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.

       

How To Pick A Greener (Healthier) Paint For Your Walls

Sloan Barnett wrote a new post How To Pick A Greener (Healthier) Paint For Your Walls

photo
Sloan Barnett   October 22, 2011 at 11:25am

Are we supposed to care what claims like "low VOC" mean when all we really want is the perfect shade of blue on our bedroom walls? You might when you learn what the EPA has found -- indoor...

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Lakeside Ranch STA - Blog #6

  1. Project benefit

    Up to 19 metric tons of phosphorus will be removed annually from runoff flows moving through the STA and into Lake Okeechobee. This will contribute toward the goal of achieving the Lake Okeechobee Total Maximum Daily Load phosphorus target. 

Lakeside Ranch STA - Blog #5

  • The project is designed in two phases: The northern STA and inflow pump station; and the southern STA, including a second pump station to manage rim canal levels in Lake Okeechobee during high water flow periods and recirculate water in Lake Okeechobee back to the STA for additional phosphorus removal.