The purposes of this project are to reduce phosphorus loading to Lake Okeechobee; attenuate peak flows from the watershed; provide more natural water level fluctuations in the lake; and restore wetland habitat. These goals will be accomplished by: 1) a 17,500 acre reservoir in the lower Kissimmee Basin; 2) a 5,000 acre reservoir and a 5,000 STA in the Taylor Creek/Nubbin Slough Basin; 3) smaller RASTAs and restoration of isolated wetlands; and 4) removal of 150 tons of phosphorus from 10 miles of primary tributary canals.

As a first step in development of the PIR, a Watershed Assessment Report was prepared in June 2003 to better define water quality and hydrologic problems in the watershed (minimal monitoring existing in area). The Taylor Creek/Nubbin Slough RASTA has been authorized as one of the ten initial projects in WRDA 2000. The Lake Okeechobee Tributary Sediment Dredging Project is included in the programmatic authorization for implementation of projects with a total project cost under $25 million. The other projects will be authorized in future WRDAs.