Water Resources Advisory Commission Lake Okeechobee Committee January 25, 2006 Susan Gray, Ph.D.

2 Lake Okeechobee and Estuary Recovery  A combination of capital projects and numerous interagency initiatives  Designed to provide measurable and meaningful improvements to water quality and water quantity in Lake Okeechobee and the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee Estuaries

3 LOER Components and District Lead Responsibilities  Lake Okeechobee Fast Track Projects  Revise Lake Okeechobee Operating Schedule (will require significant District support)  Set TMDLs for tributaries  Mandatory fertilizer BMPs  ERP Revisions  Alternative storage/disposal of excess surface water  Innovative land use planning  Eliminate land application of wastewater treatment residuals  Lake Okeechobee Protection Program  CERP Lake Okeechobee Watershed Project

4 Lake Okeechobee Fast-Track Projects 5 construction projects north of Lake Okeechobee: Nubbin Slough STA Expansion Taylor Creek Reservoir Lakeside Ranch STA Rerouting Runoff from the S-133 Basin Rerouting Runoff from the S-154 Basin 5 construction projects north of Lake Okeechobee: Nubbin Slough STA Expansion Taylor Creek Reservoir Lakeside Ranch STA Rerouting Runoff from the S-133 Basin Rerouting Runoff from the S-154 Basin

5 Lake Okeechobee Fast Track Projects Point of Contact: Harold Aiken/Mark Long/Denise Arrieta Steps to implementation/Schedule:  Initial design and data collectionNov ‘05 – Mar ’06 (Conceptual design being conducted by CDM)  Develop Basis of Design ReportApr ‘06 – Oct ‘06  Obtain Design Criteria Approval Nov ‘06  Obtain PermitsOct ‘06 – Sept ‘07  Nubbin Slough expansion permitsJan ‘06 – Aug ‘06  Nubbin Slough constructionSep ‘06 – Dec ‘07  Construct remaining Fast TrackMar ‘08 – Dec ‘09 projects Completion Date2009

6 Permanent Forward Pumps for Water Supply during Droughts Point of Contact: Larry Carter/Karen Counes Steps to implementation/Schedule:  Develop Basis of Design ReportJan ’06 – Aug ‘06 (SOW, preliminary operating criteria under development)  Obtain Design Criteria Approval Sept ‘06  Design Pumps/StructuresOct ’06 – Sept ‘07  Obtain PermitsOct ’06 – Sept ‘07  Construct Pumps/StructuresOct ’07 – Sept ‘09 Completion Date:2009

7 Revise Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule Revise the Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule  Work with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to revise federal regulation schedule levels  Achieve a better balance among lake management objectives

8 SFWMD Support to ongoing revisions to the Lake Okeechobee Operating Schedule Phase I completion date:December 2006 Phase II completion date:2010 SFWMD Point of Contact:Kim O’Dell Steps to implementation/Schedule:  SSM & water shortage modeling Oct ’05 – Aug ‘06  Seed bank evaluationOct ’06 – Jan ‘07  Evaluate feasibility of spring recessionNov ‘06  Re-map lake sedimentsApr ’06 – Apr ‘07  Review in-lake dredging optionsJun ’06 – May ‘07  Ecological/hydrological modelingOct ’05 – Sep ‘07  Purchase temporary pumpsFeb ’06 – Aug ‘06  Electrical, installation platforms forAug ’06 – Jan ‘07 temporary pumps

9 Revise ERP Criteria  Revise the Environmental Resource Permit (ERP) criteria to better address the water quality impacts due to new development and land- use changes within the Kissimmee, Lake Okeechobee, Caloosahatchee Estuary and St. Lucie Estuary watersheds Supplement the Environmental Resource Permit (ERP) Criteria

10 Revise ERP Criteria Point of Contact:Damon Meiers Steps to implementation/Schedule:  Revise Lake O Protection ActJan ’06 - July ‘07  Develop guidelines to determineJan ’06 – Dec ‘07 P loading and BMP credits  ERP rule revisionsFeb ’06 – Dec ‘07  Coordination with State-wide ERPFeb ’06 – Dec ‘06 review Completion Date:2008

11 Alternative Storage/Disposal of Excess Surface Water  Identify alternative sites on public, private, and tribal lands for moving and storing excess water from the lake and its tributary basins to help reduce high discharge volumes to the estuaries  Assess feasibility of deep well disposal and ASR options for Taylor Creek and the Brighton Reservation Options for Storage and/or Disposal of Excess Surface Water

