House Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #424

Southern Indian River Lagoon Restoration

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Requester:

Frank Bernardino

Organization:

South Florida Water Management District

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Project Title:

Southern Indian River Lagoon Restoration

Date Submitted:

01/27/2000 2:32:31 PM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

District Member:

Kenneth Pruitt

Service Area:

Regional

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Counties Affected:

Martin, Palm Beach, St. Lucie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recipient:

South Florida Water Management District

Contact:

Frank Bernardino

 

PO Box 24680

Contact Phone:

(561) 546-8836

 

 

West Palm Beach 33416-4680

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Project Description:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This project comprises of 6 seperate habitat or water quality restoration initiatives aimed at restoring the Southern Indian River Lagoon.  These are:

1)OYSTER AND SUBMERGED AQUATIC VEGETATION MAPPING - This on going project is to continue mapping and monitoring the success of restoration efforts in the SLE.  Oysters and Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) in the St. Lucie Estuary (SLE) are the 2 species that are being used as indicators of a healthy system.  These target species will help guide the development of Pollutant Load Reducation Goal (PLRG) efforts in the SLE and IRL.  These efforts are described in the IRL SWIM Plan.

2)SEAGRASS MAPPING AND MONITORING - This project is to continue on going monitoring and mapping of seagrasses in the Southern Indian River Lagoon as specified in the IRL SWIM Plan.  This is expected to be a joint effort with the St. Johns River Water Management District to map seagrasses throughout the entire IRL.  This application is for the portion of the IRL within the boundaries of the South Florida Water Management District.

3)ST. LUCIE CANAL-EASTERN STORMWATER TREATMENT AREA - This proposes a 1500 to 1800 acre Stormwater Treatment Area (STA) for the proposed land acquisition immediately NW of the S-80 control structure.  This STA facility would treat flows from the proposed upstream reservoir and from the C-44 Canal.  Water quality goals would be to reduce nutrient loading prior to discharge to the imparied water body (SLE).  In addition the water storage maintained on the facility will work towards providing an acceptable salinity regime for the Estuary.

4)TEN MILE CREEK RESTORATION - This is a Critical Restoration project which was authorized by Congress under Section 528 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1996.  The project includes infrastructure improvements for the construction of an above-ground reservoir with a pump station for filling the reservoir from Ten Mile Creek, a gated water-level control structure, for the release of water back to the creek from the polishing cell, a gated gravity control structure for draining the facility for maintenance purposes, control structures between the deep water storage area and the polishing cell for operational control, and an overflow weir form emergencies.  In addition, the project consists of the required planning and design activities, land acquisition, operational and best management practice plans for the basin and reservoir.  The footprint of the reservoir is anticipated to be approximately 550 acres in size with the remaining acerage of approximatley 190 acres being utilized as a polishing cell.  Based upon existing topography, stored water depths average ten feet.  Total storage capacity will be approximately 5,000 acre-feet.

5)THE BLOWING ROCKS PRESERVE RESTORATION - The Blowing Rocks Preserve (BPR) Habitat and Hydrologic Restoration Project is to restore historically documented vegetation, hydrology and function to the BRP which will improve surface water quality and function to the IRL.  BRP is a 73-acre coastal preserve located on Jupiter Island in Martin County.

6)SOUTHERN IRL/MOSQUITO IMPOUNDMENT RESTORATION - The IRL is covered under 2 watershed plans, the IRL SWIM Plan and the Comprehensive Conservation and Management (CCMP) Plan.  These plans indentified the diversion of excess surface water drainage from both urban and agricultural lands to the lagoon and associated declines in water and sediment quality as primary threats to the lagoon.  The loss of shorline habitat is also identified under both plans as a major contributing factor to the degradation of the waterbody.  Mangrove wetlands and seagrass beds are critical components of the Lagoon and play important roles in biological productivity and species diversity.  Since the 1950's, the IRL has lost through destruction and/or impoundment, over 75% of its shoreline vegetation (Indian River Lagoon Committee, 1986).  This mosquito impoundment project will improve water quality and tidal exchange through the installation of one dual pump and aeration station, and conversion of 5, 30 inch diameter corrugated aluminum pipes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Services Provided/Benefit to State:

 

 

 

 

 

The Indian River Lagoon is the most biologically diverse estuary in North America.  The entire lagoon is endangered from increased runoff from watershed drainage enhancements.  Excess stormwater due to drainage improvements is causing radical fluctuations of the salinity concentration in the SLE.  Adverse salinity concentrations are eliminating viable habitat in the SLE suitaable for oysters, seagrasses, and marine fish spawning.  The projects comprising this package are intended to improve the timing and volume of freshwater flows entering the IRL, as well as, the quality of water.  The restoration of coastal habitats and the monitoring of oysters and seagrasses will provide valuable information to guide the development of Pollutant Load Reduction Goal efforts in the SLE and IRL.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Measurable Outcome Anticipated:

 

 

 

 

 

The quanifiable benefits of these projects include: the restoration of mangrove swamps; the cleaning of stormwater runoff entering the IRL, as well as creating a more natural salinity range in the SLE [these hydrologic changes will create conditions favoring seagrass (shoal grass), oysters, and juvenile recreational/commercial fish (red drum, croaker, snook, etc) nursery grounds in the SLE and IRL]; improving habitat for juvenile species of fish which use mangrove wetlands as nursery grounds which in turn benefits numerous lagoon species; improving marshes for feeding, breeding and nursery areas; and promoting the increase in fisheries which also indirectly supports a larger fish eating bird populations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amount requested from the State for this project this year:

$12,742,293

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total cost of the project:

$25,484,586

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Request has been made to fund:

Construction

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is there Local Government or Private match for this request?

 

Yes

 

 

Cash Amount:

$6,350,000

In-Kind Amount:

$6,392,293

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Was this project previously funded by the State?

 

Yes

 

 

Fiscal Year:

1996-1999

Amount:

$1,611,122

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is future-year funding likely to be requested?

 

Yes

 

 

Amount:

$7,500,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purpose for future year funding:

 

YesNon-recurring Construction and Monitoring

 

 

Will this be an annual request?

 

 

Unknown

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request?

 

Yes

 

 

Agency:

Environmental Protection, Department Of

Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget?

Yes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is there a documented need for this project?

 

Yes

 

 

Documentation:

IRL SWIM Plan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)?

Unknown