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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11122008attachment - IRL Initiative 2010 DRAFTIndian River Lagoon State Funding Initiative Fiscal Year 2009-2010 St. Johns River Water Management District Palatka, Florida 2008 Indian R fiver Lagoon, State Fu n ding In itiative Contents Introduction-The District ................................................................................................. Introduction-The Indian River Lagoon ............................................................................ Capital Subprojects .......................................................................................................... Assessment Subprojects .................................................................................................. Draft, saaizoos ~~ Indian R fiver Lagoon, State Fu n ding In itiative Indian River Lagoon Fiscal Year 2009-2010 Introduction-The District Water is Florida's most important natural The District has established partnerships resource and is central to our quality of life. with many federal agencies over the years. The mission of the St. Johns River Water The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Management District is to ensure the has provided funds for the National Estuary sustainable use and protection ofwater Program and the Nonpoint Source resources for the benefit ofthe people of the District and the state of Florida. Within the District boundaries are the longest river in the state, the St. Johns; more than one-third of the state's 7,7001akes, including the second largest lake, Lake George; and the Indian River Lagoon, one of four Florida estuaries in the National Estuary Program. The rapid growth of Florida's population has increased efforts on water resource developmentand restoration. Partnerships with other governmental agencies, organizations, and the public are a key element to successful implementation of projects aimed atprotecting and restoring our water resources. The District recognizes the benefits of working cooperatively with others and that many projects require input and resources from numerous Management Program. TheU.S. Army Corps of Engineers has provided technical expertise and funding through several different programs. Hydrologic data collection and scientific analysis have progressed in cooperation with the U.S. Geological Survey. The District has formed a partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture under the Wetlands Reserve Program, the Farmland Protection Program, the Rural Utilities Service, and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. In addition, the U.S. Department of Commerce has provided funding for economically disadvantaged communities in the District for public works projects, including water and sewer infrastructure related to designated Surface Water Improvement and Management areas. organizations. Draft, 8/14/2008 Indian R fiver Lagoon, State Fu n ding In itiative Insert districtwide map Draft, 8/14/2008 Indian R fiver Lagoon, State Fu n ding In itiative Introduction-The Indian River Lagoon The Indian River Lagoon (IRL) is the most diverse estuary in North America, supporting more than 4,300 species of plants and animals. The lagoon stretches 156 miles and includes parts of Volusia, Brevard, and Indian River counties in the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) and parts of St. Lucie, Martin, and Palm Beach counties in the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD). The IRL watershed makes up 40% of Florida's east coast, encompassing approximately 1,380 square miles. IRL fisheries account for ~0% of Florida's east coast recreational catch total and 20%ofFlorida's clam harvest Healthy seagrass beds, which are found where the water quality and the water clarity are good, are importantfor sustaining this biological productivity and diversity. The economic impact of the IRL is estimated at more than $3.7 billion annually from recreational use, commercial fishing, and increased land value The IRL is a designated priority water body under the 1987 Surface Water hnprovement and Management (SWIM) Act and an Estuary of National Significance under Section 320 ofthe federal Water Quality Act of 1987. Historical Overview Beginning in the early 1900x, 572,000 acres within the IRLwatershed were ditched and drained for agriculture and cattle production. Over the course of the century, this area was expanded by the diversion of agricultural runoff and floodwaters from the Upper St. Johns River Basin and Lake Okeechobee to the IRL. The current watershed is more than 1,400,000 acres, which is 2.5 times the original drainage area. As a result, the increase offreshwater has dramatically altered the balance of the lagoon's saltwater system. The District's C-1 rediversion subproject in southern Brevard County will help to reduce much of this freshwater discharge by returning it to the Upper St. Johns River Basin, where it historically flowed. Domesticwastewater has