FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  June 30, 2004
CONTACT: Randy Smith, (561) 682-6197
                  Linda Long, (850) 245-2112

Water Managers Continue Lake Okeechobee Restoration

--Stormwater Treatment Areas to improve water quality, provide flood protection--

OKEECHOBEE – Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Colleen M. Castille today joined water managers to break ground on close to a thousand acres of treatment marsh that will clean water flowing into Lake Okeechobee. The South Florida Water Management District and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are constructing reservoir assisted stormwater treatment areas north of the ‘big lake’ to improve water quality and provide flood protection to surrounding areas.

“Today marks another milestone in Florida’s commitment to improve water quality throughout the Everglades ecosystem,” said Secretary Castille. “Constructed wetlands are already bringing unprecedented environmental results in the Everglades. Replicating this success north of Okeechobee will improve water quality in the lake and protect downstream rivers and coastal estuaries.”

The heart of America’s Everglades, the Lake Okeechobee natural system begins in the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes and flows south into Florida Bay. Constructed marshes at Nubbin Slough and Taylor Creek will divert, clean and store water before it flows into the lake, enhancing water quality in both Lake Okeechobee and the River of Grass.

Part of the Lake Okeechobee Protection Plan, the $25 million state-federal project is expected to achieve a twenty fold reduction in phosphorus loads to America’s second largest freshwater lake. Capturing water in the treatment areas will also reduce harmful discharges of lake water to coastal estuaries.

Florida is operating more than 41,000 acres of constructed wetlands, using plants to naturally remove nutrients from water flowing into the River of Grass. Together with improved farming practices, Stormwater Treatment Areas have prevented nearly 1400 tons of phosphorus from entering the Everglades over the last decade.

Florida invested nearly $12 million to expand the 780-acre Nubbin Slough Stormwater Treatment Area and acquire land for the 190-acre Taylor Creek treatment marsh. This year, Governor Jeb Bush and the Florida Legislature set aside $100 million in cash to keep restoration of America’s Everglades ahead of schedule, and an additional $12.6 million to improve water quality in Lake Okeechobee. Since 2000, Governor Bush has committed more than $1 billion to clean up and restore the River of Grass.

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