Tracey Piccone, P.E.August 10, 2004
Tracey Piccone, P.E.August 10, 2004
STA-1W Cell 5 Limerock Berm
2003 Outstanding Project of the Year
STA-1W Cell 5 Limerock Berm
2003 Outstanding Project of the Year
Palm Beach County Branch of the American
Society of Civil Engineers Palm Beach County Branch of the American
Society of Civil Engineers
“There are no other Everglades in the
world…
“There are no other Everglades in the
world…
They are, they have always been, one of the unique regions of the earth, remote, never wholly known. Nothing anywhere else is like them: their vast glittering openness, wider than the enormous visible round of the horizon, the racing free saltness and sweetness of their massive winds, under the dazzling blue heights of space. They are unique also in the simplicity, the diversity, and the related harmony of the forms of life they enclose. The miracle of light pours over the green and brown expanse of saw grass and of water, shining and slow-moving below, the grass and water that is the central fact of the Everglades of Florida. It is a river of grass.” Marjory Stoneman Douglas
The Everglades: River of Grass (1947)
They are, they have always been, one of the unique regions of the earth, remote, never wholly known. Nothing anywhere else is like them: their vast glittering openness, wider than the enormous visible round of the horizon, the racing free saltness and sweetness of their massive winds, under the dazzling blue heights of space. They are unique also in the simplicity, the diversity, and the related harmony of the forms of life they enclose. The miracle of light pours over the green and brown expanse of saw grass and of water, shining and slow-moving below, the grass and water that is the central fact of the Everglades of Florida. It is a river of grass.” Marjory Stoneman Douglas
The Everglades: River of Grass (1947)
Sawgrass and tree islands
Everglades landscape
Sawgrass prairie
Everglades landscape
Everglades RestorationEverglades Restoration
4 major problems facing Everglades ecosystem: Reduction in spatial extent of wetlands Degradation of water quality
(e.g., phosphorus and mercury) Disruption of hydropatterns
(i.e., timing, volume & distribution) Infestation by exotic plant species
4 major problems facing Everglades ecosystem: Reduction in spatial extent of wetlands Degradation of water quality
(e.g., phosphorus and mercury) Disruption of hydropatterns
(i.e., timing, volume & distribution) Infestation by exotic plant species
Everyone wanted to protect the Everglades…
The hard part was getting started.
Everyone wanted to protect the Everglades…
The hard part was getting started.
Early Everglades Restoration Activities
Early Everglades Restoration Activities
1972 - Florida Water Resources Act 1978 - Comprehensive Everglades
ecosystem monitoring begins 1979 - Lake Okeechobee Program
Interim Action Plan LOTAC recommendations
1987 - SWIM program initiated
1972 - Florida Water Resources Act 1978 - Comprehensive Everglades
ecosystem monitoring begins 1979 - Lake Okeechobee Program
Interim Action Plan LOTAC recommendations
1987 - SWIM program initiated
Prototype - Everglades Nutrient Removal ProjectPrototype - Everglades Nutrient Removal Project
August 1988 - Gov. Martinez authorized the District to build a constructed wetland
3,800 acres of prior ag land
Volunteer recruitment of vegetation
Design target 50 ppb Consistently reduced phosphorus to <25 ppb!
August 1988 - Gov. Martinez authorized the District to build a constructed wetland
3,800 acres of prior ag land
Volunteer recruitment of vegetation
Design target 50 ppb Consistently reduced phosphorus to <25 ppb!
Everglades Nutrient Removal Project
1988 - Highs and Lows1988 - Highs and Lows
Everglades identified as a priority water body for purpose of SWIM
Everglades Nutrient Removal project authorized
Federal lawsuit filed ...
Everglades identified as a priority water body for purpose of SWIM
Everglades Nutrient Removal project authorized
Federal lawsuit filed ...
“This was a National Forest before the Everglades Lawsuits”
The wheels of progress turned ...The wheels of progress turned ...
1991 Everglades Protection Act 1991 Federal Settlement
Agreement 1991 permit applications filed 1992 Federal Consent Decree 1992 Conceptual Design of STAs 1992 Everglades SWIM Plan
… resulting in ...
1991 Everglades Protection Act 1991 Federal Settlement
Agreement 1991 permit applications filed 1992 Federal Consent Decree 1992 Conceptual Design of STAs 1992 Everglades SWIM Plan
… resulting in ...