historically been a source ofpollution for the IRL. Discharge from wastewater treatmentplants has been substantially reduced as a result of the 1990 IRL No Discharge Act. However, in the northern and central portions of the IRL, more than one-third of the population has septic tanks, which continues to be a cause of concern. Potential problem areas have been identified under the SWIM program. In the early 1970x, 75%ofthe lagoon's salt marshes were impounded by dikes that were built to separate 40,400 acres from the lagoon to control mosquito breeding. As a result, juvenile fish nursery grounds were severely impacted. Restoration of these impounded wetlands is one of the goals of the IRL SWIM program and the National Estuary Program's Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP). Citizen Involvement Many citizen advocacy groups have been involved since IRL restoration efforts began in the 1980x. Groups, such as the Marine Resources Council; the Friends of Sebastian River and Turkey Creek, for SJRWMD; the St. Lucie River Initiative, the Audubon Society, and the St. Lucie River Issues Team, for SFWMD, have contributed support in project implementation activities. The IRL Advisory Board-a coordinating entity for federal, state, regional, and local restoration activities-also has promoted restoration and project implementation through guidance and management activities. Draft, 8/14/2008 Indian R fiver Lagoon, State Fu n ding In itiative Key Efforts • Reconnected more than 24,761 of impounded saltmarshes to the IRL,by installing culverts and riser board structures and restored 110 acres of dragline-impacted wetlands, 32 acres of which have been returned to natural saltmarsh elevation. In addition, over 90 acres of additional impounded wetlands also have been restored and returned to the natural saltmarsh elevation via the removal of the surrounding impoundment dike. • Implemented more than 260 water quality-directed, stormwater improvement subprojects, cost-sharing with local governments • Continued implementation of the C-1 rediversion subproject • Continued implementation of the lagoonwide COMP • Completed environmentalmuck dredging in Turkey Creek, St. Sebastian River and Crane Creek • Developed pollutant load reduction goals for the St. Sebastian River, Turkey Creek, Crane Creek, and the Banana River Lagoon and began working with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and local governments to address newly issued TMDL allocations • Updated the IRL SWIM and IRL CCMP plans, and the IRL Economic Assessment and Analysis • Formed the Indian River Lagoon Bio- Toxin Task Force to investigate occurrences of toxic algal blooms and increases in wildlife diseases • Renewed efforts for citizen involvement and public outreach to enhance the public's understanding of IRL issues and restoration efforts • Continued to support oyster reef restoration in the Mosquito Lagoon and researched and tracked newly discovered nonnative, invasive bivalve mussels Indian River Lagoon Basin Partners Through the IRL Advisory Board, SJRWMD has formed cooperative partnerships with federal, state, regional, county, and city governments; citizen support groups; environmental organizations; and other nonprofit institutions. The list ofpartners includes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USAGE); the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service; Canaveral National Seashore; FDEP; SFWMD; the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; the Florida Inland Navigation District; the National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA); The Nature Conservancy; Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, and Volusia counties; Cape Canaveral; Cocoa; Cocoa Beach; Edgewater; Fellsm ere; Ind ialantic; Indian Harbour Beach; Indian River Shores; Malabar; Melbourne; Melbourne Beach; Melbourne Village; New Smyrna Beach; Oak Hill; Palm Bay; Palm Shores; Rockledge; Satellite Beach; Sebastian; Titusville; Vero Beach; Sebastian, and Indian River Farms water control districts; the Environmental Learning Center; and the Marine Resources Council, which coordinates the nation's second largest volunteer estuarine citizen water quality monitoring netw ork. Draft, 8/14/2008 Indian R fiver Lagoon, State Fu n ding In itiative SJRWMD Governing Board Major Initiatives For the Indian River Lagoon Basin, the goal is to attain and maintain the water and sediment quality needed to support a macrophyte-based (seagrass) system, endangered and threatened species, fisheries, and recreation. In working toward this goal, the SJRWMD Governing Board has established the following priorities. • Design and construct the Canal 1 (C-1) rediversion Draft, 8/14/2008 • Assist FDEP and EPA with the development oftotal maximum daily loads for the basin and development of Basin Management Action Plans to achieve the TMDLs. • Provide cooperative funding to local government storm w ater projects • Implement wetland restoration Total for This Basin Funding package total (FY 2009-2010): $ 