Annual Permit Report for the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Project

2020 South Florida Environmental Report – Volume III Appendix 2-3

Appendix 2-3: Annual Permit Report for the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Project

Permit Report (May 1, 2018–April 30, 2019) Permit Number: 0271729

Bahram Charkhian

Contributors: Lucia Baldwin, Binhe Gu, Dallas Hazelton 1, Marissa Hodapp, and Jennifer Possley 2

SUMMARY Based on Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) permit reporting guidelines, Table 1 lists key permit-related information associated with this report. Table 2 lists the attachments included with this report. Table A-1 in Attachment A lists specific pages, figures, tables, and attachments where project status and annual reporting requirements are addressed. This annual report satisfies the reporting requirements specified in the permit.

Table 1. Key permit-related information.

Project Name: Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Project

Permit Number: 0271729-010

Issue and Expiration Dates: Issued: 2/13/2018; Expires 2/13/2023

Project Phase: Operation Permit Specific Condition 38 Requiring Annual Report: Reporting Period: May 1, 2018–April 30, 2019

Report Lead: Bahram Charkhian ([email protected], 561-682-2284)

Permit Coordinator: Marissa Hodapp ([email protected], 561-682-6921)

1 Natural Areas Management, Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces Department, Miami-Dade County, Miami, Florida. 2 Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Coral Gables, Florida.

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Table 2. Attachments included with this report.

Attachment Title

A Specific Conditions and Cross- References

B Water Quality and Mercury Data

C Hydrologic Data

Summary of Water Quality in Nearshore Biscayne Bay Waters in the L-31E Canal Area D during WY2019 and Comparisons with Florida Class III Criteria for Marine Waters

a. WY2019 – Water Year 2019 (May 1, 2018–April 30, 2019). b. TN – total nitrogen; TP – total phosphorus; and FWMC – flow-weighted mean concentrations.

PROJECT STATUS During Water Year 2019 (WY2019; May 1, 2018–April 30, 2019), routine compliance monitoring of water quality and ecological parameters was conducted for the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands (BBCW) project. Short-term hydrologic improvements continued to be realized, as described in Conclusions Regarding Project Success and other sections of this report. Staff from Miami-Dade County, Biscayne Bay National Park, Deering Estate Park, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, and Florida International University contributed to project efforts. Canal freshwater input to the bay, especially through the L-31E Culverts, had low percent dissolved oxygen (DO) saturation and elevated concentrations of total nitrogen and nitrogen species in WY2019. Low percent DO saturation is a frequent occurrence in South Florida canals, which might be related to stagnant or low flow of fresh water. Delivering adequate fresh water to the wetlands east of the L-31E Canal has been a continuous challenge for SFWMD due to the unavailability of enough fresh water to be diverted for the project. Nevertheless, water quality results for nearshore Biscayne Bay monitoring stations indicate there were no excursions of the Class III marine waters criteria during WY2019, except for percent DO saturation at station MW01. Additionally, there were no excursions of the Class III freshwater criteria for the Deering Estate component. Biscayne Bay waters have been under Numeric Nutrient Criteria (NNC) since July 2, 2012 (62302.532(1)(h)6, Florida Administrative Code [F.A.C.]). These criteria establish maximum acceptable values for the annual geometric mean of total phosphorous and total nitrogen. During the last six years, including WY2019, total phosphorus in nearshore Biscayne Bay waters was below the NNC, indicating that increased freshwater input to the bay has not increased total phosphorus concentrations. However, elevated levels of total nitrogen and nitrogen species at the L-31E culverts may have contributed to increased nitrogen levels at station BB53, where the annual geometric mean for WY2019 was greater than the NNC criterion. Moreover, nitrogen showed a statistically significant increasing trend at both the L-31E Culverts component and the Deering Estate component. During WY2019, 174,624 acre-feet (ac-ft) (dry season: 56,831 ac-ft; wet season: 117,793 ac-ft) and 84,043 ac-ft (dry season: 34,188 ac-ft; wet season: 49,855 ac-ft) of fresh water was discharged to Biscayne Bay through coastal structures S-20F and S-21A, respectively. Interim electric pump (S-709) was in operation from June 2017 through March 2019; the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) operated the pump on a daily basis for 24 hours a day. The pumping maintained the L-31E Canal stage at an optimal level of approximately 2.2 feet National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (ft NGVD29), allowing fresh water to be diverted through the L-31E Culverts on the east side of the L-31E Canal. This diversion delivered fresh water in the form of sheetflow and rehydrated historical tidal creeks on the east side of the L-31E Canal between the Military and C-103 canals. During WY2019, 23,209 ac-ft (dry season: 11,222 ac-ft; wet season: 11,987 ac-ft) of fresh water was diverted from point-source discharges (C-103

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Canal) via interim electric pump S-709, the L-31E Canal, and the L-31E Culverts in the form of sheetflow to the L-31E coastal wetlands and Biscayne Bay. In WY2019, 17,192 ac-ft (dry season: 7,659 ac-ft; wet season: 9,533 ac-ft) of fresh water was diverted as sheetflow from the C-102 and C-103 canals via the L-31E Canal and the L-31E Culverts to the freshwater and saltwater wetlands east of the L-31E levee and to nearshore Biscayne Bay. Results of the pilot pump test will be summarized in a separate report and submitted to FDEP. In WY2019, the hydroperiod (the length of time and portion of the water year the wetlands hold ponded water) for the portion of the L-31E coastal wetlands near interim electric pump S-709 was 35 weeks. During this reporting period, SFWMD completed construction of four new culverts along L-31E Canal to divert freshwater in form of sheetflow to the coastal wetlands and Biscayne Bay. These culverts became operational in October 2018. Annual vegetation monitoring at the L-31E Culverts during WY2019 did not reveal any significant changes in composition and cover along the transects downstream of culvert S-23D. SFWMD conducted an experiment in the Deering Estate component comparing pulse releases versus continuous pumping under different pumping rates (25 to 100 cubic feet per second [cfs]) in WY2017. Based on the results of this experiment, SFWMD recommended changing the timing of Deering Estate pump station (S-700) releases from pulsed to continuous operation at a minimum volume of 25 cfs to keep the wetland hydrated and provide a steady, low volume flow to the coast. This recommendation was approved through the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) Restoration Coordination and Verification Program (RECOVER) adaptive management process in WY2017 and by FDEP in WY2019, after which SFWMD implemented the change, which helped keep the Deering Estate wetlands hydrated during the remainder of the water year. In WY2019, wetland stage and inundation increased in freshwater and coastal wetlands, and the distribution of available water improved for this area. Since December 2012, over 107,018 ac-ft of available water has been diverted from the C-100 Canal via the Deering Estate component. During WY2019, S-700 diverted approximately 24,886 ac-ft (dry season: 12,314 ac-ft; wet season: 12,572 ac-ft) of fresh water from the C-100 Canal in the form of sheet flow to the historic remnant wetlands near Cutler Creek east of Old Cutler Road. The WY2019 daily average discharge through S-700 during the dry season (November–April) was 68 ac-ft, compared to the WY2018 dry season daily average discharge through S-700 of 48 ac-ft. The WY2019 daily average discharge through S-700 during the wet season (May–October) was 68 ac-ft, compared to the WY2018 wet season daily average discharge through S-700 of 46 ac-ft. In WY2019, the hydroperiod for the Deering Estate wetlands was 36 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS REGARDING PROJECT SUCCESS Comparison of monitoring data collected during the last eight years with previous baseline data indicates the project is trending towards achieving project goals. Point source freshwater discharges have been reduced. Monitoring results clearly demonstrate improved hydrologic conditions in response to operation of the Deering Estate pump station (S-700) and the L-31E interim electric pump (S-709). During this reporting period, sawgrass recruitment was observed east of the L-31E Canal within the coastal wetlands. An increased abundance of various bird species, amphibians, invertebrates, and fish was also observed in WY2019. Overall, these results demonstrate that the BBCW project is achieving short- term hydrologic improvements and early restoration benefits are being realized.

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PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED

L-31E Culverts Delivering adequate fresh water to wetlands east of the L-31E Canal through the L-31E Culverts has been a continuous challenge for SFWMD due to the unavailability of enough fresh water to be diverted for the project. Additional fresh water would improve and enhance performance of this component of the project.

ACTIONS TO ADDRESS PROBLEMS

L-31E Culverts During the reporting period, SFWMD completed construction of four culverts (S-706A, S-706B, S-706C, and S-708) along the L-31E Canal, and the culverts became operational in October 2018. Additionally, the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) completed construction of two culverts (S-712A and S-712B) and they also became operational in WY2019; this work was authorized under a Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan Regulation Act (CERPRA) permit (0344004-001) issued to USACE by FDEP, and permit mandated monitoring required under the USACE permit has been included in this report. These culverts allow additional fresh water from the canal to be diverted to the coastal wetlands and Biscayne Bay The interim electric pump authorized under permit 0271729-009 was in operation from June 2017 through March 2019. SFWMD is currently evaluating installation of another interim electric pump at the intersection of the L-31E and C-102 canals to pump available freshwater from the C-102 south into L-31E. The additional interim pump operations would raise the stage in the L-31E Canal and increase the available fresh water that can be diverted through the L-31E Culverts to the coastal wetlands and Biscayne Bay to enhance restoration benefits. It is anticipated that USACE will initiate the L-31E Flow-way, S-709 pump station phase of the project in WY2020. This phase includes the construction of a permanent 40 cfs pump station (S-709) and replacement of the existing culvert in the pump station footprint. The purpose of the pump station is to rehydrate coastal wetlands east of the L-31E levee, where discharges can be made through existing culvert PC-01 at C-103, maintaining an optimal tailwater stage of 0.68 ft NAVD88 in the L-31E canal.

