[This transcript was generated automatically from audio using AI and hasn't been reviewed by a person -- it can contain mistakes, including plausible-sounding sentences that were never actually said. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record.]

[0:00] Good morning everybody and welcome to this March 10th governing board meeting for the South
[0:19] Fort of Water Management District. Let's go ahead and call the meeting to order and I think we're
[0:25] going to have Mr. Akersio a join us by phone today. I'm not sure if we've got him on the on the phone yet, but Sam, are you there?
[0:34] Yes, I am here. I'll go back to mute. Good morning. Excellent. All right. Well, we'll we'll keep you there and try to remember that you're on the line.
[0:44] Ms. Patrick, can you lead us in the pledge of allegiance, please?
[1:14] As we go into employee recognitions, I'll call on Mr. Barber to recognize and welcome the Big Cyprus Basin's newest board member.
[1:26] Thank you, Mr. Chair. Today we have with us Dave Weston. Would you stand please?
[1:33] He's our newest board member. He's the Chief Operating Officer with Naples Lumber and Supply in Naples. He's a seminal.
[1:48] He has an MBA from Hodges University. He's been chambered chambered communist chairman in Naples. He's got a lot of other attributes here, but he's also fluid in Spanish and English written and spoken.
[2:07] So we're we're very happy to have you help us with budget problems and welcome Dave.
[2:15] And with him is our admin Miss Keeler. She's doing a fine job for us in the Basin. Thank you.
[2:32] Thank you, Mr. Barber and welcome to Mr. Weston. Look forward to working with you through your board.
[2:40] Okay, if the board wants to meet me in front of the dias will have our executive director do our employee recognitions for the month.
[2:50] Mr. Chair, there's a quite a few here today. So maybe if we could have you come in afterwards, that would be real help. I think we convene it for y'all.
[2:58] Okay, that sounds good. Thank you. Sorry. So we have our employee of the month and then we have several 25 year recognition awards. Then we have the team of the month.
[3:12] And then we have a special award as well. So as I call your name, please stand up so the board can acknowledge you.
[3:22] Firstly, Jim Gerlock, he's one of our lead IT administrators, Jim.
[3:30] He, as you know, our IT system is our that's our spinal column around here and without them.
[3:39] We wouldn't be operating in Jim is integral to that spinal column for us.
[3:45] He has, he's worked his way up through the system in the IT department. He's saved saved us a lot of money with his creative and innovative approach to IT.
[3:57] And he exceeds most importantly, I think customer needs all the time. People come to him and they want fixes and Jim steps up. So he is our employee of the month.
[4:09] So we have several 25 year service awards. Firstly, Pete Rollick.
[4:26] Where is there is Pete? So Pete is a biologist and he also grew up in this agency.
[4:38] He's been a lead trouble shooter and operating our water quality monitoring system required by our various court orders and permits.
[4:49] In 2012 he was promoted to lead scientists for outstanding efforts. He's a story writer and a spare time.
[4:58] And I can't wait to read one of his pieces, so maybe we'll distribute it for you Pete. He's 25 year service award winner.
[5:12] Jan Johansson.
[5:15] If Dan.
[5:22] Jan also has some writing skills. She's her whatever progress achievements. She's listed as the associate editor in a document book entitled Tree Islands of the Everglades.
[5:34] And she's one of the editors of that document. She's worked as an administrative assistant in Dorothy Bradshaw's Unit for since 2003.
[5:42] And she's always first to learn something new and we're very proud of her work. She's been recognized internally for her stand up work with her colleagues.
[5:53] And she has she's there all the time. She's one of those people that make this place run.
[5:58] And thank you for your 25 years.
[6:08] Third, 25 year service award is to Garth Redfield.
[6:19] I probably wouldn't like me to report this, but he has his doctorate degree from the University of California Davis. He has the good sense to come to Florida and get out of California.
[6:30] We have no income tax there. They have many taxes in California.
[6:37] He worked at the National Science Foundation as the Ecology Program Director for eight years.
[6:43] He arrived here just at a point in time when we were beginning to be the lead science agency in this part of the world.
[6:50] Taking care of water quality and the critters and that sort of thing and Garth has been integral to that.
[6:57] In 1996 he became our chief environmental scientist and he collaborates with everybody in this agency.
[7:05] I'll check out our lead lead team because when you reach the point that Garth reaches he's invaluable in the courtroom as well.
[7:15] He is a very renowned person in the community in the science community in South Florida and we're very proud to have Garth here for 25 years.
[7:25] He also likes to ski and he's restored to ski boat.
[7:29] Wait, Garth. 25 years.
[7:41] As far as our team of the month is concerned, I know Mr. Chairman, you're very familiar with the team of the month.
[7:48] It's our Central Florida Water Initiative team. This was a many, many year project in excess of five.
[7:57] Where the planning process, sometimes I know yesterday, for example, project the lands.
[8:02] There's a lot of frustration over the planning horizon. It takes to get anything done in this world.
[8:07] The Central Florida Initiative team worked within that planning horizon, that very frustrating lengthy planning horizon to produce a document.
[8:16] And that document, the Central Florida Planning document that's now basically the law.
[8:23] It's been adopted by this board and the board of the two other water management districts that are affected by it.
[8:28] This is really hard work and it requires patience, attention to detail, the kind of collaborative thinking that it takes to put together a document like this.
[8:39] So, as I call your name, please stand and then hold your applause until you end.
[8:43] Stacey Adams. Mark Addy.
[8:48] No Mark. You do the Bandara.
[8:53] There you are.
[8:54] Dave Butler.
[8:57] Cynthia Conferth.
[9:00] Cynthia.
[9:01] Jeff Gittings.
[9:04] Bill Grave.
[9:07] Jim Harmon.
[9:11] Tom.
[9:13] Don Medine.
[9:16] Steve Memberg.
[9:19] Steve Lahier today.
[9:21] Karen Mills.
[9:24] Rick Nevelis.
[9:28] Emily Richardson.
[9:32] Kevin Rodberg.
[9:36] Chris Suisi.
[9:39] Nick.
[9:41] The Tony.
[9:44] Okay, if they didn't show up, they don't get them out.
[9:46] And I'm sorry.
[9:49] This is your Central Florida Water Initiative team.
[9:52] And these are the people that help you think through the very difficult problem of how we get water to the people of Central Florida.
[10:00] So, it will probably triple in size in the next 25 years.
[10:04] And these are the people that help make water supply possible.
[10:07] Your Central Florida Water Initiative team.
[10:10] So, with that, Mr. Chairman, could you all come down and have the photos taken with all that we'll do it with three groups?
[10:27] You know mine.
[10:31] Jim Pete.
[10:34] Jim.
[10:35] And guard.
