Stuff From 1999
December
16, 1999
Contact: Office of Communications
Ann
Overton (561) 682-6197
SFWMD TO HOLD EMERGENCY GOVERNING BOARD MEETING TO DISCUSS CORPS'
OPERATIONAL PLAN FOR SOUTHERN 'GLADES
WHAT: Emergency SFWMD Governing Board meeting
WHEN: Friday, December 17, 1999, 1 p.m.
WHERE: SFWMD headquarters, B-1 auditorium, 3301 Gun Club Road,
West Palm Beach. The meeting will also be conducted by
teleconference so some board members can participate by
telephone.
WHY: District concern s regarding public health, safety, and
welfare implications of U.S Army Corps of Engineers' proposed
operational plan for southern part of Central & South Florida
Flood Control Project
BACKGROUND
The South Florida Water Management District has concerns about a
new plan the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released this week
affecting operations of the Central & Southern Florida Flood
Control Project. That plan attempts to minimize flooding of the
nesting habitat of the endangered Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow in
western Everglades National Park.
Changing the operational schedule for certain water-control
structures near along Tamiami Trail in Miami-Dade County would
raise water levels in the conservation areas north of Everglades
National Park.
High water may further harm tree islands, which provide critical
habitat to other threatened and endangered species -- such as
wood storks and snail kites. Floodwaters from Hurricane Irene in
mid-October and a very wet summer rainy season inundated the
water conservation areas and the park. The Corps' plan also may
compromise the District's ability to provide flood protection to
urbanized areas and farm lands in south Miami-Dade County.
The proposals contained in the Corps' plan also may impact the
operations of the rest of the C&SF Project, including Lake
Okeechobee and the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie rivers and
estuaries.
December
9, 1999
Contact: Office of Communications
Ann
Overton (561) 682-6197
'HURRICANE IRENE AFTER-ACTION REPORT' RECOMMENDS 36 IMPROVEMENTS
FOR SFWMD STORM OPERATIONS
Improvements to the regional flood-control system, changes in
reporting and administrative processes, and the need for several
feasibility studies are among the 36 recommendations contained in
the "Hurricane Irene After-Action Report" issued today
by the South Florida Water Management District. The Governing
Board will review the report at a special meeting at 9 a.m. on
Monday, December 13, 1999, at District headquarters in West Palm
Beach.
Overall, the report found the agency acted appropriately and the
system operated as it was designed to do, before, during, and
after the onslaught of Hurricane Irene, which struck South
Florida on Friday, October 15, 1999.
Joseph A. Schweigart, P.E., director of the District's Everglades
Construction Project, is the report's principal author.
Schweigart, a 35-year District veteran, served 22 years in the
agency's former Operations and Maintenance Department, including
12 as its director. Though not an official audit, staff from the
District's inspector general's office also contributed to the
report.
Following Irene, District Executive Director Frank R. Finch,
P.E., directed staff to conduct this internal, after-action
assessment of agency operations relating to the storm. Finch
said, "The enormous impact of the 10 to 17 inches of rain
from this minimal hurricane -- especially in developed areas not
developed when the regional flood-control system was built in the
1950s and '60s -- led us to review how this agency could improve
this important part of our mission."
For the South Dade Conveyance System (canals linked to L-31N,
L-31W, and C-111, all south of Tamiami Trail in Miami-Dade
County), the recommendations include:
Call for an assessment of the benefits for preparing a
comprehensive report covering the period of November 1, 1995, to
October 31, 1999, for the Experimental Water Deliveries to
Everglades National Park (Test 7);
Propose revisiting the three-party agreement between the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, the District, and the Park regarding
operating the South Dade system to elevate critical flood-control
decisions to the executive director level when critical
flood-control decisions must be made in advance of major storms
(this takes responsibility off middle managers);
Weigh benefits of partially automating the S-197 structure at the
south end of C-111 (this structure is manually operated); and
Encourage accelerating the Modified Water Deliveries project and
C-111 improvements.
For regional flood-control operations in central and northern
Miami-Dade County:
Conduct studies to determine the feasibility of (1) pumping
stormwater either into detention areas or out to sea, or (2)
using aquifer storage and recovery or deep-well injection.
For regional flood-control operations in Broward, Palm Beach,
Martin, and St. Lucie counties:
Provide debris removal equipment at S-13 pump station on the C-11
(South New River) canal in south-central Broward and provide a
remotely operated unit at the S-9, also on the C-11 in western
Broward, to handle seepage from the water conservation area;
Strictly follow the District's schedule for removing shoaling
from canals to improve conveyance capacity of those waterways;
Complete the C-51West (central Palm Beach County) plan of
improvements on schedule; and Clarify and strengthen the
District's decision process regarding the drainage agreement with
the Indian Trail Improvement District (in the Acreage, central
Palm Beach County).
As a general recommendation:
The District should hold an annual pre-wet/hurricane season
workshop, county by county, with local representatives to discuss
the overall drainage systems' state of readiness.
Finch said, "While the flood-control system performed
exactly as intended, we pushed it beyond its designed limits to
move stormwater off property as quickly as possible. We also
found many of our dedicated staff worked extremely long hours
during this flooding crisis, and this increased their exposure to
accidents because of fatigue."
The report focuses on District operations and its operating
criteria between October 11 and October 21. The report team posed
two specific questions regarding the operating criteria:
(1) "Have we found significant shortcomings in the
criteria?" The report states "the only area where we
noted any shortcomings in the criteria was in the South Dade
Conveyance System that is governed by Test 7. These criteria do
not allow for adequate flexibility in operating the system during
(emergencies)."
(2) "Are there modifications we might recommend for better
system performance?" The report concludes that
"modifications to the flood-control criteria covering the
South Dade Conveyance System, the feasibility of providing
pumping assistance measures in the C-4 (Tamiami) and C-9 (Snake
Creek) canals (in central and north Miami-Dade County), and
adhering to our current canal clean-out schedules are covered in
the report and are aimed at bettering system performance."
The report found that the District operated all its water-control
structures according to established criteria, with the exception
of three -- S-331 and S-197 in south Miami-Dade County and S-44
on the C-17 in northern Palm Beach County. These exceptions all
had to do with slight variations in water levels upstream of the
structures.
Schweigart, the report's author, said, "We completed this
initial report in 45 days, but this is not the end of the
District's follow-up to flooding issues we encountered with
Hurricane Irene. We intend to continue a more in-depth review to
ensure that the public understands the limitations of this
50-year-old system." Schweigart added the system is not
antiquated, but rather "under-designed" for the number
of people now living in areas of South Florida never envisioned
for urban or agricultural use.
December
2, 1999
NEW FUNDING PROGRAM FOR WATER RESOURCE PROJECTS
Governor Jeb Bush established by Executive Order a Water Advisory
Board to recommend funding for wastewater & surface water
restoration projects during the 2000-2001 Legislative session.
According to the Governor's Executive Order, "Florida's
water resource funding priorities have been inconsistent, and
therefore unclear;" and "water resource funding
priorities can effectively be established through a budgetary
process that ensures that water projects receive objective review
to validate their technical merit and positive impact on our
State's health and environment."
Applications for project funding, which must be received by DEP
no later than December 30, 1999, are available
for downloading from the links below:
Wastewater application, instructions, and who to contact
for assistance
Surface water restoration application, instructions, and
who to contact for assistance
You can contact the directors of the District's Regional Service
Centers for assistance with the applications. They are:
REGIONAL SERVICE CENTERS
Orlando, William Stimmel
Phone: 407/858-6100 or 800/250-4250
Okeechobee, John Morgan
Phone: 941-462-5260 or 800/250-4200
Martin/St. Lucie, Paul Millar
Phone:561/223-2600 or 800/250-4100
Fort Myers, Chip Merriam
Phone:941/338-2929 or 800/248-1201
Broward, Humberto
Alonso
Phone: 954/713-3200
Miami/Dade, Roman Gastesi
Phone:305/663-3521 or 800/250-4300
Florida Keys, Rhonda Haag
Phone: 305/289-2739 or 800/464-5067
BIG CYPRESS BASIN
Naples - Clarence Tears
Phone: 941/597-1505
November
10, 1999
The Public Affairs Office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in
Jacksonville issued the following information this morning.
Contact: Jacquelyn Griffin, 904-232-2235
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District
CORPS OF ENGINEERS, SFWMD TO CLOSE STRETCH
OF KISSIMMEE RIVER NOV. 15, 1999 - MARCH 31, 2000
Jacksonville, Fla. - The Kissimmee River's Pool C, south of lock
S-65B and north of lock S-65C, will be closed to through marine
traffic from Nov. 15, 1999 through March 31, 2000. Portion of the
river is located in Okeechobee and Highlands counties.
The Army Corps of Engineers and South Florida Water Management
District (SFWMD) have jointly made this decision. Work on the
Kissimmee River Restoration Project has reached a stage where
closure is necessary to allow the contractor, IT Corporation, to
complete assigned construction. The stretch will be open only to
local boat traffic.
Initial work on the project began in May, 1999. Work to be
accomplished this year includes beginning initial restoration of
the river, modifying tieback levees at S-65A, and gapping spoil
banks on Pool A and widening C-37. The fiscal year 2000 schedule
includes restoring the first 22 miles of the river, completing
wetlands restoration in the Istokpoga basin, and adding three
sets of culverts beneath U.S. 98.
Any questions concerning this closure should be directed to
Public Affairs Officer Jacquelyn Griffin at 904-232-2235.
November
1, 1999
Contact: Office of Communications
Ann
Overton (561) 682-6197
SFWMD MONITORING CONVERGING WEATHER SYSTEMS FOR POTENTIAL HEAVY
RAINS
The South Florida Water Management District today is closely
monitoring the combination of rain streaming northeast from
Tropical Depression Katrina in the Gulf of Mexico and more rain
expected from an approaching cold front heading south. The
National Weather Service in Miami has issued a flood watch for
Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties for tonight (Monday)
and Tuesday, based on predicted heavy rains that the convergence
of these two systems will likely bring.
"The District has been operating its primary flood-control
system in pre-storm mode since Saturday," said Frank R.
Finch, P.E., District executive director. "This means
coastal structures open automatically during low tides to release
water, but close with approaching high tides to prevent water
moving inland, which would negate the low-tide releases."
South Florida is at the end of a very wet rainy season, and
groundwater levels remain high, especially following the 12 to 18
inches of rain from Hurricane Irene on October 15. If the three
counties do receive the predicted three to four inches of rain
from the remnants of Katrina combined with the cold front,
residents in low-lying or poorly drained areas throughout the
three counties could expect to see rising water levels in their
streets, swales, and yards.
"The District remains committed to providing regional flood
protection to all residents of South Florida," Finch said.
"We also are quite aware of drainage problems in specific
areas throughout our jurisdiction and intend to work with
counties, municipalities and other entities to remedy them."
October
14, 1999
Contact: Office of Communications
Ann
Overton (561) 682-6197
SFWMD GOVERNING BOARD SELECTS JOHN J. FUMERO AS AGENCY'S GENERAL
COUNSEL
The Governing Board of the South Florida Water Management
District today selected John J. Fumero as the agency's new
general counsel. He had been the agency's acting general counsel
since May as well as deputy general counsel since 1995.
The board voted 7-2 in favor of Fumero's selection, with board
Chairman Michael Collins and board member Harkley Thornton
dissenting.
The general counsel provides legal guidance to the Governing
Board and senior management. Fumero's salary for the general
counsel post has yet to be determined.
Fumero joined the District in 1988. Before that, he was an
attorney with the law firm of Merrill, Pollack, & Longino in
Coral Gables. He has a bachelor's of arts in economics and a
juris doctorate, both from the University of Miami. He is a
member of the Florida Bar and the Cuban American Bar Association.