INTRODUCTION

PROJECT OVERVIEW The BBCW project was designed to address issues with nearshore hypersalinity and coastal wetlands degradation by restoring more natural patterns of freshwater delivery into Biscayne Bay. By rehydrating coastal wetlands and reducing point-source freshwater discharges, the project will improve nearshore substrate and fish habitats, which have been stressed by high salinities in the dry season, and reduce excessive freshwater outflow during the rainy season. The project will accomplish these goals by redirecting fresh water that had been discharged directly and rapidly to the bay through man-made canals to spreaders in coastal wetlands adjacent to the bay that are currently bypassed by the canals. This will help restore freshwater and saltwater wetlands, reestablish more natural salinity, and provide a more productive nearshore nursery habitat.

Project Purpose and Benefits The Water Resources Development Act of 2000, Section 601(b)(1)(A), authorized CERP as the framework for restoration of the South Florida ecosystem. The BBCW Phase I project is a component

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of CERP, conducted in partnership between USACE and SFWMD and authorized under Section 7002(5)(5) of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014. The project, located in southeast Miami- Dade County, incorporates the Deering Estate, the Cutler Wetlands, the L-31E Flow-way/North Canal, and recreational features. Biscayne Bay, a shallow estuarine lagoon extending nearly the entire length of Miami-Dade County in southeastern Florida, is home to over 500 species of fish and other marine organisms. A large area of the south-central portion of Biscayne Bay is contained within Biscayne National Park, the largest marine park in the national park system; 95% of its 172,000 acres is underwater. The park contains four distinct ecosystems: Biscayne Bay, the mangroves along the shore, the coral limestone keys, and the offshore Florida Reef. The longest stretch of mangrove forest remaining on Florida’s eastern seaboard occurs within Biscayne Bay. Extensive areas of seagrasses in Biscayne Bay serve as an important food source for the endangered Florida manatee and as nursery areas for many ecologically and commercially important estuarine species, such as shrimp, crabs, lobster, and sponges. The purpose of the BBCW project is to rehydrate coastal wetlands and reduce abrupt point-source freshwater discharge to Biscayne Bay and Biscayne National Park that are physiologically stressful to fish and benthic invertebrates in the bay near canal outlets. The BBCW project will restore wetland and estuarine habitats, and divert an average of 59% of the annual coastal structure discharge into freshwater and saltwater wetlands instead of direct discharges to Biscayne Bay and Biscayne National Park. As stated in the project implementation report, project objectives include capturing freshwater runoff from the watershed into Biscayne Bay (USACE and SFWMD 2012). This freshwater runoff will be redistributed in the form of sheetflow through the historical freshwater and tidal wetlands to moderate point- source canal discharges and to do the following:  Improve freshwater and estuarine habitat.  Improve salinity distribution and reestablish productive nursery habitat along the shoreline.  Restore the quantity, quality, timing, and distribution of fresh water to Biscayne Bay and Biscayne National Park.  Preserve and restore the spatial extent of natural coastal glades habitat within the BBCW project study area. In addition to providing these anticipated benefits, the BBCW Phase 1 project will maintain the current level of flood protection within the drainage basin.

Project Description The BBCW Phase 1 project is the first CERP project constructed with direct benefit to Biscayne National Park and Biscayne Bay in Miami-Dade County. Due to the important benefits of this project, and because SFWMD had secured most of the land required for construction and implementation of the project, SFWMD moved forward with expedited design and construction prior to congressional authorization of Phase 1. The project encompasses a footprint of approximately 3,761 acres and includes three components: The L-31E Culverts, Deering Estate, and Cutler Wetlands (Figure 1). The project is essential to achieving restoration of tidal wetlands and nearshore habitats within Biscayne Bay, including Biscayne National Park. CERPRA permit 0271729, issued by FDEP, authorized SFWMD to construct and operate the L-31E Culverts and Deering Estate components. This report satisfies Specific Condition 38 of the permit, which requires SFWMD to submit an annual report to FDEP detailing the progress of the BBCW project, and to incorporate it into the South Florida Environmental Report.

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L-31E CULVERTS The L-31E Culverts component is in Miami-Dade County between the C-102 and C-103 canals (Sections 4, 9, 28, 33, and Township 56 South Range 40 East and Township 57 South Range 40 East). The component’s goal is to reestablish, at least in part, historical sheetflow and wetland hydroperiods downstream of the project area. This component may also provide the additional benefit of mitigating impacts of discharging fresh water via the existing canals. The component is expected to achieve its objectives by redirecting flow that was historically discharged through structures S-21A, S-20F, and S-20G. This flow is now discharged into the coastal wetlands east of the L-31E levee, along Biscayne Bay, via four flap-gated culverts: S-23A, S-23B, S-23C, and S-23D (Figure 2). Construction of the culverts began on January 11, 2010, and was completed on June 10, 2010. USACE completed construction of two culverts (S-712A and S-712B) and they became operational in WY2019; this work was authorized under a CERPRA permit (0344004-001) issued to USACE by FDEP, and permit mandated monitoring required under the USACE permit has been included in this report. In WY2018, SFWMD obtained a permit modification (0271729-010) and initiated construction of the four remaining culverts (S-706A, S-706B, S-706C, and S-708) along the L-31E Canal to divert fresh water from the L-31E Canal to the L-31E coastal wetlands and Biscayne Bay. SFWMD completed construction of the four culverts during the reporting period, and they became operational in October 2018.

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Figure 1. Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Phase 1 features.

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Figure 2. L-31E component features.

L-31E INTERIM ELECTRIC PUMP (S-709) On July 18, 2014, authorization for the construction and operation of the initial L-31E Culverts Pilot Pump Test Phase of the project was issued through FDEP permit 0271729-007. On September 11, 2015, authorization for modifications to the construction and operation of the L-31E Culverts interim electric pump (S-709) was issued through FDEP permit 0271729-009. See Figure 3 for a map of the monitoring stations associated with the L-31E interim electric pump (S-709).

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The L-31E interim electric pump includes the installation and operations of a 40-cfs temporary electric pump and associated infrastructure. Since WY2018, the L-31E Canal reach between the Military and C-103 canals was isolated by the installation of flashboard risers at culverts PC-01 and PC-18. From June 2017 through March 2019, SFWMD initiated operation of the L-31E interim electric pump to raise and maintain the stage in this portion of the L-31E Canal to the optimal level of 2.2 ft NGVD29 (wet season canal stage levels) (Figure 3). This allowed water in this portion of the canal to be diverted in the form of sheet flow to the L-31E coastal wetlands and Biscayne Bay. The L-31E interim pump operates year-round as long as excess fresh water is available to be diverted.

Figure 3. L-31E Interim electric pump features and monitoring locations.

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DEERING ESTATE The Deering Estate component is in southeastern Miami-Dade County at 1580 Old Cutler Road, Palmetto Bay, Florida (Figure 4). This component included construction of a 500-foot extension of a spur canal off the C-100A Canal, a 100-cfs pump station with associated discharge piping, and an outlet spreader structure. Excluding the spreader structure, these components were constructed on a 9.7-acre tract referred to as the “Powers Addition Parcel”, located west of and adjacent to the Deering Estate. The Deering Estate component can redirect up to 100 cfs of water from the C-100A Canal system, through the C-100A spur canal into the Cutler Drain on the component site, and within the Deering Estate component, thus restoring a portion of the historic freshwater flow through the freshwater wetland and tidal wetland, and into Biscayne Bay (Figure 4). Final project completion of the S-700 pump station was in March 2012. Initial operational testing began in April 2012, water quality monitoring started in May 2012, and routine operation began in December 2012. Miami-Dade County and SFWMD are cooperating on this component with the following goals and benefits: • Redirection of up to 100 cfs of the existing point-source discharge from the S-123 structure by optimizing the capture and conveyance of fresh water from the C-100A spur canal to the coastal wetlands in the immediate vicinity of the Cutler Drain, east of Old Cutler Road. This will result in a small reduction in the point-source discharges at S-123. • Rehydration of the wetland region east of Old Cutler Road, and restoration of a more natural freshwater flow regime. • Improvement of the benefits of the Deering Estate component by construction of a one-acre expansion of the BBCW Deering Estate Charles Deering Education Wetlands. This was initiated and completed by Miami-Dade County in collaboration with SFWMD in May 2015.

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Figure 4. Deering Estate component features.

