Environmental Intersection by George Lindemann

• 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.

   

  

• 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.

  
   

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. 

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.