Specifications

Section 5 Formulation of Alternative Plans
EAA Storage Reservoirs Revised Draft PIR and EIS February 2006
5-2
into two phases to expedite implementation. The first phase included the
construction of two equally sized compartments of 20,000 acre at 6-feet
maximum depths. This first phase was conditionally authorized by Congress in
Section 601 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2000 (Public Law (PL
106-541). Based on this phased approach, a PMP was prepared to address the
EAA Storage Reservoirs Project - Phase 1. However, as the Phase 1 PIR/EIS
progressed, it became apparent that formulating and evaluating the two phases
separately would result in an incomplete solution to the problems the EAA
Storage Reservoirs project was intended to address. Not constraining the plan
formulation and evaluation and design to phases or the three cell configurations
as initially authorized allowed the design optimization to develop a more cost-
effective plan than would have resulted from a phased approach. Therefore, it
was subsequently determined that the entire EAA project should be formulated
and evaluated as one project. This will require modification to the existing
authorized project.
Plan formulation for this project implementation report focused on affirming
that an above-ground storage reservoir in the EAA continues to meet the goals,
objectives, and purposes for the project. The problems, opportunities, goals and
objectives and constraints described in the existing and future without-project
steps in this report are generally unchanged from those identified in the
Restudy. Modifications to the without project condition, notably the acquisition
of the Talisman lands, is addressed and does not impact plan selection.
In general, the plan formulation was conducted by affirming that above –ground
storage in the EAA is a cost-effective solution to achieving the benefits identified
in the Restudy by screening different storage locations within the system. This
screening analysis concluded that storage within the EAA is the most cost-
effective method to begin achieving the goals and regional storage objectives of
CERP. To complete the plan formulation, alternative plans with different
configurations and sizes were compared to determine the cost-effectiveness of
various storage depths, including a range of footprints and different construction
techniques. Additionally, on-site management measures were developed and
evaluated.
5.2 PLAN FORMULATION RATIONALE
5.2.1 Preliminary Screening
Lake Okeechobee is considered the “liquid heart” of South Florida’s
interconnected Kissimmee River/Lake Okeechobee/Everglades systems. It is the
critical source of water for other wetland components of the South Florida
ecosystem, the Lake Okeechobee service area, the remaining portions of the
historic Everglades, the urbanized areas of the Lower East Coast of Florida, and
Florida Bay.