[10:36] Let's have that first photo here.
[10:57] Jim.
[11:07] Jim.
[11:12] Jim.
[11:21] Jim.
[11:36] And now the Central Florida Water Initiative team.
[11:38] Please come forward.
[11:47] Jim.
[11:57] Jim.
[12:02] Jim.
[12:07] Jim.
[12:12] Jim.
[12:16] Jim.
[12:23] Thank you.
[12:24] Thank you for standing in the well, Mr. Chairman, and members of the board.
[12:28] Finally, today we have a special award that we normally don't give.
[12:34] But I wanted to recognize Carl Baker, Lloyd Brown, Jason Crawford, and Tillaport.
[12:40] Jim.
[12:47] Jim.
[12:52] These three gentlemen work either in the Closed and Erocachobe field station.
[12:57] And as you all know, I have a special affinity for our field stations.
[13:03] And the great work that they do.
[13:06] These are my kind of guys.
[13:09] On Saturday December 5, we got a call that there was a manatee that was stuck in our S235 structure
[13:17] in Closed and right off of Lake Ocachobe.
[13:21] And you all know that sometimes government employees get a bad rap.
[13:24] You know, leaving against shovels and that sort of stuff right out of the depression.
[13:29] These guys aren't that way.
[13:32] The control room responded quickly, got in touch with the field stations.
[13:36] And within several hours, Carl arrived from Ocachobe with his crane to raise the gate and release the manatees.
[13:46] The manatee, Lloyd Jason, and Phil up, were there to make sure the job got done.
[13:52] This manatee was released and you see some pictures up here.
[13:56] It's very hard to see, but there's the manatee stuck in the gate.
[14:01] And they're a very commendable swift action saved this manatee.
[14:05] And we're very proud of these employees for this kindness.
[14:10] There is also part of their job.
[14:12] And I think we have an award.
[14:14] Yeah, we do, Karen.
[14:15] We have a special award for our.
[14:30] Mr. Chairman, members of the board.
[14:34] This is your good Samaritan team of the year.
[15:00] Mr. Chairman, that concludes our employee recognition.
[15:24] Okay. Thank you.
[15:28] Okay. Thank you, board members. Thank you.
[15:52] Okay. Thank you, board members and peat for those recognitions well deserved.
[16:01] Tea, do we have any revisions to the agenda?
[16:05] No, Mr. Chair.
[16:06] Okay. Then let's start with Melanie and we'll ask everybody if they have any abstentions or disclosures on agenda items this month.
[16:20] Yes, sir, I do on item 26 and if I could just take a second, I'd like to read something in the record.
[16:26] Chairman and fellow governing board members, you should have before you copy of form 8b memorandum of voting conflicts for county municipal and other local public officers.
[16:37] While this morning with the district clerk, the memorandum references agenda item 24 number 26 upon which I will be participating in the governing board discussion, but I will be abstaining from voting.
[16:49] Floor of statutes chapter 112.3143 permits appointed officials to participate in manner, even though they have conflict if they meet statutorily defined disclosure requirements.
[17:02] Floor of statutes chapter 112.3143 requires that I now publicly read the memorandum of voting conflict filed this morning with the district clerk.
[17:11] I will abstain for voting on agenda item number 26 as there is a potential for a future special private gain or loss to King Ranch to whom I am retain King Ranch is an agricultural stakeholder in the subject area and may benefit or suffer loss from provision contained in the upper east coast water supply plan.
[17:31] Thank you, Mr. Judge.
[17:34] And I have none either.
[17:40] Okay.
[17:43] Sam.
[17:44] Are you there?
[17:45] I have none but.
[17:46] Okay.
[17:47] None for Sam.
[17:48] All right.
[17:49] Well, then I'll look to Mr. Hutchcraft, our vice chairman and project and land to give us a report on the project and land committee meeting from yesterday.
[17:57] Yes, sir. Thank you. This much project and land committee was held here yesterday in B1 auditorium.
[18:03] I was pleased to be joined by my fellow committee members Chairman Clark Harlow, who's ill today, Rick Barber, Kevin Powers, James Moran, Melanie Peterson and Sandy Bachelors are joined us via phone.
[18:16] First on our agenda was a presentation by Jeff Sumner on the status of restoration planning efforts in Lake Okeechobee Watershed, including the Lake Okeechobee Basin Management Action Plan.
[18:26] And the Sirp Lake Okeechobee Watershed project. District land holdings north of Lake Okeechobee were preliminary placed on the potential Sirp plus lands list during the land assessment process.
[18:38] However, given the studies that were doing staff recommends that these lands remain in the district ownership as restoration efforts move forward.
[18:47] Discussion followed regarding the length of that planning process and how we'd like to shorten it.
[18:53] Next, Richard Basel gave an update on several real estate items that will be coming to the governing board for approval, including the proposed land acquisitions in the Pensuko area, Sirp plus in conveyance of the Locke at the state, FPNL and Florida Southeast Connection Pipeline easements and a proposed land exchange with Pan American acquisitions LLC and the bird drive basin.
[19:16] Richard Basel and Ray Palmer then gave a review of the governing board leasing policy highlights of the proposed lease changes include a minimum bit of 75% of a praised value rental adjustments annual rental adjustments based on new commodity based formula.
[19:33] Partial specific land management plans, less heat performance evaluations, continued grazing, which could include a five year extension based on excellent land stewardship.
[19:44] The committee and the condition of the lease properties and how that they could factor into the amount of market rent.
[19:52] Staff plans to bring forward a revised policy to the board for consideration in the April board meeting.
[19:58] The next few presentations were provided by Matt Morrison. The first was on the Biscayne Bay coastal wetlands projects, which will improve the ecological health of the Biscayne Bay by redistributing freshwater flow, reducing point source discharges and restoring wetlands habitat.
[20:15] Status updates were provided on four expedited components of phase one and remaining project components were discussed as well as a planning proposal for phase two.
[20:24] Then Matt provided summary of the cost share credit framework for SERP and update of the state and US Army Corps of Engineers expenditures for design and executed project participation and great partnership agreements was presented.
[20:38] In addition, obligations for upcoming planning projects included in the integrated delivery schedule were discussed.
[20:45] Finally, Mr. Morrison gave a presentation on the removal of old Tammy Amitrail approximately six miles of roadways targeted for removal in order to facilitate additional water levels from water conservation area 3A to Everglades National Park.
[21:00] The project requires relocation of existing power lines and a discussion regarding the estimated costs for power relocation and roadway removal followed.
[21:10] In the future project, the land committee meetings will take place every other month, steer from a cheer from staff. There will be no meeting in April and the next meeting is scheduled for May 11 that concludes our report.
[21:23] Thank you.
[21:24] Thank you Mr. Hutchcraft. Any board questions for Mitch on the project and wins committee?
