WEST PALM BEACH – At their March 13 meeting, the South Florida Water Management (SFWMD) Governing Board approved four projects to expand water storage in the Caloosahatchee River Watershed.

SFWMD Director of Ecosystem Restoration Jennifer Reynolds said the Caloosahatchee River Watershed is almost a million acres, she said. She said they need about 400,000 acre feet of water storage to improve water quality and provide flood control in the watershed. Existing and planned storage will provide about 220,000-acre feet.

Reynolds said they plan to use a combination of four “buckets” to expand storage in the basin.

The first “bucket” of projects are public/private partnerships with private landowners.

Examples include:

• Four Corners impoundment and water control features, includes 463 acres providing 20,000 acre feet of storage via a 22-acre rapid infiltration area. Water seeps into the ground there rapidly, a natural geologic feature of this property.

• Mudge Ranch provides passive storage on 251 acres of former grazing land.

• Roadrunner is an innovative project on 150 acres, using impoundment and chemical treatment to using an alum-wetland treatment.

In the second “bucket,” SFWMD also has projects that are owned by the state. These include projects such as;

• Boma Test Cells to evaluate effectiveness of constructed wetlands to reduce nitrogen.

• The C-43 Water Quality Component will use an inline alum injection system at the C-43 West Basin Storage Reservoir project to reduce the discharge of nutrients in water form the C-43 reservoir.

• The Berry Groves District Lands Enhancement is 1,900-acre mixed upland and wetlands district owned lands on the site of former citrus groves.

The third level of projects are part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Project (CERP). These include projects such as the C-43 West Basin Storage Reservoir, a 10,700 acre reservoir, which will range in depth from 15 to 25 feet and provide up to 170,000 acre feet of water storage. This project will provide about half of the water storage needed in the basin, Reynolds said.

The fourth “bucket” holds the grant projects, Reynolds continued.

Grant projects can quickly tackle some of the additional storage needed. This funding is provided by the state. SFWMD administers the funding.

• The first grant under consideration is the Frank Mann Preserve, to be implemented by the Lehigh Acres Municipal Services Improvement District. The objectives of the project are enhanced water quality, flood protection, aquifer recharge and public recreation. This is a $15.5 million project will create 3,000-to-4,000-acre feet of storage and remove 0.7 metric tons of phosphorus and 2.5 metric tons of nitrogen per year.
• The second project, the Bob Janes Preserve project, is to be implemented by Lee County. Objectives of this project are enhanced water quality, flood control, aquifer recharge, wildlife habitat and public recreation. The project will provide 80-acre feet of storage and remove 0.1 metric tons of phosphorus and 0.5 metric tons of nitrogen per year. Cost is $2.5 million.
• The third project is the Palm Creek Lower Filter Marsh, to be implemented by Lee County. The objectives are enhanced water quality, aquifer recharge, wildlife habitat, and public recreation. The project benefits are 18.5-acre feet of storage and removal of 0.3 metric tons of phosphorus and 2.1 metric tons of nitrogen per year. Cost is $1.5 million.

Reynolds presented the governing board with a resolution to enter into agreements totaling $19,500,000, for which $6,000,000 in dedicated funds is budgeted in Fiscal Year 2024-25 and the remainder is subject to governing board approval in future years’ budgets. Grants agreements would include $15,500,000 for the Frank Mann Preserve Project; $1,500,000 for the Palm Creek Lower Filter Marsh Project; and $2,500,000 for the Bob James Preserve Project. The governing board approved the resolution unanimously with Governing Board Member Ron Bergeron abstaining.

The governing board also approved plans to expand the Lake Hicpochee Hyrologic Enhancement project.

The Lake Hicpochee Hydrologic Enhancement Phase I, a 670-acre flow equalization basin (FEB) was completed in 2020. The Phase II expansion will include a 2,200-acre FEB and pump station. The objectives of the project are nutrient reduction, enhancing the hydrology of the historic lake bed and decreasing discharge to the Caloosahatchee River Estuary. Phase II will provide total storage capacity by over 8,000 acre feet and 7.8 miles of seepage systems.

SFWMD staff recommended the SFWMD award the bid for Phase II of Lake Hicopochee Hydrologic Enhancement to Phillips and Jordan in the amount of $126,074,200 for which $18,000,000 in dedicated funds are budgeted in Fiscal Year 2024-25 and the remainder subject to governing board approval in future years’ budgets.