CERP Project:
Loxahatchee River Watershed Restoration Project

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The purpose of the Loxahatchee River Watershed Restoration Project (formerly known as North Palm Beach County - Part 1) is to capture, store and treat excess water that is currently discharged to the Lake Worth Lagoon and use that water to enhance the Loxahatchee River and Slough and provide for water supplies to the West Palm Beach Water Catchment Area. Excess canal water would be back-pumped through existing and proposed water control structures and canals to the stormwater treatment areas, which would provide water quality treatment prior to discharge into the West Palm Beach Water Catchment Area. During plan formulation process, objectives discussed in relation to several CERP elements in the study area were combined into a single project with five study sub-areas.

Following extensive PDT discussion of these components, the following objectives were established:

1. L-8 and Associated Basins (C-18 Basin) - Capture and store excess surface water that would be lost to tide to Lake Worth Lagoon through S-155, or to the Loxahatchee River Estuary through S-46. Optimize quantity, quality, timing and delivery of surface water to/from areas including Corbett Wildlife Management Area, Grassy Waters Preserve, Loxahatchee Slough, and Loxahatchee River to achieve ecological and water supply enhancement purposes. Minimize damaging slug stormwater releases to downstream receiving water bodies. Maintain or enhance the current level of flood protection in the L-8 Basin.

2. Pal Mar/Cypress Creek and Associated Basins Surrounding the Loxahatchee River (Pal Mar/Loxahatchee) - Capture and store excess surface waters, and use it to increase discharge to and base flow in the Northwest Fork of the Loxahatchee River during periods of insufficient flow and lowered groundwater levels. Reduce peak discharges to the Loxahatchee Estuary through the Southwest Fork of the Loxahatchee River through the S-46 water control structure. Restore freshwater forested wetlands in the Loxahatchee River closer to 1940's conditions (consistent with FDEP vision for river restoration). Establish and preserve a continuous greenway system that to improves wildlife corridor and habitat values and links up with the regional greenway system. Provide or improve hydrologic connections within the contiguous greenway and the regional water management system to increase water management options for maintaining or enhancing the existing natural areas (i.e., pine flatwoods, wetlands and other natural habitats).

3. C-51 Basin - Capture, store, and treat excess surface waters and supplement water deliveries to areas including Grassy Waters Preserve or adjacent wetlands, Loxahatchee Slough, and/or Loxahatchee River to achieve ecological and water supply enhancement purposes.

4. C-17 Basin - Capture, store, and treat excess surface waters from the upstream reaches of the C-17 Basin and supplement water deliveries to areas including Grassy Waters Preserve or adjacent wetlands, Loxahatchee Slough, and/or Loxahatchee River to achieve ecological and water supply enhancement purposes.

5. Lake Worth Lagoon Near the S-155 Discharge - Protect and improve Lake Worth Lagoon water quality, and improve aquatic conditions to enhance benthic and sea grass communities. Reduce stormwater discharges to the Lake Worth Lagoon through the S-155 water control structure. Reduce adverse impacts of accumulated undesired sediments in the Lagoon. Reduce sediment loading to the Lagoon through S-155. Establish a more stable salinity regime within the Lake Worth Lagoon restoration area, as the area is defined in the Restudy.

The PIR will evaluate whether the L-8 Reservoir is a necessary part of the North Palm Beach County – Part 1 project, however, early information suggests that its inclusion may be beneficial. Early constructed elements of Flowway 1 (G-160, G-161, M-canal widening) will also be evaluated. In addition, the planning process will evaluate a suite of alternatives associated with various other flowways and components with respect to providing beneficial flows to the Loxahatchee River, achieving hydropattern restoration and reducing flows to the Lake Worth Lagoon.

Related Links & Project Documents:

Project Contacts:

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers:

Kim Vitek, Project Manager
Kimberly.A. Vitek@usace.army.mil

Sponsor:

Beth Kacvinsky, Project Manager
bkacvins@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: K Part 1, X, Y and GGG; OPEs: Pal Mar/JW and Lake Worth Lagoon
Project Cooperation Agreement:  
Authorization: WRDA 2000 (Programmatic Authority) - X, OPEs: Pal-Mar/JW and Lake Worth Lagoon;
Not currently authorized- K Part 1, Y and GGG

 

 

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