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| Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #2044 |
| Chain of Lakes Restoration |
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| Requester: |
Richard E. Walesky, Dir., Dept. of Env. Resources Management |
Organization: |
Palm Beach County |
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| Project Title: |
Chain of Lakes Restoration |
Date Submitted |
1/15/2004 4:11:55 PM |
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| Sponsors: |
Klein |
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| Statewide Interest: |
| The Chain of Lakes is a freshwater lake system linked through connecting canal systems to the Everglades and the Lake Worth Lagoon. The lakes are important features of the regional stormwater management system and are heavily used by boaters, fisherman and other recreational users. Additionally, they provide significant recharge to South Florida groundwater supplies, a critical CERP water resource consideration. |
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| Recipient: |
Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners |
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Contact: |
Todd J. Bonlarron, Legislative Affairs Director |
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3323 Belvedere Road - Building 502 |
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Contact Phone: |
(561) 355-3451 |
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West Palm Beach 33406 |
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Contact email: |
Tbonlarr@co.palm-beach.fl.us |
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| Counties: |
Palm Beach |
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| Gov't Entity: |
Yes |
Private Organization (Profit/Not for Profit): |
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| Project Description: |
| The Chain of Lakes Restoration Project was developed to improve the water quality, fisheries and wildlife habitat of an urban lake system within east central Palm Beach County.
The Chain of Lakes consists of 5 interconnected lakes (Pine, Clarke, Osborne, Eden, and Ida) stretching approximately 30 miles from West Palm Beach to Delray Beach. These lakes are surrounded by extensive development and are bisected by multiple drainage canals as well as the interconnecting north-south E4 canal. As a result, the lakes receive runoff and stormwater discharges from most of Palm Beach County and have become eutrophic/hypereutrophic (very nutrient-enriched). The major source (81 to 99%) of water and nutrients to the lakes is from the E4 canal and that source originates with the C51 canal.
From an assessment of the lakes, a restoration and management plan was developed and approved by the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners in January, 1998. This plan provides for creating/restoring essential fish and wildlife habitat along the lake shorelines, undertaking detailed evaluations for improving water quality through addressing stormwater and bottom sediments, developing stormwater discharge treatments, encouraging community support, and providing public education on water quality and lake issues. One such project was to analyze nutrient loadings, develop nutrient budgets for the lakes and determine amounts and effects of organic sediments within the lakes. A County consultant recently completed the study (costing $150,000) to address the stormwater and bottom sediments by developing nutrient and hydrological budgets and evaluate treatment needs and options for improving water quality. The results clearly show that removal of the organic sediments (muck), treating the nutrient loads from the E4, and conversion of the lakes to macrophyte dominance (as opposed to algae dominance) were essential tasks for improving the water quality in these urban lakes.
In addition to the needed study, several habitat restoration projects within the management plan have also been completed. These restoration projects total approximately 1 mile of created shoreline habitat with over 10 acres of high-quality wetlands created and 14 acres of existing hardwood wetlands restored.
Palm Beach County, in partnership with the Army Corps of Engineers, is developing the next significant Chain of Lakes project, the Habitat Restoration Master Plan for Lake Osborne. This project will create/restore over 100 acres of vegetated littoral areas and hardwood wetlands. In addition, accumulated muck sediments will be removed which will open up a significant portion of Lake Osborne's substrate for native submerged vegetation colonization that will improve water quality. Muck is a significant source of water quality degradation in 200 or more acres of Lake Osborne, and especially in the 116-acre south lobe.
Some local funding is available and a federal application is pending for 65% funding for this project. State funding assistance is needed to fulfill the federally-required local share of the $7.5 million anticipated project cost.
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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: |
SWR20022257 |
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| Measurable Outcome Anticipated: |
| Improvements in water quality through reduced pollutant loadings and lowered ambient nutrient levels. Improved water clarity. Increased fish populations. |
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| Amount requested from the State for this project this year: |
$2,000,000 |
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| Total cost of the project: |
$7,500,000 |
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| Request has been made to fund: |
Construction |
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| What type of match exists for this project? |
Local, Federal |
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Cash Amount |
$600,000 |
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In-kind Amount |
$500,000 |
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| Was this project previously funded by the state? |
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No |
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| Is future-year funding likely to be requested? |
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Yes |
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Amount: |
$2,000,000 |
To Fund: |
Construction |
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| Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request? |
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Yes |
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Agency |
Fish And Wildlife Conservation Commission |
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| Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget? |
Unknown |
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| Is there a documented need for this project? |
Yes |
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Documentation: |
The "State of the Lakes" Management Plan, approved on January 13, 1998 |
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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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Yes |
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Hearing Body: |
Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners / Palm Beach County Legislative Delegation |
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Hearing Meeting Date: |
12/17/2003 |
