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Urban Lower East Coast R G
How the Restudy Team Developed the Recommended Comprehensive Plan
A multi-agency, multidisciplinary team was created to develop plans that
addressed the problems within the study area. This team included biologists,
ecologists, economists, engineers, geographic information system specialists,
hydrologists, planners, public involvement specialists, and real estate specialists
from a number of Federal, state, tribal, and local government agencies.
Between September 1997 and June 1998, alternative comprehensive plans
were formulated and evaluated. Beginning with a “Starting Point” alternative and
continuing until the recommended plan was chosen, each iterative formulation and
evaluation cycle built upon the strengths of the previous alternative plan while
addressing its shortfalls. The Alternative Evaluation Team, a subgroup of the
Restudy Team, evaluated each alternative based on modeling results and comments
received from the entire team as well as the general public. The Alternative
Development Team, another Restudy subgroup, then used that evaluation to design
a better alternative. All modeling results and evaluations were posted on the
Restudy web site for the team and general public to review.
Green (G) - predicted hydrologic performance
will result in recovery and long-term sustainability
of ecological or water supply objectives.
Yellow (Y) -marginal or uncertain ability to
achieve long-term sustainability of ecological or
water supply objectives.
Red (R) -ecological or water supply objectives
will not be met.
Summary
Final Feasibility Report and PEIS April 1999
vii
Because of its fundamental importance to restoration, much of the emphasis
early in the plan formulation process was on increasing regional storage capacity
and increasing water management flexibility to meet water quantity objectives.
Later iterations addressed the restoration objectives of greater system connectivity
(decompartmentalization) and sheetflow. Throughout the formulation and
evaluation period, many different decompartmentalization scenarios were modeled.
These scenarios gave the team feedback on how the system responded under
different conditions. This knowledge was valuable in the effort to improve
conditions in the remaining Everglades in the final alternative, which became the
basis of the recommended Comprehensive Plan.
The Restudy Team recognized that water quality standards were not being
met in many water bodies in the study area. The team recognized the changes in
flow patterns, even though beneficial hydrologically, might adversely affect water
quality conditions in downstream water bodies. To address this problem, several
water quality treatment facilities were included in the recommended
Comprehensive Plan to ensure water quality standards would be met. Future
implementation of the features of the Comprehensive Plan, including detailed
planning and design, will take into account water quality restoration targets as
they are developed for specific water bodies in south Florida.
Major Features of the Recommended Comprehensive Plan
The Restudy Team formulated and evaluated 10 alternative comprehensive
plans and more than 25 intermediate computer simulations. Alternative D-13R was
selected as the Initial Draft Plan. Alternative D-13R along with the series of Other
Project Elements, Critical Projects, water quality treatment facilities, and other
modifications that further improve performance of the plan, comprise the
recommended Comprehensive Plan. The estimated first cost of the recommended
Comprehensive Plan is $7.8 billion; and the annual operation and maintenance
costs, including adaptive assessment and monitoring, are $182 million. The plan
includes the following structural and operational changes to the existing C&SF
Project:
Surface Water Storage Reservoirs. A number of water storage facilities are
planned north of Lake Okeechobee, in the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie basins, in
the Everglades Agricultural Area, and in the Water Preserve Areas of Palm Beach,
Broward and Miami-Dade counties. These areas will encompass approximately
181,300 acres and will have the capacity to store 1.5 million acre-feet of water.
Water Preserve Areas. Multipurpose water management areas are planned in
Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties between the urban areas and the
eastern Everglades. The Water Preserve Areas will have the ability to treat urban
runoff, store water, reduce seepage, and improve existing wetland areas.
Summary
Final Feasibility Report and PEIS April 1999
viii
Manage Lake Okeechobee as an Ecological Resource. Lake Okeechobee is
currently managed for many, often conflicting, uses. The lake’s regulation schedule
will be modified and plan features constructed to reduce the extreme high and low
levels that damage the lake and its shoreline. Management of intermediate water
levels will be improved, while allowing the lake to continue to serve as an important
source for water supply. Several plan components and Other Project Elements are
included to improve water quality conditions in the lake. A study is recommended to
evaluate in detail the dredging of nutrient-enriched lake sediments to help achieve
water quality restoration targets, important not only for the lake, but also for
downstream receiving bodies.
Improve Water Deliveries to Estuaries. Excess stormwater that is discharged to
the ocean and the gulf through the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie rivers is very
damaging to their respective estuaries. The recommended Comprehensive Plan will
greatly reduce these discharges by storing excess runoff in surface and underground
water storage areas. During times of low rainfall, the stored water can be used to
augment flow to the estuaries. Damaging high flows will also be reduced to the
Lake Worth Lagoon.
Underground Water Storage. Wells and associated infrastructure will be built to
store water in the upper Floridan aquifer. As much as 1.6 billion gallons a day may
be pumped down the wells into underground storage zones. The injected fresh
water, which does not mix with the saline aquifer water, is stored in a “bubble” and
can be pumped out during dry periods. This approach, known as aquifer storage and
recovery, has been used for years on a smaller scale to augment municipal water
supplies. Since water does not evaporate when stored underground and less land is
required for storage, aquifer storage and recovery has some advantages over surface
storage. The recommended Comprehensive Plan includes aquifer storage and
recovery wells around Lake Okeechobee, in the Water Preserve Areas, and the
Caloosahatchee Basin.
Treatment Wetlands. Approximately 35,600 acres of manmade wetlands, known
as stormwater treatment areas, will be built to treat urban and agricultural runoff

Urban Lower East Coast R G

How the Restudy Team Developed the Recommended Comprehensive Plan

A multi-agency, multidisciplinary team was created to develop plans that

addressed the problems within the study area. This team included biologists,

ecologists, economists, engineers, geographic information system specialists,

hydrologists, planners, public involvement specialists, and real estate specialists

from a number of Federal, state, tribal, and local government agencies.

