1. Tracey Piccone, P.E. August 10, 2004 Tracey Piccone, P.E. August 10, 2004 STA-1W Cell 5 Limerock Berm 2003 Outstanding Project of the Year Palm Beach County Branch of the American Society of Civil Engineers

2. “There are no other Everglades in the world…

3. They are, they have always been, one of the unique regions of the earth, remote, never wholly known. Nothing anywhere else is like them: their vast glittering openness, wider than the enormous visible round of the horizon, the racing free saltness and sweetness of their massive winds, under the dazzling blue heights of space. They are unique also in the simplicity, the diversity, and the related harmony of the forms of life they enclose. The miracle of light pours over the green and brown expanse of saw grass and of water, shining and slow-moving below, the grass and water that is the central fact of the Everglades of Florida. It is a river of grass.” Marjory Stoneman Douglas The Everglades: River of Grass (1947) They are, they have always been, one of the unique regions of the earth, remote, never wholly known. Nothing anywhere else is like them: their vast glittering openness, wider than the enormous visible round of the horizon, the racing free saltness and sweetness of their massive winds, under the dazzling blue heights of space. They are unique also in the simplicity, the diversity, and the related harmony of the forms of life they enclose. The miracle of light pours over the green and brown expanse of saw grass and of water, shining and slow-moving below, the grass and water that is the central fact of the Everglades of Florida. It is a river of grass.” Marjory Stoneman Douglas The Everglades: River of Grass (1947)

4. Sawgrass and tree islands Everglades landscape

5. Sawgrass prairie Everglades landscape

6. Everglades Restoration 4 major problems facing Everglades ecosystem: Reduction in spatial extent of wetlands Degradation of water quality (e.g., phosphorus and mercury) Disruption of hydropatterns (i.e., timing, volume & distribution) Infestation by exotic plant species 4 major problems facing Everglades ecosystem: Reduction in spatial extent of wetlands Degradation of water quality (e.g., phosphorus and mercury) Disruption of hydropatterns (i.e., timing, volume & distribution) Infestation by exotic plant species

11. Everyone wanted to protect the Everglades… The hard part was getting started. Everyone wanted to protect the Everglades… The hard part was getting started.

12. Early Everglades Restoration Activities 1972 - Florida Water Resources Act 1978 - Comprehensive Everglades ecosystem monitoring begins 1979 - Lake Okeechobee Program Interim Action Plan LOTAC recommendations 1987 - SWIM program initiated 1972 - Florida Water Resources Act 1978 - Comprehensive Everglades ecosystem monitoring begins 1979 - Lake Okeechobee Program Interim Action Plan LOTAC recommendations 1987 - SWIM program initiated

13. Prototype - Everglades Nutrient Removal Project August 1988 - Gov. Martinez authorized the District to build a constructed wetland 3,800 acres of prior ag land V olunteer recruitment of vegetation Design target 50 ppb Consistently reduced phosphorus to <25 ppb! August 1988 - Gov. Martinez authorized the District to build a constructed wetland 3,800 acres of prior ag land V olunteer recruitment of vegetation Design target 50 ppb Consistently reduced phosphorus to <25 ppb!

14. Everglades Nutrient Removal Project

15. 1988 - Highs and Lows Everglades identified as a priority water body for purpose of SWIM Everglades Nutrient Removal project authorized Federal lawsuit filed... Everglades identified as a priority water body for purpose of SWIM Everglades Nutrient Removal project authorized Federal lawsuit filed...

17. The wheels of progress turned... 1991 Everglades Protection Act 1991 Federal Settlement Agreement 1991 permit applications filed 1992 Federal Consent Decree 1992 Conceptual Design of STAs 1992 Everglades SWIM Plan … resulting in... 1991 Everglades Protection Act 1991 Federal Settlement Agreement 1991 permit applications filed 1992 Federal Consent Decree 1992 Conceptual Design of STAs 1992 Everglades SWIM Plan … resulting in...

19. Litigation Averted! In December 1992, all parties entered into formal mediated dispute resolution July 1993 Statement of Principles – joint commitment to: end litigation, construct STAs, implement BMPs in EAA, provide funding April 1994 - Everglades Forever Act In December 1992, all parties entered into formal mediated dispute resolution July 1993 Statement of Principles – joint commitment to: end litigation, construct STAs, implement BMPs in EAA, provide funding April 1994 - Everglades Forever Act

20. 1994 Everglades Forever Act Construction Stormwater Treatment Areas (STAs) Diversion and hydropattern restoration Research Phosphorus criterion research STA optimization research Regulation BMPs Phosphorus criterion rulemaking Permitting of structures discharging into, through or from the Everglades Construction Stormwater Treatment Areas (STAs) Diversion and hydropattern restoration Research Phosphorus criterion research STA optimization research Regulation BMPs Phosphorus criterion rulemaking Permitting of structures discharging into, through or from the Everglades

21. ECP Basins: STA-1E STA-1W STA-2 STA-3/4 STA-5 STA-6 ESP Basins: ACME Basin “B” North Springs Improvement District North New River Canal (G-123) C-11 West L-28 Feeder Canal O C-111

22. 1994 Everglades Forever Act (cont.) Achieve state water quality standards in the EPA by 12/31/06 Submit application to FDEP by 12/31/03 for long-term water quality measures plan for achieving compliance with state water quality standards cost estimates, funding mechanisms, schedules Achieve state water quality standards in the EPA by 12/31/06 Submit application to FDEP by 12/31/03 for long-term water quality measures plan for achieving compliance with state water quality standards cost estimates, funding mechanisms, schedules

