The Plan in Depth - Part 9
Implementation of the Plan
Implementation of the Plan Recognizes Ecosystem Restoration as the Overarching Objective
The ultimate success of the Comprehensive Plan will be a reflection of its implementation over more than 20 years. Simply stated, the hard work lies ahead in terms of restoring this important ecosystem. Successful implementation will require a well-coordinated strategy that, like the Plan itself, recognizes that first and foremost, ecosystem restoration is the overarching objective.
This objective is the Principle driving force behind the sequence and pace at which specific project features are undertaken. Implementation will be guided by a set of Principles.
As the plan is implemented, the pattern of ecological degradation that has been occurring in the natural systems for many decades will begin to be reversed. Moving forward will continue to depend on project PIR completion for authorization and ultimately appropriations and funding.
The Restoration Effort Began with CERP Plan authorization in Water Resources Development Act of 2000
Through the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2000, Congress has authorized an initial $1.4 billion package of projects that will begin implementation of the Comprehensive Plan. The initial authorization includes:
- Four pilot projects
- Ten specific project features
- A programmatic authority through which smaller projects can be more quickly implemented.
Authorization for the remaining features of the Plan will be requested in subsequent Water Resources Development Act proposals beginning in 2002.
Pilot Projects will Address Technical Uncertainties
Prior to full-scale implementation, six pilot projects, costing about $97 million, will be built to address uncertainties with some of the features in the Comprehensive Plan. These projects include aquifer storage and recovery in each geographic region that the technology is proposed; in-ground reservoir technology in the lake belt region of Miami-Dade County; levee seepage management technology adjacent to Everglades National Park; and advanced wastewater treatment technology to determine the feasibility of using reuse water for ecological restoration.
Initial set of construction features will provide immediate system-wide water quality and flow distribution benefits and use already purchased land. Ten projects and the adaptive assessment program, totaling $1.1 billion (Oct 1999 price level), were recommended for initial authorization. These projects were selected because they can provide system-wide water quality and flow distribution benefits to the ecosystem as well as opportunities to integrate these features with other ongoing federal and state restoration programs. For example, if part of the initial authorization, modifications to Tamiami
Trail to improve flow distribution could be accomplished more quickly under the ongoing Modified Water Deliveries Project. In addition, the South Florida Water Management District and the U.S. Department of the Interior have already purchased lands, such as the Talisman lands, for a number of Plan components. Authorization of projects that use lands already purchased will ensure that these lands are utilized for restoration as soon as possible.
Programmatic Authority will Expedite Implementation
Similar to the authorization received in 1996 for Everglades Ecosystem Restoration Projects (Critical Projects) these projects would "produce independent, immediate, and substantial restoration, preservation and protection benefits," and expedite some components of the Plan.
Programmatic authority was limited to those individual 27 components of the original Comprehensive Plan having a total project cost of $70 million or less (maximum federal share of $35 million per project). However, in WRDA 2000 this was reduced that to $50 million for each project (maximum federal share of $25 million per project) including 20 components from the Plan (not to exceed a total of $206,000,000 Federal and non-Federal). Components such as the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge Internal Canal Structures, Melaleuca Eradication and Other Exotic Plants, and the Florida Keys Tidal Restoration projects could be accomplished under this programmatic authority.
The Remainder of the Plan’s Features to be Included in Future Water Resources Development Acts
Congress will be asked to authorize the remaining components of the Comprehensive Plan as more detailed planning is completed. At a cost of approximately $6.2 billion, the 26 remaining features will undergo additional studies and analysis before authorization is sought from Congress. Many of these project components are dependent on the results of the proposed pilot projects such as aquifer storage and recovery features and the in-ground reservoirs in Miami-Dade County. Based on the implementation schedule, project reports will be submitted to Congress periodically through the year 2014.