"John Fumero is a man of integrity and trust who can get the
job done," said Frank R. Finch, P.E., District executive
director. "He is highly competent and respected. He is a
valued addition to the District's top management team."
October
7, 1999
Contact: Office of Communications
Ann
Overton (561) 682-6197
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FRANK FINCH COMPLETES SELECTIONS FOR TOP TIER
OF AGENCY'S MANAGEMENT TEAM
Frank R. Finch, P.E., executive director of the South Florida
Water Management District, this week announced the appointments
of three deputy executive directors and director of
communications for the agency.
The four are: William F. Malone, deputy executive director for
water resource management; John C. Merriam, deputy executive
director for corporate resources; Charlotte A. Taylor, director
of communications, and Joseph W. Taylor, deputy executive
director for water resource operations. Starting dates and
salaries are still under negotiation.
The three deputies -- Malone, Merriam, and Taylor -- will join
Chief of Staff James Blount, Everglades Construction Project
Director Joseph Schweigart, and Director of Government Affairs
and Communications Michael Slayton as the top tier of managers
under Finch at the District. Charlotte Taylor will report to
Slayton.
"Today's appointments complete our new management team at
the District," Finch said. "These four were by far the
best people for their respective jobs, and we had an excellent
pool of candidates from across the country. Now I am eager to get
to the important business of restoring South Florida's
ecosystem."
John "Jock" Merriam and Charlotte Taylor, Director,
Communications will start work on October 21. Joseph Taylor,
Deputy Executive Director, Water Resource Operations will begin
on November 1st.
Background of the four directors:
William F. Malone (water resource management) -- a district
employee since 1986 in several management positions; most
recently acting deputy of water resource management and director
of the former construction and land management department. Also
served as deputy district engineer at the Nashville district
office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Bachelor's of science
degree, civil engineering, Vanderbilt University, and
graduate-level course work.
John C. Merriam (corporate resources) -- currently of Clearwater;
with IT Corporation of Monroeville, Pa., since 1991, where he is
a vice president and previously a regional manager of
environmental engineering and remedial operations for the
northeast, as well as a senior project manager overseeing a $20
million emergency response contract for the Environmental
Protection Agency. Also a career officer in the U.S. Army.
Bachelor's of science, engineering, U.S. Military Academy, West
Point; master's of arts, geography, San Diego State University.
Charlotte Taylor (communications) -- currently of Plantation;
account manager with Wragg & Casas Public Relations, Miami.
Also was head of her own public relations firm, Taylor
Communications; public relations manager at Ryder System Inc.,
Miami; and held several public relations management posts in
Atlanta, including at Georgia Power Co. Served as press secretary
for former U.S. Representative Wyche Fowler (Georgia). Bachelor's
of arts, English, Western Carolina University.
Joseph W. Taylor, P.E. (water resource operations) -- currently
of Woodbridge, Virginia; has been with the U.S. Navy's Civil
Engineer Corps since 1976 in positions of increasing
responsibility, most recently as assistant commander for
resources at the Naval Facilities Engineering Command and deputy
director of environment, safety, and health at for the Chief of
Naval Operations, both in Washington, D.C. Bachelor's of science,
civil engineering, University of Texas, Arlington; master's of
science, civil engineering, University of Texas, Arlington;
master's of public administration, George Mason University,
Virginia.
* *
The District's Governing Board will select a person for the
permanent position of general counsel at the board's monthly
meeting on Thursday, October 14, in West Palm Beach.
September
22, 1999
Contact: Office of Communications
Ann
Overton (561) 682-6197
SFMWD BOARD APPROVES FINAL FY 2000 BUDGET WITH NO INCREASE IN TAX
RATES
The Governing Board of the South Florida Water Management
District gave final approval to the agency's FY 2000 budget and
millage rates late this afternoon. The board did not increase any
of the agency's tax rates from the previous fiscal year. The
District's final adopted FY 2000 budget totals $469.1 million,
compared with $472.6 million for FY 1999.
For the coming fiscal year, which begins October 1, the District
has budgeted nearly $128 million and 185 staff positions for
Everglades restoration efforts; more than $72 million for
water-resource development projects and the C&SF Restudy; and
$10.5 million for Lake Okeechobee restoration projects. The
District also reduced the total number of positions by 24, from
1,913 to 1,889 employees.
"During next year's legislative session, the District and
the state of Florida will continue working closely to identify
additional funding sources for Lake Okeechobee and the
Restudy," said Frank R. Finch, District executive director.
The total combined FY 2000 millage rate for the District-at-large
and the Okeechobee Basin is .697 mills. This includes .1 mill for
the Everglades Construction Project, as mandated by the Florida
Legislature in 1994 to cleanse water entering the Everglades.
With these rates, homeowners in the Okeechobee Basin will pay
$69.70 on a house with a taxable value of $100,000.
The total combined FY 2000 millage rate for the District-at-large
and the Big Cypress Basin (Collier County and part of Monroe
County) is .562 mills. Big Cypress Basin homeowners will pay
$56.20 on a house with a taxable value of $100,000.
September
13, 1999
Contact: Missie Barletto (941)
462-5260, ext. 3006
Okeechobee Service Center 205 E. North Park St. Okeechobee, FL
34972
NAVIGATION LOCKS FROM KISSIMMEE CHAIN TO LAKE OKEECHOBEE TO BE
CLOSED DURING HURRICANE FLOYD
The South Florida Water Management District reports that all of
the navigation locks from the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes through
Lake Okeechobee will be closed to navigation beginning on
Tuesday, Sept. 14, and lasting until Hurricane Floyd passes the
area. All boaters should plan to be off of Lake Okeechobee by the
close of navigation lock operations today.
Affected navigation locks include:
S-61 at West Lake Tohopeliga
S-65 at Lake Kissimmee,
S-65A, S-65-B, S-65C, S-65D, and S-65E on the Kissimmee River,
J&S Fish Camp (S-135)
Taylor Creek (S-193)
Buckhead Ridge (S-127)
Lakeport (S-129)
Clewiston (S-310)
No boaters will be allowed to pass through these navigation locks
beginning Tuesday and no locktender will be on duty.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers navigation locks at the St. Lucie
Waterway and at the Caloosahatchee River and Lake Okeechobee will
remain fully operational until a hurricane warning has been
issued. Once a hurricane warning has been issued for Lake
Okeechobee, Corps personnel will man these locks, as well as the
navigation locks at Taylor Creek and at Clewiston on a 24-hour
basis for flood control purposes only and not for navigation.
Although no boaters will be allowed to pass into Lake Okeechobee,
it will be possible for boaters on the Lake during this storm to
get through these navigation locks to safe harbor until gale
force winds prevent safe operation of the navigation lock.
For more information concerning these necessary lock closures,
please contact the SFWMD Okeechobee Service Center at (941)
462-5260 or (800) 250-4200.
September
8, 1999
Contact: Office of Communications
Ann
Overton (561) 682-6197
GOVERNING BOARD MAINTAINS TAX RATE THROUGHOUT DISTRICT; FINAL
VOTE SEPTEMBER 22
Standing by its pledge to not raise its existing millage rates,
the Governing Board of the South Florida Water Management
District approved the agency's tentative FY 2000 budget and
millage rates late this afternoon.
The District's proposed FY 2000 budget totals $469.1 million. The
FY 1999 budget totaled $472.6 million. Fifty-three percent of the
District's budget comes from ad valorem or property taxes.
Intergovernmental agreements, license and permit fees, the
Everglades Agricultural Area privilege tax, and other dedicated
funds make up the other 47 percent of the budget.
"Following direction from the Governor's Office, we are
holding the line on taxes for the third consecutive year,"
said Frank R. Finch, District executive director. "By
focusing primarily on two agency priorities -- Everglades
restoration and water-resource development projects -- and by
creating a more efficient management structure, we can move
forward on these ambitious programs without extra burden to the
taxpayers."
The total combined FY 2000 millage rate for the District-at-large
and the Okeechobee Basin is .697 mills. This includes .1 mill for
the Everglades Construction Project, as mandated by the Florida
Legislature in 1994 to clean farm water entering the Everglades.
If given final approval on September 22, homeowners in the
Okeechobee Basin would pay $69.70 on a house with a taxable value
of $100,000.
The total combined FY 2000 millage rate for the District-at-large
and the Big Cypress Basin (Collier County and part of Monroe
County) is .562 mills. If approved, Big Cypress Basin homeowners
would pay $56.20 on a house with a taxable value of $100,000.
The board vote on the final tax rates is scheduled for Wednesday,
September 22, at 5:15 p.m. in the headquarters auditorium at 3301
Gun Club Road in West Palm Beach.
August
31, 1999
Contact: Government Affairs & Communications
Ann
Overton (561) 682-6197
MELALEUCA ACREAGE DOWN BY A THIRD IN PAST DECADE IN SOUTH
FLORIDA; CREDIT GOES TO INTERAGENCY EFFORTS
Thanks to a $25 million, 10-year effort coordinated by several
state and federal agencies, the number of acres of land covered
by melaleuca in South Florida has declined by nearly a third.
The recently released "Melaleuca Management Plan: 10 Years
of Successful Melaleuca Management in South Florida,
1988-1998" contains this information plus recommendations
from the interagency Melaleuca Task Force. The report was
published by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council and edited by
Francois B. Laroche, a senior environmental scientist at the
South Florida Water Management District.
In 1993, 52 percent of all melaleuca in South Florida was found
on public land (252,008 acres), while 48 percent was on private
land. Four years later, in 1997, 35 percent of all live melaleuca
in South Florida was found on public land (137,181 acres) and 65
percent on private land. A combination of biological, chemical,
mechanical, and physical control methods is directly responsible
for this reduction.
The most well known feature of this management program has been
the introduction of "biological control agents," or
insects, from Australia. Melaleuca spread so quickly in South
Florida after its introduction 100 years ago because it had no
known natural enemies. In Australia, insects helped keep
melaleuca growth in check. The U.S. Department of Agriculture
introduced one of these insects, the snout-nosed beetle, in 1997
in South Florida after a successful eight-year quarantine program
(including two years for federal approvals). The beetle already
is slowing the spread of new seedlings. More Australian insects
are now in the quarantine pipeline.
However, chemical herbicides currently are the most effective
technique available for the short term, and large areas of trees
can be treated at a reasonable cost. If the other insects are
successful as expected, they and the snout-nosed beetle will
provide the best and cheapest long-term solution to the overall
problem. They also will allow other technologies to be redirected
toward eradicating South Florida's many invasive plants.
"We could not have done much of this work without the
continued support of the melaleuca eradication program by
Congress and the Florida Legislature," said Frank Finch,
District executive director. "We also thank all the agencies
involved in the task force for their support of eradication on
public lands."
Melaleuca's rapid, aggressive expansion has altered thousands of
acres in the Everglades by replacing native tree islands,
sawgrass marshes, wet prairies, and aquatic sloughs. Mature
melaleuca trees commonly form dense stands that virtually crowd
out all other native plant and animal species, especially in
disturbed areas. Their growth pattern also allows wildfires to
spread more quickly and at a higher temperature.
The Melaleuca Task Force says the uncontrolled expansion of the
trees is one of the most serious ecological threats to the
biological integrity of South Florida's natural systems. The
District created the task force in 1990 in cooperation with the
Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council. The group published its first
"melaleuca management plan" that year. This current
plan, the third edition, includes the technological advances and
operational progress that have occurred in the past 10 years.