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PERMIT HISTORY The original CERPRA permit and all modifications issued to SFWMD are as follows: • 0271729-001, issued September 10, 2007, with an expiration date of September 10, 2012, is the original permit for the L-31E Culverts. • 0271729-002, issued May 23, 2008, with an expiration date of May 23, 2013, is a modification that included the Deering Estate component. • 0271729-003, issued January 11, 2007, is an exemption for a geotechnical survey for the Cutler component. • 0271729-004, is a permit application under review by FDEP for the BBCW Cutler Wetlands component. • 0271729-005, issued June 8, 2012, is a minor modification that updated the water quality monitoring requirements for the Deering Estate component and included minor changes to the permit language. • On August 9, 2013, FDEP approved a revised water quality monitoring plan eliminating pesticides and other toxicants monitoring in surface water and fish tissue. • 0271729-006, issued April 18, 2013, with an expiration date of April 18, 2018, is a minor modification that renewed the permit for five years. • 0271729-007, issued July 18, 2014, is a minor modification for the L-31E Pilot Pump Test. • 0271729-008, issued July 2, 2015, is a minor modification that allows direct total nitrogen analysis from a sample instead of the previous calculation of total nitrogen from total Kjeldahl nitrogen and nitrate + nitrite data. • 0271729-009, issued September 11, 2015, is a minor modification that extended the L-31E Pilot Pump Test for five years. • 027129-010, issued February 13, 2018, with an expiration date of February 13, 2023, is a major modification that renewed the permit for five years and authorized construction of four culverts along L-31E canal.

WATER QUALITY MONITORING SUMMARY This section summarizes results of water quality monitoring activities conducted during WY2019 for the BBCW project. All monitoring activities were performed in accordance with Section 62-160, F.A.C., the water quality monitoring plan (SFWMD 2018) associated with the permit, and SFWMD’s Field Sampling Quality Manual (SFWMD 2017). Parameters analyzed by the SFWMD laboratory followed the Chemistry Laboratory Quality Manual (SFWMD 2019). Water quality data for the reporting period are provided in Attachment B.

STATISTICAL METHODOLOGY The current analysis assesses water quality in Biscayne Bay nearshore L-31E Canal waters as well as water quality of freshwater input into Biscayne Bay at the Deering Estate pump station. The first purpose of the analysis is to evaluate the water quality parameters during WY2019 by calculating basic statistics (i.e., minimums, maximums, means, medians, etc.) of parameter values for the water year, and comparing measured values with Class III marine or freshwater criteria (62-302.530, F.A.C.), where applicable.

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The second purpose of the analysis is to evaluate temporal trends of water quality parameters in the two areas. To evaluate water quality input and in nearshore waters over time, temporal water quality trends were assessed using the Seasonal Kendall-Tau test. The Seasonal Kendall-Tau test is a nonparametric method for detecting long-term trends in time-series data while considering inherent seasonal variability and providing adjusted significance (p-values) when statistically significant autocorrelation exists among time series values. Results of the Seasonal Kendall-Tau test are presented as Sen’s slopes and probability values (p-values) for each parameter and station. Sen’s slope is an estimate of the annual trend of the time series, while p-value determines the statistical significance of the trend when compared to the chosen significance level. A significance level of α = 0.05 was used for the Seasonal Kendall-Tau test. Therefore, if the p-value is less than 0.05, the trend is considered statistically significant. The third purpose of the analysis, applicable to Biscayne Bay nearshore L-31E Canal waters, is to determine if there are differences in spatial distribution of the water quality parameters. In other words, it is to evaluate differences in water quality parameter data sets between stations BB53, MI01, MW01, and PR01. Comparisons between stations were performed using box plots for data sets measured during the entire POR.

Notched Box Plot Comparisons A notched box plot is a way of displaying the distribution of a set of data. Each plot shows the annual median, the 95% confidence interval around the median, the 75th and 25th percentiles, and the range (minimum and maximum values) (Figure 5). When a notched box plot appears to be folded over, the overlap means that the 95% confidence limits for the median exceed the 25th or 75th percentile, or both, which is indicative of highly variable data.

Figure 5. Description of notched box plots used in this report. (Note: IQR = interquartile range, which is Q75–Q25, and StDev = standard deviation. The red dot represents the arithmetic mean.)

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L-31E CULVERTS

Conditions During WY2019 During WY2019, monthly water quality samples were collected at stations BB53, MI01, MW01, and PR01, to evaluate the condition of nearshore Biscayne Bay waters in the L-31E Canal area (Figure 6). Station BB53 is in saline bay waters, stations MI01, MW01, and PR01, are located at the mouth of freshwater inputs to the bay through the Military, C-103, and C-102 canals, respectively.

Figure 6. Water quality monitoring stations for the BBCW L-31E Culverts component.

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Parameters measured in situ (DO, pH, salinity, specific conductance, and temperature), followed by parameters collected by grab and analyzed in the laboratory (ammonia, color, nitrate + nitrite, total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and total suspended solids) are listed in Table D-1 (Attachment D). Table D-1, in Attachment D, presents basic statistics of water quality parameters by station for WY2019. Where applicable, Table D-1 presents comparisons of parameter values with Class III marine criteria. During WY2019, there were no exceedances of Class III marine water criteria for any parameter except percent DO saturation at station MW01, which had an excursion rate of 17%. Station BB53 borders the Biscayne Bay South Central Inshore region, which has been subject to the Numeric Nutrient Criteria (NNC) since July 2, 2012. Under these criteria, the annual geometric mean of sampled concentrations should not exceed 0.007 milligrams per liter (mg/L) for TP and 0.48 for TN (62-302.532(1)(h)6, F.A.C.). The WY2019 annual geometric mean TP concentration at BB53 was 0.007 mg/L, which does not exceed the criterion. The WY2019 annual geometric mean TN concentration at BB53 was 1.18 mg/L, which is above the criterion.

System Changes Over Time In addition to the assessing the quality of Biscayne Bay nearshore L-31E canal waters for WY2019, this analysis includes an evaluation of the system’s temporal dynamics. Parameter changes over time at each station were analyzed using the Seasonal Kendall-Tau test. The results are presented as Sen’s slopes and p-values in Table 3, which lists parameters measured in situ followed by parameters sampled through grab and measured in the laboratory.

Table 3. Seasonal Kendall-Tau results for water quality parameters by station in nearshore Biscayne Bay waters in the L-31E Canal area for WY2014–WY2019. (Note: p-values less than 0.05 indicate a statistically significant trend and are shown in red.)

BB53 MI01 MW01 PR01 Parameter Unit a Sen’s Slope p-value Sen’s Slope p-value Sen’s Slope p-value Sen’s Slope p-value Dissolved Oxygen % 0% 0.814 2% 0.023 -1% 0.618 3% 0.019 Percent Saturation pH -0.03 0.040 0.00 0.369 -0.01 0.196 0.01 0.383 Salinity -0.1 1.000 -0.2 0.580 -0.2 0.745 0.8 0.423 Specific Conductance µS/cm -54 1.000 -271 0.536 -192 0.704 1146 0.492 Temperature °C 0.1 0.646 -0.1 0.328 0.0 0.622 0.1 0.818 Color PCU -1.5 0.008 -2.7 0.000 -1.8 0.000 -1.1 0.017 Total Ammonia Nitrogen mg/L -0.01 0.066 0.00 0.290 0.00 0.693 0.00 0.458 Nitrate + Nitrite mg/L 0.051 0.003 0.018 0.051 -0.003 0.957 0.094 0.196 Total Nitrogen mg/L 0.06 0.018 0.02 0.415 0.00 0.753 0.06 0.521 Total Phosphorus mg/L 0.000 0.016 0.000 1.000 0.000 0.088 0.001 0.018 Total Suspended Solids mg/L 0.0 0.356 -0.9 0.445 -0.5 0.607 0.0 0.332 a. Key to units: % - percent; °C – degrees Celsius; μS/cm – microsiemens per centimeter; mg/L – milligrams per liter; and PCU – platinum-cobalt units.

Statistically significant trends, observed from WY2014–WY2019, have associated Sen’s slope values in the order of magnitude of sonde precision for parameters measured in situ, and of the method detection limit (MDL) for parameters measured in the laboratory. Such Sen’s slope values are at the noise level and may or may not have ecological significance, based on factors different than statistical significance. For data sets with a small variability range, such as pH, even a small Sen’s slope might appear statistically significant (p-value < 0.05) by comparison to the data set variability.

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A statistically significant increase in percent DO saturation of 2 to 3% was observed at stations MI01 and PR01, respectively. There was statistically significant decrease in pH at station BB53, however the change was below the accuracy level of the probe (pH 0.2). A statistically significant decrease in color occurred at all stations shown in Table 3. The annual decreases between 3 PCU and 1 PCU are the same order of magnitude as the MDL for color (3 to 5 PCU). Color variations could merely represent inflow water changes and may be so small that they are environmentally irrelevant. Statistically significant increases were observed for nitrate + nitrite and total nitrogen at station BB53. The District is working with Miami-Dade County on investigating and resolving the causes of these increases at BB53. There were practically no increases in TP values at any station listed in Table 3; the statistically significant increase of 0.001 mg/L at station PR01 is below the TP MDL (0.002 mg/L). To determine persistent spatial variability in parameter values from station to station, notched box plot comparisons among stations by nearshore location and by parameter are presented in Figure 7 for parameters measured in situ, and in Figure 8 for parameters sampled by grab and measured in the laboratory. For Biscayne Bay nearshore L-31E canal waters, ammonia, nitrate + nitrite, and TN had the largest values at station PR01 during WY2014–WY2018, as well as during WY2019.

