South Florida Water Management District Florida Forever Work Plan 2004 Annual Update Contributors Ross Adair Carla Palmer Fred Davis Tracey Piccone Max Day Dean Powell Deborah Drum Dawn Rose Juan Diaz-Carreras Shawn Sculley Patrick Gostel Teri Short William Helfferich Patti Sime Lewis Hornung Wanda Caffi e-Simpson Jim Jackson Janet Starnes Sally Kennedy Lesa Tucker Kim O’Dell David Unsell Florida Forever Work Plan Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary xiii List of Tables vi List of Figures vii List of Abbreviations and Acronyms viii Chapter 1: Introduction 1 Legislation (Florida Forever and Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan...........2 Florida Forever Performance Measures.......................................................................10 Project Rankings, Schedule and Resources .................................................................10 Chapter 2: Regional Study Area 13 Future without Plan Condition – Physical Facilities and Operations – the Central and Southern Florida Flood Control Project (Project Modifications) ................................15 Water Quality Problems and Opportunities – Regional Overview..............................15 Water Quality Problems and Opportunities – Mercury ...............................................17 Land Use ......................................................................................................................17 Study Purpose ..............................................................................................................19 Study Scope .................................................................................................................19 Other Studies................................................................................................................20 Permits and Authorizations..........................................................................................20 Interim Land Management...........................................................................................21 Chapter 3: Kissimmee Region 23 Physical Conditions – Kissimmee Region...................................................................23 Existing Condidtions – Kissimmee Region Water Management ................................26 i Table of Contents Florida Forever Work Plan Future without Plan Condition – Water Quality – Kissimmee Region .......................28 Future without Plan Condition – Physical Facilities and Operations – Kissimmee River Restoration .........................................................................................................29 Water Quality Problems and Opportunities – Kissimmee Region ..............................30 Land Use – Kissimmee Region....................................................................................32 Eligible Kissimmee Region Projects ...........................................................................34 Chapter 4: Lake Okeechobee Watershed Region 45 Physical Conditions – Lake Okeechobee Watershed Region......................................45 Existing Conditions – Lake Okeechobee Water Management ....................................46 Future Without Plan Condition – Water Quality – Lake Okeechobee ........................49 Future without Plan Condition – Physical Facilities and Operations – Manatee Protection ....................................................................................................................49 Future without Plan Condition – Physical Facilities and Operations – Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule................................................................................49 Future without Plan Condition – Physical Facilities and Operations – Critical Restoration Projects .....................................................................................................50 Water Quality Problems and Opportunities – Lake Okeechobee ................................50 Land Use – Lake Okeechobee Region.........................................................................51 Eligible Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) Projects.....................52 Other Eligible Projects.................................................................................................52 Chapter 5: Lower West Coast Region 55 Physical Conditions – Lower West Coast Region .......................................................55 Existing Conditions – Lower West Coast Region Water Management.......................56 Future without Plan Condition – Physical Facilities and Operations – Critical Restoration Projects .....................................................................................................58 Future without Plan Condition – Water Quality – Lower West Coast Region............59 Water Quality Problems and Opportunities – Lower West Coast Region...................60 Land Use – Lower West Coast Region........................................................................61 ii Florida Forever Work Plan Table of Contents Eligible Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) Projects.....................65 Other Eligible Projects.................................................................................................66 Chapter 6: Upper East Coast Region 73 Physical Conditions – Upper East Coast Region.........................................................73 Existing Condition – Upper East Coast Water Management.......................................74 Future without Plan Condition – Physical Facilities and Operations – Critical Restoration Projects .....................................................................................................78 Future without Plan Condition – Water Quality – Upper East Coast..........................78 Water Quality Problems and Opportunities – Upper East Coast.................................79 Land Use – Upper East Coast ......................................................................................80 Eligible Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) Projects.....................81 Other Eligible Projects.................................................................................................82 Chapter 7: Everglades Agricultural Area 85 Physical Conditions – Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) ......................................85 Existing Conditions – Everglades Agriculture Area (EAA) Water Management .......86 Future without Plan Condition – Water Quality – Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) ....................................................................................................................86 Water Quality Problems and Opportunities – Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA)..91 Land Use – Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) .......................................................92 Eligible Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) Projects.....................94 Chapter 8: Everglades, Florida Bay and Keys Regions 95 Physical Condition – Everglades, Florida Bay and Keys Regions ..............................95 Existing Conditions – Water Conservation Areas (WCAS) Water Management .......98 Existing Conditions – Everglades National Park and Florida Bay Water Management...............................................................................................................101 Existing Conditions – Florida Keys Water Management ..........................................103 iii Table of Contents Florida Forever Work Plan Future without Plan Condition – Water Quality – Natural Areas..............................103 Future without Plan Condition – Water Quality – Florida Bay.................................103 Future without Plan Condition – Water Quality – Florida Keys ...............................104 Future without Plan Condition – Physical Facilities and Operations – Water Conservation Areas (WCAS) and Everglades National Park Rainfall-Based Rainfall Water Delivery Plans.................................................................................................104 Future without Plan Condition – Physical Facilities and Operations – Emergency Interim Plan................................................................................................................104 Water Quality Problems and Opportunities – Natural Areas.....................................105 Water Quality Problems and Opportunities – Florida Bay........................................106 Water Quality Problems and Opportunities – Florida Keys ......................................106 Land Use – Water Conservation Areas (WCAS) ......................................................107 Land Use – Everglades National Park and Florida Bay ............................................110 Land Use – Florida Keys ...........................................................................................111 Eligible Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) Projects...................114 Other Eligible Projects...............................................................................................116 Chapter 9: Water Preserve Areas, Miami-Dade County and North Palm Beach County Regions 117 Physical Conditions – Water Preserve Areas, Miami-Dade County and North Palm Beach County Regions...............................................................................................117 Existing Conditions – Water Preserve Areas, Miami-Dade County and North Palm Beach County.............................................................................................................119 Future without Plan Condition –