5 Indian R fiver Lagoon, State Fu n ding In itiative Insert project m ap Draft, 8/14/2008 Indian R fiver Lagoon, State Fu n ding In itiative Capital Subprojects Fellsmere Water Management Area Prim-ity Rating: Budget Request: $ Partner: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Core Missions: Water quality/ surface water resource protection, flood protection I+~nding Administration: SJRWMD Description: The requested funding will be used to complete construction of phase 1 of the Fellsmere Water Management Area (FWMA). This phase will include the eastern project levee for the northern 6,020 acres of the 10,000-acre impoundment along with the removal of citrus trees and regrading of planting furrows. The FWMA will provide improved water quality in the upper St. Johns River as well as provide treatmentfor agricultural runoff and significant stormwater storage for extreme storm events while reducing the occurrence offreshwater releases through Canal 54 (C-54) to the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) estuary. Model results indicate that that the 10,000 acres FWMA willvirtually eliminate freshwater discharges through C-54 to the IRL. hnproved water quality entering the upper St. Johns River will help meet the total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) and reduce the use of groundwater withdrawals for irrigation. In Addition, this subproject will provide low flow augmentation in support of the water resource development project-Taylor Creek Reservoir. C-1 Rediversion-Turkey Creek Basin Priority Rating: Budget Request: $ Partners: Melbourne-Tillman Water Control District and City of Palm Bay Core Missions: Water quality/ surface water resource protection, flood protection Finding Administration: SJRWMD Description: The requested funding will be used to complete the construction of the Canal 1 (C-1) rediversion subproject. This subproject includes construction of the southwestMelbourne-Tillman Water Control District (WCD) pump station and related channel improvements in the C-1 and C-1 retention area. The subproject, when completed, will remove a substantial amount of the excessivefreshwater and nutrients that have plagued the central IRL, particularly its seagrass resources, for more than 50 years. The C-1 rediversion subproject is the major regional surface w ater construction and management activity in the Turkey Creek subbasin ofthe IRL. C-1 is the primary interbasin diversion canal maintained by the Melbourne-Tillman WCD. That agency is cooperating with SJRWMD to construct and operate a system to redivert a majority of the C-1 drainage and pollutantload from Turkey Creek and the IRL to the Upper St. Johns River Basin. SJRWMD is the lead organization for the construction of stormwater pump stations. The USACEhas completed the construction of 25 miles of the L-74N (levee). This levee will protect the western part of the Melbourne-Tillman WCD from high flood elevations in the St. Johns River. SJRWMD has completed the construction of the Saw grass Lake Water Management Area, a restored wetland, for the purpose of stormwater treatment and is initiating the design of the internal improvements for the C-1 detention and retention areas for the rediverted drainage. These works are essential components of the C-1 rediversion subproject and are designed to maintain preproject flood elevations in the WCD while providing storage for the rediverted drainage. Draft, 8/14/2008 Indian R fiver Lagoon, State Fu n ding In itiative The rediverted drainage will be pumped through the Saw grass Lake Water Management Area and then incrementally discharged to the upper St. Johns River- the historic floodplain for this drainage prior to 1922. Cooperative Surface Water Program-Sotille Canal Stormwater Park Priority Rating: Budget Request: $ Partner: Brevard County Core Missions: Water quality/ surface water resource protection, flood protection Funding Administration: SJRWMD Description: The requested funding will be used to construct a stormwater park on the Wheeler property, along Sotille Canal. The park will consist of a series of stormwater facilities including a large settling pond, two wet detention ponds, two aboveground impoundment areas, and walking trails. Wetland creation and enhancement are also proposed within the stormwater park. A weir structure will divert discharges directly into the 31-acre settling pond. Discharges will then either go east and enter impoundment 1 through a pump station or go westby gravity-flow to pond 2for additionaltreatmentand groundwater recharge. This cooperativeprojectwith the Brevard County Stormwater Utility Division will improve the quality of discharges to the Sebastian River and the Indian River Lagoon, relieve localized flooding in portions of southern Brevard County, and rehydrate the Herndon Swamp wetland slough area. This subproject will help to implement future TMDLs applied to the Sebastian River and is included within the approved CCMP and the SWIM plan. Rehabilitation of Coastal Wetland Habitat Priority