WRDA 2000 Initially Authorized Projects:
Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Storage Reservoirs (Phase-1)
(Part of EAA Storage Reservoirs project)

General Description:

This project is located on lands in the Everglades Agricultural Area in western Palm Beach County on lands purchased with Department of Interior Farm Bill funds, with South Florida Water Management District funds, and through a series of exchanges for lands being purchased with these funds. The area presently consists of land that is mostly under sugar cane cultivation. This project will be implemented consistent with the Farm Bill land acquisition agreements. This project will improve timing of environmental deliveries to the Water Conservation Areas including reducing damaging flood releases from the Everglades Agricultural Area to the Water Conservation Areas, reduce Lake Okeechobee regulatory releases to estuaries, meet supplemental agricultural irrigation demands, and increase flood protection within the Everglades Agricultural Area.

Criticality:

This project is included in the initial authorization for three reasons: 1) lands needed for the project have been acquired by the U.S. Department of Interior and the South Florida Water Management District, 2) it provides the opportunity to construct the facility in a manner that is mutually beneficial for the Comprehensive Plan and the sponsor's Everglades Construction Project, 3) expedites construction of this facility which provides multiple environmental, water supply, and flood protection benefits.

Engineering Design:

This project includes above ground reservoir(s) with a total storage capacity of approximately 240,000 acre-feet located on land associated with the Talisman Land purchase in the Everglades Agricultural Area. Conveyance capacity increases for the Miami, North New River, Bolles and Cross Canals are also included in the design of this project. The initial design for the reservoir(s) assumed 40,000 acres, divided into two, equally sized compartments with the water level fluctuating up to 6 feet above grade in each compartment. However, actual design and construction of this first phase may result in multiple reservoirs by maximizing the use of the land acquired through the Farm Bill land acquisition agreements which may be as much as 50,000 acres.

Compartment 1 would be approximately 20,000-acre reservoir at 6 feet maximum depth with inflow pumps with a capacity of 2,700 cfs from the Miami Canal Basin and 2,300 cfs from the North New River Canal Basin for diversion of Everglades Agricultural Area runoff. Outflow to the Everglades Agricultural Area would be through a 3,000 cfs structure to Miami Canal Basin and a 4,400 cfs structure to North New River and Hillsboro Basins. Compartment 2 would be approximately 20,000-acre reservoir at 6 feet maximum depth with inflow pumps with a capacity of 4,500 cfs from the Miami Canal Basin and 3,000 cfs from the North New River Canal Basin for diversion of Lake Okeechobee regulatory releases. Outflow to the Everglades Construction Project’s Stormwater Treatment Areas 3 and 4 would be through a 3,600 cubic foot per second structure.

Canal conveyance capacities would be increased by 200 percent for the Miami, North New River and Bolles and Cross canals in order to direct Lake Okeechobee regulatory releases to the reservoir. The Project Implementation Report for the project will address the specific location and sizing of the facility as well as more site-specific design of levees and pump stations. In addition, the extent of conveyance improvements for the North New River Canal, the Miami Canal, and the Bolles and Cross canals will be identified.

Benefits:

The benefits from this project include improved storage and conveyance that will enhance the water supply to the natural areas and support better timing of water deliveries to the Water Conservation Areas by capturing and managing flood releases from the Everglades Agricultural Area to the Water Conservation Areas. This component will reduce the need to make damaging regulatory releases from Lake Okeechobee to the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee estuaries and will help meet Everglades Agricultural Area irrigation needs while increasing flood protection in the area.

Compartment 1 of the reservoir would be used to meet Everglades Agricultural Area irrigation demands. The source of water is excess Everglades Agricultural Area runoff. Overflows to Compartment 2 could occur when Compartment 1 reaches capacity and Lake Okeechobee regulatory discharges are not occurring or impending. Compartment 2 would be used to meet environmental demands as a priority, but could supply a portion of Everglades Agricultural Area irrigation demands if environmental demands equal zero. Flows will be delivered to the Water Conservation Areas through Stormwater Treatment Areas 3 and 4. The sources of water are overflow from Compartment 1 and Lake Okeechobee regulatory releases. Compartment 2 will be operated as a dry storage reservoir and discharges made down to 18 inches below ground level.

Related Projects:

The South Florida Water Management District’s Everglades Construction Project (ECP) includes construction of 44,000 acres of wetland treatment facilities to treat runoff prior to discharge into the Everglades. Construction is scheduled for completion in 2003. Further, this feature may improve the efficiency of the ECP features thereby reducing the additional treatment necessary to meet Phase II requirements of the ECP. The EAA storage reservoirs would discharge through the ECP facilities prior to discharge into the Everglades.

Schedule:

This project is currently scheduled for construction initiation in September 2005 with completion in September 2009. The scheduled construction start is based on the existing lease agreements that were part of the Farm Bill land acquisition agreement. Further, based on these lease agreements the use of Talisman site requires 30 months advance notification to lease holders before construction can begin.