[21:31] Just a quick comment. I want to publicly recognize Richard Bicell and Ray Palmer in the real estate team in doing that.
[21:38] You know, this board asks them to go out and take a pretty good policy and make it better and they did just that.
[21:44] They expanded the scope of that beyond just the business metrics to include things like stewardship and rewarding good tenants.
[21:50] The feedback from the stakeholders yesterday was very positive and it was just a great effort with a good finish product. Thank you.
[22:00] Thank you Kevin Tandy. I agree with Kevin excellent presentations, but also wanted to thank Mr. Morrison for his excellent presentation on this came.
[22:12] They coastal wetlands phase 2. This is an incredibly important project for all of Florida, but in particular Miami-Dade County has a special interest in it.
[22:25] You know, we all wanted this district all wants to move every single one of these were the projects forward. We've got such stress in the system in both river systems.
[22:36] Of course, the conservation area three, so we are trying our best, but to the extent that the state, the local government, Miami-Dade County and the NGOs,
[22:47] can keep an open dialogue to keep this project on the forefront of this came by phase 2. I think that's worthy endeavor.
[22:59] Thanks, Andy. I think one of the other presentations that was beneficial was the discussion of the project participation agreements and the potential credits.
[23:09] When you look at four projects that are lined up and ready to go, but we don't have project participation agreements in place, that would accrue about $366 million to the credit of the district.
[23:21] There's been lots of conversation about how can we advance projects, but moving forward and getting project participation agreements in place, getting those negotiated,
[23:31] or at least ready to go when the funding hits places is important and keeps us whole and would be appreciative we can get federal government's assistance and moving us forward.
[23:44] Thanks, Mitch. Any other comment on projects and lands? Seeing none, we will look to Mr. Marianne for a water resources advisory commission update.
[23:55] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This month's rat meeting was held on March 3rd here at District Headquarters. We are pleased to be joined by Lee County Commission Commissioner Brian Hammond. Mr. Hammond addressed the commission and raised questions concerning the Lake Okechobi releases.
[24:09] John Metnik, our director of district operations engineering construction division and Lieutenant Colonel Jennifer Reynolds from the Corps reported on the 2016 dry season conditions.
[24:21] The presentation highlighted district operations that took place in response to recent rainfall events. John will go through this with the board during discussion item 24 later in the agenda today.
[24:33] Right members appreciated the presentation and made several comments on the system's limitations, challenges and the role of climate climate change is played.
[24:42] We discussed the untreated water coming down the L28 across the L29 and into the park and the large volumes of untreated water being conveyed in the long range impact that these districtes will have two Everglades National Park and on our appendix A in the USA lawsuit.
[24:59] Next on the agenda Lieutenant Colonel Jennifer Reynolds provided an update to the Everglades restoration transition plan ERTP.
[25:07] The presentation highlighted operations for water conservation areas, Everglades National Park and South霊 conveyant systems.
[25:15] Colonel Reynolds also addressed the Fish and Wildlife Services multi species transition strategy and lowering zone A of WCA3A regulations schedule as an interim risk reduction measure.
[25:31] Rec members addressed the habitat requirements, restoration of the ecosystem and species protection and management challenges.
[25:39] The ERTP is all about the Cape Sable Sea Sides Farrow and we could move a lot more water into Everglades National Park.
[25:49] The one for the situation with the sparrow.
[25:53] I think that we need to reassess our priorities and decide if we want to save the birds habitat at the expense of the rest of the ecosystem and at the expense of the estuaries in Florida Bay.
[26:08] The next report was given by Lawrence Glenn, Section Administrator in the Lake and River ecosystems section.
[26:16] Lawrence provided a brief overview of the history of the consumer river restoration project including project goals responsibilities of the US Army Corps of Engineers and the district.
[26:27] He said the last four restoration contracts would be complete by 2020 at which time the new head waters regulation schedule would be implemented to provide the flows needed to sustain the river.
[26:40] Rec members commented on the additional water storage this project will provide in addition to the restoration features.
[26:47] A Rec recreational issues meeting is scheduled for March 14 at the Okatobi Service Center and Rec's next meeting is scheduled for April 7th here at District Headquarters.
[26:59] That completes my report, Mr Chairman.
[27:02] Thank you, Mr. Moran. And I'd like to ask Rec's chair Newton Cook to address the board about the Rec.
[27:14] Activities and then we'll take forward questions or comments for Mr. Moran or the Rec and the Rec.
[27:22] Thank you, Mr. Moran. Good morning. Good morning. The meeting will be coming Monday night.
[27:29] It's going to be an Okatobi. I think the board very much for allowing us to move the meeting north a couple of times a year.
[27:39] It does cost money. We understand that.
[27:43] Obviously, our property starts at a battle endow and runs through the trail and a large portion of the Rec.
[27:53] That occurs on District Property occurs north of Lake Okatobi.
[27:58] The Kissimmee River Valley, for example, is a prime example of the Rec. All the way up to rolling metals, which is above Lake Toho.
[28:08] So it is important to occasionally take the meeting up so these stakeholders have a chance to participate.
[28:16] I've said this before, but there are literally tens of thousands of people recreating over 600,000 acres of public land that the District Manages.
[28:25] And that doesn't include Lake Okatobi in the places that touch on the District Properties.
[28:32] And the purpose of the Rec Rec meetings is to solve the level of conflicts that occur between all these stakeholders.
[28:41] For example, the stakeholder presentation Monday night will be from the Florida Crackers Trail Association.
[28:50] This is the question group that runs trail all across the Florida.
[28:58] So you can imagine when you have hikers and bikers and horses, kayakers, fast-fishingmen, cunners.
[29:08] When you have all these people on the same properties, there's just a tremendous opportunity for conflict.
[29:15] And yet, since we've had a rock wreck group, which goes way back to Rob Barton, I don't think anyone's come stood in front of this group.
[29:24] And that's our job to keep that from happening.
[29:29] If they come standing here, I'm not doing my job properly.
[29:35] The other thing I was wondering coming on briefly, it happened at rock.
[29:41] And this is the discussion of moving water shaft.
[29:44] There continues to be a lot of misinformation about the ability to move water shaft.
[29:51] And the great results that would occur if we just had another 40 or 50, 60,000 acres of property covered with three foot water.
[30:00] Order, which I love, all good duck hunting area for sure. The problem is, people forget it's a dynamic situation, and they're not a water coming down the system. You cannot store your way to solve this problem. There's no way to use storage to solve this problem. The water has to move under the trigger.
[30:29] And currently, you have to go through a tremendous manipulation just to move even a small amount of water on the trail.
[30:36] And Mr. Miranda's right, there's the bird, big problem. It is drowning hundreds of thousands of acres north of the trail.
