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.

       

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.

     

Lakeside Ranch STA - Blog #2

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. 

Taylor Creek / LOPP - Blog #11

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

Taylor Creek / LOPP - Blog #7

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.

Taylor Creek / LOPP - Blog #4

In addition to programs designed to diminish the amount of phosphorus runoff into Lake Okeechobee and the amount of exotic plants that are in the lake, LOPP includes a Lake Okeechobee Construction Program, which comprises the Lake Okeechobee Water Retention/Phosphorus Removal Project, a Critical Restoration Project authorized in the federal Water Resources Development Act of 1996. This Critical Project includes the restoration of isolated wetlands and construction of large retention areas, or Stormwater Treatment Areas, which improve the water quality of runoff draining from areas up to several hundred square miles in size. The Lake Okeechobee Construction Program also includes a Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan Project – the Lake Okeechobee Watershed Project - which is designed to improve water quality to Lake Okeechobee and downstream receiving waters.