# L ake 

# O keechobee 

# W atershed 

# C onstruction 

# P roject

Phase II

Technical Plan

February 2008 F lorida Depar tment of Ag riculture

and C onsumer Ser vicesExecutive Summary February 2008

Lake Okeechobee Watershed Construction Project Phase II Technical Plan

1 

### LAKE OKEECHOBEE WATERSHED CONSTRUCTION PROJECT –

PHASE II TECHNICAL PLAN

The Northern Everglades and Estuaries Protection Prog ram requires the development of a detailed technical plan for Phase II of the Lake Okeechobee Watershed Construction Project by February 2008. In response, this preferred Plan was developed by the South Florida Water Management District in coordination with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services – and with extensive input from stakeholders throughout its development. Subject to ratification by the Florida Legislature, the preferred Plan builds upon and dovetails with on-going restoration activities and successfully consolidates many previous Lake Okee chobee restoration efforts into a broader, Northern Everglades-focused approach.



### Executive Summary
Passed by the Florida Legislature and signed into law by Governor Charlie Crist in 2007, the landmark “Northern Everglades and Es tuaries Protection Program” promotes a comprehensive, interconnected watershed a pproach to protecting Lake Okeechobee and

the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie rivers and es tuaries. By expanding the Lake Okeechobee Protection Act, the Florida Legislature recogn ized the importance and connectivity of the entire ecosystem – from the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes south to Florida Bay.

The primary goal of the legislation is to re store and protect surface water resources by addressing not only the water quality but also the quantity, timing and distribution of water to the natural system. State agencies are working in partnership with those local governments whose economy and quality of life depend on the health of Lake Okeechobee and the coastal estuaries to develop and im plement comprehensive plans to restore and protect these water bodies.

The preferred Lake Okeechobee Watershed Cons truction Project Phase II Technical Plan was developed by the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) in coordination with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consum er Services (FDACS) – and with extensive input from stakeholders throughout its development.

To achieve the restoration goals, the coordina ting agencies evaluated various alternatives using best available technology and scientific information, and included significant public involvement and review throughout the process. The resulting preferred Plan identifies construction projects, along with on-site measur es that prevent or reduce pollution at its source such as agricultural and urban best management practices (BMPs), needed to achieve water quality targets for the lake. In addition, it includes other projects for increasing water storage north of Lake Okeec hobee to achieve healthier lake levels and reduce harmful discharges to the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries.Executive Summary February 2008

Lake Okeechobee Watershed Construction Project Phase II Technical Plan

2 Components of the multi-phase preferred Plan include:

• Implementing agricultural management practices on more than
1.7 million acres of farmland;

• Adopting new regulations that will reduce the impacts of development on water quality and flow;

• Building treatment wetlands to clean water flowing into the lake;

• Using other innovative “green” nutrient control technologies to reduce phosphorus loads from the watershed; and

• Creating between 900,000 and 1.3 million acre -feet of water storage north of the lake through a combination of above-gr ound reservoirs, underground storage and alternative water storage projects on public and private lands.

Comprised of local and regional projects, the preferred Plan consolidates, builds upon and dovetails with many on-going restoration ac tivities. In addition to augmenting and enhancing efforts under way in the remnant Everglades south of Lake Okeechobee, it builds upon environmental improvements curre ntly being implemented north of the lake as a part of the state-federal Comprehensive Ev erglades Restoration Plan (CERP). It also consolidates the numerous initiatives currently under way through Florida’s Lake Okeechobee Protection Plan (LOPP) and La ke Okeechobee and Estuary Recovery Plan (LOER).

The proposed implementation schedule calls fo r a phased approach – designed to provide progressive water quality and quantity improvem ents to benefit the lake and downstream estuaries. Initial measures outlined by the pr eferred Plan call for an additional investment of up to $320 million beyond the State’s 50 percent co st-share for land acquisition and construction projects as part of CERP. Wh ile the cost of non-CERP features will be primarily borne by the South Florida Water Management District and the State, CERP investments are eligible for up to a fifty percent cost share with the federal government.

Completion of the Lake Okeechobee Watershed Construction Project Phase II Technical Plan is a critical step in the state’s Northern Everglades initiative to protect and improve Lake Okeechobee and downstream receiving waters. The preferred Plan achieves the legislative requirement by outlining the steps needed to reduce pollution and improve the storage in the watershed north of the lake necessary to clean water flowing into Lake

Okeechobee.Phase II Technical Plan Boundary and Sub-Watersheds

Executive Summary February 2008

Lake Okeechobee Watershed Construction Project Phase II Technical Plan

3Executive Summary February 2008

Lake Okeechobee Watershed Construction Project Phase II Technical Plan

4 

### Background
Lake Okeechobee is the “liquid heart” of Sout h Florida’s interconnected aquatic ecosystem and holds the distinction of being the largest freshwater body in the southeastern United States. The 730 square-mile lake provides a numb er of values and benefits to the state’s population, economy and environment, includin g environmental, public and agricultural water supply; flood protection; a sport and co mmercial fishery; navigation/recreation; and natural habitat for a variety of endangered and threatened animal and plant species.

