Specifications

Executive Summary
CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN FLORIDA PROJECT
EVERGLADES AGRICULTURAL AREA STORAGE RESERVOIRS
REVISED DRAFT INTEGRATED
PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION REPORT
AND
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Jacksonville District in cooperation
with its co-sponsor, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD),
has prepared a Revised Draft Integrated Project Implementation Report (PIR)
and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Everglades Agricultural
Area (EAA) Storage Reservoirs project in western Palm Beach County, Florida.
This report describes the purpose and need for the project, location, and
evaluations conducted which affirmed that an above–ground storage reservoir in
the EAA is a cost-effective solution to achieving the benefits of the project and
the system-wide benefits for the South Florida ecosystem and the other water-
related needs of the region identified in the Central and Southern Florida
(C&SF) Project Comprehensive Review Study (Restudy). The selected plan is
synonymous with the “Preferred Alternative” or “Preferred Plan” in the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations (40 CFR 1500-1508).
The selected plan will provide 360,000 acre-feet of above-ground storage volume,
and consists of two cells (Cell 1 and Cell 2, approximately 17,000 and 14,000
acres in size, respectively) each with a 12 foot storage depth. Features of the
selected plan include embankments, canals, pump stations, water control
structures, and environmentally responsible design features to provide fish and
wildlife habitat such as a buffer area, littoral area, and deep-water refugia. The
selected plan also includes canal conveyance improvements for the existing
Miami, North New River, and the Bolles and Cross Canals of the C&SF Project
and a stormwater treatment area (STA).
The purpose of this report is to support a new authorization for the project in
accordance with the requirements of Section 601(d) of the Water Resources
evelopment Act of 2000 (WRDA 2000). D
PURPOSE AND NEED FOR THE STUDY
Currently, there is not enough storage in the regional water management
system in South Florida to prevent harm to natural system areas during wet
periods when high water levels in Lake Okeechobee must be lowered to maintain
flood control. Conversely, during dry periods, there is not currently enough
water available in the regional system to meet competing needs for
EAA Storage Reservoirs Revised Draft PIR and EIS February 2006
ES-i