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9.0 160 WY2014 - WY2018 WY2019 8.5 120

pH 8.0 80

7.5 40 % Dissolved% Saturation Oxygen 7.0 0 BB53 MI 01 MW01 PR01 BB53 MI 01 MW01 PR01 50 70,000

60,000 40 50,000

30 40,000

Salinity 20 30,000 20,000 10 10,000 Specific Conductivity (µS/cm) Conductivity Specific 0 0 BB53 MI 01 MW01 PR01 BB53 MI 01 MW01 PR01 40

20 Water Temperature (°C) Temperature Water

10 BB53 MI 01 MW01 PR01

Figure 7. Notched box plot comparisons of in situ water quality parameters at stations BB53, MI01, MW01, and PR01 for WY2014–WY2018 and WY2019.

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4.0 4.0 WY2014 - WY2018 WY2019 3.0 3.0

2.0 2.0

1.0 1.0 Total Nitrogen (mg/L) Nitrate Nitrite + (mg/L)

0.0 0.0 BB53 MI 01 MW01 PR01 BB53 MI 01 MW01 PR01 0.3 80

60 0.2 50

30 0.1 Ammonia (mg/L) Ammonia 20

10 TotalSolids Suspended (mg/L) 0.0 0 BB53 MI 01 MW01 PR01 BB53 MI 01 MW01 PR01 40 0.09 0.08

30 0.07 0.06 0.05 20 0.04

Color (PCU) 0.03 10 0.02 Total Phosphorus (mg/L) 0.01 0 0.00 BB53 MI 01 MW01 PR01 BB53 MI 01 MW01 PR01

Figure 8. Notched box plot comparisons of lab analyzed water quality parameters at stations BB53, MI01, MW01, and PR01 for WY2014–WY2018 and WY2019.

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DEERING ESTATE Water quality parameters collected at the S-700 pump station (Figure 4) during WY2019 were analyzed to evaluate the water quality of freshwater input into Biscayne Bay at the Deering Estate pump station during the water year. Additionally, water quality parameters for WY2014–WY2019 have been analyzed to determine trends.

Conditions During WY2019 Basic statistics of water quality parameters for WY2019 and comparisons with Class III freshwater criteria (62-302.530, F.A.C.), where applicable, are presented in Table 4. During WY2019, all parameters sampled at S700 pump station met the Class III freshwater criteria.

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Table 4. Statistical summary of water quality parameters measured at the S-700 pump station in WY2019 and comparisons with Florida Class III freshwater criteria for applicable parameters.

a Class III Criteria Geometric Standard b c Number of Percent Parameter Units Samples Mean Minimum Q25 Median Q75 Maximum for Fresh water Mean Deviation Excursions Excursions

PHYSICAL PARAMETERS

Dissolved Oxygen % See footnote d 25 52% 54% 15% 29% 44% 52% 58% 91% 1 4% Percent Saturation

pH 6 < pH ≤ 8.5 25 7.4 7.4 0.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.4 7.6 0 0%

Specific Conductance µS/cm < 1,275 µS/cm 25 583 583 19 561 568 578 595 634 0 0%

Temperature °C None 25 26.7 26.8 2.4 21.6 25.1 27.2 28.8 30.5 NA e NA

CHEMICAL PARAMETERS

Total Ammonia Nitrogen mg/L See footnote f 25 0.018 0.023 0.016 0.005 0.009 0.022 0.035 0.059 0 0%

Total Nitrogen mg/L None 25 0.52 0.54 0.13 0.34 0.42 0.57 0.64 0.77 NA NA

Total Phosphorus mg/L None 25 0.011 0.012 0.002 0.007 0.01 0.011 0.013 0.016 NA NA a. Key to units: % – percent; °C – degrees Celsius; μS/cm – microsiemens per centimeter; and mg/L – milligrams per liter. th b. Q25 – 25 quartile; 25% of the data lies below this value. th c. Q75 – 75 quartile; 75% of the data lies below this value. d. No more than 10% of daily average DO percent saturation values shall be below 38% in the Everglades Bioregion, or, for instantaneous data, no more than 10% of the DO percent saturation values shall be below the time-of-day specific translation. e. NA – Not applicable. f. 30-day average TAN value shall not exceed the average of the values calculated from the FDEP TAN equation, with no single value exceeding 2.5 times the value from the equation.

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System Changes Over Time The Seasonal Kendall-Tau test was used to estimate water quality trends at S-700. Results of this analysis are listed in Table 5.

Table 5. Seasonal Kendall-Tau results for water quality parameters measured at S-700 for WY2014–WY2019. (Note: p-values less than or equal to 0.05 indicate a statistically significant trend and are shown in red.)

Parameter Unit a Sen’s Slope p-value b

Dissolved Oxygen Percent Saturation % -4% < 0.001

pH 0.00 0.911

Specific Conductance µS/cm 5 0.175

Temperature °C 0.0 0.621

Total Ammonia Nitrogen mg/L 0.00 0.522

Total Nitrogen mg/L 0.02 0.003

Total Phosphorus mg/L -0.001 < 0.001

a. Key to units: % – percent; °C – degrees Celsius; μS/cm – microsiemens per centimeter; and mg/L – milligrams per liter. b. p-value – probability value.

From WY2014 through WY2019, statistically significant trends were observed for DO percent saturation, with a median decrease of 4% annually; for TN, with an annual increase of 0.02 mg/L; and for TP, with a decrease of 0.001 mg/L annually. These annual trends, though statistically significant, are very small. For TP, the Sen Slope is smaller than the laboratory MDL (0.002 mg/L). The median annual increase of 0.02 mg/L for TN in WY2014–WY2019 is close to the laboratory MDL (0.02 to 0.05 mg/L) and is therefore environmentally insignificant.

MERCURY MONITORING EVALUATION In accordance with Specific Condition 25 of the permit, SFWMD conducts mercury monitoring and evaluation for the BBCW project. In WY2019, mercury monitoring in BBCW was in Phase 2 – Tier 1: Monitoring during Stabilization and Routine Operational Period, based on A Protocol for Monitoring Mercury and Other Toxicants (FDEP and SFWMD 2018). Monitoring results for WY2019 are summarized in Table 6 and discussed below. Mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) were collected at S-700 on October 18, 2018, and April 4, 2019. Total mercury (THg) in the composite samples was 0.016 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) and 0.008 mg/kg, respectively. These values are well below the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) recommended methylmercury (MeHg) fish tissue criterion of 0.077 mg/kg for Trophic Level 3 fish. Four bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus) and two largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) were collected at S-700 on November 5, 2018. The total lengths of the bluegills (102 to 104 millimeters [mm]) were within the recommended size range (102 to 178 mm) specified in the Protocol. The THg concentration for the bluegills ranged from 0.010 to 0.017 mg/kg. These values are below the USEPA Trophic Level 3 (0.077 mg/kg) of MeHg for wildlife protection.

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The total lengths of bass (354 and 360 mm) were also within the Protocol’s recommended size range (307 to 385 mm). The THg concentration in bass was 0.223 and 0.242 mg/kg, respectively. These values are below the Trophic Level 4 fish MeHg criterion (0.346 mg/kg).

Table 6. THg concentrations in fish samples collected from BBCW station S700 in WY2019.

Species Date Total Length (mm) THg (mg/kg)

Mosquitofish 18-Oct-2018 NA a 0.016

Mosquitofish 4-Apr-2019 NA 0.008

Bluegill 5-Nov-2018 102 0.016

Bluegill 5-Nov-2018 102 0.017

Bluegill 5-Nov-2018 102 0.014

Bluegill 5-Nov-2018 104 0.010

Largemouth bass 5-Nov-2018 354 0.242

Largemouth bass 5-Nov-2018 360 0.223

a. NA – Not applicable; length is not required or measured for mosquitofish.

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OPERATIONS This section includes information about BBCW project operations and associated hydrologic monitoring results, including summaries of stage, flow, and details about the L-31E Culverts Pilot Pump Test. Stage and flow data are essential for gauging the success of the project toward its goals to restore the quantity, quality, timing, and distribution of fresh water to Biscayne Bay and Biscayne National Park, and to preserve and restore the spatial extent of natural coastal glades habitat within the project area. Hydrologic data for WY2019 are provided in Attachment C.

L-31E INTERIM ELECTRIC PUMP (S-709) L-31E interim pump (S-709) operations were conducted from August 2017 though March 2019 (Figure 9) on a daily basis for 24 hours a day. The pumping maintained the L-31E Canal stage at an optimal level of approximately 2.2 ft NGVD29, allowing fresh water to be diverted through culverts S-23C and S-23D on the east side of the L-31E Canal and sheet flow to the historical tidal creeks of the coastal wetlands and to Biscayne Bay.