The task force includes scientists from the Florida Department of
Environmental Protection; National Park Service; U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers; USDA; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Miami-Dade,
Lee, and Palm Beach counties; the University of Florida; the
University of Miami; and the District.
The 1999 plan includes the following recommendations:
1.securing money to import more insects for testing and to build
and staff a permanent quarantine facility;
2.continuing control on public lands and increasing focus on
other areas needing more melaleuca eradication; and
3.using the support of Exotic Pest Plant Council to lobby the
state Legislature and Congress to provide more money and enact
more laws to manage melaleuca and other pest plants.
In the past eight years, the District budgeted $14,277,794 to
fight melaleuca infestations. Approximately 58 percent, or
$8,312,794, came from other sources besides District ad valorem
funds. These include Florida Power & Light Co. mitigation
funds, Surface Water Improvement and Management funds, the Corps,
and a DEP cost-sharing program that provided approximately $5.5
million. SWIM and Corps money is for Lake Okeechobee melaleuca
eradication only. At the current level of funding, melaleuca
could be eliminated from the water conservation areas and Lake
Okeechobee within the next five to 10 years.
For copies of the plan, call Francois Laroche at (561) 682-6193.
August
20, 1999
Local Contact: Office of Communications
Kathy Copeland (561) 682-6303
/ 6003
President Signs Water Resources Development Act of 1999
"Today I have signed into law S. 507, the "Water
Resources Development Act of 1999," a multibillion dollar
omnibus bill to authorize water projects and programs of the
United States Army Corps of Engineers. On July 1, 1999, my
Administration transmitted to the Congress its comprehensive
long-term plan to restore the Florida Everglades, which is one of
our national treasures. I am pleased that S. 507 continues the
authority for related Federal water resources projects in South
Florida and look forward to working with the Congress over the
next year to authorize the first steps in this important
restoration effort."
(Excerpts from Statement by the President, August 17, 1999)
August
12, 1999
Contact: Office of Communications
Ann
Overton (561) 682-6197
SFWMD APPROVES $115 MILLION CIVIL WORKS PACKAGE IN COOPERATION
WITH CORPS
The Governing Board of the South Florida Water Management
District today unanimously approved joining with the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers to implement a package of seven civil works
projects totaling $114,839,145. One of the environmental
enhancement projects includes a cooperative agreement with the
Florida Department of Transportation on replacing culverts under
43 miles of Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41) in Collier County.
"This is an unprecedented set of projects that we are
approving today," said Michael Collins, chairman of the
SFWMD Governing Board. "It's a testament to the solid
cooperative partnership we have with the Corps as part of the
overall restoration of South Florida's ecosystem."
The seven projects, known as Critical Restoration Projects, come
under the authority of the federal Water Resources Development
Act of 1996. WRDA '96 gives "programmatic" authority so
each project can move forward more quickly without individual
authorization from Congress. The act does require that a
"local sponsor," in this case the District, evenly
split the costs with the Corps. The District's non-federal
partners on these projects include Collier, Lee, and St. Lucie
counties, FDOT, and the Florida Department of Environmental
Protection.
The aim of these seven critical restoration projects is to
improve water quality, hydropattern (timing and amount of water
flows), and habitat. The projects are (with the location and
District's total funding share over several years):
Western C-4 structure, Miami-Dade County, $650,000 Western C-11
(S-9) water-quality treatment, Broward County, $4.8 million Lake
Okeechobee water retention and phosphorus removal, Okeechobee
County, $7.1 million Ten Mile Creek water preserve area, St.
Lucie County, $14.2 million Lake Trafford restoration, Collier
County, $8.4 million Southern CREW (Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem
Watershed) project addition and Imperial River flow way, Lee
County, $14.6 million Tamiami Trail culvert project, Collier
County, $315,000
The cooperative agreement with FDOT on the Tamiami Trail culvert
project will provide $10.7 million from FDOT as part of the
repaving of U.S. 41 when the Corps installs the culverts under
the road to improve flows into Everglades National Park.
Today's action involves the Governing Board's approval of project
cooperation agreements, a contract between the Corps and the
District for these projects. The staffs of the two agencies have
been working on these contracts since Congress authorized the
projects in WRDA in 1996. Under the current agreement, the
District will pay for all of the operation and maintenance for
the projects.
"This is likely the largest package of civil works projects
that this agency has ever approved in one day," said Frank
Finch, District executive director. "I am pleased that work
will begin soon on these projects that will conserve water for
the natural system to ensure that competition for other sources
is reduced in the future."
August
12, 1999
Contact: Office of Communications
Ann
Overton (561) 682-6197
SFWMD EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FRANK FINCH PRESENTS PLANTO STREAMLINE
AGENCY
Frank R. Finch, executive director of the South Florida Water
Management District, today announced organizational changes to
the structure of the agency. The changes are designed to bring
operation of the agency in line with the efforts needed to carry
out major water resources restoration programs and
responsibilities, Finch said.
Finch said he made the changes to ensure the daily business of
the agency runs efficiently and smoothly, especially as the
District carries out increasingly complex water resources
programs. Like functions have been aligned, and some district
organizational elements have been combined.
"The changes will enhance our efforts to improve the
Everglades and our water supply in the face of a growing
population," Finch said.
Finch appointed three interim deputy executive directors
effective Monday, August 16. Recruitment for their positions will
be expedited:
~ Jeanne Hall, director, Operations and Maintenance Department,
will oversee water resource management, which primarily will
include operations and maintenance, and land management
functions.
~ Bill Malone, director, Construction and Land Management
Department, will oversee water resource development, which will
include research, planning, engineering and construction, land
acquisition and regulation.
~ Trevor Campbell, deputy executive director, will oversee
support services, which will include human resources, information
technology, data acquisition, and financial and administrative
services.
Other direct reports to the executive director include Mike
Slayton, deputy executive director, who will be in charge of the
government affairs and communications function, which includes
the service centers. Joe Schweigart will continue to head up the
Everglades Construction Project.
Subordinate organizational restructuring will continue with a
September 30
completion date.
August
3, 1999
Contact: Orlando Service Center
Bill Graf (407) 858-6100, ext. 3837 or (800) 250-4250
KISSIMMEE RIVER RESTORATION BEGINS TO RECARVE HISTORIC CHANNEL
As part of the overall Kissimmee River restoration, work began
last week to restore a 1,600-foot section of the historic channel
obliterated when the river was channelized more than 30 years
ago.
The 1960s straightening of the Kissimmee River turned the wetland
rich and meandering 103-mile river into a straight 56-mile canal,
now known as the C-38. Canal construction destroyed or buried
portions of the Kissimmee River's historic channel under tons of
dredged material.
In all, the first phase of restoration will result in backfilling
of 7.5 miles of the C-38 canal and will return flows to more than
14 miles of the historic, winding river channel. The work on this
initial segment, just north of structure S-65C, should last about
two months and is part of the total $10.7 million contract for
the first phase of restoration, expected to be complete by early
2001.
The construction of the C-38 took 10 years and satisfied the need
for greater flood protection throughout the Kissimmee River
valley. But even before the work was complete, area residents and
naturalists realized the channelization had destroyed valuable
fish and wildlife habitat. Ninety percent of the wading bird
population was lost, as was more than 70 percent of the nesting
habitat for bald eagles. The once rich fishery was replaced by
increasingly dominant populations of rough fish.
Working together, the South Florida Water Management District
with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will restore about 43
continuous miles of the Kissimmee River by 2011 at a cost of
about $490 million.
"The Kissimmee River Restoration project will restore much
of the river floodplain ecosystem that existed there historically
while meeting the commitment of flood protection and navigational
use," said Frank Finch, executive director of the South
Florida Water Management District. "We look forward to
working with the Corps on seeing this important part of
Everglades restoration to completion."
August
2, 1999
Contact: Missie Barletto (941)
462-5260, ext. 3006
Okeechobee Service Center
205 E. North Park St. Okeechobee, FL 34972
TAYLOR CREEK NAVIGATION LOCK TO BE INSPECTED FOR MANATEE HAZARDS
The S-193 navigation lock at Taylor Creek will be temporarily
closed to boat traffic this week as underwater divers inspect the
structure for possible hazards to manatees. The temporary closing
may occur on either Tuesday or Wednesday and will not last more
than two hours.
During the underwater inspection, divers from the South Florida
Water Management District (SFWMD) will inspect the navigational
lock for any deteriorating conditions which may harm to the
manatee. The public will be notified of any further lock closings
well in advance should any repairs be indicated. As with most
SFWMD navigation locks, the Taylor Creek navigation lock is
fitted with special manatee sensors that can detect when
something is being closed in the lock gates. The gates respond by
stopping and reopening to allow a trapped animal to escape
unharmed.
Manatees are frequently sighted in and around water control
structures and navigation locks on Lake Okeechobee, and seem to
be particularly fond of the structure at Taylor Creek. It is not
uncommon to see groups of these gentle endangered mammals
traveling through the lock in the morning or in the evening.
Manatees frequently lounge just under the surface of the water
and can be severely harmed by boaters who cannot see them in time
to avoid the mammals. Please take extra precautions to observe
no-wake zones and be on the look out for manatees while traveling
through the navigation locks on Lake Okeechobee.
For more information, please contact the SFWMD Okeechobee Service
Center at (941) 462-5260 or (800) 250-4200. The office is open
from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, but please feel free to leave a
voice mail message over the weekend and we will return your call
as quickly as possible. You may also ask the locktender for
operating information when locking through or contact them on VHF
Marine Band Radio on Channel 16.
July 15,
1999
Contact: Kurt Harclerode
Fort Myers Service Center (941) 338-2929
South Florida Water Management District Rescinds Water-Use
Restrictions in Southwest Florida
West Palm Beach, July 15, 1999: The Governing Board of the South
Florida Water Management District today rescinded the water-use
restrictions in southwest Florida, effective today. Staff
recommended lifting the restrictions after groundwater supplies
reached normal levels this month. Cutbacks in water-use and the
onset of typical summer rainfall patterns benefited groundwater
supplies and led to the recommendation.
Phase I water-use restrictions, in effect since April 19, 1999,
called for cutbacks of up to 15 percent and limited lawn watering
to three days per week during early morning hours.
"We are pleased with the response from the residents of
southwest Florida," said Frank Finch, executive director of
the South Florida Water Management District. "Water
shortages are a part of life in South Florida, and we rely on the
support of the public through increased conservation efforts to
get us through these short-lived shortages. We hope that
continued adherence to daily conservation practices will become
the norm for all of us."
While the District lifted the mandatory water-use restrictions,
many local communities have adopted year-round conservation
ordinances. Check with your local government for more information
regarding local conservation ordinances.
July 15,
1999
Contact: Office of Communications
Bruce
Adams (561) 682-6785, Ann Overton (561) 682-6197
SFWMD BOARD SETS INITIAL TAX RATE FOR TRIM NOTICES
The Governing Board of the South Florida Water Management
District today approved setting a preliminary millage rate of
.697 mills for the FY 2000 budget year, the same tax rate the
agency has had for the past two fiscal years. The Governor's
Office in Tallahassee requested that the District develop and
submit a tentative budget for FY 2000 based on its current
millage rates.
The District's total preliminary budget is $423.3 million, which
will change as the counties report their final tax rolls. The
board will adopt the final budget at 5:15 p.m. on Wednesday,
September 22.
Today's action allows county property tax appraisers to include
the tax-rate information in the Truth In Millage (TRIM) notices
sent to all property owners. The board has the option of changing
the millage rate between now and September 22. However, if the
board chooses to increase the millage rate, the District must
notify each property owner within the agency's 16-county area by
first-class mail of the increase. If the board decides to reduce
the millage rate, no further notification is required.