Today, the lake’s ecological health is advers ely affected by three major influences: (1) excessive nutrient loading; (2) extreme high and low water levels in the lake; and (3) the proliferation of exotic species.

In addition to direct rainfall, the massive lake receives trib utary inflows from a number of

sources. The Lake Okeechobee watershed en compasses a drainage area of over 3.5 million

acres (5,500 square miles), spanning 10 Florida counties, and is dominated by agricultural land uses that account for just over 50 percent of the total area. Based on hydrologic and geographic boundaries, the watershed includes nine sub-watersheds.

Over the last century, a number of factors have led to adverse changes in the hydrology and water quality of Lake Okeechobee – as well as to the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie rivers and estuaries. These include changes in land use within the upstream Kissimmee River basin; the construction of the regional water management network for flood control (the Central and Southern Florida public work s project built by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers); loss of available surface water sto rage; and the subsequent flow of nutrientenriched local runoff into the water bodies.

The impacts have been significant: Ch annelization of the Kissimmee River removed regional storage upstream of Lake Okeechob ee while making way for growth. As nutrientenriched runoff from agricultural and urban ac tivities within the watershed flowed into the lake, its water quality suffered. In recogn ition of increasing phosphorus impacts in the lake, in 2001 the State established a string ent restoration target known as a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for Lake Okeec hobee. The TMDL establishes the maximum amount of phosphorus that Lake Okeechobee can assimilate without causing exceedences of water quality standards. The amount of ph osphorus entering the lake has significantly exceeded the TMDL over the past three decades.

In addition, construction of the Herbert Hoov er Dike greatly reduced the extent of the

lake’s natural littoral or shoreline marsh are as, reducing overall lake surface area by a third and, thereby, significantly reducing the lake’s available and historical storage capacity. Construction of the protective levee system along with drainage and development efforts to the south, reduced the natural expanse of the Florida Everglades’ wetland area by 50 percent, constraining flow south from Lake Okeechobee.Because the volume of water coming from the upstream basin has remained relatively

constant (approximately 3.5 million acre-feet per year, on average, equivalent to about 7.5 feet over the lake surface area) , lake inflows have often exceeded its limited present-day storage capacity. With discharge capacity to the southern part of the Everglades ecosystem reduced because of constructed changes to the natural system, along with legal and environmental operating constraints, the need to discharge water from the lake to the east (via the St. Lucie River and Estuary) and west (via the Caloosahatchee River and Estuary) has increased. These coastal discharges of excess la ke water – driven by the need to maintain

safe lake levels in accordance with fede ral regulations and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ operating schedule for Lake Ok eechobee – can cause detrimental ecological

fluctuations for the delicate estuarine envi ronments in the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee

Estuaries.

Executive Summary February 2008

Lake Okeechobee Watershed Construction Project Phase II Technical Plan

5Executive Summary February 2008

Lake Okeechobee Watershed Construction Project Phase II Technical Plan

6 

### Previous Restoration Efforts
A number of lake and estuary improvement plans and actions have been developed and implemented over the years, primarily aimed at reducing pollution and the flow of excess phosphorus into the lake. Some early protecti on efforts began in the 1970s and, by the late

1980s, a mandatory program to control phosphor us discharges from dairy operations north of Lake Okeechobee was implemented. That program resulted in the implementation of an initial suite of best management practices on 30 farms and the buyout of 18 dairies.

Recognizing that construction of the federally -built water management system resulted in unintended consequences on the natural syst em, Congress authorized the Restudy of the Central and South Florida Project in the early 1990s to assess the measures necessary to restore the south Florida ecosystem. During this time, a number of “Critical Restoration Projects” were determined to provide immediat e, substantial, and independent benefits to the Everglades and were specifically authorized by the 1996 Water Resources Development Act. These included projects to benefit the health of Lake Okeechobee.

The broader-scope Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) was proposed in

1999 and was authorized in the Water Resour ces Development Act of 2000. The joint statefederal partnership of CERP provides a f ramework and guide to restore, protect and preserve the water resources of central and southern Florida, including the Everglades. The overarching goal of CERP is to captur e fresh water that now flows unused to the ocean and the gulf and redirect it to areas that need it most. The majority of the water will be devoted to environmental restoration. The remaining water will enhance urban and agricultural water supplies.

To better manage Lake Okeechobee and the coas tal estuaries, CERP included a series of storage and water quality treatment facilities north of the lake, as well as Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) in the vicinity of Lake Ok eechobee. In addition, to improve flows to

the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie River wate rsheds, CERP includes water storage and water quality improvement projects such as the C-43 Reservoir, Indian River Lagoon South projects and the Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir.

Also in 2000, Florida passed the Lake Okeechob ee Protection Act establishing a phased, watershed-based protection program to restore th e lake and its tributaries. As required by
the Lake Okeechobee Protection Act, the So uth Florida Water Management District, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consum er Services and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection developed the Lake Okeechobee Protection Plan, which details a suite of activities necessary for reducing po llutant loads in the watershed and achieving

the established TMDL.Executive Summary February 2008

Lake Okeechobee Watershed Construction Project Phase II Technical Plan

7 That Lake Okeechobee Protection Plan in cluded Phase I of the Lake Okeechobee Watershed Construction Project (as described in the original L ake Okeechobee Protection Act), which identified a series of project features de signed to obtain phosphorus load reductions through the construction of stormwater treatment facilities and isolated wetland restoration projects.

Through the implementation of the Lake Okeechobee Protection Plan, the State has achieved some notable accomplishments:

• Adopting a Lake Okeechobee TMDL for phosphorus of 140 metric tons to achieve an in-lake target phosphorus concentration of 40 parts per billion;

• Constructing the Taylor Creek and Nubbin Slough Stormwater Treatment Areas (a Congressionally-approved Critical Restoration Project) in partnership with the federal

government;

• Completing conservation and nutrient-m anagement plans on individual farms covering 550,000 acres to reduce phosphorus loads from agricultural land in the
watershed;

• Completing a suite of individual projects to reduce phosphorus from dairy farms, restore isolated wetlands, treat urban stormwater run-off and enhance water storage
and habitat on ranchlands;

• Implementing a comprehensive research and water quality monitoring program for the
lake and watershed; and

• Treating more than 32,000 acres of exotic and invasive vegetation.

To help further accelerate progress, the $200 million Lake Okeechobee and Estuary Recovery (LOER) plan was launched in 2005 – a combination of capital projects and numerous interagency initiatives to increa se water storage, expand and construct treatment marshes and expedite environmental management initiatives. In addition to expediting construction of a series of Lake Okeechobee Fast-Track projects, other components of the LOER plan include altern ative water storage, revisions to permit criteria, changes in fertilizer practices, re visions to the Lake Okeechobee regulation schedule and continued implementation of the Lake Okeechobee Protection Plan

components.

To restore the health of the ecosystem upst ream of Lake Okeechobee, portions of the channelized Kissimmee River are being backfille d in an effort to reestablish the lost floodplain. The $578 million Kissimmee River Restoration Project is among the largest ecosystem restoration projects in the worl d and is well under way. In 2006, the South Florida Water Management District complete d acquisition of the 102,061 acres needed for construction of the project. The backfilling of 9.5 miles of flood control canal by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has already restored close to 20 miles of historic river channel and 6,500 acres of associated floodplain.Executive Summary February 2008

Lake Okeechobee Watershed Construction Project Phase II Technical Plan

8 

### Preferred Technical Plan Key Objectives / Findings
To develop the preferred Lake Okeechobee Watershed Construction Project Phase II Technical Plan, the best available land use information, flow data and water quality data were used to identify existing flows and phos phorus loads from each sub-basin within the

lake’s watershed. An evaluation of current programs and projects was also conducted. Following these analyses, alternatives were identified to reduce harmful flows and phosphorus loads. Potential constraints were also identified to ensure compatibility with all ongoing or planned initiatives and legal mandates.

A set of four restoration alternatives wer e developed and reviewed, using established performance measures to assess how well ea ch proposed alternative achieved the identified water quality and wa ter quantity/storage objectives.

Water Quality: Meet the Lake Okeechobee Phosphorus TMDL

In 2001, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection established a TMDL of 140 metric tons per year of total phosphorus for Lake Okeechobee. This has been determined as the amount of total phosphorus that the la ke can assimilate without causing significant ecological impacts within the lake. Of that li mit, 35 metric tons per year are estimated to naturally reach the lake directly through atmo spheric deposition; therefore, no more than 105 metric tons per year of total phosphorus loading should enter the lake from the

watershed.

Based on the initial 1991 to 2000 period of reco rd, the average total phosphorus loading to the lake was reported to be 433 metric tons per year from the watershed. Projects and strategies were identified as part of the Lake Okeechobee Protection Plan (including Phase I of the Lake Okeechobee Construction Project) to meet the target load. It is important to note that the TMDL is based on a five-year rolling average and the load reduction required to achieve it will vary annually.

For development of the preferred Lake Okee chobee Watershed Construction Project Phase II Technical Plan, the period of record fo r inflow to Lake Okeechobee was updated through 2005 – which included the hurricane -driven extreme rainfall events in 2004 and 2005. This expanded period ( 1991-2005) raised the annual total phosphorus load to 514 metric tons per year, necessitating additional phosphorus reduction measures to meet the total maximum daily load target.Executive Summary February 2008

Lake Okeechobee Watershed Construction Project Phase II Technical Plan

9 Significant conclusions from the water quality analyses are:

• Existing water quality in the Lake Okeechob ee watershed is significantly influenced by the various land use and land management practices within the individual subwatersheds and drainage basins.

• In the future, implementation of Lake Ok eechobee Protection Plan recommended best management practices (BMPs) and other to tal phosphorus reduction measures are expected to significantly reduce phosphorus loading. However, measured phosphorus reductions in the lake waters are likely to be substantially delayed because of the residual phosphorus in soils within th e watershed (legacy phosphorus) and lake

sediments.

• Implementation of BMPs in areas that contribute flows to Lake Istokpoga and Lakes Kissimmee, Cypress and Hatchineha are expected to reduce phosphorus loading to

these lakes. While the load reductions to these upstream lakes are not expected to provide an immediate benefit to Lake Okeec hobee, implementation of BMPs in these sub-watersheds is necessary to protect wate r quality in the lakes themselves and to ensure the long-term ability to assimilate phosphorus and protect Lake Okeechobee.

• The Indian Prairie, Taylor Creek/Nubbin Sl ough and Fisheating Creek sub-watersheds contribute disproportionately high phosphor us loads to Lake Okeechobee relative to their flow contributions. Therefore, these sub-watersheds were targeted for additional water quality measures.

Water Quantity/Storage: Manage Lake Okeechobee water levels within an ecologicallydesirable range and manage flows to meet de sirable salinity ranges for the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee estuaries while meeting other water–related needs of the region, including water supply and flood protection.

The 2007 legislation also recognized the import ance of managing the quantity, timing, and distribution of water from the watershed north of the lake to achieve integrated and comprehensive environmental restoration of Lake Okeechobee and the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries. An analysis was co nducted to determine the amount of water

needed to be stored in the watershed to be tter manage water levels in Lake Okeechobee and reduce excess damaging freshwater releases to the estuaries. This analysis included

an evaluation to ensure that the identified water quantity storage goal would not impact the ability to maintain existing water supply for Lake Okeechobee water users.Executive Summary February 2008

Lake Okeechobee Watershed Construction Project Phase II Technical Plan

10 Key findings from the water quantity data analysis are:

• There is a breakpoint between 900,000 and 1.3 million acre-ft of storage above which additional increases in storage capacity wo uld provide relatively small improvements in damaging releases to estuaries.

• Because a large portion of the inflows come from large rainfall events, it will be necessary to size, locate and design features with the operational flexibility to capture significant amounts of water during these large events.

• The Upper and Lower Kissimmee and Istokpog a sub-watersheds contribute close to three-quarters of the total average annual inflow to Lake Okeechobee. The Lower Kissimmee and Istokpoga sub-watersheds were targeted for storage projects.

• Although there is a large volume of fl ow to Lake Okeechobee from the Upper Kissimmee sub-watershed, further evaluation through the Upper Kissimmee Regional Water Supply Feasibility Study will determine if a portion of storage capacity currently

identified for the Lower Kissimmee sub-wa tershed could be located in the Upper

Kissimmee sub-watershed.Executive Summary February 2008

Lake Okeechobee Watershed Construction Project Phase II Technical Plan

11 

### Alternatives Evaluation
The coordinating agencies evaluated four restoration alternatives as part of the development of the preferred Lake Okeechob ee Watershed Construction Project Phase II Technical Plan. Extensive emphasis was also placed on providing opportunities for public comment and review through meetings, web postings and community briefings.

A set of restoration alternatives that addr essed project objectives were formulated and evaluated by the coordinating agencies planni ng team. Below are brief descriptions of the alternatives and a comparison of their load reduction and storage capacities.