Figure 9. L-31E Flow-way interim electric pump S-709 features. A. Intake pump; B. Pump discharge; and C. Aerial view of interim electric pump including coastal structure S-20F (“E” indicates east).

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L-31E CULVERTS

Flow The L-31E Culverts are passive, flap-gated devices designed to divert available fresh water from the L-31E Canal into adjacent wetlands. Because of the proximity of the culverts to the structures and because of the frequent stage measurements at the structures, daily flow rates for culverts S-23A, S-23B, S-706A, S-706B, and S-706C were based on mean daily stages at structure S-21A, while daily flow rates for culverts S-23C, S-23D, and S-708 were based on mean daily stages at telemetry stage recorder S-709 inside the L-31E Canal, and daily flow rates for culverts S-712A and S-712B were based on a mean daily stages at structure S-20F. More specifically, the mean daily flow rates at each of the ten culverts were derived by manually entering the mean daily stage at the physically closest structure (S-21A, S-20F, and S-709 stage recorder) into the design rating curve and identifying the corresponding flow rate. Figure 10 shows views near culvert S-708 and newly replaced FPL culverts in the western side of the L-31E canal.

Figure 10. A. and B. BBCW L-31E culvert S-708, facing downstream (A) and upstream (B) of the culvert; C. FPL replaced culverts in the western side of the L-31E Canal.

In WY2019, 174,624 ac-ft (dry season: 56,831 ac-ft; wet season: 117,793 ac-ft) and 84,043 ac-ft (dry season: 34,188 ac-ft; wet season: 49,855 ac-ft) of fresh water was discharged to Biscayne Bay through S-20F and S-21A, respectively (Figures 11 and 12). The total volume of fresh water diverted in WY2019 was lower than that diverted during WY2018.

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160,000

140,000

120,000

ft) 100,000 147,580 -

80,000 117,793 118,365 115,461 Flow (ac 60,000 110,070 83,254 94,140 84,775 40,000 68,872 61,162 69,550 59,288 56,744 44,435 56,831 20,000 43,779 39,000 42,184

Figure 11. Comparison of total flow through coastal structure S-20F. (Note: Dry season is November–April and wet season is May–October.)

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80,000

70,000

60,000

50,000 ft) - 75,066 40,000 62,080 67,091 Flow (ac 64,846

30,000 63,408 49,855

20,000 35,043 38,508 34,188 38,917 36,058 31,987 31,356 30,851 29,777

10,000 23,711 21,473 20,866

Figure 12. Comparison of total flow through coastal structure S-21A. (Note: Dry season is November–April and wet season is May–October.)

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The average daily flow of fresh water to Biscayne Bay through S-20F and S-21A for WY2011 to WY2019 is summarized in Figures 13 and 14. During WY2019, 17,192 ac-ft (dry season: 7,659 ac-ft; wet season: 9,533 ac-ft) of fresh water was diverted as sheetflow from the C-102 and C-103 canals via the L-31E Canal and L-31E Culverts to the freshwater and saltwater wetlands east of the L-31E levee and nearshore Biscayne Bay (Table 7). The project was unable to divert adequate fresh water through the L-31E Culverts to the historical tidal wetlands and Biscayne Bay due to the unavailability of water for the project through some of L-31E culverts in WY2019 (Table 7). During this reporting period, 23,209 ac-ft (dry season: 11,222 ac-ft; wet season: 11,987 ac-ft) of fresh water was diverted from point-source discharges (C-103 Canal) via the interim electric pump S-709, L-31E Canal, and the L-31E Culverts in the form of sheetflow to the L-31E coastal wetlands and Biscayne Bay (Table 7 and Figure 15). The pumping maintained the L-31E Canal stage at an optimal level of approximately 2.2 ft NGVD, allowing fresh water to be diverted through the culverts to the east side of the L-31E Canal. The interim pump improved the quality, quantity, timing, and distribution of fresh water to the coastal wetlands and Biscayne Bay and minimized point-source discharges by diverting freshwater flow through the L-31E Culverts.

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900

800

700

600 ft) 802 - 500 640 628 643 400 605 Flow (ac

300 461 452 512 381 378 338 326 200 314 314 245 233 238 215 100

Figure 13. Comparison of average daily flow through coastal structure S-20F. (Note: Dry season is November–April and wet season is May–October.)

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450

400

350

300 ft) 408 - 250 352 365 348 200 337 Flow (ac 271 150 224 212 213 196 189 173 177 100 168 165 130 119 50 115

Figure 14. Comparison of average daily flow through coastal structure S-21A. (Note: Dry season is November–April and wet season is May–October.)

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Table 7. Fresh water (ac-ft) diverted from the L-31E Canal via the L-31E Culverts to wetlands east of the L-31E levee in WY2019. (Note: The yellow highlighted areas show the increased flows through the L-31E Culverts during S-709 interim electric pump test operations.)

Total Total flow Total flow Total flow Total flow Total freshwater flow Percent of discharge through through diverted Available

coastal diverted through available Month S-23D S-23C S-708 S-712A S-712B S-23A S-23B S-706A S-706B S-706C through interim coastal through S-21A, fresh water structure L-31E culverts, S-21A, fresh water L-31E electric pump structure S-20F, and diverted a S-20F S-20F, and S-709 diverted b culverts S-709 * S-21A S-709

May 2018 835 635 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,629 3,064 21,095 10,051 80,530 82,159 0.02 5%

Jun. 2018 835 635 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,198 2,876 22,731 8,307 33,914 35,112 0.03 3%

Jul. 2018 832 607 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 165 2,921 21,527 10,078 34,527 34,692 0.00 0%

Aug. 2018 855 639 0 319 0 21 105 130 130 111 1,914 3,007 17,705 7,524 28,237 30,151 0.06 6%

Wet Season Sep. 2018 687 418 0 432 0 155 261 271 271 267 2,798 0 24,964 7,932 32,896 35,694 0.08 8%

Oct. 2018 355 247 264 364 0 70 177 178 178 165 1,829 119 9,770 5,963 15,852 17,681 0.10 10%

Total 4,399 3,181 264 1,115 0 246 544 578 578 543 9,533 11,987 117,793 49,855 179,635 235,488

Nov. 2018 479 359 406 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,244 1,789 9,608 5,963 17,359 18,603 0.07 7%

Dec. 2018 663 485 550 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,698 2,457 12,090 6,445 20,991 22,689 0.07 7%

Jan. 2019 848 634 658 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2,140 3,110 10,374 6,248 19,732 21,872 0.10 10%

Feb. 2019 627 467 470 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,564 2,320 10,625 6,191 19,136 20,700 0.08 8%

Dry Season Mar. 2019 426 291 296 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,014 1,546 7,857 5,285 14,687 15,701 0.06 6%

Apr. 2019 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6,278 3,910 10,188 10,188 0.00 0%

Total 3,043 2,236 2,381 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7,659 11,222 56,831 34,040 102,093 109,752

* The L-31E flow-way interim electric pump (S-709) began full operations in August 2017 and continued through March 2019. a. Available Water Diverted = Total Flow through the four L-31E culverts / Total flow from coastal structures S-20F, S-21A, and S-709 through the L-31E Culverts. b. Percent Water Diverted = Available Water Diverted x 100.

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18,000

16,000

14,000

12,000 17,619 ft) - 10,000 11,987

8,000 11,222 Flow (ac 6,000

4,000

2,000 4,478

0 WY2018 WY2018 WY2019 WY2019 Wet Season Dry Season Wet Season Dry Season Figure 15. Comparison of total flow through interim electric pump S-709 in WY2018 and WY2019. (Note: Dry season is November–April and wet season is May–October.)

Water Levels

L-31E Culverts Stages During operation of interim electric pump S-709 in WY2019, water levels (stage) upstream and downstream of L-31E culverts, S-23C, S-23D, S-712B and S-708 were within the desirable level of 2.2 ft NGVD29 (Table 8). Due to construction activities and the unavailability of fresh water in the system during the reporting period, water levels upstream and downstream of the other L-31E culverts (S-23A, S-23B, S-706A, S-706B, and S-706C) were below the optimal level of 2.2 ft NGVD29 (Figure 16 and Table 8). The daily mean water level in the L-31E canal during wet season WY2019 was 2.2 ft NGVD29, which was higher than in wet season WY2018 (Figure 16 and Table 9). The daily mean water level in the L-31E canal during dry season WY2019 was 1.9 ft NGVD29, which was lower than in dry season WY2018 (Figure 16 and Table 9).

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Table 8. Upstream (Up) and downstream (Down) water levels (in ft NGVD29) at the BBCW L-31E culverts in WY2019.

