1. The South Florida Watershed
Kevin Carter,
Office of Everglades Policy
and Coordination,
South Florida Water
Management District
phone:
Our Florida Reefs Community Working Group Meetings
April 22nd and April 28th, 2014

2. Presentation Overview
Central & South Florida Flood Control System (CS+F):
History, Scale, and Complexity
Restoration at the Watershed Scale:
CERP, Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan
CEPP, Central Everglades Planning Project
RS, Restoration Strategies
NEEPP, Northern Everglades + Estuaries Protection Program
(hint: you will learn these acronyms, test at the end )

3. What does the term Watershed mean to you?
“In the continental US, there are 2,110 watersheds; including Hawaii Alaska, and Puerto Rico, there are 2,267 watersheds”
Photo from

4. The South Florida Watershed
Current
The South Florida Watershed
Historic

5. Historical Events Leading to Construction of C&SF Project
Hurricanes in 1926 and resulted in failure of the levee around Lake Okeechobee
Lower East Coast drought (1931 – 1945) and saltwater intrusion threat
Hurricane in 1947 resulted in wide-spread flooding throughout South Florida
State of Florida requested Federal assistance in 1947
Congress authorized the C&SF Project in 1948
Areas Flooded in the 1947 Storm

6. Today’s SFWMD Lands stretch 240 miles from Orlando to the Keys
18,000 sq. miles, encompassing one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world
~2,000 miles of canals
~2,800 miles of levees
More than 650 water control structures and 700 project culverts
Nearly 70 pump stations
7.7 million residents
More than 3 million acres of agriculture
Protected/Managed natural areas

7. SFWMD Core Mission
Five Water Management Districts were created by 1972 Water Resources Act:
Flood Control
Operate & maintain largest water management system in the world
Water Supply
Ensure sustainable water resources for South Florida’s environment and economy
Natural Systems
Protect and restore the Northern and Southern Everglades
Water Quality
Improve water quality in the Everglades 7

8. Future South Florida Watershed: Increasing Flows to the South
Managed Flows
(circa 2010)
Pre-drainage Flows

9. Future South Florida Watershed: Increasing Flows to South (cont.)
Quality
Quantity
Timing
Distribution

10. CERP: A Very Brief Background
1999 – Florida Legislature gives SFWMD authority to act as local sponsor for all portions of C&SF
1999: The C+SF Restudy submitted to Congress; comprehensive plan with more than 60 components
2000: Florida Legislature passes act to fund the state’s 50% cost-share
2000: Federal Water Resources Development Act 2000:
Approves CERP as a framework for modifying the C&SF project
Authorizes cost-share for CERP implementation and O&M
Requires approval of Project Implementation Report for each project
Rescuing an Endangered Ecosystem: The Plan to Restore America’s Everglades
July 1999
The Central and Southern Florida Project Comprehensive Review Study (The Restudy)

11. CERP Projects Pre-CERP Foundation Projects 1st Generation CERP
Picayune Strand
IRL-South
Site 1 Impoundment
Pre-CERP Foundation Projects
Kissimmee River
C-111 South Dade
Modified Water Deliveries
2nd Generation CERP
C-43 Reservoir
Broward County WPA
C-111 Spreader Canal
Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands
Nearing
Completion
Under Construction
Pending
Congressional Authorization
3rd Generation CERP
Central Everglades Planning
Project
Loxahatchee River Watershed
Restoration Project
Project
Planning

12. Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP)
Increases storage, treatment and conveyance of water south of Lake Okeechobee
Sends ~200,000 ac-ft of water south from the Lake
Removes and/or plugs canals and levees within the central Everglades
Improves hydroperiod and flow through Everglades National Park while protecting urban and agricultural areas to the east from flooding 12

13. 13

14. Northern Everglades & Estuaries Protection Program (NEEPP)
Foundation for the Northern Everglades and Estuaries Protection Program (NEEPP, Florida Statutes):
Defines the three Coordinating Agencies: SFWMD, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), and Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP)
Watershed Protection Plans:
Holistic watershed approach to restoration
Suite of projects and programs to improve the quality of water discharged from the watersheds and minimize undesirable flows 14

15. NEEPP: Example Projects
Kissimmee River Restoration
Lake Okeechobee Watershed
IRL-S Project
St. Lucie Watershed
C-43 West Basin Storage Reservoir
Caloosahatchee Watershed
Dispersed Water Management 15

16. NEEPP and Water Quality Restoration
FDEP leads water quality restoration with its Total Maximum Daily Load Program (TMDL)
FDEP collaborates with SFWMD, FDACS and local stakeholders
Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs) map the path forward for TMDL implementation:
St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee Estuaries, 1st phase BMAPs underway
Lake Okeechobee BMAP in planning phase

17. Florida Senate Select Committee on Indian River Lagoon and Lake Okeechobee Basin
The Committee, created on July 10, 2013 and led by Senator Joe Negron, has conducted hearings to:
Review water management policies and activities
Assess the impact of Lake releases on the St. Lucie Estuary
Identify options to improve basin wide water management, including alternatives to Lake discharges
Develop recommendations (short and long term) for improved water management
A Committee report was submitted November 4, 2013, to the Senate Committees on Appropriations, Environmental Preservation, and Agriculture

18. Office of Everglades Policy and Coordination
Discussion and Contact Information
Kevin Carter,
Office of Everglades Policy and Coordination
South Florida Water
Management District
phone: