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Everglades Restoration Progress [PDF] Environmental Monitoring (including Water Quality Reports) Everglades Technical Oversight Committee (TOC) An in-depth look at STAs [PDF] Quick Facts on Recreation in STAs [PDF] STA Recreation Use FAQs [PDF] Recreational Licenses and Permits Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Science Florida Habitats and Wildlife CERP RECOVER Agricultural BMPs Everglades Permits Okeechobee Permits Urban/Business BMPs Urban Stormwater BMP Manual [PDF] Stormwater BMPs [PDF] What YOU Can Do 

## Treatment, Best Practices and Increased Water Storage
From the sawgrass marshes and tree islands of the Everglades to the mangrove stands along our coastlines and the wetlands, uplands, lakes and river floodplains of the interior, nutrients like phosphorus were once found at very low levels. With decades of residential and agricultural growth, the levels of nutrients and other trace pollutants making their way into these natural areas began to rise. As a result, native ecosystems as well as the plants and animals that are part of those systems began to change. To protect and restore these ecosystems, the South Florida Water Management District is working to remove excess nutrients and other pollutants, or prevent them from entering natural systems.

At the top of this page, take an interactive visual tour of the stormwater treatment areas that are helping to improve water quality throughout the region. Be sure to select the View Panoramic option, then click on the five icons that appear , and review each one to learn more about how stormwater treatment areas work.

A number of efforts can effectively achieve this: building Stormwater Treatment Areas (constructed wetlands); requiring best management practices for agricultural and urban 

### In the News
Opinion: Water Management Districts: Intact, on Task and Spending Wisely (Nov 30) Florida's Ranchlands Helping to Preserve Landscapes, Protect and Improve Waters (Nov 29) Opinion: Scientific Monitoring Continues to Guide Restoration Efforts at SFWMD (Nov 07) South Florida Water Managers Take Steps to Increase Water Storage (Oct 14) Low Water Levels Provide Opportunity for Environmental Work (Sep 29) NEWS ARCHIVE


### Upcoming Events
Central Everglades Planning Project Public Workshop, December 16, 2011Stormwater Treatment Area 5 BirdWatching Tour Schedule WRAC Meetings, Agendas and more
CALENDAR


### Related Highlights

Quick Facts on Caloosahatchee River (C-43) West Basin Storage Reservoir STA Recreation Use FAQs Just the Facts: Providing Clean Water for the Everglades Quick Facts on Protecting and Improving the Caloosahatchee River and Estuary Just the Facts: Highlighted Expenditures Benefitting the Caloosahatchee River and Estuary Careers Site Map Glossary Help Locations Contact Us Español

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...stormwater runoff; and creating surface or groundwater storage for seasonal water

surpluses. All of these solutions for improving water quality are required elements of federal/state legislation for restoring the Greater Everglades (which includes the Kissimmee, Okeechobee and Everglades watersheds). They are also mandated by separate state legislation for water quality improvements in Lake Okeechobee and the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries, as well as in the Everglades systems south of Okeechobee. Read more about these strategies to improve water quality in the sections below.

STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATION Everglades Forever Act & Settlement Agreement (F.S. 373.4592) Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) Northern Everglades and Estuaries Protection Act (F.S. 373.4595) Lake Okeechobee Protection Act

Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals The Long- Term Plan is a comprehensive set of water quality improvement measures designed to ensure that all waters entering the Everglades Protection Area (EPA) achieve compliance with water quality standards. These measures include enhancements to the existing Stormwater Treatment Areas (STAs), expanded best management practices, and integration with the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) projects. In addition the Plan continues the strong science-based and adaptive implementation philosophy to allow continuous improvement until the long term water quality goal is achieved. more »

Stormwater Treatment Areas (STAs)Every plant needs nutrients to survive and thrive, but South Florida's native plants often are outcompeted by other plants better able to use heavier nutrient loads. In constructed wetlands known as Stormwater Treatment Areas, some of these non- native plants with an appetite for high levels of nutrients are being used selectively to help remove excess nutrients, so that native plants can once again thrive. more »


## STAs – By the Numbers
STA-1 East , 5,132 acres, northeast of the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge
STA-1 West , 6,670 acres, northwest of the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge
STA-2 , 8,240 acres, west of Water Conservation Area 2
STA-3/4 , 16,534 acres in western Palm Beach County, the largest constructed wetland in the world
STA-5 , 6,095 acres in Hendry County, west of the northern edge of Rotenberger Wildlife Management Area
STA-6 , 2,257 acres, in Hendry County, west of the southern edge of Rotenberger Wildlife Management Area 

## STA Operations Affected by weather (rainfall, drought, hurricanes), plant growth rates and invasion of undesirable plant species Water quality is continually monitored by scientists at District laboratories Operational decisions are made based on real-time data Scientists and technicians make approximately 27,000 visits per year to water quality 

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...monitoring stations

Agricultural Best Management Practices Farming for winter vegetables, sugarcane, citrus, nursery plants or other crops is one of our region's largest industries. Agricultural practices can contribute excess nutrients or other pollutants to the rivers, lakes and wetlands of south and central Florida. more » Urban Best Management Practices Cities and communities also contribute nutrients and other pollutants to our region's rivers, lakes and wetlands. Storm water flowing over city streets or the rich green lawns and gardens that fill our urban and suburban landscapes can carry excess nutrients from the fertilizers and herbicides we use, as well as all the other contaminants that are a by -product of modern life. more » Increased Water Storage Before today's development, much of south and central Florida was land which stored water at least part of the year. Even while that storage has been reduced as the land has been converted for cities and farms, this development also makes it critical at times to quickly remove water from heavy storms or hurricanes to prevent catastrophic flooding. more »

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SFWMD Headquarters: 3301 Gun Club Road, West Palm Beach, Florida 33406

561-686-8800 | 1-800-432-2045 (Florida Only) 

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