[30:49] Now, a lot of people would deny that. They'll say, oh, we're the bird.
[30:53] We are off spending millions of dollars to move water from the S-12's east in order to go around. No one up to here will say it, but I can say it.
[31:05] We are spending millions of dollars to move water east that would normally go straight into the park.
[31:14] We cannot continue to tell the people at the S-12's. We can solve their problem without moving massive amount of water equivalent to what's going down the Kalusra hatching today through the park today.
[31:27] If that water is not moving through the park, at the same volume today, as it's going down the Kalusra hatching, and even the St. Lucy, the problem will not be solved.
[31:41] And that point needs to be made, and these poor people who will be misled need to be told the facts.
[31:48] Thank you.
[31:50] Thank you, Newton. Thanks for the report and thanks for your service on the rack rack.
[31:54] Any board questions regarding rack or rack rack?
[32:01] Oh, Newton.
[32:03] One quick question for you, follow up. Sorry.
[32:06] I'll wait until you get to the back of the room.
[32:08] Monday's meeting in Okatovi. What time and where?
[32:11] Oh, sorry. File clock.
[32:13] At the service center.
[32:15] Okay. Thank you very much.
[32:22] Okay. With no questions on rack or rack.
[32:26] From the board, we will move to the approval of the minutes for the February 10th governing board meeting held in Kishemi.
[32:34] Do we have a motion to approve?
[32:38] We have a motion in a second. Any further discussion?
[32:42] All those in favor?
[32:43] Aye. Opposed.
[32:45] Motion carries.
[32:47] Sam, are you there?
[32:50] Yeah. Did you get it? Aye.
[32:52] Excellent. Thank you very much.
[32:54] You're nervous.
[32:55] Approval of the minutes.
[32:57] Consented gender.
[32:59] Public comment on the consent agenda.
[33:02] Any items that the board members would like to move from the consent agenda for discussion?
[33:17] Seeing none, then I'll ask for a motion on the consent agenda items 12 through 21.
[33:23] Second.
[33:24] We have a motion in a second. Any further discussion?
[33:28] Seeing none. All those in favor?
[33:30] Aye.
[33:32] Opposed.
[33:34] Motion carries unanimously.
[33:36] Thank you very much.
[33:38] Okay. General board comment. Do we have any items for discussion or comment from the board?
[33:46] This is the opportunity.
[33:48] We don't have the opportunity to speak to one another because of the sunshine, rules and restrictions.
[33:54] So this is kind of the opportunity when we've got something that we think is important.
[33:58] And it needs to have further discussion. We can have those discussions.
[34:02] So board members.
[34:04] Do you have any items for general discussion?
[34:07] Mr. Barbara.
[34:09] Just very quickly.
[34:11] This Monday.
[34:13] Lisa Coler and just deal with staying of the big-sipers face in a couple of weeks of the construction of the new field station.
[34:21] And I can report to you that it's going very well.
[34:24] It's almost done. There's a couple of slide gates that I have to be putting in.
[34:28] But I think you're going to be very proud.
[34:32] And you all will get invitations to the grand opening.
[34:38] I hope you can attend.
[34:40] It's coming along nicely.
[34:42] Thank you.
[34:43] Thank you, Mr. Robert. Mr. Hatchcraft.
[34:45] I just wanted to applaud Newton Cook in the comments that he made.
[34:51] Because I think it is unfortunate.
[34:54] The misinformation that's put out there regarding the system and the solutions to the system.
[34:59] And what is or is not being done.
[35:01] Again, I've said it over and over again.
[35:03] I'm proud of the work that this district is doing.
[35:06] We're advancing projects. We're getting them built.
[35:09] We need to keep our shoulder to the wheel and not get distracted.
[35:13] Because when we finish the projects that are already on the table,
[35:17] we're going to see a significant benefit.
[35:19] When we have the opportunity to expand storage north of the lake,
[35:23] we're going to see a significant benefit.
[35:25] And there are very real constraints that people are just absolutely ignoring.
[35:30] And so to that end, I've noticed a recent uptick in communication from district staff,
[35:36] responding to some of the misinformation in the media.
[35:39] I think that's kind of blowing against a fire hydrant, but every bit counts.
[35:44] And so I appreciate the work.
[35:47] And I remain committed to a.
[35:50] We recognize that there are issues and challenges out there,
[35:53] and we need to get about fixing them.
[35:55] And I think the best way we can do that is stay focused on finishing the projects.
[35:59] Thank you.
[36:00] Thanks, Mitch.
[36:01] Any other board comment?
[36:03] Ms. Moran.
[36:04] Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
[36:05] Two or three items.
[36:06] I'd like to comment on.
[36:07] First, I'd like to announce that our federal partners out at the Loxa Hatchy National Wildlife Refuge
[36:12] will be holding a meeting.
[36:14] This meeting will be Wednesday, April 6th, this year,
[36:18] at 6 p.m. at the Refuge Visitors Center.
[36:21] It's at 10, 2, 16, Lee Road, and Boing Beach.
[36:24] That's west of Boing West of state road 7.
[36:28] And the purpose of the meeting is to update the public on the status of our 2002 license agreement
[36:40] that we have with them.
[36:42] They're required under license agreement to have these public meetings every so often.
[36:45] This one's about three years overdosed on what to see that we're finally getting to it.
[36:50] But I would encourage everybody who can, who is interested in this to attend this meeting
[36:57] and to encourage our federal partners to step up to the plate and save the tree islands
[37:03] because the situation isn't getting any better.
[37:08] We are out there working on it.
[37:12] But it's only a bandaid.
[37:17] I understand that the also the Malalukas coming back with the vengeance and the north part of the refuge.
[37:24] So I mean, we're all, we all talk about wanting to save the Everglades.
[37:29] We're going to save the Everglades.
[37:31] You know, our federal partners who control the refuge and even the park
[37:35] after control these exotics are there's not going to be any Everglades left to save.
[37:40] I would ask our staff and our executive director to please put this announcement on our web page
[37:46] and encourage people to go to this meeting.
[37:51] So that's number one.
[37:55] Number two, you know, we've had some talk this morning about the sparrow,
[37:59] you know, the endangered species act which prohibits moving water
[38:04] certain times of the year down south.
[38:09] When you learn about the consequences of that single species management down there,
[38:15] it's incredible to me how that jeopardizes the estuaries and prohibits us from, you know,
[38:23] from delivering the needed water to hydrate Everglades National Park and Florida Bay.
[38:27] I mean, in my mind, we've got to re-address the consequences of what we're doing
[38:34] down there and what are what the endangered species act requires.
[38:38] As it jeopardizes the resident's economy on the east and west coast where the estuaries
[38:47] are contaminated because we've got to dump that extra water there.