12 Water Storage Assessments: Study Areas Figure 2

13 Point of Contact:Benita Whalen, P.E. Steps to implementation, schedule:  Ongoing communication with public and ongoing private land owners on storage opportunities  Complete public lands assessmentsDec ‘05  Complete conceptual designs & cost estimatesMar ‘06 for public land storage  Evaluate cost-effectiveness of storage optionsApr ‘06  Initiate construction of 4 pilot facilities onApr ‘06 private lands  Complete private & tribal lands assessmentsJun ‘06  Enter into agreements on additional sitesDec ‘06  Design, construct, monitorJan ‘07 – Dec ‘09 Completion Date2009 Alternative Storage/Disposal of Excess Surface Water

14 Point of Contact:Scott Burns/Robert Verrastro Steps to implementation, schedule:  Assess feasibility of reactivating TaylorJan ’06 – Jun ‘07 Creek ASR well  Feasibility of deep well injectionJan ’06 – Jan ‘07  Conduct pilot ASR for Brighton ReservationJan ’06 – Apr ‘08  Design and permitting of 10 ASR wellsJan ’06 – Jun ‘07  Construct & begin operation 10 ASR wellsJul ’07 – Dec ‘09 Completion Date:2009 Alternative Storage/Disposal – Deep Well Injection and ASR

15 Continued Implementation of the LOPP & CERP LOWP  Comprehensive, phased approach already under way to reduce phosphorus loadings and provide water storage to the lake by 2015 Continued Implementation of the Lake Okeechobee Protection Program and CERP Lake Okeechobee Watershed Project

16 Point of Contact:Susan Gray / David Unsell Steps to implementation, schedule:  Ongoing water quality projects, lake2004 – 2015 and watershed assessments for LOPP  Flow ways feasibility studyJun ’06 – Sep ‘07  LOWP CERP PIR completionJan ’06 – 2008  LOWP CERP land acquisitionJun ’07 – 2012  LOWP CERP design and permitting  LOWP CERP Construction2010 – 2015 Completion Date:2015 Continued Implementation of LOPP and CERP LOWP

17 Set TMDLs for Lake Okeechobee Tributaries - FDEP  Speed up development of total maximum daily loads of phosphorus allowed for the Lake Okeechobee watershed tributaries to protect and restore downstream water bodies TMDLs = Total Maximum Daily Loads

18 Mandatory Fertilizer BMPs - FDACS  Revised application rates for agriculture; low phosphorus for urban use  Reassess fertilizer application rates for agriculture and encourage the development and use of low phosphorus fertilizer in urban settings Mandatory Fertilizer Best Management Practices (BMPs):

19 Innovative Land-Use Planning - FDCA  Innovative land-use planning techniques, including use of Florida’s Rural Land Stewardship Areas Program, to facilitate the acquisition of lands for public works Growth Management to Encourage Innovative Land-Use Planning

20 Eliminate Land Applications of Residuals - FDEP  End the practice of depositing domestic wastewater residuals on land, which can result in excess nutrients getting in tributaries and estuaries Residuals Contain Nutrients that are land applied in Phosphorus-Sensitive Basins

21 Progress  Between 1998 and 2005, more than 35 projects have been completed in the north watershed.  Approximately 20 additional projects are under way and expected to be complete in the next one to five years.  Will prevent an estimated 150 tons of phosphorus from entering the Lake each year.  Will add approximately 280,000 acre feet of additional water storage to reduce impacts from flood-control releases to the estuaries

22 Summary of FY06 Activities

23 Summary of Estimated Costs for FY06  Lake Okeechobee Fast Track Projects  Permanent Forward Pumps  Lake Schedule Revisions  ERP Revisions  Alternative Surface Water Storage  ASR/Deep Well Disposal  Lake Okeechobee Protection Program  CERP Lake Okeechobee Watershed Project  FY06 T0TAL  $13,232,500  $1,800,000  $4,009,300  $0  $1,000,000  $ 900,000  $5,000,000  $ 200,000  $26,141,800

24 Lake Okeechobee and Estuary Recovery  All LOER components are progressing  At the request of the Governing Board, additional efforts have been incorporated including:  In-lake nutrient removal options Marsh flow-ways Sediment removal  Implement ASR  Feasibility of deep well injection

25 Opportunities for Local Government Participation  Implement stormwater utilities and stormwater retrofits  Assist with BMP implementation for low P fertilizer in urban settings  Move forward to convert septic systems to central sewers  Land acquisition for preservation & Restoration

26 Other Agency Actions  Implement Modified Water Deliveries  Removal of sediments and bank stabilization of the C-44  Retrofit S-308 and S-77 for mid or top water releases