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| Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #163 |
| Lake Okeechobee Restoration |
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| Requester: |
Henry Dean, Executive Director |
Organization: |
South Florida Water Management District |
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| Project Title: |
Lake Okeechobee Restoration |
Date Submitted |
1/14/2003 2:26:27 PM |
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| Sponsors: |
Pruitt |
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| Statewide Interest: |
| This project is regional in scope, is intended to meet a documented need of statewide interest, is intended to produce a measureable result and has tangible community support. (See below) |
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| Recipient: |
South Florida Water Management District |
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Contact: |
Frank Bernardino |
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3301 Gun Club Road |
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Contact Phone: |
(561) 718-2345 |
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West Palm Beach 33416 |
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| Counties: |
Martin, Okeechobee, Palm Beach, St. Lucie |
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| Gov't Entity: |
Yes |
Private Organization (Profit/Not for Profit): |
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| Project Description: |
| The restoration efforts being proposed here include the following items, which are mandated in the in the Lake Okeechobee Law (Chapter 00-130, Laws of Florida): implementation of phosphorus control measures for agricultural and urban land uses in the Lake Okeechobee watershed; development of innovative public-private partnerships for phosphorus reduction; exotic species control in the littoral marsh region of Lake Okeechobee; land acquisition for the building of regional-attenutation stormwater treatment areas; restoration of isolated wetlands for water storage, water quality improvements, and habitat enhancement; and water quality modeling and monitoring to assess the effectiveness of restoration efforts. |
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| Is this a water project as described in Chapter 2002-291, Laws of Florida? |
Yes |
| Has the project been submitted to the Department of Environmental Protection? |
Yes |
| DEP Identfying Number: |
SWR20022133 |
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| Measurable Outcome Anticipated: |
| The projects required in the Lake Okeechobee Protection Act (Sec. 373.4595) specifically address each of the main problems affecting the lake, include high nutrient loads (primarily phosphorus), high lake stages, and the spread of exotic and nuisance vegetation. Watershed phosphorus control projects will result in a reduction of phosphorus loading to the Lake, as required by the Total Maximum Daily Load of 140 metric tons of phosphorus a year set by FDEP. The Lake Okeechobee Protection Plan, due to the Legislature in January 2004, will provide the watershed restoration management plan to meet the TMDL. The re-creation of storage in the watershed will assist in managing Lake levels to maintain a healthy littoral zone and allow the regrowth of submerged aquatic vegetation which is necessary to support the Lake's fisheries. The control of exotic and nuisance plants is necessary to restore and maintain high quality habitat for fisheries and wading and nesting birds, as well as recreational access. The Lake Okeechobee Protection Act (Sec. 373.4595) requires phosphorus loads to the Lake be reduced to the TMDL of 140 metric tons by 2015. The projects listed above will contribute to these reductions through the implementation of Best Management Practices or Best Available Technologies, recreation of natural treatment through wetlands restoration, and the construction of regional-attenuation stormwater treatment areas or other alternative technologies through public-private partnerships. The initial goal for full BMP implementation is a 25% reduction in phosphorus from agricultural lands. The initial estimate of phosphorus reduction from Phase I of the Lake Okeechobee Construction Projects is approximately 100 metric tons per year. The reduction in phosphorus in surface waters, along with the implementation of BMPs and other control methods that capture and remove phosphorus from the watershed, will result in some reduction in nutrient loads to groundwater. Projects being implemented are primarily focused on phosphorus load reduction, but also reduce other water quality parameters of concern such as fecal coliforms. In addition, Lake Okeechobee is a primary drinking water source for several municipalities along the south shore of the Lake. Improvements in Lake water quality may result in decreased levels of chlorine needed for potable water treatment. |
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| Amount requested from the State for this project this year: |
$10,000,000 |
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| Total cost of the project: |
$10,600,000 |
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| Request has been made to fund: |
Construction |
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| What type of match exists for this project? |
Local |
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Cash Amount |
$600,000 |
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| Was this project previously funded by the state? |
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Yes |
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Fiscal Year: |
2002 |
Amount: |
$7,500,000 |
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| Is future-year funding likely to be requested? |
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Yes |
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Amount: |
$10,000,000 |
To Fund: |
Construction |
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| Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request? |
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No |
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| Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget? |
No |
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| Is there a documented need for this project? |
Yes |
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Documentation: |
Chp 00-130 Laws of Fla., 1997 LK Okee SWIM Plan, 2002 Lk Okee SWIM Plan Update |
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| Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)? |
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No |