S-23A S-23B S-23C S-23D S-706B a S-708 a S-712A S-712B Date Up Down Up Down Up Down Up Down Up Down Up Down Down Up Down 5/1/2018 ** ** ** ** 2.53 2.43 2.43 2.33 ------1.51 1.51 1.51 5/22/2018 ** ** ** ** 2.53 2.43 2.53 2.41 ------1.48 1.52 1.52 5/31/2018 ** ** ** ** 2.53 2.43 2.53 2.40 ------1.48 1.53 1.53 6/5/2018 ** ** ** ** 2.52 2.41 2.53 2.42 ------1.5 1.53 1.53 6/19/2018 ** ** ** ** 2.48 2.41 2.48 2.36 ------1.52 1.13 1.11 6/20/2018 ** ** ** ** 2.38 2.24 2.34 2.41 ------1.1 2.53 1.73 6/26/2018 ** ** ** ** 2.38 2.31 2.38 2.36 ------1.73 1.63 1.63 7/2/2018 1.90 1.85 1.90 1.84 ** ** ** ** ------* ** ** 7/5/2018 ** ** ** ** 2.10 2.07 2.18 1.74 ------1.63 1.32 1.32 7/12/2018 2.10 1.85 2.10 2.07 2.33 2.34 2.08 2.02 ------2.12 2.13 2.23 7/17/2018 ** ** ** ** 2.33 2.34 2.08 2.04 ------1.53 1.53 1.53 7/18/2018 ** ** ** ** 2.25 2.14 2.33 2.23 ------1.13 1.13 1.13 7/23/2018 ** ** ** ** 2.43 2.33 2.31 2.21 ------1.13 ** ** 7/27/2018 ** ** ** ** 2.33 2.34 2.33 2.23 ------* 1.53 1.53 8/7/2018 ** ** ** ** 2.33 2.34 2.40 2.27 ------1.53 2.13 1.93 8/15/2018 ** ** ** ** 2.46 2.32 2.46 2.41 ------1.83 2.53 2.52 8/22/2018 1.95 1.90 1.98 1.90 ** ** 2.43 2.31 ------2.33 2.33 2.33 8/23/2018 ** ** ** ** 2.43 2.33 2.43 2.33 ------2.26 2.12 2.14 8/29/2018 ** ** ** ** 2.43 2.43 2.39 2.33 ------1.55 1.53 1.53 9/6/2018 ** ** ** ** 2.32 2.29 ** ** ------* 2.31 2.21 9/11/2018 2.06 2.06 2.06 2.06 2.18 2.11 2.13 2.03 ------2.13 2.13 2.13 9/19/2018 1.93 1.93 ** ** 2.13 1.88 2.13 1.88 ------1.93 2.13 2.13 10/2/2018 ** ** ** ** 2.12 2.13 2.13 2.13 ------* 2.31 2.13 10/5/2018 ** ** 2.13 2.00 2.13 2.13 2.15 2.13 2.13 2.13 2.13 2.13 2.23 2.13 2.13 10/23/2018 1.53 1.53 1.53 1.53 2.13 1.88 2.13 1.88 1.73 2.15 1.73 2.15 2.33 2.33 2.23 10/30/2018 ** ** 1.53 1.53 1.53 1.53 1.53 1.53 1.53 1.43 1.53 1.43 * ** ** 11/7/2018 1.53 1.53 1.53 1.53 1.53 1.53 1.53 1.53 1.53 `.53 1.53 `.53 1.53 1.53 1.53 11/15/2018 1.23 1.23 1.23 1.23 2.13 2.08 2.13 2.09 1.53 1.53 1.53 1.53 1.13 1.13 113.00 11/20/2018 1.53 1.53 1.53 1.53 2.22 2.21 2.19 2.11 ** ** ** ** 1.73 1.53 1.83 11/27/2018 ** ** 1.53 1.53 2.21 2.13 2.19 2.11 1.52 2.12 1.52 2.12 * ** ** 12/1/2018 ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** * ** ** 1/9/2019 ** ** ** ** 2.12 2.21 2.42 2.03 ** ** ** ** * ** ** 1/17/2019 1.31 1.31 1.31 1.31 2.18 2.11 2.22 2.08 1.31 1.31 1.31 1.31 1.23 1.21 1.21 1/18/2019 ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** 1.32 1.32 1.32 1/25/2019 1.53 1.53 1.53 1.53 2.23 2.13 2.22 2.12 2.33 2.33 2.33 2.33 1.51 1.51 1.51 1/31/2019 ** ** ** ** ** ** 2.41 2.07 ** ** ** ** 1.23 1.63 1.93 2/7/2019 1.53 1.53 1.53 1.53 2.18 2.13 2.20 2.13 1.53 1.53 1.53 1.53 1.53 1.53 1.53 2/12/2019 1.53 1.53 1.53 1.53 ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** 1.53 1.50 1.50 2/14/2019 ** ** 1.53 1.53 2.17 2.12 2.16 2.10 1.53 1.53 1.53 1.53 * ** ** 2/19/2019 ** ** ** ** 2.12 2.13 2.16 2.03 ** ** ** ** * ** ** 2/26/2019 1.00 1.00 1.53 1.53 1.53 1.53 1.53 1.00 1.32 1.32 1.32 1.32 1.51 1.51 1.51 3/15/2018 ** ** ** ** 2.23 2.16 ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** 4/2/2019 1.49 1.49 ** ** ** ** 1.52 1.52 1.53 1.53 1.53 1.53 * ** ** 4/5/2019 ** ** ** ** 1.53 1.43 1.53 1.53 2.03 2.03 2.03 2.03 1.12 1.52 2.33 4/10/2019 1.53 1.53 1.53 1.53 1.53 1.53 1.00 1.00 1.5 1.75 1.5 1.75 1.53 ** ** 4/16/2019 ** ** ** ** 1.53 1.53 1.53 1.53 ** ** ** ** 1.52 1.53 1.53 4/27/2019 ** ** 1.49 1.49 ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** Access issue due to construction of L-31E culverts along L-31E canal. * Dry. a. Cells with no values indicate period during construction of S-706B and S-708.

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2.6

2.4

Restoration 31E Canal 31E - 2.2 Performance Target

2.0

1.8

(ft NGVD29) (ft 1.6

1.4

1.2

Daily the in L Daily Water Level Mean 1.0 WY2018 WY2018 WY2019 WY2019 Wet Season Dry Season Wet Season Dry Season

Figure 16. Comparison of daily mean water levels in the L-31E Canal while interim electric pump S-709 was in operation. (Note: Dry season is November–April and wet season is May–October.)

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Table 9. Statistical summary of L-31E Canal water levels in WY2018 and WY2019.

WY2018 WY2018 WY2019 WY2019 Statistic Wet Season Dry Season Wet Season Dry Season

Maximum 3.47 2.53 2.55 2.24

90th Percentile 2.35 2.46 2.47 2.18

Q1 1.39 1.84 2.09 1.62

Median 1.94 1.95 2.29 2.10

Q3 2.14 2.17 2.44 2.15

10th Percentile 1.35 1.78 1.99 1.45

Minimum 1.23 1.25 1.43 1.32

Mean 1.86 2.02 2.22 1.90

Wetland Transects Stages During WY2019, due to unavailability of freshwater, water levels in the wetland stage monitoring stations downstream of culverts S-712B, S-23D (S-23H), S-23A, S-708, and S-706B were below the desired stage of 2.2 ft NGVD29 (Table 10).

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Table 10. Water levels at BBCW wetland stage monitoring stations in WY2019.

Date Wetland S-712B Wetland S-23H Wetland S-23A Wetland S-708 a Wetland S-706B a 5/1/2018 * 1.96 ** ------5/22/2018 1.63 2.43 ** ------5/31/2018 1.69 2.33 ** ------6/5/2018 1.65 2.23 ** ------6/19/2018 1.73 2.08 ** ------6/20/2018 * * ** ------6/26/2018 * 2.03 ** ------7/2/2018 ** 2.03 * ------7/5/2018 * 1.62 ** ------7/12/2018 1.73 1.76 * ------7/17/2018 1.63 1.88 ** ------7/18/2018 * 1.83 ** ------7/23/2018 * 1.88 ** ------7/27/2018 1.70 1.88 ** ------8/7/2018 1.83 1.88 ** ------8/15/2018 1.63 2.12 ** ------8/22/2018 1.98 1.93 * ------8/23/2018 1.88 * ** ------8/29/2018 1.76 * ** ------9/6/2018 * * ** ------9/11/2018 1.56 1.88 1.74 ------9/19/2018 1.56 2.06 1.53 ------10/2/2018 1.76 1.88 ** ------10/5/2018 * 1.86 ** * * 10/23/2018 1.78 1.84 ** 1.99 1.99 10/30/2018 * * ** * * 11/7/2018 1.74 * * * * 11/15/2018 * * * 1.53 1.53 11/20/2018 * 1.76 * ** ** 11/27/2018 * 1.64 * * * 12/1/2018 ** * ** ** ** 1/9/2019 * 1.53 ** ** ** 1/17/2019 * 1.83 * * * 1/18/2019 ** 1.74 ** ** ** 1/25/2019 * 1.85 * * 1.96 1/31/2019 * 1.74 ** ** ** 2/7/2019 * 1.75 * ** * 2/12/2019 ** 1.80 ** * ** 2/14/2019 * 1.74 * ** * 2/19/2019 * 1.76 ** ** ** 2/26/2019 * 1.74 * * ** 3/15/2018 ** * ** ** ** 4/2/2019 ** * * 1.93 1.93 4/5/2019 * * ** 1.76 1.75 4/10/2019 * * * * * 4/16/2019 1.78 * ** ** ** ** Access issue due to construction of L-31E culverts along L-31E canal. * Dry. a. Cells with no values indicate period during construction of S-708and S-706B.

