SrA cae Tne Serinols Tribe of Florida Uses Water
scree Quality Standards to Solve a Nutrient Problem*

hen the Seminole Tribe of Florida began to administer its water quality standards
program in 1994, it targeted a severe nutrient problem on the Big Cypress reservation.
Increased nutrients in the water — in this case, phosphorus — were disrupting natural
plant and animal communities. The problem came from large-scale agricultural operations
around Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades as well as activities on the reservation. Five years
after starting its water quality standards program, the Tribe measured decreases in nutrients enter-
ing the reservation's waters. In addition, the Tribe became an equal partner with all state, regional,
and federal agencies involved with the area's water resource planning and permitting activities.
In effect, the Tribe’s water quality standards have played an important role in protecting the quality
of the reservation waters.

Tribal Background and Operations
The Seminole Tribe of Florida has five reservations
that differ greatly in topography, degree of urbanization,
and business pursuits affecting land use. For these reasons, the
Tribe decided to prioritize its reservations in developing water quality
standards rather than adopt a single set of standards covering them all.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved tribal standards for
the Big Cypress Reservation in September 1997 and for the Brighton
Reservation in November 1998, They are developing water quality standards
for the remaining reservations.

n

The Tribe’s Water Resource Management Department is shion Rese
responsible for developing and implementing the water

quality standards program. Its mission is to protect and Big OF ress Reservation
evaluate the Tribe's land and water resources and to facilitate wise use and conservation of those
resources. A staff of 17 manages a tribally-funded budget of about $900,000. In addition, the
Water Resource Management Department seeks funds from federal agencies such as the U.S.
Department of the Interior and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Although these funds
fluctuate annually, they are a very important part of the overall budget.

The Seminoles’ Approach eeeee
Water quality standards are an important component of the Tribe’s program to protect the quality
of reservation waters — and the health and welfare of tribal members, Unlike standards used by
the State of Florida, the Tribe has designated selected waterbodies for cultural and traditional uses.

The Tribe adopted a narrative water quality criterion to address a nutrient problem and is conduct-
ing research to develop numeric water quality criteria for nutrients on each of its reservations,

* Environmental terms used in this case study are defined in the enclosed glossary.



Before developing its water quality standards, the Tribe entered into a Water Rights Compact

with the State of Florida and the South Florida Water Management District. The Tribe, through
this agreement, can request conditions on any state-issued water management permit that directly
affects activities upstream of the Big Cypress Reservation. Since most of the nutrients in tribal
waters originate upstream, the use of water quality standards supports the Tribe's efforts to address
the nutrient problem, The Tribe’s water quality standards provide a regulatory basis for such condi-
tions.

Insights to Share with Other Tribes
The Seminole Tribal staff recommends that any tribe considering the water quality standards
program:
# Have a process to educate and ask direction from tribal administrators, the tribe,
and the general public;

# Be aggressive in seeking funding to support its environmental programs;

# Be aware of the environmental needs and concerns of neighboring entities; and
# Adopt water quality standards to protect human health and the environment.

For Further Information Contact

Craig Tepper

Water Resource Management Department

The Seminole Tribe of Florida

6300 Stirling Road

Hollywood, FL 33024

Phone: 954-967-3402

E-mail: water @gate.net

Web site: www.seminoletribe.com/services/water.shtml