase water storage on ranches north of Lake Okeechobee while improving water quality for the Everglades as well as for the lake and coastal estuaries.

This blog series will explore the history behind the program, give some more details about the individual projects and  

“The future of water storage north of Lake Okeechobee relies on innovative public- private partnerships and marks a milestone in our collective efforts to preserve both the Northern Everglades and our working landscapes for future generations,” said Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam. “This program is a progressive way of achieving our shared goals of environmental restoration and a healthy and sustainable agricultural economy.” 

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(Top Picture) In early 2009, the Nine Gems property sat mostly dry. (Bottom) The District, in cooperation with Martin County, has since restored the land’s hydrology to add 2,000 acre-feet of regional water storage. 

Lakeside Ranch STA - Blog #9 - Schedule and Costs

  1. Project schedule

    • Construction on the northern STA and pump station is ongoing, with completion planned for March 2012.

    • The estimated investment in the initial construction is $31 million.

    • Construction of the southern STA and related pump station is

      contingent on additional funding, with cost estimated at $42 million.