The .697 millage rate would have homeowners in the Okeechobee
Basin of the District pay $69.70 on a house with an assessed
value of $100,000. This includes a separate one-tenth of a mill
for the Everglades Construction Project to clean water entering
the Everglades, as well as .284 mills for the District-at-large
rate and .313 mills for the Okeechobee basin rate.
The TRIM rate for the Big Cypress Basin (Collier County and part
of Monroe County) is .562 mills, which includes the .284-mill
District rate and .278 mills specifically for the basin.
Taxpayers in the Big Cypress Basin do not pay the one-tenth-mill
rate for the Everglades Construction Project.
July 8,
1999
Contact: Bruce
Adams (561) 682-6785, Ann Overton (561) 682-6197
MEDIA ADVISORY
WHAT:
Introductory PRESS CONFERENCE with new SFWMD Executive Director
Frank Finch. This is an interview opportunity; he will make no
"breaking-news" statements.
WHEN: Friday, July 9, 1999 ~ 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
WHERE: SFWMD Headquarters, B-1 Auditorium, 3301 Gun Club Road,
West Palm Beach, Florida
MORE INFO? Call Ann Overton, SFWMD, (561) 682-6197
ALSO: For those who cannot attend the news conference, it will be
webcast on the District's site at www.sfwmd.gov
Please call Ann Overton in advance --
(561) 682-6197 -- if you wish to order a copy of the videotape of
the news conference.
June 30,
1999
Contact: Paul
Millar, Director Martin/St. Lucie
Service Center (561) 223-2600
WEATHER, CANAL CONDITIONS MAY
CAUSE FISH KILLS
The South Florida Water Management District, the Florida
Department of Environmental Protection, and the newly formed
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are working
together to monitor conditions in the C-23, -24, and -25 canals
in Martin and St. Lucie counties because of low levels of
dissolved oxygen in the water.
Since the first of June, this basin has received more than 10
inches of rain, nearly 50 percent above normal for the period.
With the excess rain, more stormwater runoff is flowing from
urban and agricultural lands into the three primary canals, which
discharge into the St. Lucie Estuary and Indian River Lagoon.
The excessive rainfall (following the late-spring drought),
overcast skies, and high daytime temperatures provide the right
recipe for depressed levels of dissolved oxygen in the water,
possibly leading to fish kills. A fish kill is more likely to
occur in stagnant water or dead-end canals rather than open water
bodies.
The depressed levels of dissolved oxygen in the water result in a
physical environment where the fish have difficulty breathing.
Traditionally, low levels of dissolved oxygen, rather than toxic
chemicals in the water, cause fish kills in Martin and St. Lucie
counties.
The runoff from secondary canals flowing into the C-23, -24, and
-25 canals may also contain mats of aquatic weeds. Because of the
lower levels of dissolved oxygen, the South Florida Water
Management District will use mechanical harvesters when possible,
rather than herbicides, to eradicate any of these large
vegetation mats.
The three agencies thank those who report fish kills to the
statewide fish-kill hotline at (800) 636-0511
June 23,
1999
Contact:
Bruce Adams (561) 682-6785, Ann Overton (561) 682-6197
BOARD SETTLES 'SUNSHINE' LAWSUIT IN VOTE TO BUY OUT 8.5 SQUARE
MILE AREA
As part of a settlement in a "Sunshine" lawsuit filed
by the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida and other parties,
the Governing Board of the South Florida Water Management
District late today vacated its November 12, 1998, decision to
acquire all properties in the 8.5 Square Mile Area of south
Miami-Dade County. The board also acknowledged that the process
of developing the "locally preferred option" for the
total buyout would not be used again as the basis for any future
board decisions on this issue.
The tribe sued the District in February, claiming the agency had
violated state open-meetings ("Sunshine") laws by
developing its staff recommendations for the full 8.5 Square Mile
Area buyout without public input. The District said attendees at
these meetings were reviewing the technical data necessary to
evaluate the alternatives and present the information to the
Governing Board.
"The issue of acquiring any or all of the land in the 8.5
Square Mile Area for restoration of the southern Everglades and
Florida Bay has been a problem and impediment for way too
long," said Michael Collins, Governing Board chairman.
"It is time to move beyond past mistakes in the way this
agency previously did business and get at the truth as the best
way to restore the natural system."
Collins added, "We need to recognize that we have a dual
responsibility to protect the environment and respect the rights
of property owners. Our mission is to find the best way to
balance these two important factors. In the meantime, the
District will continue to buy land from willing sellers in the
original acquisition area."
In 1989, Congress approved expanding the eastern boundary of
Everglades National Park to improve water flows into Northeast
Shark River Slough, a part of the system partially cut out of the
park when the original boundaries were drawn in the 1940s. This
congressional action included the program for Modified Water
Deliveries (or Mod Waters) to Everglades National Park.
The sparsely populated 8.5 Square Mile Area is within the Mod
Waters project area, so the South Florida Water Management
District, the local partner on the federal project, began
acquiring land from willing sellers. The 8.5 Square Mile Area is
west of the levee that provides flood protection to landowners
east of that barrier, and so its residents suffer more flooding
problems during and after heavy rains.
The District and the park began seeking alternatives to alleviate
the residential flooding and to improve water flows to the park.
As part of the process, the District review team commissioned
various studies to determine the best alternative, including a
report by Montgomery Watson Inc. containing criteria weighted in
favor of total acquisition of the 8.5 Square Mile Area. It is
this technical fact-finding phase by the team and the report that
prompted the Sunshine lawsuit by the Miccosukee tribe. The tribe
claimed the criteria in the report were artificially weighted in
favor of total buyout.
As part of the settlement of the Sunshine suit, the District
agrees to vacate the November 1999 decision for total acquisition
of the 8.5 Square Mile Area (the locally preferred option), void
the Montgomery Watson report and vacate a November 13, 1999,
decision adding the "expansion area" for acquisition to
the agency's annual Save Our Rivers list. The plaintiffs agree to
dismiss the District while preserving the right to refile the
suit to enforce this settlement and dismiss, with prejudice, the
individual District staff named in the suit.
Separate from the settlement, the District will ask the Corps to
evaluate, as part of the ongoing process for the supplemental and
operational environmental impact statement (EIS), a full array of
locally preferred options to implement Mod Waters in the
development of a preferred alternative to be determined at the
end of the process, including an operational component to the
EIS.
The board also directed the District staff to add the expansion
area of the 8.5 Square Mile Area to the agency's cycle for
updating Save Our Rivers list for the five-year plan, which
occurs in September. As part of this process, the District will
conduct a public meeting on Tuesday, June 29, at 7 p.m. at the
John D. Campbell Agricultural Center at 18710 SW 288th Street in
Homestead. The District will also discuss the proposed addition
of the expansion area to the Save Our Rivers list on Wednesday,
August 11, at 9 a.m. during the monthly Governing Board
workshop/meeting in West Palm Beach
June 18,
1999
Contact: Missie Barletto
Okeechobee Service Center (941) 462-5260, ext. 3006
205 E. North Park St. Okeechobee, FL 34972
LAKE OKEECHOBEE NAVIGATION LOCKS MAY RESUME OPERATION THIS
WEEKEND
Due to continued rainfall in the area to the north of Lake
Okeechobee, the South Florida Water Management District reports
that navigation locks on the north side of Lake Okeechobee will
probably resume operations within the next few days.
The S-127 navigation lock at Buckhead Ridge will go back into
operation on the morning of Saturday, June 19. The other
navigation locks which have been secured in the open position
include J&S Fish Camp (S-135), Henry Creek (G-36) and Taylor
Creek (S-193). If the need arises to pump water from the
watershed to the north of Lake Okeechobee in order to provide
flood protection, these navigation locks will be put back into
service on extremely short notice. Locktenders will report for
duty on Saturday morning at each of the navigation locks.
The north lake navigation locks were secured in the open position
on May 27 when lake levels stabilized near the 13.5 NGVD
elevation. Current rainfall conditions may create a need to pump
water, which will require the navigation locks to be put in an
operational position. The SFWMD will make every attempt to keep
the locks open as long as possible in order to accommodate
recreational boaters. However, the decision to return the locks
to operations will be made under short notice. Boaters are
strongly urged to check in with the locktender when traveling
into Lake Okeechobee and to take notice of the hours of operation
at the navigation lock before making plans to stay out late on
the lake. Lock operating hours vary depending on the location and
season. Please check the posted hours of operation when locking
through.
For more information, please contact the SFWMD Okeechobee Service
Center at (941) 462-5260 or (800) 250-4200. The office is open
from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, but please feel free to leave a
voice mail message over the weekend and we will return your call
as quickly as possible. On the weekends, you may also ask the
locktenders for operating information when locking through or
contact them on VHF Marine Band Radio on Channel 16.
June 17,
1999
Contact: Office of Communications
Bruce
Adams, (561) 682-6785
Ann
Overton, (561) 682-6197
SFWMD WORKING WITH FLORIDA KEYS AQUEDUCT AUTHORITY TO ACCOUNT FOR
INCREASES IN FKAA'S WATER USE
The South Florida Water Management District is examining recent
increases in water use by the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority to
determine the possible causes. The FKAA notified the District on
March 31 that the Authority had exceeded its maximum daily
average of 19.2 million gallons per day (MGD) for its wellfield
located near Florida City in south Miami-Dade County.
According to monthly pumpage figures the FKAA sends the District,
the Authority exceeded its annual allocation of 5,778 million
gallons per year for the 12-month periods ending in March 1999
and April 1999. The District is working with the FKAA to review
its 10-year permit, issued in December 1995, to determine whether
the District can allow an increase in the Authority's average
daily allocation, currently 15.8 MGD. The two agencies met three
weeks ago to begin the process.
"The Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority did the right thing in
reporting to our staff these spikes in its water use during the
traditional spring break period," said Michael Collins of
Islamorada, chairman of the District's Governing Board.
"However, we have noted an increase during the past two
years in average daily pumpage by the Authority, and we need to
document the reasons before we can approve an increase."
Possible causes for increases in daily use include: cruise ships
topping off their water tanks when in port in Key West; landscape
replanting following Hurricane Georges last summer; an increase
in Keys tourism throughout the year rather than the traditional
winter-spring season; and system losses because of
unaccounted-for water use.
District water-use staff explain that most municipal utilities
encounter system losses (or unaccounted-for water use), but that
they usually remain below 10 percent of total use. However, the
FKAA has reported to the District that it cannot determine the
cause for the more than 10 percent loss of its total pumpage out
of the Florida City plant. Reasons for these system losses may
include illegal hookups to the pipeline, inaccurate meters, and
other unmetered water use.
The District also wants the FKAA to evaluate alternatives so it
can continue to meet the peak demand for water supply. This could
include reactivating an aquifer storage and recovery (ASR)
facility that the FKAA abandoned in the lower Keys, using reverse
osmosis to treat brackish water, or purchasing water from other
utilities.
"We want to work with the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority to
solve its increase in water use as soon as possible,"
Collins added. "Because the wellfield is at the southern end
of the Everglades, the 'Glades and Florida Bay ecosystems are
depending on the efficiency of this water system."
June 14,
1999
Contact: Office of Communications
Bruce
Adams, (561) 682-6785
Ann
Overton, (561) 682-6197
SFWMD GOVERNING BOARD, NEW DIRECTOR FRANK FINCH AGREE TO TERMS OF
HIS EMPLOYMENT
Frank Finch, selected last Thursday (June 10) by the Governing
Board of the South Florida Water Management District as the
agency's new executive director, will receive a starting annual
salary of $145,000.