Rating: Budget Request: $ Partners: Brevard, Indian River, and Volusia mosquito control districts; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and Canaveral National Seashore Cure Mission: Surface water resource protection Funding Administration: SJRWMD Description: The requested funding will be used to continue implementation of various coastal wetland restoration techniques, particularly around the southern end of the Mosquito Lagoon and the northern portion of the Indian River and Banana River lagoons. These techniques include simple reconnection of impounded marshes to IRL surface waters by the placement of culverts in mosquito control dikes, total breaching of the dikes where mosquito control is not an issue, and attempting to restore productive wetland elevations in dragline-disturbed marshes. The benefit of these types of restoration is nearly 25:1 in terms of fisheries value alone. More than 9,600 acres of impounded marshes require reconnection or breaching in the coming years to meet the SWIM plan and National Estuary Program target of 33,000 acres to be reconnected in the SJRWMD portion of the IRL. Local partners will provide the necessary funding match. These subprojects are included in the approved CCMP and the SWIM plan Cooperative Surface Water Program-Sebastian River Water Control District Priority Rating: Budget Request: $ Pa~•tner: Sebastian River WCD Cm~e Mission: Water quality/ surface water resource protection Draft, 8/14/2008 Indian R fiver Lagoon, State Fu n ding In itiative Funding Administration: SJRWMD Description: The requested funding will be used to continue funding for the construction of erosion control and sediment control best management practices (BMPs) in the Sebastian River WCD. Geotechnical and topographic surveying data and final engineering design plans have been completed for the Sebastian River WCD to replace the two radial (bottom-opening) gate structures discharging to the Sebastian River. SJRWMD, Indian River County, and the Sebastian River WCD are working to identify BMPs and restoration techniques in the drainage basin of the Sebastian River. This subproject is included within the approved CCMP and the SWIM plan. The local partner does not have the financial resources to provide a match to this SWIM subproject. Local Government Cooperative Stormwater Programs-Priority Basins Priority Rating: Budget Request: $ Partners: Volusia, Brevard, and Indian River counties and incorporated municipalities Core Mission: Water quality/ surface water resource protection Funding Administration: SJRWMD Description: The requested funding will be used for construction of drainage and water quality treatment systems specified in the cooperative master stormwater plans developed jointly by SJRWMD and the local governments. Some of the local governments and their associated subbasins are Melbourne and the Crane Creek to control recurring sedimentation in the creek and to remove accumulated sediments at identified locations; Volusia County and the cities of New Smyrna Beach, Edgewater, and Oak Hill (Mosquito Lagoon); Brevard County and the cities of Titusville (north Indian River Lagoon), Rockledge, and Cocoa (central Indian River Lagoon); the cities of Cocoa Beach, Satellite Beach (south Banana River Lagoon), and Palm Bay (Turkey Creek); and Indian River County and the cities of Fellsmere, Sebastian, and Vero Beach. These local partners will provide the necessary funding match. Post-subproject benefit assessments ofwater quality subprojects are conducted as subprojects are completed. These subprojects will help to implement future TMDLs applied to the central IRL and are included within the approved CCMP and the SWIM plan. Eau Gallie River and Elbow Creek Muck Removal (Phase 1) Priority Rating: Budget Request: $ Partner: City of Melbourne Core Mission: Water quality/ surface water resource protection Funding Administration: SJRWMD Description: Part of the requested funding will be used to complete all geotechnical engineering design and permitting required to remove accumulated muck sediments from the Eau Gallie River and Elbow Creek, which are tributaries of the IRL. The requested funding will also be used to identify an appropriate spoil deposition area and to investigate advanced dew atering techniques needed to meet the projected limited-volume capacity of a selected material containment area. The need for dredging activities is necessitated by decades ofsediment deposition in the river resulting from local development and residential runoff. This deposition has severely reduced the environmental productivity of the river and has negatively impacted the IRL. This dredging will provide immediate improvements in water quality and in the ecology of the IRL and Eau Gallie River Draft, 8/14/2008 Indian R fiver Lagoon, State Fu n ding In itiative systems. This subproject will help to implementfuture TMDLs applied to the Eau Gallie River. This subproject will initiate the necessary engineering, diagnostic, and characterization workto obtain