CERP Project:
Indian River Lagoon - South

View the Aug 2010 SFWMD Governing Board Presentation on the IRL-South Project Partnership Agreement (PDF)

The Indian River Lagoon is the most biologically diverse estuarine system in all of North America.

The project purpose here is to capture local water runoff from the C 23/C 24/C 25/Northfork and Southfork basins for flood flow attenuation to the St. Lucie River Estuary and from the C-44 Basin. The water is to be stored and then returned to the C-44 (canal) when there is a demand to provide water supply and or other environmental benefits. The project design is expected to provide significant water quality improvement benefits to both the Indian River Lagoon and the St. Lucie River Estuary--reducing the load of nutrients, pesticides, and suspended materials conveyed in runoff.

Interim Pollution Load Reduction Goals for total suspended material, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus were developed in the Indian River Lagoon Surface Water Improvement and Management Plan (SFWMD and SJRWMD, 1994).

The C-44 component was initially authorized in WRDA 2000 and was recommended by the Chief of Engineers in August 2004. C-44 is included as one of the Indian River Lagoon (IRL-S) components that received Congressional approval via WRDA 2007.

Based on the feasibility study and PIR approved by Congress in 2007 and further refinements, the IRL-S project is expected to include the following components:

  • Construction and operation of four new above-ground reservoirs and their connecting canals, control structures, levees and pumps to capture water from the C-44, C-23, C-24 and C-25 canals for increased storage.
  • Construction and operation of three new stormwater treatment areas to reduce sediment, phosphorus, and nitrogen going to the St. Lucie River estuary and the lagoon. STAs are planned for each of the basins: C-44 basin (1), C-23/24 basin (1) and C-25 basin (1).
  • Restoration of the upland/wetland mosaic and habitat with ditch plugging, berm construction, and periodic fire maintenance at three locations.
  • Redirection of water from the C-23/24 basin to the Northfork of the St. Lucie River attenuating freshwater flows to the estuary.
  • Muck removal from the north and south forks of the St. Lucie River and the middle estuary. Oyster shell, reef balls, and artificial submerged aquatic vegetation near muck removal sites will be added for habitat improvement.

Related Links & Project Documents:

Project Contacts:

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers:

Orlando Ramos-Gines, Project Manager
Orlando.Ramos-Gines@usace.army.mil

Sponsor:

Sue Ray, Project Manager
sray@sfwmd.gov

Project Details:

Project Sponsor: South Florida Water Management District
Project Schedule: For scheduling information regarding this project, please see the Master Implementation Sequencing Plan (MISP).
Project Phase: Pre-Construction, Engineering and Design
Design Agreement: 12 May 2000
CERP Component Designation: B, UU (Part 1 and 2)
Project Cooperation Agreement:  
Authorization: WRDA 2007

 

 

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