The board and Finch reached an accord regarding the terms of his
employment agreement today during a special board meeting. The
board voted to approve the agreement and that Wednesday, June 23,
would be his first day on the job.
"We are proud to have Frank Finch on board as executive
director of the District," said Michael Collins, Governing
Board chairman. "This transition period has been difficult
for the entire agency, but Mr. Finch will have the support of the
entire board as he begins his work here. I also want to thank
James Harvey for his work and loyalty as interim director during
this transition. He got a lot of things done here in a short
amount of time that a lot of other people couldn't."
Finch's employment agreement includes: 100 percent paid employee
and dependent insurance benefits; 22 days of vacation and 13 days
of sick leave per year; participation in the Florida Senior
Management (retirement) plan; payment of not more than $8,000 in
matching deferred compensation; severance pay according to the
1997 rules approved by the Florida Legislature and 25 percent of
his sick leave; and a maximum of $10,000 in moving expenses.
Finch of Lorton, Virginia, is vice president of government
affairs for Harding Lawson Associates, an environmental
engineering firm. He previously was district engineer with U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers in Baltimore (1990-92) and in Chicago
(1984-87). He has a bachelor's degree from the U.S. Military
Academy, and masters degrees in civil engineering and management
science from the University of California at Berkeley.
June 10,
1999
Contact: Office of Communications
Bruce
Adams, (561) 682-6785
Ann
Overton, (561) 682-6197
SFWMD GOVERNING BOARD SELECTS FRANK FINCH AS DISTRICT'S NEW
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Pending discussions on the terms and conditions of employment,
Frank R. Finch, P.E. will be the new executive director of the
South Florida Water Management District. The District's Governing
Board selected Finch as the director during its meeting this
morning in West Palm Beach.
The board will meet on Monday, June 14, at 9:30 a.m. at District
headquarters in West Palm Beach to discuss Finch's proposed
employment agreement, which will include salary and benefits.
The board vote was 5-4 in favor of the motion to select Finch as
the District's new executive director. The following Governing
Board members voted in favor of Finch: Michael Collins, Jerry
Fernandez, Patrick Gleason, Nicolas Gutierrez, and Harkley
Thornton. Board members Mitchell Berger, Vera Carter, Michael
Minton, and Trudi Williams then voted with the majority to make
the selection unanimous.
When contacted by phone in his office in Virginia, Finch said,
"I am thrilled, humbled, excited, and ready to get started.
I am looking forward to meeting with the members of the Governing
Board, District staff, and the citizens of south Florida I will
help serve."
Finch, of Lorton, Virginia is vice president of government
affairs for Harding Lawson Associates, an environmental
engineering firm. He previously was district engineer with U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers in Baltimore (1990-92) and in Chicago
(1984-87). Finch served as Executive to the Assistant Secretary
of the Army and was director of the Army's environmental program
at the pentagon (1988-1990). He has a bachelor's degree from the
U.S. Military Academy, and masters degrees in civil engineering
and management science from the University of California at
Berkeley.
June 10,
1999
Contact: Office of Communications
Bruce
Adams, (561) 682-6785
Ann
Overton, (561) 682-6197
SFWMD PROPOSES NO TAX INCREASE
FOR FY 2000
"No tax increase for FY 2000" -- that's the message the
staff of the South Florida Water Management District delivered to
the Governing Board during today's board meeting in West Palm
Beach.
In the first of many presentations scheduled throughout the
summer before the final budget is approved on September 22, the
staff told the Governing Board that the proposed budget for
fiscal year 2000 is balanced within the existing millage rates.
The District's interim executive director, James Harvey, in close
consultation with the board and the Governor's Office, set four
main priorities at the start of this year's budget process. They
are: (1) no tax increase; (2) redirect resources to the agency's
highest priority programs -- Everglades restoration and water
resource development (i.e., C&SF Restudy); (3) redirect staff
to those two priority programs; and (4) secure cooperative
funding agreements with state and local governments to help pay
for these programs.
The preliminary budget reflects the District's commitments by:
Providing approximately $120.4 million and 226 staff for
Everglades restoration;
Identifying approximately $28.4 million of ad valorem funding for
the Central and Southern Florida (C&SF) Restudy, water
resources development, and critical restoration projects;
Identifying approximately $30 million of non ad valorem funding
from Save Our Rivers and P-2000 funding for the C&SF Restudy
project land acquisition;
Identifying approximately $9.4 million of a combination of
staffing, special appropriation, and general support for the
C&SF Restudy project;
Directing all program managers to redirect 15 percent of current
staff to higher priority needs (i.e. C&SF Restudy project and
Everglades restoration efforts);
Including no new positions and striving to cap or reduce the
overall staffing complement at 1,894 positions; and Securing
nearly $14.1 million of special state legislative appropriations
for water-resource related projects within the District's
16-county jurisdiction ($5.2 million is contained within the
District's FY 2000 budget, with the remaining $8.9 million passed
to local governments for inclusion in their budgets).
June 8,
1999
Contact: Office of Communications
Bruce
Adams, (561) 682-6785
Ann
Overton, (561) 682-6197
SFWMD TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETINGS ON FY 2000 BUDGET AND LONG-TERM
'WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN'
As part of its budget-development process for fiscal year 2000,
the South Florida Water Management District will hold 12 public
meetings in cities throughout the region to gather comments from
the public about the agency's programs.
The agendas for these workshops also will contain discussions of
and public comment on statewide water-management initiatives,
performance measures, and local water-resource projects and
issues. The meetings, listed below, include a special Governing
Board workshop devoted entirely to the FY 2000 budget matters.
The following is the schedule for the meetings:
Monday, June 14, 6:30 p.m. -- Okeechobee County Health Department
auditorium, 1728 NW Ninth Avenue, Okeechobee
Wednesday, June 16, 6:30 p.m. -- SFWMD Keys service center, 80431
Old Highway (MM 80.5), Islamorada
Tuesday, June 22, 6:30 p.m. -- Port St. Lucie community center,
2195 SE Airoso Boulevard, Port St. Lucie
Wednesday, June 23, 5:30 p.m. -- SFWMD B-1 Auditorium, 3301 Gun
Club Road, West Palm Beach
Thursday, June 24, 9 a.m. -- SFWMD Governing Board special
workshop on FY 2000 budget development, District headquarters,
B-1 auditorium, 3301 Gun Club Road, West Palm Beach
Monday, June 28, 6:30 p.m. -- SFWMD Fort Lauderdale field
station, 2535 Davie Road, Davie
Wednesday, June 30, 6:30 p.m. -- Lee County commission chambers,
Old Courthouse, 2120 Main Street, Fort Myers
Thursday, July 1, 7 p.m. -- Joseph Caleb Center, Room 110, 5400
NW 22nd Avenue, Miami
Wednesday, July 7, 6:30 p.m. -- Kissimmee Civic Center, 102 East
Dakin Avenue, Kissimmee
Friday, July 9, 6:30 p.m. Collier County Commission Chambers,
Collier County Government Center, 3301 E. Tamiami Trail, Naples
Monday, July 12, 7 p.m. -- West Dade Regional Library (second
floor), 9445 Coral Way, Miami
Tuesday, July 13, 7 p.m. -- SFWMD Homestead field station, 2195
NE Eighth Avenue, Homestead
State law requires the five water management districts to develop
and update a District Water Management Plan to address water
supply, flood protection, water quality, and natural systems
management. The South Florida Water Management District produced
its comprehensive plan in April 1995.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the water
management districts have been working together to develop
statewide goals, objectives, strategies and performance measures
for each of those four areas. This agency is seeking public
comment on the proposed revisions to its plan.
May 24,
1999
Contact: Orlando Service Center
Bridgett
Duckworth (407) 858-6100, ext. 3806 or
(800) 250-4250
PHASE ONE OF KISSIMMEE RIVER RESTORATION CONSTRUCTION COMPLETED
IN KISSIMMEE CHAIN OF LAKES
As part of the Kissimmee River restoration project, dredging of
the C-35 canal connecting West Lake Tohopekaliga to Lake Cypress
was completed in late April, pending review of the survey
results. The C-35 canal was dredged to its original design
specifications to remove sediment that had built up over years of
operation.
The C-35 canal was the first of three canals undergoing
modifications to provide better water flow between Lakes Cypress,
Hatchineha, and Kissimmee under a new operating schedule that
allows for more water storage in the three lakes. The additional
storage will provide the water needed to restore flows to the
Kissimmee River. The revised regulation schedule, as determined
by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will not be implemented
until all three canals are completed.
The Kissimmee River restoration project will restore more than 40
square miles of river and floodplain ecosystem, including 43
miles of meandering river channel and 27,000 acres of wetlands.
The South Florida Water Management District and U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers together are implementing the restoration and
sharing its costs.
Construction on C-36 canal, connecting Lake Hatchineha to Lake
Cypress, began last week and is tentatively scheduled for
completion by December 30. Construction on the third canal, C-37,
is tentatively scheduled to begin in July. The C-36 and C-37
canals will be widened and deepened during construction.
During the construction phase, every effort will be made to
accommodate boaters and provide for safe navigation around the
construction sites. The contractor performing the work will use a
suction dredge atop a barge to remove sediment from the canal.
The construction area will be clearly marked with signs and
buoys.
Signs will be placed at boat ramps and along the canal to remind
boaters about the construction. A "no wake" zone will
be strictly enforced through the construction area for the safety
of boaters and work crews. Under certain circumstances,
navigation may be restricted or prohibited without notice, as it
may be necessary for the barge to block the canal to remove
material. The contractor will not stop work to allow passage
through the canals except during designated times.
The designated times of passage are as follows:
During weekdays: 7:30-8 a.m.; noon-12:30 p.m.; 5-5:30 p.m. During
weekends and holidays: 6:30-7:30 a.m.; noon-1 p.m.; 6-7 p.m. (5-6
p.m., Nov. 1-Feb. 28).
Boaters can check the status of navigation restrictions by
checking with the barge operator on VHF Marine Radio Channel 13.
May 13,
1999
Contact: Office of Communications
Bruce
Adams, (561) 682-6785
Ann
Overton, (561) 682-6197
GOVERNING BOARD SELECTS NEW CANDIDATES TO INTERVIEW FOR EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR
The Governing Board of the South Florida Water Management
District today selected two additional candidates and an
alternate candidate to interview for the position of executive
director. Col. William Conner and Col. (ret.) Terry Rice, both of
whom were selected on April 28 as candidates, withdrew their
names from consideration. Conner pulled out on May 4, and Rice
withdrew today (May 13).
The new candidates are Robert D. Brown III, Frank Finch, and
Charles Alan Hall (alternate). The board chose an alternate
candidate to ensure a sufficient number of people to interview in
case any member of the group withdraws from the pool.
Brown received seven votes, Finch six, and Hall two. Other
candidates who received one vote each are: Eric R. Conrad of
Pennsylvania, Raymond A. Liberti of West Palm Beach, and Sharon
M. Trost, director of the District's Everglades stormwater
program. The board voted to include in the pool the person who
received the third-highest number of votes as the alternate
candidate.
The following is how each board member voted: Mitchell Berger --
Hall, Trost; Vera Carter -- Conrad, Liberti; Michael Collins --
Brown, Finch; Gerardo Fernandez -- Brown, Finch; Patrick Gleason
-- Brown, Finch; Nicolas Gutierrez -- Brown, Finch; Michael
Minton -- Brown, Hall; Harkley Thornton -- Brown, Finch; and
Trudi Williams -- Brown, Finch.
