lee county water resource initiative: community sustainability committee june 16, 2010 kurt...
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Lee CountyWater Resource Initiative:
Community Sustainability Committee June 16, 2010
Kurt HarclerodeKurt HarclerodeOperations ManagerOperations Manager
Lee County Natural Resources DivisionLee County Natural Resources Division
Overview
• Launched in 2005
• Issues, Updates and Accomplishments
• Issues on the Horizon: 2010 Water Resource Initiatives and Challenges
The River is Central To Our Economy
• Our first “Highway”
• Central to our ecotourism-based economy
• Its management is central to the success of our fishing industry
• When it suffers, we suffer
Too Much, the Water Turns Red
Too Little or Too Much and the Water Turns Green
Our Industry: Tourism
• A $3 billion a year industry, tourism is attracted primarily to the coast
• Surveys here and elsewhere depict impacts as high as 35% on lodging and 29% on restaurants
• Using an impact of 20% during a 2 month red tide, Lee County suffered a $90 million loss
Lee CountyWater Resource Protection Initiative:
Key Goals
• Implementation of Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (“CERP”)
• Watershed approach for Protection of Caloosahatchee River & Estuary
• Water Quality and Water Quantity Projects
• State Legislation• Public, Environmental and Elected
Official Outreach
Goals and Accomplishments
• Caloosahatchee West Basin Storage Reservoir (The C-43 Project)
• Phase II PIR (The Water Quality Project)
• Southwest Florida Feasibility Study• Southern Flow-way/Storage – The
River of Grass / U.S. Sugar Deal
Caloosahatchee River West Basin Storage Reservoir Project
(The C-43 Project)
• Provide essential flows during the dry season resulting in improved salinity balance and ecological health of the Caloosahatchee
• The Federal and State governments have invested over $200 million in land acquisition and engineering costs
C-43 Phase II PIR (Water Quality Treatment )
• Commitment for Phase II of project to address upper basin needs (storage and water quality)
• Test Cell project (for water quality analysis BOMA 1,770 acres). Permits obtained (ready to go).
• C-43 Project – Log jam resolved: Chief’s Report approved by Corps Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
• Potential WRDA 2010
Northern Everglades and Estuary Protection Act (NEEPA)
• Created the Caloosahatchee River Watershed Protection Plan. Contains major initiatives and programs
• Watershed Construction Projects• Watershed Pollutant Control
Program
• Watershed Research and Water Quality Monitoring Program
Caloosahatchee River Watershed Protection Plan – Job Done
• Accepted by the Lee County Commission and the SFWMD Governing Board in January, 2009
• Accepted by the 2009 State Legislature
What’s Next? 2010 Priorities
• Almost every year the Caloosahatchee has exceedances or violations of minimum and maximum surface water flows
• Significant Regulatory, Planning and Project Initiatives are underway and needed.
Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule
• Corps developed new Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule (2006-2008)
• Extensive written comments and advocacy to achieve best schedule for Caloosahatchee – LORS 2008– Reduces damaging wet season discharges– Low Flows for dry season
What’s Next?2010 Priorities
• Caloosahatchee River Watershed Protection Plan– Implementation and funding
• Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule– Development of Adaptive Protocols for new
Schedule to address lower Lake levels and deliveries to prevent environmental harm to Caloosahatchee Estuary
Future Needs and Challenges: Caloosahatchee Watershed
Regulatory/Permitting Issues
• Basin Permitting Programs
• New versus existing land uses
2010 Priorities
• C-43 Project:
• Congressional Authorization and Implementation
• Phase II: Expedite and Implement• Project Implementation Report (PIR) • C-43 Project Phase II – Water Quality
Component• Prioritizing and funding
2010 Priorities
• Water supply for Caloosahatchee: – Water Reservations
• Water Quality:– Finalize TMDLs– Develop BMAP to implement TMDLs– Basin Rules– Numeric Nutrient Criteria– Funding and construction of BOMA
2010 Priorities
• Completion of the SWFFS
• Implementation and funding of the CRWPP
• Adaptive Protocols to deliver Lake Okeechobee water during dry times