[38:52] And in my mind, they're there well being outweigh the habitat of the bird.
[39:00] Not to mention the damage that this single species management is doing to Everglades National Park
[39:05] and Florida Bay by not allowing the water to flow south.
[39:09] So I mean, this is something that we don't directly control ourselves because it's federal law,
[39:14] but I think the public needs to be made aware of it and aware of the fact that we're not able to move
[39:20] a big volume of water south because of this constraint, as mentioned by Mr. Hudgecraft.
[39:30] And, you know, because of all the rain we've had in this crisis and we're moving a lot more water
[39:35] through the system and a lot of that water is untreated.
[39:40] And in my mind, that puts us at risk under the consent decree and appendix A of having that
[39:49] all that untreated water specifically moving down, especially the west part of the system,
[39:54] moving down the L28 and then across the L29 and into the park.
[39:58] I would ask Mr. Metnik, is the SDA one less now shut down?
[40:07] No, it is not. I mean, is there still operating it for flood control purposes?
[40:11] Yeah, the reason I asked because I got the weekly SDA performance summary and it shows
[40:17] through this last week that SDA one west, no flow, no flow, no flow, all the cells have no flow.
[40:27] What does that mean?
[40:29] It means simply quit, it's not raining. This past week has been dry, there's many rain in the EIA,
[40:35] so that's why it's not receiving inflows, as far as looking at other inflows or other sources of water.
[40:41] The conservation area one is still above its regulation schedule and we're trying to move water out of conservation area one
[40:47] to free up some additional capacity or additional room to be able to move other water through the system.
[40:53] What about SDA two?
[40:55] Same situation.
[40:57] Same situation.
[40:59] Are there long-term consequences to moving this excess water through the SDAs and does it jeopardize their future performance?
[41:09] There's something we definitely keep an eye on in Terry's group and working with the SDA managers under Karen.
[41:16] We keep an eye on the amount of inflows they're low in rates and what the SDAs are receiving.
[41:21] We don't overload them in our protective of their treatment capacity.
[41:25] But if you're opinion is so far we have not overloaded them?
[41:29] Not as of yet.
[41:31] I'm sorry.
[41:32] Not as of yet, no.
[41:33] Okay. All right, very well. Thank you. Thank you Mr. Chairman.
[41:36] Thank you Mr. Powers.
[41:38] I have one. Thank you Mr. Chair.
[41:40] This board knows on and off over the last several months we've had conversations with a budget.
[41:45] The discussions are project and lanes about 10-mile creek.
[41:49] 10-mile creek from a budget standpoint.
[41:51] The construction remediation dollars are exist in our spend-down plan.
[41:55] The status we're still waiting on federal deauthorization to turn that project back over to this agency.
[42:01] I would ask board support if it is something that we want to do to direct staff.
[42:07] At the moment that project is the authorized in its own position to deploy those funds and move forward as quickly as we can
[42:13] with the construction remediation plan that exists in the instrument next shop.
[42:19] It's one that we talk about in restoration.
[42:23] Perfect becomes the enemy of good. We could go on and on and have seminars.
[42:28] We send in and never get complete resolve around 10-mile creek.
[42:33] But I think it's incumbent on us to take the lead and move forward quickly.
[42:37] Clearly the river needs it.
[42:39] I think the taxpayers would like to see a consistent with what this board has stood for.
[42:45] They want to see results in action.
[42:47] So being interested in your comments, but I'm of the opinion that I'd like to direct staff to move it forward so that when it happens,
[42:57] we have a date on the calendar and action plan and we deploy the funds.
[43:01] If I could ask staff, do we have that right now? Do we have an action plan?
[43:05] The dollars in the budget and is it something that's standing by ready to go?
[43:09] Or is there some reason why there's a next step to take?
[43:15] Yes, yes and yes and jumping ahead of my report to you.
[43:21] One item that could slow things down that I would like your indulgence in forbearing is seeking credit for the $7.2 million that you all have appropriated for.
[43:34] Or the fix to 10-mile creek in order for it to hold four foot of water at $7.2 million.
[43:42] In your spend-down plan, it's ready to go Mr. Powers to be spent.
[43:48] But we don't get credit for it on the federal ledger.
[43:52] And as you know, a very ledger is kept on a project basis.
[43:58] If we ask for credit, I think it's going to delay the project.
[44:02] Because some green eye shade person is going to get their hands on it.
[44:08] They're going to ask to delay the handing over the project until we actually get the project in hand.
[44:14] We can't begin construction.
[44:16] Congress is instructed the core to turn the project over by June 30th.
[44:22] They're in the process of doing that right now and checking all the boxes that they need to check.
[44:27] For our part, I've asked Mr. Smith to begin designing what needs to be designed so that we can go out on the street this summer with a RFP to implement that design and to have that construction contract before you buy September.
[44:46] So that we can have shovels breaking dirt, beginning in the dry season this year.
[44:52] And hopefully it will be a six-month or so project to fix it.
[44:56] Maybe a little bit longer but the goal is to...
[45:00] Dried season, with contract and ready to move, dirt.
[45:07] Mr. Maizh.
[45:08] Yes. I would just say, as everybody on this board and on the Spain, I was
[45:14] I've had serious reservations with this project, for reasons that everybody knows and I won't go into.
[45:20] I think if we've made the decision to go ahead with it, I agree with Mr. Powers, that's
[45:24] expedited and let's get it done.
[45:26] Thank you.
[45:28] Yes, sir.
[45:28] Sandy.
[45:30] I support your suggestion.
[45:32] Thank you.
[45:35] I support the recommendation as well and regarding the credits.
[45:40] It's one where I think we've made a commitment that we're going to be about finishing projects, getting them done.
[45:46] And I think we need to continue back that up, show that we're a serious partner and getting projects done.
[45:51] But I think we ought to hold that and make sure that everybody knows that we've moved forward and we've implemented the project,
[45:57] even without the commitment of the federal government.
[46:00] But let's not let them forget that we're doing that on our own, and that's our cost.
[46:05] And hopefully there will be some balancing at some point down the road.
[46:09] But I think we need to be committed and move forward.
[46:11] Mr. Jim.
[46:12] Yes, Peter.
[46:13] Mr. Hedgecraft, along those lines, I plan to ask Mr. Bergstrom in all of our co-share information that we share with the core to footnote this project.
[46:25] And to remind them that they did not give this board credit for the $5 million judgment that they received for the incompetent design of the 10-mile Creek project.
[46:36] Nor have we gotten credit for the $7.2 million of additional tax-pair-mines that you have had to spend to fix the red elephant.
[46:44] White elephant.
[46:46] Red elephant's a piece of joint.
[46:48] Sorry.