state and federal permits for muck removal from the Eau Gallie River. Collier Creek Canal Project Priority Rating: Budget Request: $ Partner: City of Sebastian Core Mission: Water quality/ surface water resource protection Funding Administration: City of Sebastian Description: Collier Creek Canal is a man- made canal system created during the early development of the City of Sebastian. The canal currently collects untreated storm water runoff from the surrounding 853-acre residential drainage basin through a series of ditches, swales and inverted drainage pipes. When the canal was created, bulkhead-seawalls were installed along much of canal in residential backyards with the intent of providing water access to the residents of the city. Most of these bulkheads have failed and are crumbling into the canal, creating erosion, sedimentation and water quality problems down stream. The requested funding will provide support to the City of Sebastian in their goal to proactively meet TMDL and PLRG water quality standards in the St. Sebastian River and Indian River Lagoon. The city will dredge the Collier Creek Canal of sediments and debris acculumated over the previous 30-40 years creating additional volume for retention of storm water and place new bulkhead walls along the canal banks to stabilize the canal, prevent future sedimentation and erosion. These upgrades will provide storm water improvements allowing additional retention time within the canal prior to the storm water being discharged into the South Prong of the St. Sebastian River. Assessment Subprojects Assessment of Environmental Health nitrogen, and phosphorus. These PLRGs Related to Water Clarity, seagrass provided the basis for setting TMDLs. Recovery, PLRGs, and TMDLs Monitoring of significant water quality and Prim~ity Rating: biological indicators of the IRL system is Budget Request: $ important in gauging the success of Partner: South Florida Water Management restoration activities in meeting seagrass District restoration goals and related PLRGs and Core Mission: Water quality/ surface water resource protection Funding Administration: SJRWMD Description: The requested funding will be used to continue critical w ork in the collection of seagrass, light, and water quality measurements. The subproject includes photographing and mapping sea grass, characterizing sediment, and analyzing data. A predictive, mechanistic model is complete and will continue to aid SJRWMD in the establishment ofpollutant load reduction goals (PLRGs). Targeted pollutants include total suspended solids, Draft, 8/14/2008 TMDLs. This subproject represents a performance measure for the IRL program. Components of this subproject are included in the approved CCMP and the SWIM plan. TMDL Requirement Implementation Priority Rating: Budget Request: $ Partners: Local governments and Florida Department of Envitonm ental Protection (FDEP) Cm•e Mission: Water quality/ surface water resource protection Funding Administration: SJRWMD 10 Indian R fiver Lagoon, State Fu n ding In itiative Description: The requested funding will provide support to local governments as they improve their retrofit programs and master plan coverage and expand their diagnostic and monitoring programs to meet TMDL requirements. Local partners will provide the necessary funding match. Estuary Cleanup Through Macroalgae Harvesting Phase 1) Prim•ity Rating: Budget Request: $ Partners: Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, Algae Collection Technology Core Mission: Water quality/ surface water resource protection l+~nding Administration: SJRWMD Description: Devlopment of an environmentally friendly harvesting machine that cleans saltwater estuaries of the masses of solid macroalgae are out competing sea grass beds and impacting marine life, chocking navigation channels, and decomposing into foul smelling shoreline debris negatively impacting adjacent properties, tourism and recreational activities. Draft, 8/14/2008 Excessive algae has the potential to decrease biological diversity and reduce the nursery areas for several species offish by out- competingbeneficial sea grass habitat. The rapid growth ofmacroalgae is one of the results of the increasing amounts of nutrients in coastal waters and in bottom sediments that m ay, if unchecked eventually result in portions of the lagoon becoming eutrophicated (creation of dead zones similar to areas in the Gulf of Mexico). The project concept is based on the hypothesis that eutrophication and its negative effects on the lagoon will decrease ifa portion ofthe macroalgae is removed by harvesting allowing increased water circulation through wind and tide influences. Additionally, the project will investigate the recycling of the collected algae into bio-diesel and animal feed, that may eventually mitigate the future cost of clean-up (collection) activities. Functional algae harvesters have been successfully deployed in other shallow coastalwaters including on Sweden's West Coast and the Delaware Inland Bays and Rehoboth Bay. 11