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| Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #1316 |
| Chain of Lakes Restoration |
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| Requester: |
Richard Walesky |
Organization: |
Palm Beach County Environmental Resources Management |
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| Project Title: |
Chain of Lakes Restoration |
Date Submitted |
1/10/2006 4:20:30 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 |
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3323 Belvedere Road, Bldg. 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 (81to 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 completed a study in 2002 (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. More recently, a muck removal project was completed within the south lobe of Lake Osborne that included the removal of 125,000 cy of muck at a cost of $1.4 million dollars.
Palm Beach County 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, especially in the 116-acres south lobe.
Some local funding is available but State funding assistance is needed to implement this project and other projects designated in the Master Plan and the 2002 study.
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| Is this a project related to a federal or state declared disaster? |
No |
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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: |
$4,000,000 |
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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 |
$1,500,000 |
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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? |
No |
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| Is there a documented need for this project? |
Yes |
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Documentation: |
State of the Lakes Management Plan by the PBC County Commissioners; DEP; Habitat Restoration Plan |
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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: |
12/12/2005 |
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| Is this a water project as described in Section 403.885, Laws of Florida? |
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Yes |
| Has the project been submitted to the Department of Environmental Protection? |
Yes |
| DEP identifying number: |
SWR20022257 |
| Is this project eligible under section 403.885(5) F.S.? |
Yes |
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| Is your project addressed in a state, regional or local plan (such as a SWIM plan, Comprehensive Plan, local master plan, etc.)? |
Yes |
| Name the plan and cite the pages on which the project is described: |
| "State of the Lakes" Management Plan (pp. 115-135) |
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| If you are requesting funding for a stormwater or surface water restoration project: |
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| Which Water Management District has the jurisdiction of your project? |
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South Florida Water Management District |
| Have you provided at least 50% match? |
Yes |
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Match Amount: |
2000000 |
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Match Source: |
County: Vessel registration fees, Cultural/Recreation Bond, Capital Outlay - Environmental Resto |
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| Will this project reduce pollutant loadings to a water management district designated 'priority' surface water body? |
Yes |
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Name of water body: |
Lake Worth Lagoon |
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| Describe how it will reduce loadings, identify anticipated load reductions for total suspended solids, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and other contaminants, and specify the practices that will be used to reduce loadings: |
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| If you are requesting funding for a wastewater project: |
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| Does your project qualify for funding from DEP's 'Small Community Wastewater Treatment Grant Program' under section 403.1838 F.S.? |
No |
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| Other wastewater projects: |
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| Have you received previous legislative funding for this project? |
No |
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| Is the project under construction? |
No |
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| Have you provided at least a 25% local match? |
No |