Alternative

No. Alternative Characterization Projected Average Load

Reduction*

(metric tons

per year)

*target reduction

is 409 mt/yr Shortfall in achieving goal (metric tons per year) Projected Storage Capacity (acre-feet)

1 Current, ongoing, and planned projects 301 108 265,000

2 Maximizes storage capacity 316 93 1,300,000

3 Maximizes phosphorus load reduction 364 45 330,000

4 Integrates the most efficient and effective combination of storage capacity and phosphorus load reduction 360 49 900,000

Each alternative was evaluated for its performance at reducing phosphorus, improving Lake Okeechobee water levels, reducing da maging discharges to estuaries and maintaining water supply. It was clear that Alternative 1 on its own would not meet the water quality and water quantity objectives. Alternative 2 performed best at improving Lake Okeechobee water levels and reducing damaging discharges to the estuaries. Alternative 3 performed best at reducing phosphorus inputs to Lake Okeechobee. Alternative 4 performed the best when balancing the achievement of both water quality and water quantity objectives. It falls short, however, of meeting the TMDL by 49 metric tons per year. It also provides slightly lo wer water quantity benefits for Lake Okeechobee and the estuaries than Alternative 2, which had a larger storage capacity.

Therefore, a modified version of Alternative 4 became the basis for the preferred Plan.

Additional features were added to address the phosphorus reduction shortfall and to provide a storage range from 900,000 to 1.3 million acre feet for optimum water quantity performance. The development and comparisons of the four alternative restoration plans, with input from the public, ultimately identified the best science-based and technologically feasible options for improving lake and estuary health.Executive Summary February 2008

Lake Okeechobee Watershed Construction Project Phase II Technical Plan

12 

### Preferred Technical Plan Features
An important aspect of the 2007 legislation that sets it apart from previous actions is the requirement to identify both the water qu ality treatment and water quantity storage needed to improve the health of Lake Ok eechobee and the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee estuaries. The preferred Lake Okeechobee Watershed Construction Project Phase II Technical Plan represents the best blueprint that current technology allows for achieving water quality standards while better managing lake levels.

To meet the water quality targets established fo r the lake, the preferred Plan includes local and regional treatment projects, along with ongoing and expanded implementation of onsite agricultural and urban best management p ractices. Based on a water budget analysis of the major sub-watersheds flowing into Lake Okeechobee, the preferred Plan also includes other projects and initiatives fo r increasing water storage north of Lake Okeechobee that will help achieve healthier la ke levels and reduce harmful discharges to

the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie Estuaries.

It comprises local and regional project feat ures that include both structural and nonstructural components, and builds upon ongoin g treatment and restoration projects that are in the planning, design or construction phases. Through interaction between the coordinating agencies and the public, the pr eferred Plan also promotes involvement of private landowners, local governments and other stakeholders as restoration partners.

Water Quality – The following types of water quali ty measures are designed to meet the 105 metric ton total phosphorus limit:

• Source control – Best Management Practi ces (BMPs) and changes in regulatory requirements

• Stormwater Treatment Areas (STAs)

• Deep injection wells

• Innovative nutrient control technologies

Cumulatively, the preferred Plan’s construction projects and other measures are predicted to reduce total phosphorus loads to Lake Okeechobee by approximately 409 metric tons per year – the amount needed to meet the total maximum daily load based on the 1991- 2005 period of record. In addition, implementation of the preferred Plan provides the capability to reduce in-lake total phosphorus loads by approximately 75 metric tons per

year.Executive Summary February 2008

Lake Okeechobee Watershed Construction Project Phase II Technical Plan

13 Water Storage – The following types of water quantity measures are designed to meet the 900,000 - 1,300,000 acre-feet of needed storage:

• Alternative water storage on public and private lands

• Above-ground reservoirs

• Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) facilities

It is important to note that the water qu antity storage goal of 900,000 to 1.3 million acrefeet is not in addition to existing or planned pr ojects. It is an overall goal that may be met through a combination of existing or future pr ojects and through a combination of storage methods such as alternative water storage on public and private lands, large aboveground reservoirs or aquifer storage and recovery facilities. Information from the Lake Okeechobee aquifer storage and recovery pilot projects and other regional pilot projects will help determine the best mix of surface and underground storage needed to achieve the overall goal.

NOTE: An overview of features, by project type, is included at the end of this executive summary. For more detailed information and descriptions, please refer to the entire preferred Lake Okeechobee Watershed Construction Project Phase II Technical Plan (CD copy included with this summary or available on-line at https://my.sfwmd.gov/northerneverglades)

.Executive Summary February 2008

Lake Okeechobee Watershed Construction Project Phase II Technical Plan

14 

### Phased Implementation
The preferred Lake Okeechobee Watershed Cons truction Project Phase II Technical Plan calls for an iterative, adaptive and phased implementation process, including an Initial Implementation Stage, Mid-Term Implementa tion Stage and Long-Term Implementation Stage. The first phase includes existing projects already under way and/or new features

that will be initiated between 2008 and 2010.