Brown of Silverdale, Washington, currently is a business analyst
with Anteon Corp., under contract with the U.S. Navy as a
full-time consultant. He was district engineer with U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers in Huntington, West Virginia (1986-88). He has
a bachelor's degree from the U.S. Military Academy, a masters of
science in civil engineering from the University of Illinois, and
an MBA from Monmouth College (New Jersey).
Finch of Lorton, Virginia, is vice president of government
affairs for Harding Lawson Associates, an environmental
engineering firm. He previously was district engineer with U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers in Baltimore (1990-92) and in Chicago
(1984-87). He has a bachelor's degree from the U.S. Military
Academy, and masters degrees in civil engineering and management
science from the University of California at Berkeley.
Hall of West Palm Beach is director of the Ecosystem Restoration
Department at the South Florida Water Management District. He has
been with the agency for more than 25 years, where he also served
as deputy director of the Operations and Maintenance Department.
He has a bachelors degree from Nova University (Fort Lauderdale).
Other candidates still in the executive director pool (selected
on April 28) are three District employees: William Malone,
director of Construction and Land Management; Joe Schweigart,
director of the Everglades Construction Project; and Michael
Slayton, deputy executive director.
The board will interview the candidates at a special meeting on
Friday, June 4, at 8:30 a.m. at District headquarters. The board
will make its final selection on Thursday, June 10, at its
regular monthly meeting, which begins at 8:30 a.m.
May 12,
1999
Contact: Office of Communications
Bruce
Adams, (561) 682-6785
Ann
Overton, (561) 682-6197
SFWMD GOVERNING BOARD CONTINUING SEARCH FOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The Governing Board of the South Florida Water Management
District today voted to go forward with its recruitment for a new
executive director.
In two separate votes, the board did the following:
Approved having at least four candidates for the interviews, and
Approved adding at least one external candidate and an alternate
candidate to the current pool of candidates for the position.
This will guarantee that the board has two external candidates as
finalists.
The board will vote on the additional candidates during its
regular business meeting on Thursday, May 13. Tentative dates for
the interviews
May 7,
1999
Contact: Office of Communications
Bruce
Adams, (561) 682-6785
Ann
Overton, (561) 682-6197
SFWMD EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MAY 10 INTERVIEWS CANCELLED
The Governing Board meeting scheduled for Monday, May 10, has
been cancelled. The purpose of the meeting was to interview
candidates for executive director of the South Florida Water
Management District.
Board Chairman Michael Collins, in consultation with the
Governor's Office in Tallahassee, has decided that since the two
external candidates -- Col. William Conner and Col. (ret.) Terry
Rice -- have withdrawn from the process, the full Governing Board
will need to discuss its direction on this matter at its regular
workshop/meeting on Wednesday, May 12.
Collins said, "The board originally had decided to interview
five candidates for executive director. That is what we will
discuss on May 12."
UPDATE/ CORRECTION MAY 7, 1999, 6 p.m.
The District has not yet received official notification that
Terry Rice has
withdrawn his candidacy for the executive director position.
May 7,
1999
Contact: Office of Communications
Bruce
Adams, (561) 682-6785
Ann
Overton, (561) 682-6197
SFWMD ADMITS IT FAILED TO SECURE PERMITS TO OPERATE LAKE
OKEECHOBEE STRUCTURES
The South Florida Water Management District has operated the
structures around Lake Okeechobee since 1993 without pursuing the
necessary state permits, Interim Executive Director Jim Harvey
said today.
Harvey turned himself in at a meeting today with Carlos Rivero-de
Aguilar P.E., director of the Southeast Florida office of the
Department of Environmental Protection, at the West Palm Beach
DEP office. Harvey admitted to DEP that the District had failed
to extend the temporary operating permit for the gates and pumps
around Lake Okeechobee for more than five years.
"The District's new management team intends to continue
pursuing its policy of openness in all matters," Harvey
said. "The time has come to admit the agency's past
mistakes, correct them as soon as possible, and move on in a more
professional manner. That is what I want my legacy as interim
director of this agency to reflect."
In 1983, the District filed with the then-Department of
Environmental Regulation for its first temporary operating permit
to operate these structures, which DER issued. The District filed
for a five-year extension on that temporary operating permit just
before it expired in 1988.
Reports made public earlier this week revealed that 1998
phosphorus loads to Lake Okeechobee were the highest since 1984
-- despite a rigorous and costly cleanup program involving the
cooperation of dairy and other farmers north of the lake.
District staff report that, in addition to the heavy rains of
last year's El Nino winter, the high phosphorus levels can be
traced to the watersheds of Lake Istokpoga and Arbuckle Creek,
where no regulatory program is in place, and as far north as the
Kissimmee Chain of Lakes.
The District normally permits these types of facilities for other
entities, such as private landowners. In this case, since the
District cannot permit itself, it must obtain the permit from its
supervising agency, DEP.
Harvey pledged to immediately start the application process to
implement the permit and to provide all the staff and resources
necessary to work in cooperation with DEP to comply with
up-to-date standards and goals to protect the water resources of
Lake Okeechobee and other areas of South Florida.
May 7,
1999
Contact: Office of Communications
Bruce
Adams, (561) 682-6785
Ann
Overton, (561) 682-6197
SFWMD BOARD CHAIRMAN CONDEMNS AGENCY'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN LAKE
OKEECHOBEE PERMIT FROM STATE
Michael Collins, chairman of the Governing Board of the South
Florida Water Management District, today condemned the agency's
failure to obtain a required operating permit for the structures
on Lake Okeechobee.
"No longer will this agency be allowed to set its own
rules," Collins said. "I am appalled at the arrogance
previous District administrations demonstrated in the face of
state regulations. As long as I am on the Governing Board, I will
ensure that this does not occur again. We will follow the
law."
Earlier today, Interim Executive Director Jim Harvey turned
himself in to Carlos Rivero-de Aguilar P.E., director of the
Southeast Florida office of the Department of Environmental
Protection, at the West Palm Beach DEP office, where Harvey
admitted that the District had failed to extend the temporary
operating permit for the gates and pumps that ring Lake
Okeechobee for six years.
In 1983, the District filed with the then-Department of
Environmental Regulation for its first temporary operating permit
to operate these structures, which DER issued. The District filed
for a five-year extension on that temporary operating permit just
before it expired in 1988.
"I applaud the continued openness and professionalism that
Jim Harvey has brought to the District during his brief tenure as
interim director, especially in admitting this regulatory
failure," Collins said. "He has no agenda except to do
what is right for both the state and its natural resources."
April
29, 1999
Contact:
Bruce
Adams, (561) 682-6785
Ann
Overton, (561) 682-6197
Office of Communications and Education
CORRECTION ON VOTES OF SFWMD BOARD MEMBERS FOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
CANDIDATES
Because of an error in tallying the votes on a spreadsheet, a
news release issued Wednesday, April 28, about selection of
candidates for executive director contained incorrect information
on the votes by one meber of the South Florida Water Management
District Governing Board. This did not change the overall outcome
of the vote.
The correct votes for board member Gerardo Fernandez are as
follows: William Connor, William Malone, Terry Rice, Joseph
Schweigart and Michael Slayton.
The Board will interview the five finalists during a special
meeting on Monday, May 10, beginning at 8:30 a.m. at District
headquarters. The meeting will be broadcast on the District's web
site at www.sfwmd.gov.
The five candidates are:
William L. Conner, P.E. -- directs activities of U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers civil-works projects in Louisiana. Corps officer
from 1989 to present. Bachelor of Science degree, United States
Military Academy; Master of Science degrees in civil engineering
in both structures and management, Massachusetts Institute of
Technology.
William F. Malone -- employed by the South Florida Water
Management District since 1986 in a number of management
positions. Currently department director for Construction and
Land Management. Bachelor of Science degree, civil engineering,
Vanderbilt University.
Terry Rice, Ph.D., P.E.-- currently employed by Florida
International University as a research scientist focusing on
Everglades restoration. Previously an officer in the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers from 1969-1998. Bachelor of Science degree,
U.S. Military Academy; Master of Science degree, civil
engineering, University of Illinois; Ph.D. in water resources
engineering, Colorado State University.
Joseph Schweigart, P.E. -- employed by the South Florida Water
Management District since 1964 in a number of management
positions. Currently director of Everglades Construction Project.
Course work in engineering.
Michael Slayton -- employed by the South Florida Water Management
District since 1986. Currently deputy executive director.
Bachelor of Arts degree, science conservation biology, Florida
Atlantic University.
Malone received eight votes, Connor and Slayton seven each, and
Rice and Schweigart five apiece.
Each Governing Board member voted for the following candidates
(in alphabetical order):
Mitchell Berger: William Malone, Terry Rice, Joseph Schweigart,
Michael Slayton.
Vera Carter: Raymond Liberti, William Malone, Terry Rice, Joseph
Schweigart, Michael Slayton.
Michael Collins: Robert D. Brown III, William Conner, Raymond
Liberti, Michael Slayton, Sharon Trost
Gerardo Fernandez: William Conner, William Malone, Terry Rice,
Joseph Schweigart, Michael Slayton
Patrick Gleason: William Conner, Raymond Liberti, William Malone,
Sharon Trost, William Winters
Nicholas Gutierrez: Robert D. Brown III, William Conner, William
Malone, Terry Rice, Joseph Schweigart
Michael Minton: William Conner, Charles (Alan) Hall, William
Malone, Joseph Schweigart, Michael Slayton
Harkley Thornton: William Conner, Frank Finch, William Malone,
Terry Rice, Michael Slayton
Trudi Williams: William Conner, Raymond Liberti, William Malone,
Michael
Slayton, William Winters
April
28, 1999
Contact: Ann Overton, (561) 682-6197
Office of Communications and Education
SFWMD GOVERNING BOARD SELECTS FIVE TO INTERVIEW FOR EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR
The Governing Board of the South Florida Water Management
District today (Wednesday, April 28) selected five candidates to
interview for the position of executive director. The board will
interview the five finalists during a special meeting on Monday,
May 10, beginning at 8:30 a.m. at District headquarters. The
meeting will be broadcast on the District's web site at
www.sfwmd.gov.
The five candidates are:
William L. Conner, P.E. -- directs activities of U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers civil-works projects in Louisiana. Corps officer
from 1989 to present. Bachelor of Science degree, United States
Military Academy; Master of Science degrees in civil engineering
in both structures and management, Massachusetts Institute of
Technology.
William F. Malone -- employed by the South Florida Water
Management District since 1986 in a number of management
positions. Currently department director for Construction and
Land Management. Bachelor of Science degree, civil engineering,
Vanderbilt University.
Terry Rice -- currently employed by Florida International
University as a research scientist focusing on Everglades
restoration. Previously an officer in the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers from 1969-1998. Bachelor of Science degree, U.S.
Military Academy; Master of Science degree, civil engineering,
University of Illinois; Ph.D. in water resources engineering,
Colorado State
University.
Joseph Schweigart, P.E. -- employed by the South Florida Water
Management District since 1964 in a number of management
positions. Currently director of Everglades Construction Project.
Course work in engineering.
Michael Slayton -- employed by the South Florida Water Management
District since 1986. Currently deputy executive director.
Bachelor of Arts degree, science conservation biology, Florida
Atlantic University.
Malone received eight votes, Connor and Slayton seven each, and
Rice and Schweigart five apiece.
Each Governing Board member voted for the following candidates:
Mitchell Berger: William Malone, Terry Rice, Joseph Schweigart,
Michael Slayton.
Vera Carter: Raymond Liberti, William Malone, Terry Rice, Joseph
Schweigart, Michael Slayton.
