Decompartmentalizing the Everglades
Decompartmentalization entails removing constructed canals, levees and other barriers that impede the natural sheetflow of water through the historic Everglades. CERP recognizes that restoring natural water flows and patterns is fundamental to Everglades restoration. Many opportunities for doing so were identified, and discrete project concepts were described.
The initial area of investigation will look into removing barriers to sheet flow through WCA-3A. The primary impediment to the natural flow of water through this area is the Miami Canal. The Miami Canal separates WCA-3A north from WCA-3A south.
CERP was approved by Congress in 2000 and a project management plan was developed shortly thereafter. In August 2007, the Corps and SFWMD have begun the initial steps of project implementation report (PIR) development. A PIR formulates a recommended plan of action by analyzing a range of alternatives for meeting the project goals. The PIR also includes an environmental impact statement (EIS), which begins with a "scoping" phase. The scoping phase is a search for information that should be considered before the scope or extent of the analysis conducted through the PIR is defined. The search includes gathering information from the public in order to identify new information, issues, concerns and potential solutions. Scoping helps to ensure that all feasible project alternatives are considered and to streamline the PIR and EIS development processes.
The Multiple PIR Approach to DECOMP
The "Yellow Book," the document that describes the proposed components of DECOMP includes the components described below:
- Component AA: Additional S-345 structures to convey water from WCA 3A to 3B
- Component QQ Part 1: Modifications of the eastern section of Tamiami Trail and Miami Canal in WCA-3
- Component QQ Part 2: Backfilling the southern 7.5 miles of Levee (L-) 67A borrow canal, removal of the L-68A, L-67C, the western portion of L-29 below WCA 3A, L-28, and L-28 Tieback Levees and Borrow Canals, and elevating the western portion of Tamiami Trail south of WCA 3A.
- Component SS: North New River improvements needed to offset conveyance lost on the Miami Canal.
To facilitate efficient project development the components have been incorporated into multiple PIRs and a DECOMP Physical Model;
PIR 1 – The Miami Canal Portion of Component QQ Part 1, Component SS
PIR 2 – The Tamiami Trail portion of Component QQ Part 1, Component AA
PIR 3 – Component QQ Part 2