[46:49] But you get the point.
[46:50] We're going to continue to footnote it and remind everyone how much money you've had to spend to fix it.
[46:57] Mr. Moran, I hope that is at least some amelioration for your concerns about the project.
[47:05] OK.
[47:06] Thank you.
[47:07] Any other questions for Pete on this thing or any other board comments in general?
[47:14] Mr. Moran's comments about Newton and thank you for your service on the rack rack.
[47:23] I would just tell you that I can speak for myself and I think some of my fellow members are definitely not afraid to talk about some of that stuff.
[47:32] I want to commend staff because over the last three to four weeks we've had a situation that has been dealt to us,
[47:42] not only by mother nature but by the federal government with the extensive releases.
[47:46] And they have worked extensively from the field staff to the science managers to really facilitate this in the best way possible for this system as a whole.
[47:59] And I just want you to know that it hasn't gone unnoticed to the point of communication.
[48:06] I would say that our shop here has definitely stepped up communication.
[48:10] But that doesn't mean that we can make people print the truth.
[48:14] And while it's disappointing when I read articles in the newspaper and sometimes shameful the things that are being printed,
[48:22] what upsets me the most is when I get emails from people who are genuinely upset about what's happening and the misinformation is making them upset and terrified.
[48:32] I get emails from people who are wanting to move here and not sure what's happening.
[48:37] And so I want to say thank you to Barbara and Randy.
[48:40] They've been helping me respond to most of the emails that we get through.
[48:45] And I will say that by responding to some of these people we have gotten responses back saying thank you so much for clarifying this.
[48:53] I feel much better about it.
[48:55] Now I know that I can move to this community whether it's on the west coast or the east coast and understand what's happening and make a better decision.
[49:02] All I can say is that we can each be communicators of truth and while it may take a little time to set somebody aside or post something on social media or respond to an email.
[49:16] It really doesn't make a difference because once you can influence that person then they can correct the next person and the next person.
[49:22] I don't know that I am naive enough to believe that the papers will print the truth ever.
[49:29] But I will say that I'm going to continue to speak the truth as long as I have a venue to do so.
[49:38] I also want to thank the governor for bringing forward the issue about the die because let's not avoid that elephant in the room which is if we could storm or water in the lake.
[49:49] And if our diek was actually sound we wouldn't have these issues either.
[49:53] So when we're kind of operating our system around single species management we're also operating our system around the fact that we have a diek that needs to be repaired.
[50:02] We have zero funding that has been dedicated to the actual finishing of the diek repair and we have zero idea of when that's actually going to occur.
[50:13] So here we are spending millions and billions of dollars going around this situation where as if we could just get the federal government to dedicate funding to finish that project.
[50:25] Cudos to Patrick Murphy for calling out an end date to the project and hopefully he'll push that through Congress and that will help us to actually mitigate this entire system to where we can get the water where it needs to go.
[50:40] It's not going to help our situation with the danger species act unfortunately but hopefully as we can start to make this system more whole we can get through those challenges as well.
[50:51] You know I think the hardest thing that people need to understand is really where the problem in humans are in the way.
[50:58] If you look at our system and you look at what's stopping the sheet flow it's where we live.
[51:04] So if we're not willing to get out of our comfort zone a little bit whether you live on the river whether you live in Miami.
[51:11] We're never going to find a real solution to our problems so I just hope that we can continue to work together.
[51:18] I appreciate all the partnerships and the cooperation from the agencies and from inside this district.
[51:23] I can't even express to you how proud I am of everyone that works here and the work that they do so.
[51:31] And all of you for the each individual work that you do in your communities to really speak the truth about what this agency is about and what we do here.
[51:41] Thanks Melanie any other board comment.
[51:44] If not we'll move to the technical reports and we'll look to Mr. Mittenek to give us the water conditions report.
[51:52] All right morning I want to briefly go through some of the water conditions over the last several months and we have to look forward to over the next couple of months.
[52:20] Despite having an end to the wet season being slightly below average here in October.
[52:27] The dry season came on with the vengeance we've had well above average rains especially here in the month of January.
[52:35] Some 7.2 inches above what we normally get for that time of year during the dry season.
[52:41] As a consequence most of the basins throughout the district are well above average primarily those rains have been focused on the middle portion of the district as well as the southern portion of the district.
[52:52] But still because up or because semi values well above average as well.
[52:57] The month for the month of February wasn't quite as bad as the month of January but nevertheless we are still just slightly above average.
[53:04] With again most of that rain being centered in the southern portion of the district with water conservation areas 1 and 2 in eastern Broward County receiving the most of it.
[53:14] Again the upper cussimmy basins still is just slightly above average there at 102%.
[53:22] Looking at Lake Ocachovi it has been receding from a high back in early February of about 16.4 so it's sitting right now to just below 15.6 or 15.7.
[53:36] Looking at the upper chain of lakes the majority of those lakes are slightly below their regulation schedules and they're falling for this time of year.
[53:46] Overall from a system perspective.
[53:50] The majority of that rain being concentrated down in the southern portion of the system all three of the water conservation areas are well above their regulation schedule.
[53:58] Area 1 is starting to recedin and is starting to approach its regulation schedule.
[54:03] Area 2 is still well above the regulation schedule as well as area 3.
[54:09] Well we've noticed the decline here in area 3.
[54:13] It still has a way to just go before it gets down in this regulation schedule and I'll talk some more about that a little bit later in the presentation.
[54:21] This was a graphic that I presented last week to the wreck committee.
[54:26] It's something that I came across recently that I found rather interesting.
[54:30] When we talk in terms of El Nino's and we've heard a lot about I think Jeff Kyrgyzman standing here for a couple of months now talking about El Nino's and the kind of weather patterns that you see during El Nino years.
[54:41] Not only is it an El Nino year this year but it's a strong El Nino years.
[54:46] So generally when people think of El Nino's if you've been in South Florida while you'll think back to 1998 and what that El Nino which was a strong El Nino what it looked like.
[54:56] So far I mean you heard me say that this year most of the rains have been focused on here in the southern portion of the district from Lake Okeechobee South.
[55:06] And what this graphic kind of shows is where that focus of those the anomaly they call it for an El Nino year where it sort of sets up.
[55:15] So that's what this year looks like.
[55:16] So if we look back to what 1998 would have been look like it was quite the opposite it was the reverse and the most of that focus was in the upper portion of the district.
[55:27] So that's why back in 1998 at this time of year you still had significant inflows coming down the consumer river valley in Delaco Okeechobee or just not seeing that this year in response to this El Nino.
[55:40] So not all El Nino years are like or created equal.
[55:45] So looking at the position analysis and forecasting out Lake Okeechobee.
[55:50] This red line here is about the 50% projection with this blue line being the 90% probability of being at or below those stages throughout the rest of the year.
