Kissimmee Basin Projects Jan 2005

1. Kissimmee Basin ProjectsJan 2005

2. Kissimmee Basin Projects • Kissimmee River Restoration Project (KRR) • Kissimmee Chain of Lakes Long Term Management Plan (KCOL LTMP) • Kissimmee Basin Modeling and Operations Study (Model) • EIS for Modification of Kissimmee Basin Structure Operating Criteria (EIS)

3. Kissimmee River Restoration Project Goal is to restore ecological integrity to the central region of the Kissimmee river and floodplain • Projected cost = $578 million • 50/50 cost share USCOE/SFWMD • Backfill 22 mi of C-38 canal • Recarve/reconnect more than 40 mi of river channel • Remove 2 water control structures (one has been removed) • Headwaters Revitalization Project provides additional water storage from headwater lakes for river restoration • Comprehensive restoration evaluation program

4. Hydrology Geomorphology Dissolved Oxygen and Water Quality Plant communities Invertebrate communities Reptile and Amphibian communities Fish communities Bird communities Threatened and Endangered species KRR Comprehensive Restoration Evaluation Program Components

5. Real Estate Headwaters Phase I Phase II/III Phase IVa Phase IVb Restoration Evaluation 2000 2010 1990 2020 Kissimmee River Restoration Project Status • Phase I construction completed - 2001 • Initiation of next backfilling phase – by 2006 • All construction completed - 2012 • Headwaters Revitalization Project – underway, will be completed in 2010 • Restoration Evaluation - through2017

6. Kissimmee Chain of Lakes Long Term Management Plan • Purpose: improve, enhance and/or sustain ecosystem health of regulated lakes in the Kissimmee Upper Basin while balancing basin impacts • Collaborative effort • SFWMD, USCOE, FFWCC, USFWS, EPA, DEP, FDACS local governments, and other stakeholders

7. 1) Assess Status Ecosystem Health / Develop Performance Measures 2) Determine Baseline Conditions 3) Identify opportunities for individual action by stakeholder agencies for situations where Baseline Conditions do not meet Performance Measures

8. Kissimmee Chain of Lakes Long Term Management Plan - Products • Stakeholder values survey • Conceptual ecosystem model • Assessment of current (baseline) and reference characteristics of lakes • Assessment performance measures that describe desired characteristics of lakes • Examples: wading bird reproduction, invertebrate community composition, desired fluctuation levels, etc.

9. Kissimmee Chain of Lakes Long Term Management Plan - Products • Monitoring plan • Review of existing monitoring data • Address knowledge gaps • Are performance measures being met? • Agency action plans • How can agency mandates and resources be applied to achieve unmet performance measures?

10. Kissimmee Basin Modeling and Operations Study Flows through the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes and Kissimmee River are regulated by control structures • Goal: assess whether existing operations can be modified to achieve a better balance among • Flood control • Water supply • Aquatic plant management • Kissimmee Basin natural resources (KRR, KCOL) • Downstream discharge area (Lake Okeechobee)

11. Kissimmee Basin Modeling and Operations Study - Approach • Geographic scope includes entire Kissimmee Basin • Hydrologic/hydraulic simulation model • Simulate a suite of regulation schedules for 13 structures in the Kissimmee Basin • Use performance measures to evaluate and select “best” operational criteria • Recommend regulation changes based on operational criteria selected

13. Progress to date • Completed Basin Assessment and model implementation strategy • 3 Modeling Tools will be developed • Screening Tool • Alternative Formulation / Evaluation Tool • Performance Measure Evaluation Tool • Reconnaissance and data collection efforts for modeling tool implementation are complete • Design for tool implementation is 80% complete. • Tool implementation 10% complete • Beginning alternative plan formulation process

14. EIS for Modification of Kissimmee Basin Structure Operating Criteria • Parallel project with KB Modeling & Operations Study • Perform NEPA work associated with developing EIS • USACE & USFWS

15. Purpose • Provide a balanced approach to formulating and evaluating modifications to Kissimmee Basin operating criteria • Approach will take into account flood control, water supply, aquatic plant management, and natural resource requirements

16. Goal • Seek an alternative that maximizes benefits while minimizing potential adverse impacts

17. Major Activities • Evaluate alternatives relative to potential beneficial and adverse effects on • Flood control • Navigation • Water quality • Water supply • Wetlands and fish and wildlife habitats and values • Endangered and threatened species • Historical or archaeological resources • Public use and recreation

18. Kissimmee EIS Geographic Scope

19. Kissimmee EIS Status • Project Management Plan, Kissimmee Basin, Modification of Kissimmee Basin Structure Operating Criteria, USACE, July 2005 • Notice of Intent to Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement, USACE, July 2005 • Scoping Letter, Modification of Kissimmee Basin Structure Operating Criteria, July 2005 • Currently working on DRAFT EIS

20. Questions?