Between September 1997 and June 1998, alternative comprehensive plans

were formulated and evaluated. Beginning with a “Starting Point” alternative and

continuing until the recommended plan was chosen, each iterative formulation and

evaluation cycle built upon the strengths of the previous alternative plan while

addressing its shortfalls. The Alternative Evaluation Team, a subgroup of the

Restudy Team, evaluated each alternative based on modeling results and comments

received from the entire team as well as the general public. The Alternative

Development Team, another Restudy subgroup, then used that evaluation to design

a better alternative. All modeling results and evaluations were posted on the

Restudy web site for the team and general public to review.

Green (G) - predicted hydrologic performance

will result in recovery and long-term sustainability

of ecological or water supply objectives.

Yellow (Y) -marginal or uncertain ability to

achieve long-term sustainability of ecological or

water supply objectives.

Red (R) -ecological or water supply objectives

will not be met.

Summary

Final Feasibility Report and PEIS April 1999

vii

Because of its fundamental importance to restoration, much of the emphasis

early in the plan formulation process was on increasing regional storage capacity

and increasing water management flexibility to meet water quantity objectives.

Later iterations addressed the restoration objectives of greater system connectivity

(decompartmentalization) and sheetflow. Throughout the formulation and

evaluation period, many different decompartmentalization scenarios were modeled.

These scenarios gave the team feedback on how the system responded under

different conditions. This knowledge was valuable in the effort to improve

conditions in the remaining Everglades in the final alternative, which became the

basis of the recommended Comprehensive Plan.

The Restudy Team recognized that water quality standards were not being

met in many water bodies in the study area. The team recognized the changes in

flow patterns, even though beneficial hydrologically, might adversely affect water

quality conditions in downstream water bodies. To address this problem, several

water quality treatment facilities were included in the recommended

Comprehensive Plan to ensure water quality standards would be met. Future

implementation of the features of the Comprehensive Plan, including detailed

planning and design, will take into account water quality restoration targets as

they are developed for specific water bodies in south Florida.

Major Features of the Recommended Comprehensive Plan

The Restudy Team formulated and evaluated 10 alternative comprehensive

plans and more than 25 intermediate computer simulations. Alternative D-13R was

selected as the Initial Draft Plan. Alternative D-13R along with the series of Other

Project Elements, Critical Projects, water quality treatment facilities, and other

modifications that further improve performance of the plan, comprise the

recommended Comprehensive Plan. The estimated first cost of the recommended

Comprehensive Plan is $7.8 billion; and the annual operation and maintenance

costs, including adaptive assessment and monitoring, are $182 million. The plan

includes the following structural and operational changes to the existing C&SF

Project:

Surface Water Storage Reservoirs. A number of water storage facilities are

planned north of Lake Okeechobee, in the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie basins, in

the Everglades Agricultural Area, and in the Water Preserve Areas of Palm Beach,

Broward and Miami-Dade counties. These areas will encompass approximately

181,300 acres and will have the capacity to store 1.5 million acre-feet of water.

Water Preserve Areas. Multipurpose water management areas are planned in

Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties between the urban areas and the

eastern Everglades. The Water Preserve Areas will have the ability to treat urban

runoff, store water, reduce seepage, and improve existing wetland areas.

Summary

Final Feasibility Report and PEIS April 1999

viii

Manage Lake Okeechobee as an Ecological Resource. Lake Okeechobee is

currently managed for many, often conflicting, uses. The lake’s regulation schedule

will be modified and plan features constructed to reduce the extreme high and low

levels that damage the lake and its shoreline. Management of intermediate water

levels will be improved, while allowing the lake to continue to serve as an important

source for water supply. Several plan components and Other Project Elements are

included to improve water quality conditions in the lake. A study is recommended to

evaluate in detail the dredging of nutrient-enriched lake sediments to help achieve

water quality restoration targets, important not only for the lake, but also for

downstream receiving bodies.

Improve Water Deliveries to Estuaries. Excess stormwater that is discharged to

the ocean and the gulf through the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie rivers is very

damaging to their respective estuaries. The recommended Comprehensive Plan will

greatly reduce these discharges by storing excess runoff in surface and underground

water storage areas. During times of low rainfall, the stored water can be used to

augment flow to the estuaries. Damaging high flows will also be reduced to the

Lake Worth Lagoon.

Underground Water Storage. Wells and associated infrastructure will be built to

store water in the upper Floridan aquifer. As much as 1.6 billion gallons a day may

be pumped down the wells into underground storage zones. The injected fresh

water, which does not mix with the saline aquifer water, is stored in a “bubble” and

can be pumped out during dry periods. This approach, known as aquifer storage and

recovery, has been used for years on a smaller scale to augment municipal water

supplies. Since water does not evaporate when stored underground and less land is

required for storage, aquifer storage and recovery has some advantages over surface

storage. The recommended Comprehensive Plan includes aquifer storage and

recovery wells around Lake Okeechobee, in the Water Preserve Areas, and the

Caloosahatchee Basin.

Treatment Wetlands. Approximately 35,600 acres of manmade wetlands, known

as stormwater treatment areas, will be built to treat urban and agricultural runoff