Michael Collins: Robert D. Brown III, William Conner, Raymond
Liberti, Michael Slayton, Sharon Trost
Gerardo Fernandez: William Conner, William Malone, Terry Rice,
Walter Sanders, Joseph Schweigart
Patrick Gleason: William Conner, Raymond Liberti, William Malone,
Sharon Trost, William Winters
Nicholas Gutierrez: Robert D. Brown III, William Conner, William
Malone, Terry Rice, Joseph Schweigart
Michael Minton: William Conner, Charles (Alan) Hall, William
Malone, Joseph Schweigart, Michael Slayton
Harkley Thornton: William Conner, Frank Finch, William Malone,
Terry Rice, Michael Slayton
Trudi Williams: William Conner, Raymond Liberti, William Malone,
Michael
Slayton, William Winters
Posted
April 26, 1999
Contact: Ann Overton, (561) 682-6197
Office of Communications and Education
DISTRICT INVITES HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATIONS AND CONDO BOARDS TO
"KNOW THE FLOW" SEMINAR ON MAY 14
As South Florida's traditional "wet" or rainy season
approaches, this is a good time for homeowner and property-owner
associations and condominiums to learn what they can do to
minimize flooding on their property. For that reason, the South
Florida Water Management District is offering a free, four-hour
seminar on how to maintain neighborhood drainage systems.
This "Know the Flow" seminar will be held on Friday,
May 14, from 8 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. at District headquarters,
3301 Gun Club Road, West Palm Beach.
During this session, District engineers will provide an
understanding of how typical neighborhood drainage systems
operate in conjunction with the District's regional canal
network. Attendees will also learn the importance of routine
drainage system maintenance and why such maintenance is necessary
to ensure that the entire flood-control project operates at its
best. District regulatory requirements and permitting will also
be discussed.
The "Know the Flow" course is open to the public.
However, registration is required by May 3 as seating is limited.
For more information or to register, please contact Sharon Hasty
at 1-800-432-2045, extension 6844, or (561) 682-6844. The Florida
Department of Business and Professional Regulation has approved
the course for 4 hours of continuing education credits (CEUs).
Offered for a third consecutive year, "Know the Flow"
has become a popular educational outreach effort throughout the
District, having previously been offered in Broward, Collier,
Martin, and St. Lucie counties. Another "Know the Flow"
seminar will be offered in Broward County this summer.
The South Florida Water Management District is responsible for
operating and maintaining 1,800 miles of canals and levees, 181
primary water control structures, 2,000 smaller structures, and
25 major pumping stations to provide water supply and flood
protection.
April
15, 1999
Ann
Overton, (561) 682-6197 Office of
Communications and Education
Low Level Discharges from Lake Okeechobee to Begin Early Next
Week
The South Florida Water Management District has coordinated with
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to begin low-level discharges
from Lake Okeechobee to the St. Lucie Estuary early next week. To
improve ecological conditions in both the St. Lucie Estuary and
Lake Okeechobee, the District is requesting that the Corps make
limited beneficial releases of 365 cubic feet per second (cfs)
from the St. Lucie Lock for a maximum of 10 consecutive days.
Water levels in Lake Okeechobee have been much higher than
average during the past five years, affecting the health of the
lake. Mud sediments have moved from the middle of the lake to
areas near the shore, making the water turbid (muddy). This
causes less light to reach the lake bottom, resulting in the loss
of some aquatic plants. Wave action has uprooted vast areas of
submerged plants, causing them to lose their ability to stabilize
these sediments and provide an important habitat for fisheries.
This vegetation has been naturally deposited along the shore of
the lake, forming a muck berm in areas and impacting fish habitat
such as bulrush, Kissimmee grass, and eelgrass communities.
The Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission have documented
declines in the black crappie fishery. At recent public meetings,
fishing guides and sport fisherman also have reported a decrease
in the fish populations. Biologists concur that lower lake levels
(down to an elevation of 13 feet) would improve the conditions of
fish nurseries and allow a regrowth of submerged plants near the
shore areas.
Consistent with the needs of the lake, a small environmental
release of fresh water from the lake would provide a minimum flow
of fresh water east to the St. Lucie Estuary. Presently, salinity
levels are at the upper limit for this brackish ecosystem due to
the lack of rainfall. In response to water-quality concerns
raised by the public in Martin and St. Lucie counties, the
District will implement an extensive water-quality monitoring
program to determine if the estuary experiences any negative
impacts from the initial 10-day release.
In workshops held during the last two weeks, members of the local
community have cooperated with the District to design the
sampling program. Other agencies, the public, and the District
will assess water-quality data, regional water supply conditions,
and other related water resource issues. They will then decide
either to continue additional releases or to suspend this
initiative. The District will take water-quality samples from
eight stations on the third and 10th day of the 10-day release.
They will test for salinity, dissolved oxygen, and phosphorus in
the field. The collected samples will be analyzed for
chlorophyll, nutrients, and metals.
Florida Oceanographic Society volunteers will monitor the water
daily at various sites, and the Florida Department of
Environmental Protection will monitor turbidity in the St. Lucie
River at the Roosevelt Bridge in Stuart. Fisherman and boaters
have been asked to report any irregularities on the river to the
Districtıs Martin/St. Lucie Service Center. The contact is Patti Sime at 223-2600 ext. 3603.
If at any time during the initial release, negative impacts to
the estuary are observed and confirmed, the District will request
the Corps to immediately suspend the discharges. Low-volume
releases of fresh water may continue until Sunday, May 30, if no
unfavorable conditions occur in the estuary and water supply
issues are addressed. Rigorous monitoring will continue on a
weekly basis.
April
15, 1999
Contact: Kurt D. Harclerode, APR
Phone: (941) 338-2929, Fax: (941) 338-2936
MANDATORY WATER-USE RESTRICTIONS ISSUED FOR ALL OF LEE AND PARTS
OF COLLIER, GLADES AND HENDRY COUNTIES
Fort Myers, Florida- - Declining water levels throughout
southwest Florida over the last three months led the Governing
Board of the South Florida Water Management District today to
declare a water shortage for the region. Upon declaration of the
water shortage, the Governing Board orders Phase I mandatory
water-use restrictions for all of Lee County and parts of
Collier, Charlotte, Glades and Hendry counties. The order for all
the areas will go into effect on Monday, April 19.
The action came at the regularly scheduled board meeting in West
Palm Beach after discussion of declining water supplies at the
board workshop on Wednesday. Because of the lack of rainfall,
southwest Florida has experienced rapid declines in groundwater
and surface water supplies. The District hopes that by issuing
the Phase I order, a 15 percent cutback in water use will result.
"Mandatory water-use restrictions are necessary now to help
prevent further salt-water intrusion of the fresh water supply
during the remainder of the dry season in southwest
Florida," said James Harvey, District interim executive
director. "Mandatory restrictions will have to remain until
rainfall patterns improve and water levels recover to normal
levels."
Homeowners and businesses will be limited to the hours of 4 a.m.
to 8 a.m. for lawn and landscape irrigation and car washing and
only on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday for addresses ending in 1,
3, 5, 7, or 9.
Those addresses ending in 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 will be allowed to water
and car wash on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. Hand watering of
lawns and landscapes as well as car washing is also permissible
on assigned days during the 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. hours as well as
between 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Hand watering is limited to watering
with one hose, attended by one person, fitted with an automatic
shutoff nozzle. Residents are also asked to reduce indoor water
use. Certain restrictions will also apply to agricultural users
and golf courses. Restaurants and commercial/industrial users are
requested to help conserve water.
All of Lee County is included in the Phase I restrictions. All of
Collier County, except the area of the Big Cypress National
Preserve, is included in the Phase I restrictions. In Charlotte
County, restrictions will be in effect for areas of Charlotte
County within the boundaries of the South Florida Water
Management District. In Glades County, restrictions will be in
effect from the Muse area on the north, south to the Hendry
County border, State Road 29 on the east, to the Charlotte County
border on the west. In Hendry County restrictions will be in
effect in the area west of State Road 29, south to the Collier
County border.
How long the restrictions will remain in effect depends on how
long it takes for rainfall patterns to improve and the
underground aquifers to recover to normal levels. These normal
levels may not be regained until the summer rains return.
April
12, 1999
Contact: Bruce
Adams, Office of Government and Public
Affairs (561) 682-6785
Contact: Ann Overton, Office of
Government and Public Affairs (561) 682-6197
LOW WATER LEVELS IN ST. LUCIE COUNTY AGRICULTURAL AREA PROMPT
LETTER OF CAUTION FROM SFWMD
The following is the text of a letter that Interim Executive
Director James M. Harvey of the South Florida Water Management
District sent to water users today in the basins surrounding the
C-23, C-24, and C-25 canals in the St. Lucie County Agricultural
Area.
Staff concerns about the decline in water levels in these and
connecting canals because of the extreme lack of rainfall since
January prompted this cautionary letter. The District is also
concerned about predictions for more of the same hot and dry
weather for the next few months. The letter states that
"(s)ince early November, when Tropical Storm Mitch
dramatically ended last year's wet season, we have had less than
half of normal rainfall in the St. Lucie County area."
The letter:
"In response to operations criteria in South Florida Water
Management District rules designed to protect the water
resources, I am contacting you directly to seek your support so
we can delay and possibly avoid declaring a water shortage
throughout the St. Lucie County Agricultural Area.
"Close monitoring of water levels in the C-23, C-24, and
C-25 canals has shown water-resource conditions are such that
consumptive users must take immediate action to restrict their
use of this particular supply. Since early November, when
Tropical Storm Mitch dramatically ended last year's wet season,
we have had less than half of normal rainfall in the St. Lucie
County area. Lack of rain and the resulting increase in
withdrawals from these three canals have caused an extreme
decline in canal water levels. If these low water levels persist,
harm to the water resource and to consumptive users is expected
to occur in the coming months. The District is required by law to
take action to protect the water resource from serious harm.
"District rules (40E-22 F.A.C.) obligate you, upon notice,
to cease withdrawing water from the C-23, -24, and -25 canals and
connecting canals and ditches when water levels in the three
major canals drop below minimum level requirements. The required
minimum level in each canal is 14 feet mean sea level (msl);
current levels are hovering at 14 feet msl (or 14 feet above sea
level).
"When the water level reaches 14 feet msl, approximately
four to six feet of canal bank is exposed. The soil in the St.
Lucie County agricultural area is predominately sandy silt with
some clay. When exposed and unvegetated, this soil on the canal
side slope is generally unstable. If this sediment then erodes
into the canal, it can reduce the canal's conveyance capacity,
increase flood risks, increase levels of turbidity (suspended
sediments in the water), and artificially lower dissolved oxygen
in the water because of the decomposed organic material, in turn
affecting fish and wildlife.
"The District has the authority to limit withdrawals through
a water-shortage declaration. However, because of the potential
impacts to agricultural operations and other water users that
formal restrictions would cause, I am asking water users in the
basin to voluntarily reduce withdrawals from the canals until
water levels have safely rebounded. I believe your knowledge of
how your particular water-use operations can be adjusted to cut
water demand is an invaluable asset in this situation.
"As a result, the District wants to work with you and other
affected water users to possibly avoid declaring an official
water shortage, which would terminate all surface-water
withdrawals from these three canals. By managing this temporary
deficit together, we may be able to get through the rest of this
dry season with minimal economic hardship for everyone involved.
Unlike other areas of South Florida, these three canals do not
connect to Lake Okeechobee, so we cannot transport water to
recharge them.
"Specifically, I request the following: "(1) For those
users with alternative sources of water, including domestic users
and permitted users, we ask you to voluntarily cease pumping
water from these canals until the District notifies you that
levels have stabilized sufficiently above the minimum 14-foot msl
trigger. You can still use water from Floridan aquifer wells,
on-site reservoirs (ponds or lakes), and municipal utilities, as
currently authorized in your consumptive-use permit for
non-domestic uses. We also recommend that you meet with District
staff to discuss the future development of alternative sources of
water to give you more irrigation flexibility.