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DEERING ESTATE The Deering Estate component (Figure 4) redirects excess water from the C-100A Canal system through the existing C-100A spur canal into the Cutler Drain on the project site and within the Deering Estate, thus restoring a portion of the historic freshwater flow through the Deering Estate and into Biscayne Bay. Goals and benefits of this component are described in the Introduction section of this report. The operational intent is to maximize pumping when water is available (excess water in the C-100 basin) to improve the Deering Estate wetland ecosystem without adversely affecting groundwater levels and water supply to local water users. The station's operation is flexible to address various hydrologic conditions, and the coastal wetlands are monitored to measure any response. Monitoring, data collection, and reporting are currently being coordinated between Miami-Dade County and SFWMD. Normal operations will likely continue to be modified in the future to optimize the wetland benefits of the project. Although the station would normally be operated automatically in accordance with the inflow canal stage, it can be operated manually or remotely via telemetry communication facilities. These are alternatives to the pump on/off sequencing that accomplish the objective of an incremental increase of 25 cfs with an increase in stage. Pumps can be alternated as appropriate to equalize usage (SFWMD 2018). SFWMD conducted an experiment in the Deering Estate component comparing pulse releases versus continuous pumping under different pumping rates (25 to 100 cfs) in WY2017. Based on the results of this experiment, SFWMD recommended changing the timing of Deering Estate pump station (S-700) releases from pulsed to continuous operation at a minimum volume of 25 cfs to keep the wetland hydrated and provide a steady, low volume flow to the coast. This recommendation was approved through the CERP RECOVER adaptive management process in WY2017 and by FDEP in WY2019, after which SFWMD implemented the change. During WY2019, S-700 diverted approximately 24,886 ac-ft (dry season: 12,314 ac-ft; wet season: 12,572 ac-ft) of fresh water from the C-100 Canal to the historic remnant wetlands near Cutler Creek east of Old Cutler Road in the form of sheetflow (Figure 17). The WY2019 daily average discharge through S-700 during the dry season (November–April) was 68 ac-ft, compared to 48 ac-ft during the WY2018 dry season (Figure 18). The WY2019 daily average discharge through S-700 during the wet season (May–October) was 68 ac-ft, compared to 46 ac-ft during the WY2018 wet season (Figure 18).

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14,000

12,000

10,000 ft) -

8,000 12,572 12,314 10,505 9,502 10,189

6,000 8,692 Flow (ac 8,411 9,230 6,887

4,000 6,233 4,550 4,536 2,000 3,398

Figure 17. S-700 annual wet and dry season discharges from coastal structure S-700 for WY2013–WY2019. (Note: Dry season is November–April and wet season is May–October; the wet season for WY2013 is not shown because S-700 operation did not begin until the dry season of WY2013.)

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50 68 68 ft) -

40 57 52 51 55 48 30 46 Flow (ac 34 38 30 20 25 19 10

Figure 18. Daily average flow through coastal structure S-700 during WY2013–WY2019 wet and dry seasons. (Note: Dry season is November–April and wet season is May–October.)

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ECOLOGICAL MONITORING In accordance with Specific Condition 38 of FDEP permit 0271729-010, SFWMD performed ecological monitoring in the vicinity of the L-31E Culverts including assessment and documentation of changes in vegetation. This work was conducted by SFWMD contractors, Dr. Evelyn Gaiser and Dr. Michael S. Ross, Southeast Environmental Research Center, Florida International University (Agreement 4600003666). Ecological conditions in the L-31E Culverts area are anticipated to be enhanced by water deliveries In terms of percent cover, R. mangle was the dominant mangrove species in the vegetation transect downstream of culvert S-23D in WY2019. In terms of density of individuals in the transect, R. mangle was dominant in all size classes (1-39, 40-100, and >100 cm height) in most blocks (Figures 19 and 20). Mangrove canopy structure is unchanged, and herbaceous species establishment is confined to a few localities and is largely restricted to salt-tolerant species.

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LAGRAC RHIMAN AVIGER

Figure 19. Average woody plant density by species size class per square meter for Transect 2 (downstream of culvert S-23D) in WY2019. Plot values are averages of subplot density. E (East), I (Intermediate), and W (West) represent plots along vegetation transects. (Note: LAGRAC = Laguncularia racemosa [white mangrove], RHIMAN = Rhizophora mangle [red mangrove], and AVIGER = Avicennia germinans [black mangrove].)

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LAGRAC RHIMAN

Figure 20. Average woody plant density by species size class per square meter for Transect 2 (downstream of Culvert S-23D) in WY2018. Plot values are averages of subplot density. E (East), I (Intermediate), and W (West) represent plots along vegetation transects. (Note: LAGRAC = Laguncularia racemosa [white mangrove] and RHIMAN = Rhizophora mangle [red mangrove].)

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HERBICIDE AND PESTICIDE TRACKING

L-31E CULVERTS During the reporting period, the primary species treated were shoebutton ardisia (Ardisia elliptica), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Australian pine (Casuarina equisetifolia), across a total of 72 acres. Plants were hand-pulled when possible. Large woody species were cut and treated with triclopyr amine. A total of 1.703 gallons of herbicide was used.

DEERING ESTATE Primary species treated were cattail (Typha spp.), torpedograss (Panicum repens), leadtree (Leucaena leucocephala), rotala (Rotala rotundifolia), and primrose willow (Ludwigia octovalvis) across the 7-acre site. Plants were hand-pulled when possible. Large woody species were cut and treated with herbicide. Non-native grasses and aquatics were treated with a foliar chemical application. Herbicides used were 1.003 gallons of glyphosate, 0.070 gallons of imazapyr, 0.005 gallons of aminopyralid, 0.515 gallons of imazamox, and 0.016 gallons of triclopyr.

LITERATURE CITED FDEP and SFWMD. 2018. A Protocol for Monitoring Mercury and Other Toxicants. Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Tallahassee, FL, and South Florida Water Management District, West Palm Beach, FL. SFWMD. 2018. Interim 2018 Project Operating Manual Deering Estate Component of the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Project. South Florida Water Management District, West Palm Beach, FL. September 2018. SFWMD. 2017. Field Sampling Quality Manual. SFWMD-FIELD-QM-001-09, South Florida Water Management District, West Palm Beach, FL. Effective June 29, 2017. SFWMD. 2018. Compliance Monitoring Plan for Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetland Project (BBCW). SFWMD-FIELD-CMP-005-05. South Florida Water Management District, West Palm Beach, FL. January 19, 2018. SFWMD. 2019. Chemistry Laboratory Quality Manual 2019. SFWMD-LAB-QM-2019-001, South Florida Water Management District, West Palm Beach, FL. Effective January 11, 2019. USACE and SFWMD. 2012. Central and Southern Florida Project Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Phase I Final Integrated Project Implementation Report and Environmental Impact Statement. United States Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville, FL, and South Florida Water Management District, West Palm Beach, FL.

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Attachment A: Specific Conditions and Cross-References

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Table A-1. Specific conditions, actions taken, and cross-references presented in this report for the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands project (CERPRA permit 0271729-010).

Included in This Report as: Specific Applicable Description Action Taken Condition Phase Narrative Figure Table Attachment (page #s)

L-31E Culverts - Operation of passive structures was conducted 18 Operation 23–35 9–15 7–10 C Passive Structures as required.

SFWMD initiated operation of the pump in WY2018. 19 L-31E Culverts Pilot Pump Test Operation 23–35 9–15 7–10 C Pump test was completed in March 2019.

Deering Estate Operation of Deering Estate Flow-way was conducted 20 Operation 36–38 17–18 --- C Flow-way Operations as required.

Pump Station Testing Operation & 21 No pump station testing occurred during WY2019. ------and Maintenance Maintenance

Operation & 22 Emergency Operations Emergency operations did not occur. ------Maintenance

Public Health, Safety, Discharges did not pose a danger to public health, 23 Operation ------and Welfare safety, or welfare.

Water Quality Monitoring program was conducted as required and 24 Operation 12–22 5–8 3–6 B, D Monitoring Program records included all required details.

25 Mercury and Other Toxicants Operation Monitoring was conducted as required. 21–22 --- 5 D

26 Hydrologic Monitoring Operation Hydrologic monitoring was conducted as required. 23–38 9–18 7–10 C

Quality Assurance and Sampling and monitoring data collected in accordance 27A Operation ------B Quality Control with Chapter 62-160, F.A.C.

27B Method Detection Limits Operation Performed in accordance with Rule 62-4.246, F.A.C. ------B, D

Project features were constructed, maintained, and Water Quantity, Water Quality, 28 Construction operated to not adversely affect adjacent lands with ------and Flooding Impact regards to water quantity, water quality, or flooding.