[56:03] If we separate out and just look at the El Nino years by themselves this red line here that would have been 1998 and if we had 1998 light conditions proceeding through the rest of the year that would be the projection for what Lake Okeechobee's response would be.
[56:21] As I talked most of that rain that we've experienced so far in the dry season has been focused south of Lake Okeechobee and the conservation areas are well above the regulation schedules.
[56:32] As a consequence of that we are looking at all different avenues of moving water out of the conservation areas to bring them back down to their schedules.
[56:41] For those of us that live in Work and South Florida we're used to driving around seeing canals driving over bridges going over top of the canal.
[56:48] Not all of those canals lead to the ocean not all of those canals are connected to the conservation areas.
[56:54] There's only really about four or five pathways running from the conservation areas out to these codes and out to tie and that's what these four outlets are.
[57:04] So we've started doing over the last month or so is trying to maximize those routes and trying to move as much water out of those four or five routes to tie so as to start bringing down the water conservation areas.
[57:18] As I mentioned area three a is significantly above its regulation schedule so earlier actually it was last month.
[57:27] The governor declared an emergency and we obtained a emergency deviation from the Army Corps of Engineers and what that allows us to do is for this canal here the L29 canal typically it's operating with a constraint only allowed to go up to seven and a half feet.
[57:45] The emergency deviation allows us to raise that canal up to eight and a half feet thereby allowing us to move more water through the S333 structure located right here so that's what we've been doing over the last several months I'm sorry several weeks.
[58:01] The currently that structure is at its maximum design capacity and it's moving about 1300 cubic feet per second through the structure out of the conservation area into the canal and into Everglades National Park underneath the one mile bridge that has been constructed there.
[58:17] In addition to that we're also looking at other opportunities to move water out of water conservation area three a over here.
[58:24] In conjunction with the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission we're moving water through area three b and then out through two other structures down here at the bottoms S355 to also move that water into Everglades National Park in addition we're continuing to move.
[58:47] Sorry about that and this we're continuing to move water out the eastern route down this way.
[58:54] And to move it out of conservation area three a two.
[58:58] As far as where the canal sits right now as I said we have the ability to go up to the eight and a half limit this picture down here in the bottom left hand corner is one of the staff gauges along the canal right now the canal sitting just above eight point two kind of fluctuates depending on where you are along the canal.
[59:16] But as I said this particular structure S333 is at its design capacity so we still have some additional capacity we can we can move water into the L29 canal and we're looking at ways of doing that and I'll talk about that here in a minute as well.
[59:31] In addition to moving water into the park through those various outlets we're also moving water through the C4 canal and using the emergency detention base and along the C4 canal to be able to support moving additional water from the conservation area and stored in the emergency detention base and addition to that there's a set of forward pumps that are typically only used during high tide to supplement gravity flow.
[1:00:00] It was from the canals at the S-26 and S-25B structures. We started operating those four pumps, not only just during high tide, but throughout the day, we were able to move additional water coming down the Miami River from this route here.
[1:00:19] So, as a consequence of moving more water into Northeastern River slew over here, what that tends to do is you increase stages or race stages in Northeastern River slew.
[1:00:29] That'll induce a fair amount of seepage moving back to the east, back towards the L-31 and C-1-11 canals.
[1:00:35] So, as part of the emergency deviation that we obtained from the Corps of Engineers, there's a different set of operating criteria that we're employing along that reach of the canal.
[1:00:44] We're operating down lower, we're operating them close to their water supply levels at this point, and we're continuing to move as much water as we can, again to the east through the 3-3-8 structure and as well.
[1:00:58] As well as S-194-196, as we continue to transition down through the system, we'll be passing water through the other structures in the south-date conveying system, 176-177-18C, and when needed, we'll also be operating in half over the past month, operating S-197 to be able to move those waters out to tide out the bottom end.
[1:01:27] In addition to some of the efforts at the 3-55s, I'll just jump back to them.
[1:01:34] In addition to the two gravity structures that are there, we're also in the process of deploying temporary pumps, located adjacent to the S-355 structure, which is back up there on Tamiami Trail.
[1:01:47] That pump will work to facilitate additional water movement out of conservation area 3-B into the L-29 and into Everglades National Park.
[1:01:56] That will allow us to move more water from 3-A into 3-B and then down through the system.
[1:02:02] As I said, as that water starts to accumulate and north-eat sharper or slew and that sea-pitch starts moving back to the east, we've also deployed a temporary pump adjacent to the S-357 pump station in here.
[1:02:16] This particular sea-pitch canal is constructed by the Corps of Engineers, just recently and there in the process of one final component of that is a culvert that needs to be constructed right here, connecting the sea-pitch canal to the intake canal of the S-357 pump station.
[1:02:34] The Army Corps is awarded that contract and they've issued the nose to proceed.
[1:02:38] Obviously, that construction will be progressing over the next several months.
[1:02:43] However, as that sea-pitch from north-eat sharper or slew starts to migrate to the east, we still need to afford the in-half square mile of appropriate level of flood mitigation and flood protection.
[1:02:53] So we've deployed a temporary pump pictured in the two pictures at the bottom line to be able to facilitate that sea-pitch control and sea-pitch management for the in-half square mile area.
[1:03:04] And then lastly, this is just a photograph of the crews out there on the L-29 levee, just north of Tamiami Trail, deploying that temporary pump to be able to move water out of area 3B into the L-29 and northeer sharper or slew.
[1:03:23] And with that I'd be happy to take any questions you may have.
[1:03:27] Thanks John, on the previous slide with the temporary pump.
[1:03:32] How long has that been operating and how long do you anticipate that it will remain out there?
[1:03:37] I was just set up this week, so it's been operation for a handful of days, I want to say.
[1:03:42] And we'd expect it to be deployed throughout the deviation, which is another 60 days at least.
[1:03:49] Okay.
[1:03:50] Board questions for John on the water conditions report.
[1:03:54] Mr. Moran?
[1:03:56] Thank you, John.
[1:03:59] Help me understand how with all this additional flow we're sending down south under the appendix A formula.
[1:04:07] I understand that the additional flow means additional load and it drives the parts per billion number down under appendix A.
[1:04:15] Why is it that all this additional water doesn't put its at risk of violating appendix A?
[1:04:23] Well, as you correctly say, the more flow you put down the lower the limit is.
[1:04:27] So yes, there is an increase for us from having the violation.
[1:04:33] And when would we know how often are those measurements taken?
[1:04:39] When will we know what the consequences are of moving all this water there?
[1:04:43] Do you know how often those samples are?
[1:04:45] Yes, Mr. Moran. I can address that in my report as well if you want me to cover that.
[1:04:49] Okay.
