Projects and Goals
The Everglades Forever Act is a 1994 Florida law (Section
373.4592, Florida Statutes  )
that was amended
in 2003. The amended law promotes Everglades restoration and protection. The
improvement of water quality, water quantity, natural hydroperiod and removal of
exotic species to the Everglades ecosystem which will be achieved though
comprehensive and innovative solutions using the best available “green”
technology.
In addition to the Everglades Forever Act (EFA), more measures are necessary
to ensure that all discharges to the
Everglades Protection
Area [pdf - 274 KB] meet
water quality standards and the goals established in the EFA, including
compliance with the phosphorus criterion established in
Rule 62-302.540, Florida Administrative Code .
The Long-Term Plan was developed to achieve compliance with the phosphorus as
set by the EFA.
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The Everglades Construction Project, developed by the State of Florida, is
one component of the Everglades Forever Act. The projects include but are not
limited to the construction of Stormwater Treatment Areas, Hydropattern
Restoration, Water Diversions, and other improvements.
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The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan is being implemented through a
50-50 state-federal partnership. The plan provides a
framework and guide to restore, protect and preserve the water resources of
central and southern Florida, including the Everglades. During the planning
process, 16 counties over an 18,000-square-mile area were considered for
restoration activities. The goal of CERP is to capture 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 benefit cities and farmers by enhancing water supplies
for South Florida.
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In 2004, the state of Florida launched an ambitious
plan to speed up the design, funding and construction on eight key restoration
projects. By accelerating these projects, the Everglades will experience
positive benefits a decade ahead of schedule.
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Announced in October 2005, LOER is an action plan developed to help restore
the ecological health of Lake Okeechobee and the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee
Estuaries. Key state agencies charged with carrying out this plan include the
South Florida Water Management District, the Florida Department of Environmental
Protection, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
and the Florida Department of Community Affairs.
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Passed by the 2000 Florida Legislature, the Lake Okeechobee Protection Act
(Sec. 373.4595, Florida Statutes) required that by January 1, 2004, the South
Florida Water Management District, in cooperation with Florida
Department of Environmental Protection and Florida Department of Agriculture and
Consumer Services, shall complete the Lake Okeechobee Protection Plan.
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The Lake Okeechobee Protection Plan was developed by the cooperating state
agencies to outline strategies to reduce phosphorus loading to the lake and to
meet the Total Maximum Daily Load. The Lake Okeechobee Protection Act and the
Plan identify the need to implement Best Managed Practices and construct large
regional facilities to capture phosphorus. This Plan contains an implementation
schedule for subsequent phases of phosphorus load reduction consistent with the
total maximum daily loads.
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Between 1962-71, the meandering Kissimmee River and flanking floodplain were
channelized into a 30 foot deep central drainage canal to accommodate a
population increase and the desire for productive agricultural land, which is
compartmentalized with levees and dam-like water control structures into a
series of five relatively stagnant pools. The impacts of channelizing the river
were great and prompted over 20 years of state and federally mandated
restoration related studies, which culminated in the development of a
restoration plan. The KRR Project was authorized by Congress in the
1992 Water Resources Development Act. The state of Florida purchased the
land and the
U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers
is executing the construction. When complete, the project will restore over 40
square miles of river/floodplain ecosystem including 43 miles of meandering
river channel and 27,000 acres of wetlands. Currently, 11,000 acres have been
restored.
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Northwest Fork of Loxahatchee River Restoration
The Loxahatchee River is the southernmost tributary of the Indian River
Lagoon and includes the Northwest Fork of the Loxahatchee River, the first
nationally designated Wild and Scenic River in Florida. This historic watershed,
over 750 square miles, has been reduced by flood control basins and drainage
districts to approximately 277 square miles in southern Martin and northern Palm
Beach Counties. Together, Department of Environmental Protects, South Florida
Water Management District,
Jonathan Dickinson State Park
and the
Loxahatchee River District ,
with their partners, developed a Preferred Restoration Flow Scenario that
includes both dry and wet season hydrologic flow patterns and provides the
greatest ecological benefit to the freshwater river area and tidal flood basin
with minimal impacts to the downstream estuary plants and animals. The plan will
result in the recovery of freshwater habitat for the 7.5-mile federally
designated Wild and Scenic River.
For more information, please visit the
Loxahatchee River Preservation Initiative
and
RiverFirst .
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The Modified Water Deliveries Project project is an ecological restoration
project in South Florida designed to improve water delivery to Everglades
National Park. The completion of Mod Waters is required before the
implementation of portions of the
Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. Mod Waters is
being implemented by the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers.
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