SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT

Protecting and Improving the Caloosahatchee River and Estuary

OCTOBER 2010

The South Florida Water The health of the Caloosahatchee Management District River and Estuary is integral to is a regional, governmental sustaining the overall way of life and agency that oversees the economy of Southwest Florida. water resources in the Working with local, state and federal southern half of the state. government partners, environmental It is the oldest and largest groups, residents and businesses, the of the state’s five water South Florida Water Management management districts. District is seeking reasoned solutions Our Mission is to manage to improve water quality and better and protect water resources manage the timing and quantity of of the region by balancing water flows to the Caloosahatchee and improving water quality, River and Estuary. flood control, natural S-79 Franklin Lock and Dam systems, and water supply. Background In the late 19th century, real estate developers many successes benefitting the connected the Caloosahatchee River to Lake Caloosahatchee River and Estuary. Okeechobee in an effort to drain water from Operations the Everglades and open the interior of the state for development and agriculture. Lock • The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages and dam structures were constructed to control Lake Okeechobee water levels with the water flow, and the shallow and crooked goal of balancing flood control, public Caloosahatchee River was transformed into a safety, navigation, water supply and regulated waterway. By the 1930s, the ecological health. This is done through the connection became an integral part of South use of a regulation schedule to manage Florida’s flood control system, which is still in lake levels based on the time of year, use today. weather expectations and public safety issues. The timing and quantity of freshwater flows from Lake Okeechobee are managed by the • A revised regulation schedule was adopted U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. These have a in 2008 by the Corps. Decisions to retain direct effect on the salinity balance within the or release water are based on the current Caloosahatchee Estuary. Lake management regulation schedule and the best available decisions have been made more difficult in science, data and recommendations. recent years by extreme weather patterns, • The SFWMD makes advisory from droughts to floods. Over time, population recommendations to the Corps on lake growth, neighborhood stormwater runoff and management based on its Adaptive even leaky septic tanks have added to water Protocols guide. This newly updated quality challenges in the estuary. document lays out scientifically based measures and methods to better balance Actions and Progress the needs of the lake and estuarine A multi-faceted approach in meeting these ecosystems and South Florida’s water complex and diverse challenges has produced supply. THE CALOOSAHATCHEE RIVER AND ESTUARY

Water Quality Florida, calls for construction of the • Landmark state legislation was passed in 2007 to protect the 170,000 acre-foot Northern Everglades, which led to creation of the Caloosahatchee River Caloosahatchee River Watershed Protection Plan. The plan is (C-43) West Basin designed to reach water quality targets and maintain Storage Reservoir appropriate salinity levels in the estuary. Project. It will help • Investments by the State of Florida and the SFWMD of more store and manage Caloosahatchee River at Ft. Myers than $15.6 million since 2004, with matching local dollars, are basin runoff for meeting delivering more than 80 local water quality improvement estuary needs during the dry season. projects to the Caloosahatchee region. Projects include:  The SFWMD has invested approximately $100 million to  Cape Coral stormwater retrofit to improve water quality in purchase the land for the project, construct/monitor test the estuary cells and complete the project design.  Harns Marsh water quality improvement  The reservoir is at the shovel-ready stage, awaiting federal authorization and funding for construction.  Billy Creek Preserve water quality improvement and storage Water Supply  Caloosahatchee Creeks Preserve water quality • Since 2006, the SFWMD has awarded $32.7 million for 42 improvement and habitat restoration projects to increase the alternative water supply in the Caloosahatchee watershed. These are non-traditional water Sanibel Island central sewer expansion to improve water  supplies, such as brackish groundwater, surface water captured quality during wet weather and expansion of reclaimed water systems. • Coordination and sharing of data have improved among These alternative supplies help minimize impacts to traditional agencies and organizations as a result of working together on sources. development and implementation of the Caloosahatchee River • The SFWMD has established minimum flows and levels Watershed Protection Plan. necessary to prevent significant harm to the estuary from • The SFWMD and Lee County partnered to purchase 1,773 permitted water withdrawals. acres of land in Glades County for $37.3 million. The property • Work has begun on a Caloosahatchee water reservation, which will be used for the C-43 Water Quality Treatment and Testing is a legal mechanism to set aside water specifically for the Facility to remove nitrogen from water bound for the estuary. protection of fish and wildlife or public health and safety. Water Storage • A restricted allocation rule is in effect that caps consumptive • Surface water storage on private, public and tribal lands in the water use in the Lake Okeechobee service area at current levels Northern Everglades watershed has expanded by 128,630 and prevents increased withdrawals (over actual, historic acre-feet, with another 15,600 acre-feet under construction. demands) from Lake Okeechobee and integrated conveyance This was achieved through a coalition of government agencies, systems, such as the Caloosahatchee River. landowners and environmental organizations. • The SFWMD recently purchased 26,800 acres of strategically A Continuing Commitment located property for Everglades restoration purposes to Crucial resources and funding are included in the SFWMD 2010- specifically provide for additional water storage and treatment 2011 budget to continue moving forward. A myriad of initiatives facilities. An option to purchase another 153,000 acres, and efforts are already under way, or planned, to protect and should future economic conditions allow, would provide further restore the Caloosahatchee River and Estuary. opportunities to benefit the Everglades, Lake Okeechobee and The South Florida Water Management District is fully committed the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries. to continue building on these efforts to benefit the watershed. • The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, the Collaborative partnerships are vital to ultimately improving water Congressionally approved framework for restoring, protecting quality and better managing the timing and quantity of water and preserving the water resources of central and southern flows to the estuary.

SERVICE CENTERS Martin/St. Lucie 772-223-2600 or 800-250-4100 South Florida Water Management District Big Cypress Basin/Naples Miami-Dade 3301 Gun Club Road 239-263-7615 305-377-7274 or 800-250-4300 West Palm Beach, Florida 33406 Broward Okeechobee 561-686-8800 • 800-432-2045 954-713-3200 863-462-5260 or 800-250-4200 www.sfwmd.gov Florida Keys Orlando 305-453-1275 407-858-6100 or 800-250-4250 EN10/20/2010 MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 24680 Lower West Coast Palm Beach County West Palm Beach, FL 33416-4680 239-338-2929 or 800-248-1201 561-682-6000 or 800-432-2045