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WRDA > WRDA 2000 Initial Projects > Taylor Creek
WRDA 2000 Initial Projects:
Taylor Creek Nubbin Slough Reservoir & Stormwater Treament Area (STA)
Description - A 5,000 acre above-ground reservoir with a storage capacity of 50,000 acre-feet and a 5,000 acre stormwater treatment area
Purpose - The reservoir will receive water from the Taylor Creek/Nubbin Slough Basin during wet periods and, following treatment in the stormwater treatment area, discharge it to Lake Okeechobee during drier times
Benefits - 1) Improved health of Lake Okeechobee and its littoral zone by reducing the duration and frequency of both high and low water levels in the Lake and through water quality improvements, 2) healthier Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries by reducing regulatory releases from Lake Okeechobee and 3) improved performance in meeting water supply for agriculture, the Lower East Coast urban areas and the Everglades
Land Status – 1,290 acres acquired by SFWMD under the Critical Projects program; 8,710 acres remaining to be acquired
C&SF Restudy Component - "W"
General Description: This project is located northeast of Lake Okeechobee in the Taylor Creek/Nubbin Slough (S-191) Basin. This basin is located in Okeechobee, St. Lucie and Martin Counties. This project has not yet been sited, but an initial site for a portion of the facilities which is being pursued under the Critical Projects authority is located near the northeastern shores of Lake Okeechobee and at the base of Nubbin Slough. The site consists of large areas of improved pasture and hayfields of an existing dairy operation.
Criticality: This project is included in the initial authorization for three reasons: 1) a portion of the lands needed for the project have been identified by the sponsor under the Critical Projects authority; 2) flows to Lake Okeechobee will be attenuated when lake levels are high or rising and 3) water quality treatment will be provided for flows from the Taylor Creek/Nubbin Slough basin which currently contribute the highest phosphorus inflow concentrations to Lake Okeechobee.
Engineering Design: This project includes an above-ground reservoir with a total storage capacity of approximately 50,000 acre-feet and a stormwater treatment area with a capacity of approximately 20,000 acre-feet in the Taylor Creek/Nubbin Slough Basin. The initial design of this project assumed a reservoir of 5,000 acres with water levels fluctuating up to 10 feet above grade and a stormwater treatment facility of approximately 5,000 acres. It is anticipated that there will be a series of reservoir and stormwater treatment facilities located throughout the basin. The Project Implementation Report will address the location and sizing of the facilities as well as the design of levees and pump stations for the reservoirs and stormwater treatment areas.
Local runoff from the Taylor Creek/Nubbin Slough Basin will be pumped into the reservoir then into an adjacent stormwater treatment area. The stormwater treatment area will reduce phosphorus concentrations in the runoff from approximately 0.58 mg/l to 0.117 mg/l. Treated water will be pumped into Lake Okeechobee when the lake stage is falling and is at least 0.5 feet below the bottom pulse release zone.
Benefits: This project will protect Lake Okeechobee from excessive high water levels that impact the littoral zone as well help reduce regulatory releases from the lake to the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee estuaries. Lake Okeechobee will also benefit from receiving the water when lake levels decline, providing protection from damaging low levels. Water quality treatment will reduce the nutrient load on the lake to the benefit of all of the Lake’s native organisms including the substantial fishery.
Related Projects: The Lake Okeechobee Water Retention/Phosphorus Removal Critical Project is underway in this basin. This Critical Project will provide 1,290 acres of storm water treatment required by this project thereby reducing the total land to be sited to 8,710 acres.
Schedule: This project is currently scheduled for construction initiation in January 2005 with completion in January 2009. Of the 10,000 acres needed for this project, 8,710 acres must still be sited and acquired. This schedule is based on a very optimistic real estate acquisition plan.
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