Senate Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #2379 Southern Indian River Lagoon Restoration
Requester:	Frank Barardino		Organization:		South Florida Water Management District
Project Title:	Southern Indian River Lagoon Restoration		Date Submitted:		01/31/2000 4:21:00 PM
District Member:	William Myers		Service Area:		Regional
Counties Affected:	Martin, Palm Beach, St. Lucie
Recipient:	South Florida Water Management District		Contact:		Frank Barardino
	P. O. Box 24680		Contact Phone:		(561) 546-8836
	West Palm Beach 33416
Project Description:
This project comprises of six separate habitats or water quality restoration, initiatives aimed at restoring the southern Indian River Lagoon. These are 1) oyster and submerged aquatic vegetation mapping - this ongoing 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 pollutants load reduction goal (PLRG) efforts in the SLE and the IRL. These efforts are descried in the IRL SWIM plan. 2) Seagrass mapping and monitoring - this project is to continue ongoing monitoring and mapping of seagrasses in the SIRL as specified in the IRL SWIM plan. This is expected to be a joint effort with the St. John's River Water Management District to mapp seagrasses throughout the entire IRL. This application is for the portion of the IRL within the boundaries of the SFWMD. 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. The STA facility would treat flow from the proposed upstream reservoir and the C-44 canal. Water quality goals would be to reduce nutrient loading prior to discharge to the impaired water body (SLE). In addition, the water storage maintained on the facility will work toward 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 S.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 sturctures 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 res. is anticipated to be approx. 550 acres in size with the remaining acreage of approx. 190 acres being utilized as a polishing cell. Based upon existing topography, stored water depths average 10 ft. Total storage capacity will be approx. 5,000 acre feet. 5) The Blowing Rocks Preserve Restoration - this habitat, hydrologic and restoration project is to restore historically documented vegetation, hyrology 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 Is. in Martin county. 6) Southern IRL/Mosquito Impoundment Restoration - the IRL is covered under two watershed plans, the IRL/SWIM plan and the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP). These plans identify the diversion of excess surface water drainage from both urban and agricultural lands to the lagoon and assoc. declines in water and sediment quality and primary threats to the Lagoon. The loss of Shorline habit is also identified under both plans as a major contributing factor tothe degradation of the water body. 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 (IRL committee, 1986). This mosquito impoundment project will improve water quality and title exchange through the installation of one dual pump and aereation station, and conversion of 5, 30 in. diameter corregated aluminum pipes.
Services Provided/Benefit to State:
The IRL is the most biologically diverse estuary in North America. The entire lagoon is endagered from increased runoff from watershed drainage enhancements. Excess stormwater due to drainage improvements is causing radical fluctuations of the salinity concentration of the SLE. Adverse salinity concentration are eliminating viable habitat in the SLE suitable for oysters, seagrasses, and marine fish spawning. The projects comprised in this package are intended to improve the timing and volume of fresh water flows entiring 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 quantifiable benefits of these projects include: the restoration of mangrove swamps; the cleaning of stormwater runoff entering the IRL; as well as creating a more nautural salinity range in the SLE (these hydrologic changes will create conditions favoring seagrass (shoal grass oysters, and juvenile recreation/commercial fish (red drum, croaker, snook, etc.) Nursery grounds in the SLE and IRL) Improving habitat for juvenile species of fish which used mangrove wetlands as nursery grounds which in turn benefits numerous lagoon species; improving marshs 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:				Yesmonitoring
	Will this be an annual request?					Unknown
Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request?						Yes
	Agency:	Education, Department Of, And Commissioner Of Education
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