23. Everglades Construction Project Initial Phase One of the largest environmental restoration programs undertaken by a public agency $720 million in acquisition, design and construction Over 42,000 acres of treatment wetlands Initial goal: 50 ppb phosphorus Performance to date has exceeded expectations! Discharges have averaged about 41 ppb Approximately 1,730 metric tons of phosphorus removed (BMPs and STAs combined) One of the largest environmental restoration programs undertaken by a public agency $720 million in acquisition, design and construction Over 42,000 acres of treatment wetlands Initial goal: 50 ppb phosphorus Performance to date has exceeded expectations! Discharges have averaged about 41 ppb Approximately 1,730 metric tons of phosphorus removed (BMPs and STAs combined)

24. Constructed Wetland Agricultural Land Design target: 50 ppb Phosphorus Reduction

25. Phosphorus Removal in STAs Inflow Outflow Uptake by Floating Plants Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Uptake Groundwater Uptake by Floating and Attached Algae Stormwater Inflow (  130 ppb) Low phosphorus water to EPA (  ppb) Phosphorus in new peat soil Plant remains and Particles Deposit P Uptake by Emergent plants

26. Aerial view of STA-1W

28. Full Scale STA Enhancements Limerock Berm constructed in Cell 5 of STA- 1W to help redistribute flow and enhance phosphorus removal performance. Construction of the Limerock Berm was completed last summer by the Jones Company of South Florida, a 100% MBE/WBE owned firm. The Limerock Berm is about 6,900 feet long and consists of more than 22,000 tons of limerock material. The project is currently in the monitoring phase and a report documenting the performance of the Limerock Berm is to be completed in 2006. Limerock Berm constructed in Cell 5 of STA- 1W to help redistribute flow and enhance phosphorus removal performance. Construction of the Limerock Berm was completed last summer by the Jones Company of South Florida, a 100% MBE/WBE owned firm. The Limerock Berm is about 6,900 feet long and consists of more than 22,000 tons of limerock material. The project is currently in the monitoring phase and a report documenting the performance of the Limerock Berm is to be completed in 2006.

29. Full Scale STA Enhancements The Limerock Berm demonstration project is being funded by a cost-share grant agreement between the District and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The grant funding is being provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

30. Limerock Berm Construction

32. Limerock Material

33. Limerock Berm Aerial

34. Limerock Berm

35. Limerock Berm Early Monitoring Results

36. Achieving Long-Term Water Quality Goals Will require additional STA enhancements Compartmentalization - hydraulic redistribution Vegetation management Operational refinements Adaptive management - incorporate results from on-going research and field observations Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals for the Everglades prepared by technical working group comprised of various stakeholders Will require additional STA enhancements Compartmentalization - hydraulic redistribution Vegetation management Operational refinements Adaptive management - incorporate results from on-going research and field observations Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals for the Everglades prepared by technical working group comprised of various stakeholders

37. Long-Term Plan Contains projects designed to achieve compliance with water quality standards including the phosphorus criterion in the Everglades Protection Area. In 2003, the Florida Legislature endorsed the Plan in an amended version of the EFA. Also in 2003, Plan recognized in the phosphorus rule adopted by the ERC as BAPRT. Plan was included in District’s December 2003 long- term permit application to the FDEP. Plan includes integrating with CERP project objectives and synchronizing schedules to avoid duplicative and unnecessary costs as required by the amended EFA. Contains projects designed to achieve compliance with water quality standards including the phosphorus criterion in the Everglades Protection Area. In 2003, the Florida Legislature endorsed the Plan in an amended version of the EFA. Also in 2003, Plan recognized in the phosphorus rule adopted by the ERC as BAPRT. Plan was included in District’s December 2003 long- term permit application to the FDEP. Plan includes integrating with CERP project objectives and synchronizing schedules to avoid duplicative and unnecessary costs as required by the amended EFA.

38. Where are we today? Long-Term Plan is being implemented Design is underway for Pre-2006 Projects (STA Enhancements) with construction to start late 2004 BMP programs are being expanded Research & monitoring are progressing Projects are being integrated with CERP projects Long-Term Plan is being implemented Design is underway for Pre-2006 Projects (STA Enhancements) with construction to start late 2004 BMP programs are being expanded Research & monitoring are progressing Projects are being integrated with CERP projects

39. For More Information: www.sfwmd.gov http://www.sfwmd.gov/org/erd/ecp/3_ecp.html http://www.sfwmd.gov/org/erd/bsfboard/bsfsboard.htm http://www.sfwmd.gov/org/erd/longtermplan/index.shtml 2004 Everglades Consolidated Report Summary of all available data available on-line: http://www.sfwmd.gov/org/ema/everglades/index.html Tracey Piccone, P.E. (561) 682-6495 tpiccone@sfwmd.gov www.sfwmd.gov http://www.sfwmd.gov/org/erd/ecp/3_ecp.html http://www.sfwmd.gov/org/erd/bsfboard/bsfsboard.htm http://www.sfwmd.gov/org/erd/longtermplan/index.shtml 2004 Everglades Consolidated Report Summary of all available data available on-line: http://www.sfwmd.gov/org/ema/everglades/index.html Tracey Piccone, P.E. (561) 682-6495 tpiccone@sfwmd.gov

40. Questions?