WRDA 2000 Initially Authorized Projects
The CERP (Plan), as described in the Central and South Florida Project Comprehensive Review Study Final Integrated Feasibility Report and Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, April 1999 (Restudy), was approved formally in WRDA 2000. In addition, several projects and pilot programs were initially authorized by Congress to expedite ecological restoration of the Everglades and other south Florida ecosystems. Authorization of these projects ensures maximum integration with ongoing Federal, State, and local ecological restoration and water quality improvement programs. Most projects are required to complete a Project Implementation Report, including National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance, as well as other public involvement, before construction can begin. Funding of an appropriation is dependent on the Federal Government's annual budget.
Descriptions and justifications for these projects were excerpted from various sections of the Restudy.
Projects - the following are Initially Authorized Projects:
| WRDA 2000 Initial Projects Authorized for Implementation | Authorization Amount |
|---|---|
C-44 Basin Storage Reservoir
(Currently this feature is part of Indian River Lagoon-South project) |
$112,562,000 |
Everglades Agricultural
Area Storage Reservoirs, Phase 1
(Part of EAA Storage Reservoirs project) |
$233,408,000 |
| Site 1 Impoundment | $38,535,000 |
Water Conservation Areas
3A/3B Levee Seepage Management
(Now incorporated into Broward County WPAs project) |
$100,335,000 |
C-11 Impoundment and
Stormwater Treatment Area
(Now incorporated into Broward County WPAs project) |
$124,837,000 |
C-9 Impoundment
and Stormwater Treatment Area
(Now incorporated into Broward County WPAs project) |
$89,146,000 |
Taylor Creek/Nubbin
Slough Storage and Treatment Area
(Now incorporated into Lake Okeechobee Watershed project) |
$104,027,000 |
Raise and Bridge East Portion
of Tamiami Trail and Fill Miami Canal within Water Conservation Area 3
(Now incorporated into WCA 3 Decomp and Sheetflow Enhancement - Part 1 project) |
$26,946,000 |
North New River Improvements
(Now incorporated into WCA 3 Decomp and Sheetflow Enhancement - Part 1 project) |
$77,087,000 |
| C-111 Spreader Canal | $94,035,000 |
Adaptive Assessment and Monitoring
Program
(10 years) |
$100,000,000 |
| Total amount of authorization: (Federal and non-Federal) |
$1,100,918,000 |
Importance of Initial Authorization
- Provide immediate system-wide water quality and flow distribution benefits to the ecosystem
- Efficiency with ongoing Federal and State projects underway
- Getting the benefits of Federal investments already undertaken
- These projects utilize proven technologies (e.g. surface reservoirs), not new technologies
- More than 2/3 of the lands required for these projects has already been acquired
- Projects would not be constructed until completion of Project Implementation Report, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance, and public engagement
- This is not a contingent authorization; the feasibility report and programmatic environmental impact statement and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Chief of Engineers report were completed
- The C-44, Everglades Agricultural Area Phase I, and Taylor Creek/Nubbin Slough projects provide significant environmental benefits to Lake Okeechobee, the Water Conservation Areas, and the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee estuaries
- The Taylor Creek/Nubbin Slough, C-44, C-11, WCA 3A/3B Levee Seepage Management, and the C-9 projects provide significant water quality improvements to Lake Okeechobee, St. Lucie estuary, and the Water Conservation Areas
- The Tamiami Trail Modifications and Fill Miami Canal and North New River Improvements projects reduce fragmentation and restore connectivity between the Water Conservation Areas and Everglades National Park
- The Everglades Agricultural Area Phase I, C-11, WCA 3A/3B Levee Seepage Management,
C-9, Tamiami Trail Modifications and Fill Miami Canal and the C-111 Spreader
Canal projects are linked to the ongoing federal Modified Water Deliveries and
C-111 projects and the state Everglades Forever Act projects