"(2) For those users without a permitted alternative source
of water, we ask that you voluntarily restrict pumping from the
canals to the absolute minimum required to sustain your
agricultural crop by using the most efficient irrigation
practices (microjet vs. flood irrigation). Domestic users who
take water from the canal and who do not have an alternative
source are also requested to reduce their withdrawals and to
voluntarily cease non-essential uses, such as excessive lawn
irrigation. The District recommends the development of
alternative water-supply sources for long-term protection against
future water-use restrictions.
"I will hold off issuing an emergency order and/or
requesting the Governing Board to declare a water shortage for
this water source (the C-23, -24, and -25 canals and their
connected canals and ditches) as long as we can manage this
emergency together and water levels rebound to acceptable levels.
"In the event that we must declare an official water
shortage, District staff will be ready to assist you in the
variance application process to minimize unnecessary economic
hardship. On behalf of the District, I look forward to working
with you on this very vital resource-protection matter."
March
11, 1999
Contact: Bruce Adams, Office of
Government and Public Affairs (561) 687-6005
GOVERNING BOARD REMOVES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SAM POOLE
As its first item of business today, the Governing Board this
morning voted to remove Executive Director Sam Poole immediately.
Board member Pat Gleason made the motion to remove Poole. As part
of the same motion, Gleason moved to install James Harvey as
interim director for a period of two months with no opportunity
to seek the post permanently.
Gleason then made motions to remove Barbara Markham as general
counsel and Allen Vann as inspector general. After some
discussion by the Board, he agreed to withdraw both of those
motions. The Governing Board will reconsider the matter of
Markham next month and will discuss Vann's status under the
auspices of the board's audit committee.
All three of these positions were "at-will" and
reported directly to the board.
Governing Board Chairman Mike Collins acknowledged that
"these changes are emotional and painful," but said the
need existed now, with a new administration, for new leadership
at the District. He added that the board made these changes out
of "blind necessity because the District needed to head in a
different direction" because of the significance of the
various ecosystem restoration projects the agency is undertaking.
In other action, the board scheduled several extra
workshop-meetings between now and its May regular meeting to
consider the process for selecting a new executive director. The
meetings will also provide direction to District staff on issues
such as budget development.
March
10, 1999
Contact: Bruce Adams, Office of
Government and Public Affairs (561) 687-6005
NEW SFWMD GOVERNING BOARD MEMBERS SWORN IN; EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR SAM POOLE OFFERS RESIGNATION
Six new Governing Board members took the oath of office this
morning, (Wednesday, March 10, 1999) and immediately selected a
new chairman and vice-chairman. Board members unanimously elected
Michael Collins of Islamorada as chairman and Michael Minton of
Fort Pierce as vice chairman. The new board members appointed
last Friday by Governor Jeb Bush are: Collins; Gerardo B.
Fernandez and Nicholas Gutierrez, both of Miami; Harkley R.
Thornton, St. Cloud; Patrick J. Gleason, Lake Worth; and Trudi K.
Williams, Fort Myers.
Above L-R: Trudi Williams, Pat Gleason, Harkley Thornton, Gerardo
Fernandez, Nicholas Gutierrez, Mike Collins take the oath of
office as new Governing Board members from District Clerk Tony
Burns.
Following the election of officers, Executive Director Samuel E.
Poole III read a memorandum he had written to the board
indicating that he "will provide (them) with a letter of
resignation effective, pursuant to my contract with you, six
months from the date you choose to accept it." Poole said he
made this decision to offer his resignation because of, as he
wrote, "the rumor about an effort to fire me tomorrow
(Thursday). ... If the governor has instructed you to replace me,
let it be so announced so that an orderly transition can be
arranged with minimal disruption to our mission. "If the
governor has not instructed you to replace me, but an effort is
nevertheless to be made, the impact of such an action, whether it
succeeds or fails, could be paralyzing (to the District's mission
and Everglades restoration)." Also in this memo, Poole
indicated that as part of building a partnership with the
Legislature to further the District's work, he has
"instructed staff to prepare an FY 2000 budget that reduces
the ad valorem millage." He added that "this millage
reduction will not be without pain: some worthwhile, but less
essential program elements must be reduced or eliminated."
Poole also noted that he "came to the District for the
opportunity to work with the most talented and dedicated staff
ever assembled in a public agency. I am immensely proud of our
accomplishments over the past four years, from greater
accountability to customer service to building filter marshes on
time and under budget to completing the comprehensive plan for
the Restudy."
February
16, 1999
Contact: John Neuharth, Office of
Government and Public Affairs (561) 687-6005
POSTER CONTEST WINNERS RECOGNIZED BY DISTRICT AND CORPS OF
ENGINEERS
The top three winners in a
poster contest sponsored by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers were
recognized at the monthly Governing Board meeting at the South
Florida Water Management District in West Palm Beach on Thursday,
January 11. In all, 738 students from 21 elementary schools
around South Florida submitted entries with the theme "Our
Florida, Our Everglades." Each entry expressed what the
students want the area to look like when they grow up. The
contest was sponsored in conjunction with a series of public
meetings held by the Corps and District regarding the Central and
Southern Florida Project Comprehensive Review Study...commonly
known at the "Restudy".
First Place went to Casey Guise, 3rd Grade, Virginia A. Boone
Highland Oaks Elementary, Miami-Dade County. Second Place was
awarded to Lauren Cecere, 5th Grade, Forest Hill Elementary, Palm
Beach County. Third Place went to Nicholas Rizzotto, 5th Grade,
Pinewood Elementary, Martin County.
The first and second place winners will have their posters
reproduced on book covers. The third place poster will be copied
on bookmarks. The book covers and bookmarks will be distributed
at Earth Day events this spring.
February
10, 1999
Contact: Sharon
Hasty, Office of Government and Public
Affairs (561) 682-6844
THE TOWERING INFERNO: CLIMBING FERN
What's green and is crawling all over South Florida? The answer
is climbing fern (Lygodium ). It's spreading so quickly by wind
and by fire throughout Florida that resource managers and private
landowners are scrambling to find ways to destroy it. There is
evidence that climbing fern is a threat not only to the ecosystem
but also to the citrus and timber industries.
There are actually two types of climbing fern. Old World climbing
fern (Lygodium microphyllum), introduced as an ornamental plant
in the 1960s by Jupiter nurseries, has already overtaken more
than 39,000 acres in South Florida. In North and Central Florida
Japanese climbing fern (L. japonicum) is wreaking havoc there.
Local natural areas that are already infested are the Loxahatchee
National Wildlife Refuge, Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Barley
Barber Swamp (located at the Florida Power and Light power plant
in Indiantown), Dupuis Preserve, and Corbett Wildlife Management
Area. Since these climbing ferns are true ferns, they spread as
far as the winds can blow their minute spores from the undersides
of their leaflets. During prescribed burns and wildfires clumps
of the burning fern break free spreading fire far and wide.
Climbing fern overwhelms many plant communities, including
cypress heads, mangroves and slash pines. It also forms
impenetrable mats or carpets on the ground as much as 4 feet
thick that stops the growth of all other plants and alters
natural drainage and the movement of water.
Amy Ferriter, Senior Environmental Scientist at the South Florida
Water Management District, described climbing fern as "...a
dangerous weed - it's a biological pollutant. Public and private
landowners need to be aware of its potential and act quickly to
avert an environmental disaster."
South Florida resource managers are so concerned about the
climbing fern's rapid and widespread growth that they are
gathering together to explore innovative ways to control the
plant and to prevent it from spreading further.
The Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council and the South Florida Water
Management District are sponsoring a two-day conference at
District Headquarters (located at 3301 Gun Club Road in West Palm
Beach) on February 22 and 23. The goal of the conference is to
develop an action plan to address the fern threat.
Representative E. Clay Shaw will open the meeting February 22 at
9:15 am. The morning will be spent in panel discussions with
representatives from Big Cypress National Preserve, Audubon
Sanctuary, University of Florida, Florida Atlantic University,
Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Loxahatchee National Wildlife
Refuge, Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation, Florida
Department of Environmental Protection, the Seminole Tribe of
Florida and the South Florida Water Management District.
Conference attendees will depart District Headquarters at 2:00 pm
Monday afternoon to inspect a heavy infestation of Old World
climbing fern at the Reese Groves property on Indiantown Road in
Jupiter.
January
7, 1999
Contact: John Neuharth, Office of
Government and Public Affairs (561) 687-6005
STA 5 CONSTRUCTION COMPLETED ON TIME AND UNDER BUDGET
The South Florida Water Management District announces that it has
completed construction of Stormwater Treatment Area (STA) 5 on
time and under budget. The 4,118 acre project is one of six
man-made filter marshes designed to remove phosphorus from water
entering the Everglades from the Everglades Agricultural Area
south of Lake Okeechobee. Estimated to cost $15,124,985, the
final value of the STA 5 construction contract came to
$10,582,796.43.
Construction of STA 5 began in November 1997. Under the state's
Everglades Forever Act, it was required to be completed by
January 1, 1999. On December 30, 1998 the District issued the
Certificate of Substantial Completion to the project contractor,
Gilbert Southern Corporation. Meeting the on-time schedule was
achieved despite an 11-day delay caused by inclement weather from
Hurricane Georges and Tropical Storm Mitch.
The only remaining construction element is the STA 5 discharge
canal, currently underway and scheduled to be completed June
1999. This coincides with the expected grow-in period of wetland
plants (cattail, bulrush, algae and other aquatic plants)
necessary to remove phosphorus from the farm runoff entering the
marsh from the C-139 Basin.
January
2, 1999
Contact: John Neuharth, Office of
Government and Public Affairs (561) 687-6005
DISTRICT RECORDS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL IN NORTHERN PALM BEACH COUNTY
The South Florida Water Management District reports its rainfall
gauge in northern Palm Beach County recorded 31.09 inches of rain
in a 9-hour period beginning at 2 a.m. Saturday, January 2. The
gauge is located at the District's S-44 water control structure
on the C-17 canal which discharges into the Intracoastal
Waterway. The structure is located along Alternate A-1-A,
one-half mile north of Northlake Boulevard. The C-17 is the
primary canal for handling runoff from the C-17 basin.
This unusually heavy rainfall is responsible for extensive street
and home flooding that continues to impact a tightly defined
section of the northern part of the county in an area along both
sides of I-95 from PGA Boulevard to the north and south to 45th
street.
The rainfall flared up without warning over night along an old
frontal boundary as a strong low pressure system developed over
the southern U.S. The frontal boundary stalled over northern Palm
Beach County with a particularly heavy cell dumping excessive
rainfall in one area.
At 2:30 a.m., with the first indication of heavy rain, the
District began opening the two flood control gates at S-44.
Within an hour, and following standard operating procedures, the
gates were opened wider. At 5 a.m. the gates were opened as wide
as possible to allow for the additional rainfall and runoff. The
gates will remain in the fully open position as long as
necessary.
Residents in the area can expect for relief to come slowly.
Lesser amounts of rain are forecast for later today and tomorrow.
In the meantime, the District is prepared to do all it can to
help move additional water from the impacted areas. However, this
will depend on the ability of the C-17 canal to handle increased
runoff from those areas. Until conditions improve, the C-17 has
no additional storage capacity. For the District to allow
discharges into the C-17 from other areas would only increase the
likelihood of flooding for other areas not currently impacted and
would be of little benefit to areas already flooded.
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