Specifications

Abstract
EVERGLADES AGRICULTURAL AREA STORAGE RESERVORS
INTEGRATED PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION REPORT
AND
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
Responsible Agencies: The lead agency is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville
District. The South Florida Water Management District is the non-Federal cost-sharing partner
for the study.
Abstract: Current operations of the C&SF Project involve water supply and flood releases to
manage water levels in Lake Okeechobee, the Water Conservation Areas, and the East
Everglades. Lake management practices have resulted in higher than desirable lake levels
associated with periodic large freshwater discharges to both the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie
River Estuaries, which has severely disrupted productivity in the ecological communities in
those estuaries. The high lake levels also damage the ecological communities within the lake’s
littoral zone. System changes have also resulted in water deliveries to the Greater Everglades
that include higher peak flows following major rain events, and flow rates that decline more
abruptly following the end of the wet season. While lowering lake levels is a recognized need,
there is also a need to maintaining existing levels of water supply for agricultural and public
purposes. These issues highlight the balance that the CERP, and the EAA Storage Reservoir
project as an integral part of the CERP, must achieve to be successful.
This integrated Revised Draft Project Implementation Report (PIR) and Draft Environmental
Impact Statement (DEIS) documents the selection of a recommended alternative plan, for
restoration of the South Florida ecosystem, located within the Everglades Agricultural Area. The
study area included portions of western Palm Beach County. The features of the plan include
an above ground reservoir, Stormwater Treatment Area (STA), and improvements to primary
and secondary canals. The reservoir covers approximately 31,000 acres, with a storage capacity
of 360,000 acre-feet. It is located on lands previously acquired for restoration activities in the
Everglades ecosystem by the Department of the Interior and the South Florida Water
Management District. It would provide water storage from Lake Okeechobee and the EAA basin
via the Miami Canal, North New River Canal, and Bolles and Cross Canals and redistribution of
water through improvements to these canals. Embankments enclosing the reservoir are 23 feet
high to accommodate extreme rainfall and wind events. Embankments would have a top width of
12 feet, and incorporate underground cutoff walls to provide stability and prevent excessive
seepage into adjoining areas. A 1,495 acre STA will provide water quality improvements for
waters directed south to meet natural system demands in the Everglades region. Additional
features include improvements to existing pump stations G-372 and G-370, construction of two
new pump stations, and construction of new borrow/seepage canals. The reservoir and STA
would contribute to Everglades restoration by improving the quantity, quality, timing and
distribution of water within the greater Everglades. The selected alternative plan will benefit
Lake Okeechobee, St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee Estuaries, Water Conservation Areas and
Everglades National Park. Additionally, the plan will have localized benefits include
wetlands, deep water refugia delivery canals, and terrestrial habitat.
THE OFFICIAL CLOSING DATE FOR THE
RECIEPT OF COMMENTS IS 45 DAYS FROM
THE DATE ON WHICH THE NOTICE OF
AVAILABILITY OF THIS EIS APPEARS IN
THE
FEDERAL REGISTER.
If you require further information on this
document, contact:
Ms. Rebecca Weiss
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, P.O. Box 4970,
Jacksonville, Florida 32232-0019
Telephone: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]
EAA Storage Reservoir Revised Draft PIR and EIS February 2006