Initial Implementation Measures

Water Quality Water Quantity

Agricultural and Urban BMPs and Regulatory Programs 

# 9 9

LOPP Phosphorus Source Control Projects 

# 9 9

Local Government Initiatives 

# 9 9

Florida Ranchlands and Enviro nmental Services Projects 

# 9 9

LOER Alternative Water Storage Projects (Alternative water storage facilities, Paradise Run 10 Well ASR System, Seminole Brighton ASR Pilot, and Taylor Creek ASR Reactivation) 9 

# 9

LOER Stormwater Treatment Areas (Brady Ranch STA, Lemkin Creek Water Quality Treatment Facility) 

# 9 9

CERP ASR Pilots 9 

# 9 Features

CERP Lake Okeechobee Watershed Project (Istokpoga STA, Lakeside Ranch STA, Taylor Creek Reservoir, Paradise Run Wetland Restoration) 

# 9 9

BMP Research and Refinement 

# 9 9

Chemical Treatment Feasibility Study 

# 9 9

Water Quality Model Development 

# 9 9

ASR Feasibility- Pilot Cycle Testing, ASR Regional Study, ASR Optimization Analysis 9 

# 9 Technology and

Model

Refinement

Hydrologic Model Refinement 9 

# 9

9

= Primary benefit 9 = Ancillary benefitExecutive Summary February 2008

Lake Okeechobee Watershed Construction Project Phase II Technical Plan

15 Key expectations of the initial implementation stage include:

• Implementing Best Management Practices on1.3 million acres of agricultural lands;

• Completing Environmental Resource Permit an d Works of the District rule revisions;

• Initiating/completing implementation of approximately 100,000 acre-feet of long-term alternative water storage;

• Completing design and initiating constructi on of more than 2,600 acres of Stormwater

Treatment Areas;

• Completing the initial suite of Lake Okeec hobee Protection Plan phosphorus source control projects;

• Implementing eight Florida Ranchlands Environmental Services Projects;

• Completing cycle testing of CERP Aquifer Storage and Recovery pilot projects, the interim report, optimization analysis and Floridan Aquifer groundwater model;

• Implementing 65 million gallo ns per day of Aquifer Storage and Recovery storage;

• Restoring 4,470 acres of wetlands within th e Lake Okeechobee watershed; and

• Reducing phosphorus loads to Lake Okeechobee by approximately 150 metric tons.

Information from pilot projects and studies co nducted during the initial stage will be used to determine the types of projects to be implemented in future stages.

Mid-term Implementation Measures

Water Quality Water Quantity

Continued Implementation of Previous Measures 

# 9 9

Implementation of Additional Water Quality Measures as optimized by Technology and Model Refinement Studies 

# 9 9 Features

Initiate Implementation of Appropriate Combination of Storage Methods based upon CE RP ASR Feasibility Studies 9 

# 9

BMP Research and Refinement 

# 9 9

STA Integration and Refinement 

# 9 9 Technology

and Model

Refinement ASR Feasibility- Final Results of ASR Regional Study, Data from LOER ASR and Pilot Projects 9 

# 9

Long-term Implementation Measures

Water Quality Water Quantity

Continued Implementation of Previous Measures 

# 9 9

Features Continue Implementation of Storage (ASR/Surface Storage) 9 

# 9

Technology

and Model

Refinement Process Development and Engineering 

# 9 9

9

= Primary benefit 9 = Ancillary benefitExecutive Summary February 2008

Lake Okeechobee Watershed Construction Project Phase II Technical Plan

16 

### Preliminary Cost Estimates
To provide a source of State funding for th e continued restoration of the South Florida ecosystem, the 2007 Florida Legislature expand ed the use of the Save Our Everglades Trust Fund to include Northern Everglades re storation and extended the State of Florida’s commitment to Everglades restoration through the year 2020.

Cost estimates for the initial implementati on stage of the preferred Lake Okeechobee Watershed Construction Project Phase II Technical Plan were broken out into two categories: Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) features and non-CERP

features.

• Estimate for Non-CERP features: $260-$320 million

• Estimate for CERP features: $1-$1.4 billion

The costs for non-CERP features will be pr imarily borne by the South Florida Water Management District and the State, while CERP costs are eligible for up to a fifty percent cost share with the federal government. It is anticipated that once the Lake Okeechobee Watershed Project – a component of the CERP state-federal partnership effort – is formally authorized by Congress, the federal government will provide its fifty percent cost sharing

commitment on a series of reservoirs and stormwater treatment areas in the Lake Okeechobee watershed. It is important to note that a portion of the estimated CERP cost is for projects that the South Florida Water Ma nagement District is expediting ahead of authorization to achieve environmental benefits earlier. Completion of these Lake Okeechobee Fast-Track projects, however, is dependent on continued State and SFWMD funding in advance of federal appropriation.

