Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Long-Term Plan Update Options for Accelerating Recovery of Phosphorus Impacted Areas in the Florida Everglades February 28, 2006 Long-Term Plan Annual Update Jamie L. Serino Director, Everglades Division SFWMD

Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Options for Accelerating Recovery Problems: Phosphorus (P) enriched discharges into the EPA Human-mediated changes to hydrologic patterns BMP and STAs address the source of P However, sediments in the impacted areas of the Everglades are enriched in P Monotypic stands of cattail have resulted which are dependent on the high levels of P This sediment will continue to be is a source of P for cattail for decades

Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Options for Accelerating Recovery

Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Options for Accelerating Recovery Approach: Conduct research to answer questions related to accelerating the recovery of cattail impacted areas SFWMD scientists developed research projects to address the issue: ØFire Project ØThe Cattail Habitat Improvement Project (CHIP) These projects were presented at an “Options for Accelerating Recovery” Scientific and Public Workshop The projects were then reviewed by an external panel of expert scientists

Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Options for Accelerating Recovery Outcome: A detailed Research Plan

Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Options for Accelerating Recovery Projects Personnel: Everglades Division Director (Jamie L. Serino) Project Manager for Accelerated Recovery (Thomas W. Dreschel) Fire Project Scientists (PI: ShiLi Miao) Cattail Habitat Improvement Project Scientists (PIs: Susan Newman, Scot Hagerthey, Mark Cook)

Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Long Term Plan Update Ecological effects of fire and natural recovery in a phosphorus (P)-enriched Everglades wetland (Fire Project) ShiLi Miao

Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Fire Project Objectives: To assess whether repeated fire can be used as an effective management tool to manage cattail expansion

Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Fire Project Project design: Six 300 m X 300 m plots within WCA2A 300 m

Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Fire Project Project Status: Completed Tasks ØSite selection ØWalkway construction ØCoordination with outside labs and agencies ØMethods testing for sampling procedures

Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Fire Project Water quality Biomass harvest Plant growth Soil study Studies Initiated: Seed bank

Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Fire Project Upcoming events in 2006:  Continued pre-burn sampling and studies  First burn implementation  Post-burn sampling  Initiation of decomposition study  Initiation of native vegetation recruitment study ØPublic outreach

Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Long Term Plan Update The Cattail Habitat Improvement Project Sue Newman, Scot Hagerthey, and Mark Cook

Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Cattail Habitat Improvement Project Objectives:  To determine the effects of large scale cattail removal on ecosystem structure (plants and animals) and function (e.g., nutrient cycling)

Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Cattail Habitat Improvement Project Project design: Created fifteen 250 m X 250 m plots within WCA2A  Six plots in an enriched area; three open plots and three control plots  Six plots in a transitional area; three open plots and three control plots  Three plots in an unenriched area; all control plots

Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Cattail Habitat Improvement Project 250 m Airboat Maintained Buffer (in open plots only) Grab & Tube Samples Autosampler Hydrolab Met Station Designated Paths Fish Sampling Predefined Sampling Area N Staging Platform

Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Cattail Habitat Improvement Project Project Status: Pre-burn construction: Fifteen wooden platforms (4X4 m) Nine wooden walkways (100 m) Six control plot metal sampling platforms Six open plot metal sampling platforms Completion of firebreaks around open plots

Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Cattail Habitat Improvement Project Project status Completed tasks:  Protocol selection for each attribute  Pre/post burn water quality and herbicide monitoring design complete  Everglades Research Database Production attributes assigned  Coordinated with analytical labs and state agencies for sample analysis

Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Cattail Habitat Improvement Project Upcoming events in 2006:  Continued maintenance of fire breaks  Herbicide application in open plots in May  Controlled back burn of open plots in June  Water quality and herbicide monitoring begins in May  Protocol verification and refinement (inverts and fish)  Construction of last six walkways in open plots after the burn  Public outreach

Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Long-Term Plan Update Accelerate Recovery of Impacted Areas Tracey Piccone, P.E.

Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Alternatives Analysis & Plan Formulation Project Manager: TBD Project Description: Conduct a full alternatives analysis and develop a plan formulation of management scenarios for accelerating recovery of impacted areas of the Everglades Protection Area. Prepare report summarizing risks and benefits associated with different management scenarios

Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Alternatives Analysis & Plan Formulation Status Work not scheduled to start until FY08 Plan includes recommended funding of $400,000

Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Hydropattern Restoration Project Manager: Tracey Piccone Project Description: Restore a sheet flow approximation to various areas along the northerly boundary of the Everglades Protection Area Structural modifications and components to allow delivery of STA discharges to WCA-2A, East WCA-3A and West WCA-3A via a sheet flow approximation

Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Hydropattern Restoration Status Work not scheduled to start until FY2009 Construction complete by end of FY2012

Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Implement Steps to Accelerate Recovery of Impacted Areas Project Manager: Tracey Piccone Project Description: Implement the most promising techniques to accelerate recovery of the impacted areas in the EPA

Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Implement Steps to Accelerate Recovery of Impacted Areas Status Work not scheduled to start until FY2010 Construction complete by end of FY2014

Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Adaptive Implementation Project Manager: Tracey Piccone Project Description: To implement additional enhancements and modifications resulting from the PDE process that can be implemented within the existing footprints of the ECP STAs, or added to CERP projects as a locally preferred option to enhance their water quality performance Plan includes recommended funding of $36 million

Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Adaptive Implementation Status Plan recommended funding of $9 million per year starting in FY2007 and ending in FY2010 ØUnused FY04 funds from other Long-Term Plan projects were transferred to this project to assist with the surveying phase of the Bolles and Cross Canal Improvements Project (first minor revision to the Plan) ØIn FY05, funds were budgeted and used for the EAA Regional Feasibility Study

Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals As part of proposed revision to LTP, FY06 funds not needed for two projects will be used for Adaptive Implementation activities ØReal Time TP monitoring at STAs ØVegetation Management Strategies ØBMPs in District Canals ØSTA-1W Cell 5 drawdown/enhancements Adaptive Implementation

Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals Long-Term Plan Update Public Comment