Litigation Averted!Litigation Averted! In December 1992, all parties entered into formal
mediated dispute resolution July 1993 Statement of Principles – joint
commitment to: end litigation, construct STAs, implement BMPs in EAA,provide funding
April 1994 - Everglades Forever Act
In December 1992, all parties entered into formal mediated dispute resolution
July 1993 Statement of Principles – joint commitment to: end litigation, construct STAs, implement BMPs in EAA,provide funding
April 1994 - Everglades Forever Act
1994 Everglades Forever Act1994 Everglades Forever Act Construction
Stormwater Treatment Areas (STAs) Diversion and hydropattern restoration
Research Phosphorus criterion research STA optimization research
Regulation BMPs Phosphorus criterion rulemaking Permitting of structures discharging into,
through or from the Everglades
Construction Stormwater Treatment Areas (STAs) Diversion and hydropattern restoration
Research Phosphorus criterion research STA optimization research
Regulation BMPs Phosphorus criterion rulemaking Permitting of structures discharging into,
through or from the Everglades
ECP Basins:
STA-1E
STA-1W
STA-2
STA-3/4
STA-5
STA-6
ESP Basins:
ACME Basin“B”
North SpringsImprovementDistrict
North NewRiver Canal(G-123)
C-11 West
L-28
Feeder CanalC-111
1994 Everglades Forever Act (cont.)
1994 Everglades Forever Act (cont.)
Achieve state water quality standards in the EPA by 12/31/06
Submit application to FDEP by 12/31/03 for long-term water quality measures plan for achieving compliance with state water
quality standards cost estimates, funding mechanisms, schedules
Achieve state water quality standards in the EPA by 12/31/06
Submit application to FDEP by 12/31/03 for long-term water quality measures plan for achieving compliance with state water
quality standards cost estimates, funding mechanisms, schedules
Everglades Construction Project Initial Phase
Everglades Construction Project Initial Phase
One of the largest environmental restoration programs undertaken by a public agency $720 million in acquisition, design and construction Over 42,000 acres of treatment wetlands
Initial goal: 50 ppb phosphorus Performance to date has exceeded expectations!
Discharges have averaged about 41 ppb Approximately 1,730 metric tons of phosphorus
removed (BMPs and STAs combined)
One of the largest environmental restoration programs undertaken by a public agency $720 million in acquisition, design and construction Over 42,000 acres of treatment wetlands
Initial goal: 50 ppb phosphorus Performance to date has exceeded expectations!
Discharges have averaged about 41 ppb Approximately 1,730 metric tons of phosphorus
removed (BMPs and STAs combined)
Constructed WetlandAgricultural Land
Design target: 50 ppb
Phosphorus Reduction
Phosphorus Removal in STAs
Inflow Outflow
Uptake byFloating Plants
Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Uptake
Groundwater Groundwater
Uptake by Floating and Attached Algae
StormwaterInflow ( 130 ppb)
Low phosphorus water to EPA ( ppb)
Phosphorus in new peat soil
Plant remainsand ParticlesDeposit P
Uptake by Emergent plants
Aerial view of STA-1W
Aerial view of STA-1W
Figure 1. STA-1W Structures & Flow*
WCA-1
G-300
S-5A
Cell 5BG-301
G-302G-327A
G-310
1
3
2
4
5A
G-306A-J
Remote Structure
Manual Structure
Passive Structure
Inflow
Treatment Flow
Outflow
Seepage Return
Diversion Flow
G-303
G-309
G-308
G-251
G-255
G-256
G-304A-J
G-305A-V
G-253A-J
G-254A-E
G-250S N
Arthur R. MarshallLoxahatchee National
Wildlife Refuge
G-258
G-259
*Not to Scale
L-40Canal
L-7 Canal
Location oflimerock berm
Full Scale STA EnhancementsFull Scale STA Enhancements
Limerock Berm constructed in Cell 5 of STA-1W to help redistribute flow and enhance phosphorus removal performance.
Construction of the Limerock Berm was completed last summer by the Jones Company of South Florida, a 100% MBE/WBE owned firm.
The Limerock Berm is about 6,900 feet long and consists of more than 22,000 tons of limerock material.
The project is currently in the monitoring phase and a report documenting the performance of the Limerock Berm is to be completed in 2006.
Limerock Berm constructed in Cell 5 of STA-1W to help redistribute flow and enhance phosphorus removal performance.
Construction of the Limerock Berm was completed last summer by the Jones Company of South Florida, a 100% MBE/WBE owned firm.
The Limerock Berm is about 6,900 feet long and consists of more than 22,000 tons of limerock material.
The project is currently in the monitoring phase and a report documenting the performance of the Limerock Berm is to be completed in 2006.