Costs for each subsequent stage of implementa tion will be developed as information from various pilot projects and studies are gathered. This information will be incorporated into more detailed planning design in the future. Cost estimates for mid-term measures will be provided in the 2010 Lake Okeechobee Protecti on Plan update submitted to the Florida Legislature.



### Preferred Technical P lan Refinements and Revisions
The preferred Plan provides a framework and road map for progressive water quality and quantity improvements to benefit the lake and downstream estuaries.

Throughout implementation, it is fully e xpected that hydrologic and water quality

conditions in the watershed will continue to change as land uses in the watershed are modified, and as restoration projects become operational. Performance will be periodically assessed and revisions made as nece ssary. In addition, the legislation requires annual reports and plan updates every three years.Executive Summary February 2008

Lake Okeechobee Watershed Construction Project Phase II Technical Plan

17 

### For more details...
The preferred Lake Okeechobee Watershed Constr uction Project Phase II Technical Plan is designed to reduce phosphorus loadings to the lake and to identify additional storage capacity within the watershed. It builds on and consolidates numerous restoration actions into a more cohesive and comprehensive approach.

For your convenience, a compact disc copy of the entire preferred Lake Okeechobee Watershed Construction Project Phase II Techni cal Plan is attached to the inside back cover of this publication. Please refer to that document for more details on the highlights included in the executive summary. A copy may also be obtained on-line at https://my.sfwmd.gov/northerneverglades