Turbidity monitoring was conducted during construction 29 Turbidity Monitoring Construction ------when dewatering activities occurred.

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Table A-1. Continued.

Included in This Report as: Specific Applicable Description Action Taken Condition Phase Narrative Figure Table Attachment (page #s)

No request for modification to the monitoring program 30 Removal of Parameters Operation ------during WY2019.

31 Addition of Parameters Operation No additional monitoring added during WY2019. ------

Construction of culverts S-706 A, B, and C, and S-708 32 Construction Status Reports Construction occurred during the reporting period. Construction started ------in May 2018.

Notification of 33 Operation Notification was provided to FDEP in December 2018. ------Substantial Completion

34 Notification of Final Completion Operation Notification was provided to FDEP in December 2018. ------

As-Built Certification and Construction of culverts occurred during WY2019 and 35 Operation ------Record Drawings as-builts were provided to FDEP in May 2019.

36 Inspection Plan and Reports Operation No inspection plan or report required for WY2019. ------

Annual performance was evaluated and reported 12–18, 24–35, 5–7, 9–16 37 L-31E Culverts Pilot Pump Test Operation 7–10 B–C as required. 34–41 19–20

Annual performance was evaluated and reported 38 Annual Reports All All All All All as required.

38C Water Quality Data Operation Records include all required details. ------B, D

38D Performance Evaluation Operation Annual performance evaluated and reported as required. All All All All

Herbicide and pesticide use tracked and reported 38E Herbicide and Pesticide Tracking Operation 42 ------as required.

Not needed during the reporting period. The permit was 42 Permit Renewal All 12 ------renewed on 2/13/2018 for an additional 5 years.

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Attachment B: Water Quality and Mercury Data

This project information is required by Specific Conditions 24, 25, and 38C of the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands permit (0271729-010) and is available upon request.

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Attachment C: Hydrologic Data

This project information is required by Specific Conditions 26 and 38 of the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands permit (0271729-010) and is available upon request.

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Attachment D: Summary of Water Quality in Nearshore Biscayne Bay Waters in the L-31E Canal Area during WY2019 and Comparisons with Florida Class III Criteria for Marine Waters

This project information is required by Specific Conditions 24 and 38 of the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands permit (0271729-010).

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Table D-1. Basic statistics of water quality parameters in nearshore Biscayne Bay waters in the L-31E Culverts area (at stations BB53, MI01, MW01, and PR01) during WY2019 and comparisons with Class III criteria for marine waters.

Class III Criterion Geometric Arithmetic Standard Number of Percent Parameter Units a Samples Minimum Q25 Median Q75 Maximum for Marine Waters Mean Mean Deviation Excursions b Excursions b

Station: BB53

Percent DO saturation Dissolved Oxygen should not be under % 12 100% 102% 20% 72% 88% 99% 120% 133% 0 0% Percent Saturation 42% limit more than 10% of the time. pH 6.5 ≤ pH ≤ 8.5 12 8.0 8.0 0.1 7.9 7.9 8.0 8.1 8.2 0 0%

Specific Conductance µS/cm None 12 31,491 32,053 6,075 19,592 29,004 31,801 35,558 44,327 NA NA

Salinity None 12 19.6 20.0 4.2 11.6 17.8 19.6 22.4 28.6 NA NA

Temperature °C None 12 26.1 26.3 3.8 18.8 23.6 26.4 29.6 31.3 NA NA

Total Ammonia Nitrogen mg/L None 12 0.08 0.08 0.04 0.04 0.05 0.08 0.12 0.14 NA NA

Color PCU None 12 4 6 4 1 2 6 10 13 NA NA

Nitrate + Nitrite mg/L None 12 0.542 0.634 0.345 0.200 0.314 0.577 0.845 1.278 NA NA

Total Nitrogen mg/L None 12 1.18 1.22 0.34 0.79 0.93 1.20 1.34 1.83 NA NA

Total Phosphorus mg/L None 12 0.007 0.007 0.001 0.006 0.006 0.007 0.007 0.009 NA NA

Total Suspended Solids mg/L None 12 4.2 4.6 2.2 3.0 3.0 3.5 5.5 10.0 NA NA

Station: MI01

Percent DO saturation Dissolved Oxygen should not be under % 12 91% 94% 26% 56% 83% 95% 103% 153% 0 0% Percent Saturation 42% limit more than 10% of the time. pH 6.5 ≤ pH ≤ 8.5 12 7.9 7.9 0.2 7.3 7.8 8.0 8.0 8.1 0 0%

Specific Conductance µS/cm None 12 32,537 33,967 9,807 16,331 28,263 34,614 40,852 52,418 NA NA

Salinity None 12 20.3 21.4 6.8 9.5 17.4 21.7 26.2 34.5 NA NA

Temperature °C None 12 25.8 26.1 3.9 18.8 23.2 26.4 28.8 31.8 NA NA

Total Ammonia Nitrogen mg/L None 12 0.06 0.07 0.05 0.01 0.04 0.05 0.10 0.20 NA NA

Color PCU None 12 4 6 6 1 3 4 9 22 NA NA

Nitrate + Nitrite mg/L None 12 0.167 0.272 0.219 0.005 0.115 0.174 0.454 0.692 NA NA

Total Nitrogen mg/L None 12 0.80 0.83 0.25 0.47 0.63 0.83 1.0 1.3 NA NA

Total Phosphorus mg/L None 12 0.007 0.007 0.002 0.005 0.006 0.007 0.008 0.011 NA NA

Total Suspended Solids mg/L None 12 5.1 5.7 2.7 3.0 3.5 4.5 7.5 11.0 NA NA a. Key to Units: % - percent; °C – degrees Celsius; μS/cm – microsiemens per centimeter; mg/L – milligrams per liter; and PCU – platinum-cobalt units. b. NA – Not applicable.

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Table D-1. Continued.

Class III Criterion Geometric Arithmetic Standard Number of Percent Parameter Units a Samples Minimum Q25 Median Q75 Maximum for Marine Waters Mean Mean Deviation Excursions b Excursions b

Station: MW01

Percent DO saturation Dissolved Oxygen should not be under % 12 67% 70% 22% 36% 48% 73% 88% 98% 2 17% Percent Saturation 42% limit more than 10% of the time. pH 6.5 ≤ pH ≤ 8.5 12 7.7 7.7 0.2 7.2 7.7 7.8 7.8 8.0 0 0%

Specific Conductance µS/cm None 12 29,926 31,292 9,109 14,177 24,977 29,001 40,323 42,572 NA NA

Salinity None 12 18.5 19.6 6.2 8.2 15.2 17.7 25.8 27.4 NA NA

Temperature °C None 12 26.3 26.4 3.1 20.9 23.8 26.8 28.5 32.0 NA NA

Total Ammonia Nitrogen mg/L None 12 0.06 0.06 0.02 0.04 0.05 0.05 0.07 0.12 NA NA

Color PCU None 12 3 4 2 1 2 4 6 9 NA NA

Nitrate + Nitrite mg/L None 12 0.396 0.463 0.310 0.188 0.282 0.320 0.547 1.236 NA NA

Total Nitrogen mg/L None 12 0.86 0.90 0.31 0.58 0.72 0.80 0.91 1.66 NA NA

Total Phosphorus mg/L None 12 0.008 0.009 0.004 0.006 0.006 0.007 0.010 0.021 NA NA

Total Suspended Solids mg/L None 12 4.7 5.0 1.9 3.0 3.5 5.0 5.5 9.0 NA NA

Station: PR01

Percent DO saturation Dissolved Oxygen should not be under % 12 92% 97% 28% 43% 77% 102% 104% 156% 0 0% Percent Saturation 42% limit more than 10% of the time. pH 6.5 ≤ pH ≤ 8.5 12 8.0 8.0 0.2 7.7 7.8 8.0 8.2 8.2 0 0%

Specific Conductance µS/cm None 12 27,701 29,626 10,138 11,400 19,714 31,730 38,604 40,881 NA NA

Salinity None 12 16.9 18.4 7.0 6.5 11.4 19.8 24.6 26.1 NA NA

Temperature °C None 12 26.0 26.2 3.8 18.7 23.2 26.8 29.4 31.1 NA NA

Total Ammonia Nitrogen mg/L None 12 0.08 0.09 0.04 0.04 0.07 0.09 0.10 0.21 NA NA

Color PCU None 12 6 7 5 2 4 6 10 20 NA NA

Nitrate + Nitrite mg/L None 12 1.330 1.467 0.614 0.511 1.038 1.447 1.842 2.541 NA NA

Total Nitrogen mg/L None 12 1.90 1.98 0.58 1.03 1.57 1.98 2.33 3.05 NA NA

Total Phosphorus mg/L None 12 0.008 0.008 0.002 0.005 0.007 0.008 0.010 0.010 NA NA

Total Suspended Solids mg/L None 12 4.4 4.6 1.4 3.0 3.5 4.0 5.5 7.0 NA NA a. Key to Units: % - percent; °C – degrees Celsius; μS/cm – microsiemens per centimeter; mg/L – milligrams per liter; and PCU – platinum-cobalt units.

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