Full Scale STA EnhancementsFull Scale STA Enhancements
The Limerock Berm demonstration project is being funded by a cost-share grant agreement between the District and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The grant funding is being provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The Limerock Berm demonstration project is being funded by a cost-share grant agreement between the District and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The grant funding is being provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Limerock Berm ConstructionLimerock Berm Construction
Limerock Berm ConstructionLimerock Berm Construction
Limerock MaterialLimerock Material
Limerock Berm AerialLimerock Berm Aerial
Limerock Berm Limerock Berm
Limerock Berm Early Monitoring Results
Limerock Berm Early Monitoring Results
STA-1W Cell 5 OutflowG-306 C-D&G Weekly Geomeans
Preliminary Data
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
5/4
/99
7/4
/99
9/4
/99
11/4
/99
1/4
/00
3/4
/00
5/4
/00
7/4
/00
9/4
/00
11/4
/00
1/4
/01
3/4
/01
5/4
/01
7/4
/01
9/4
/01
11/4
/01
1/4
/02
3/4
/02
5/4
/02
7/4
/02
9/4
/02
11/4
/02
1/4
/03
3/4
/03
5/4
/03
7/4
/03
9/4
/03
11/4
/03
1/4
/04
3/4
/04
5/4
/04
7/4
/04
To
tal
Ph
osp
ho
rus (
pp
b)
Pre-Berm Baseline Post-Berm
geomean = 56 ppb geomean = 41 ppb
STA-1W Cell 5 OutflowG-306 C-D&G Weekly Geomeans
Preliminary Data
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
5/4
/99
7/4
/99
9/4
/99
11/4
/99
1/4
/00
3/4
/00
5/4
/00
7/4
/00
9/4
/00
11/4
/00
1/4
/01
3/4
/01
5/4
/01
7/4
/01
9/4
/01
11/4
/01
1/4
/02
3/4
/02
5/4
/02
7/4
/02
9/4
/02
11/4
/02
1/4
/03
3/4
/03
5/4
/03
7/4
/03
9/4
/03
11/4
/03
1/4
/04
3/4
/04
5/4
/04
7/4
/04
To
tal
Ph
osp
ho
rus (
pp
b)
Pre-Berm Baseline Post-Berm
geomean = 56 ppb geomean = 41 ppb
Achieving Long-Term Water Quality Goals
Achieving Long-Term Water Quality Goals
Will require additional STA enhancements Compartmentalization - hydraulic redistribution Vegetation management Operational refinements
Adaptive management - incorporate results from on-going research and field observations
Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals for the Everglades prepared by technical working group comprised of various stakeholders
Will require additional STA enhancements Compartmentalization - hydraulic redistribution Vegetation management Operational refinements
Adaptive management - incorporate results from on-going research and field observations
Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals for the Everglades prepared by technical working group comprised of various stakeholders
Long-Term Plan Long-Term Plan Contains projects designed to achieve compliance
with water quality standards including the phosphorus criterion in the Everglades Protection Area.
In 2003, the Florida Legislature endorsed the Plan in an amended version of the EFA.
Also in 2003, Plan recognized in the phosphorus rule adopted by the ERC as BAPRT.
Plan was included in District’s December 2003 long-term permit application to the FDEP.
Plan includes integrating with CERP project objectives and synchronizing schedules to avoid duplicative and unnecessary costs as required by the amended EFA.
Contains projects designed to achieve compliance with water quality standards including the phosphorus criterion in the Everglades Protection Area.
In 2003, the Florida Legislature endorsed the Plan in an amended version of the EFA.
Also in 2003, Plan recognized in the phosphorus rule adopted by the ERC as BAPRT.
Plan was included in District’s December 2003 long-term permit application to the FDEP.
Plan includes integrating with CERP project objectives and synchronizing schedules to avoid duplicative and unnecessary costs as required by the amended EFA.
Where are we today?Where are we today? Long-Term Plan is being implemented
Design is underway for Pre-2006 Projects (STA Enhancements) with construction to start late 2004
BMP programs are being expanded Research & monitoring are
progressing Projects are being integrated with
CERP projects
Long-Term Plan is being implemented Design is underway for Pre-2006
Projects (STA Enhancements) with construction to start late 2004
BMP programs are being expanded Research & monitoring are
progressing Projects are being integrated with
CERP projects
For More Information:For More Information: www.sfwmd.gov
http://www.sfwmd.gov/org/erd/ecp/3_ecp.html http://www.sfwmd.gov/org/erd/bsfboard/bsfsboard.htm http://www.sfwmd.gov/org/erd/longtermplan/index.shtml
2004 Everglades Consolidated Report Summary of all available data available on-line:
http://www.sfwmd.gov/org/ema/everglades/index.html
Tracey Piccone, P.E. (561) 682-6495 [email protected]
www.sfwmd.gov http://www.sfwmd.gov/org/erd/ecp/3_ecp.html http://www.sfwmd.gov/org/erd/bsfboard/bsfsboard.htm http://www.sfwmd.gov/org/erd/longtermplan/index.shtml
2004 Everglades Consolidated Report Summary of all available data available on-line:
http://www.sfwmd.gov/org/ema/everglades/index.html
Tracey Piccone, P.E. (561) 682-6495 [email protected]
Questions?Questions?