.Preferred Lake Okeechobee Watershed Construction Project Phase II Technical PlanOverview of LOCAL FEATURESProjectTypeProject NameProject DescriptionSource Control ProgramsSFWMD’s EnvironmentalResource Permit Program(ERP)Existing regulatory program which ensures thatalterations in stormwater runoff do notdegrade surface water quality, flood protection orthe function of existing wetland systems.SFWMD has initiated rule development for anERP basin rule for the Lake Okeechobee, St.Lucie and Caloosahatchee Watersheds that will be based on a performance standard of postdevelopment discharge volumes not exceedingpre-development discharge volumes. Theintent of this rule is to ensure that new development is not increasing the volume ofstormwater discharging downstream.SFWMD’s Works of theDistrict RegulatoryPhosphorus Source ControlProgramExisting regulatory program which governs Best Management Practice (BMP)implementation on agricultural and non-agricultural lands through issuance of permits.SFWMD is updating the rule criteria to be compatible with current initiatives andamendments to the statute. Proposed updatesto the rule could include amendments such asexpansion of program to entire Lake Okeechobee watershed, establish load-basedperformance measures for thecombined BMP source control programs implemented in thewatershed and timeline for BMP implementation; and establish a monitoring networknecessary to ensure compliance.FDACSAgriculturalBMPProgramsOn-going program under which FDACS and Natural Resources Conservation Service(NRCS) cooperate with local landowners to develop farm-specific conservation plans forcow/calf, citrus, row crop and other agricultural operations.SupplementaryNonAgricultural BMP ProgramsOn-going programs under which FDEP regulates measures implemented to controlphosphorus loads from non-agricultural sources. Includes implementation of site-specificBMPs, master planning for stormwater and wastewater, implementing stormwater retrofits,designing larger urban stormwater projects and public education.FDEP is also expected to propose a UnifiedStatewide Stormwater Rule (January 2009) toincrease the level of treatment required for nutrients in stormwater from new development.FDACS recently adopted the Urban Turf FertilizerRule to limit phosphorus and nitrogencontent in fertilizers used for urban turf and lawns.(Overview of LOCAL FEATUREScontinues on next page)Executive Summary - Overview of PlanFeaturesFebruary 2008Lake Okeechobee Watershed Construction Project Phase II Technical Plan1Lake Okeechobee Watershed Construction Project Phase II Technical Plan2ProjectTypeProject NameProject DescriptionLand Management ProgramsComprehensivePlanning/Land DevelopmentRegulationsOn-going Florida Department of Community Affairs program under which local governmentcomprehensive plans are reviewed for consistency with the State’s growth managementpolicies.Farm and RanchlandProtection ProgramPartnershipOn-going, voluntary NRCS program under which matching funds are provided to State,Tribal or local governments and non-governmental organizations to purchase conservationeasements. Such easements typically remain agricultural and provide water quality andstorage benefits.FloridaRanchlandsEnvironmental ServicesProjectRecently launched pilot program under development. If successful, local landowners can sellenvironmental services relatedto water retention, phosphorus load reduction and wetlandhabitat expansion to state agencies and other willing buyers.Alternative Water StorageFacilities--Stormwater runoff is held on-site on designated private and state lands thereby reducing flowand discharge of nutrients to the regional drainage systems. These facilities generally requireminimal engineering, construction, and operation and maintenance and can be sited on eitherprivately-owned agricultural lands in cooperation with the landowners or on public and triballands.Local InitiativesTaylor Creek CanalsSediment RemovalRemoval of sediment and vegetation from canals and tributaries that drain to Taylor Creekfrom the Treasure Island and Taylor Creek Isles residential areas.Okeechobee City SedimentTrap InstallationInstallation of two sediment traps within the city of Okeechobee for the removal ofphosphorus-laden particulates that might otherwise enter Lake Okeechobee.Nubbin Slough East FlowDiversionDiverting Nubbin Slough flows to restore the east main tributary of the slough.Executive Summary - Overview of PlanFeaturesFebruary 2008Preferred Lake Okeechobee Watershed Construction Project Phase II Technical PlanOverview of REGIONAL FEATURESProject TypeProject NameProject DescriptionSurface StorageFacilitiesStorage ReservoirsA reservoir that is operated with changing water level for thepurpose of storing and releasing water.UndergroundStorage FacilitiesAquifer Storage andRecoveryThe injection of fresh water into a confined saline aquifer during times when supply exceeds demands (wetseason), and recovering it via the same well during times when there is a supply deficit (dry season).UndergroundSurface DisposalDeep Injection WellThe practice of water andwastewater disposal into the deep Floridan Aquifer “Boulder Zone” through use ofahigh capacity well.Nutrient LoadReductionFacilitiesStormwaterTreatment AreasLarge, constructed wetlands designed to remove pollutants, particularly nutrients, from stormwater runoff usingnatural processes.ReservoirAssistedStormwaterTreatment Areas(RASTAs)Reservoir-AssistedStormwaterTreatment Areas(RASTAs)Feature comprised of a reservoir and astormwater treatment area. The reservoir functions to store and releasewater directly to the STA in order to optimize STA performance.Executive Summary - Overview of PlanFeaturesFebruary 2008Lake Okeechobee Watershed Construction Project Phase II Technical Plan3Preferred Lake Okeechobee Watershed Construction Project Phase II Technical PlanOverview of OTHER FEATURESProject TypeProject NameDescriptionIn-Lake TreatmentMuck Sediment RemovalScraping the lake bedas it is exposed due to falling water levels and transporting thenutrient-laden muck off-site.DredgingUse of innovative dredging techniques to remove phosphorus-laden sediments from the lakebottom.RecirculatingStormwaterTreatment AreasStormwater Treatment Areas located alongthe Lake Okeechobee shoreline, which areprimarily intended to treat nutrient-rich flows from the watershed; however, during dryperiods when there is little or no flow from the watershed, lake waters would be diverted tothese systems for treatment.Disking or PlowingDisking and plowing are two alternatives to scraping the lake bottom and physicallyremoving the organic sediments. Disking is an action in which the surficial organicsediments are mixed with underlying mineral or sand sediments. Plowing involves slicingmore deeply into the soil and attempting to invert a portion of the underlying sands and theorganic sediments. The turbidity-producing organic sediment and phosphorus content aretypically suppressed by the sandy soil.Innovative Nutrient ControlTechnologiesTaylor Creek Algal TurfScrubber®Engineered systems in which attached algae are cultured and the algal biomass is routinelyharvested to facilitate recovery of pollutants from impaired waters.HybridWetlandTreatmentTechnologyWetland treatment combined with chemical injection technologies.Chemical TreatmentSelective application of chemical treatment to achieve phosphorus load reductions.Locations (in association withreservoir/STA, throughout watershed, etc), dosages, and costeffectiveness of chemical treatment technology will be evaluated through a feasibility study.Wetland RestorationWetland RestorationAn activity that re-establishes the habitats and functions of a former or degraded wetland.Miscellaneous ProjectsFlorida Power and LightMartin Cooling PondThis feature will expand currently availablestorage capacity at an existing 7,000-acreimpoundment located at FP&L’s Martin County facility.S-133 Water QualityTreatment FacilityExact nature of this feature (Stormwater Treatment Area, deep well, expansion of theexisting Lemkin Creek Urban Stormwater Treatment Area, or a combination of these) wouldbe determined during the implementation stage through a feasibility study.Executive Summary - Overview of PlanFeaturesFebruary 2008Lake Okeechobee Watershed Construction Project Phase II Technical Plan4