[1:04:50] Thank you.
[1:04:52] Other questions for John?
[1:04:55] All right. Thanks, John.
[1:04:56] Appreciate it.
[1:04:57] If I may one thing I'd like to add throughout this deviation is given us an opportunity to operate the system much like what the future endgame would be under increment two.
[1:05:08] And eventually the combined operations plan and the overall workshops that will be talking to you or presenting later in the day.
[1:05:15] It gives us an opportunity to operate the system in very similar conditions to what you expect to see under the restoration vision for that southern end and modified water deliveries.
[1:05:27] So this is a real opportunity for us to be able to collect data and collect information about how the system responds to these kinds of water levels because we haven't been able to operate it and get it up to above 8.2.
[1:05:41] For I think the last time they were able to go even above 8 was several years ago.
[1:05:45] So this is a real opportunity to be able to gather information and see how the system reacts and responds.
[1:05:52] Thank you.
[1:05:53] Hearing Bates.
[1:05:55] Ecological conditions.
[1:05:57] Oh.
[1:05:58] Melanie.
[1:05:59] Sorry before John Leafs.
[1:06:00] I just wanted to let the other board members know we had a conversation yesterday and I had asked John to maybe put together a scenario.
[1:06:10] If and when the dig ever gets repaired what is our system look like at that point with everything all the projects that we have online to build.
[1:06:19] The dig gets repaired what what does that actually look like.
[1:06:23] And so hopefully in the coming maybe weeks or months will have that scenario for us to sort of see what is coming down the pike.
[1:06:31] I think it's going to be helpful for the public to understand the necessity to get that dig completely short up and repair.
[1:06:38] And then it will help us to understand how all the other projects are going to play into that as well.
[1:06:43] And in systems and in situations where we have a super convenient like we have.
[1:06:48] Having that additional storage.
[1:06:50] Thanks.
[1:06:51] Thanks.
[1:06:52] Melanie.
[1:06:53] And I would look forward to seeing that information.
[1:06:54] Mr. Mr.
[1:06:55] Yes.
[1:06:56] Thank you, Melanie.
[1:06:57] That's an excellent point.
[1:06:59] Although you know when the dig is repaired that doesn't necessarily mean that the core will hold the lake at higher level.
[1:07:07] We would we would have to get a commitment from them that that would be done and.
[1:07:12] I haven't seen that.
[1:07:15] And that would be that would be an important consideration.
[1:07:19] So let's keep that in mind.
[1:07:21] Thank you.
[1:07:22] I agree Mr. Moran.
[1:07:24] I would also say that at least we wouldn't see an emergency disaster of both of these estuaries being blown out for three quarters of a foot of water on that on the lake.
[1:07:36] All right, Terry.
[1:07:49] Good morning Mr. Chairman.
[1:07:52] Thank you.
[1:08:01] Okay, I'll start at the top of the system with a restored portion phase one of the Cassimi River.
[1:08:07] You can see as flows have started to dry up in the northern part of the system water starting to come off of the floodplain and we've reduced the amount of flows coming down through this portion of the system.
[1:08:18] If you want to share a good news story one whether that was shared at rack as far as construction on the Cassimi.
[1:08:24] I shared with you last month the MacArthur ditch back feeling which was underway and the course also moving forward with reach three which is two miles.
[1:08:33] In this vicinity shown in red.
[1:08:35] And one of the last remaining pieces will be reached to which is six and a half miles.
[1:08:41] So there's a picture from February 18 on that reach three back feeling getting initiated.
[1:08:47] This is looking north on the C38 canal and you can see here they're starting on the plug construction by way of reference here's a highway 98 bridge so we're just south of that area.
[1:08:58] That was from February 24th and the plug was actually completed on March.
[1:09:04] March.
[1:09:06] And now really for the first time since I think the staff says 1971 we're seeing flows through this old channel or slew run as water is now being forced back through the original channel.
[1:09:18] So we're looking forward to moving this project forward and having completion of construction in the next two years on the Cassimi River.
[1:09:25] So that's exciting news for us.
[1:09:27] Lake Okeechobee as John Show the water depths have come down.
[1:09:31] About three quarters of a foot since last year still very deep from a waiting bird standpoint for habitat usage.
[1:09:38] We have some additional habitat within the range of use but really pretty low usage of the lake at this time of year compared to what you would normally be expecting.
[1:09:49] In the St. Lucy estuary the conditions you can see initially were very very high from local base and run off coming into the estuary and then the blue reflecting the discharges on the thermic core of engineers initiated up on the order of 3800 or so.
[1:10:07] And now that has fallen down to about 1800 CFS coming in from St. Lucy in very little base and tributary coming in at this time.
[1:10:18] The conditions cylinder conditions in the estuary from February 7th you can see where we were still having some tidal basin.
[1:10:26] I mean interaction with the inlet you get better flushing in this portion of the system and you can see the conditions now March 7th now that those releases have been cut back from Lake Okeechobee down to about 1800 CFS still fresh water in the north and south forks into the middle estuary but getting better salinity conditions in this portion of the estuary.
[1:10:47] From a oyster standpoint as one of the key indicators that we monitor for we went out on March 2nd we did sampling in the middle estuary as well as the north and the south for.
[1:11:01] So the mortality rates that we were seeing were on the order of 35% to 40% in the north and south forks as those salinity levels were very very depressed and oysters start to die in response to those conditions after a few weeks.
[1:11:16] The middle estuary were at 14% and basically what they're doing is going out scraping up they've got a five gallon bucket they fill that with oysters because we're not doing snorkeling kind of.
[1:11:27] So they're collecting those samples in their counting live versus dead oysters so surprising and that's good news.
[1:11:36] I think it also is reflecting here we're starting to see these better conditions so if those conditions continue to reduce over time that'll be good thing for the estuary.
[1:11:47] The sea grass standpoint the couple places that we monitor will be creek and also voice got out and again those are very close to the inlet so you have a little bit better salinity levels and this is a comparison of the sea grass biomass year to year about the same time our winter sampling.
[1:12:04] That's typically time the sea grass is not very active you're not having a lot of growth but surprisingly here in February the conditions were were not dissimilar to previous years and again this is an area where the salinity never got down as low as you might have expected fresh water conditions.
[1:12:20] It's stayed about 15 PSU throughout the time period that we were sampling so that was good news it will be creek and this particular sea grass show grass is more.
[1:12:30] Tolerant of that variety of salinity that they may see.
[1:12:35] Voice got island.
[1:12:37] Depress levels but very similar what we've seen in previous years this has been an area where sea grass has been deep deep depressed for some time.
[1:12:46] In the close to hatchy estuary again the tremendous basin in flows coming in combined with with Lake discharge is going to the estuary that's now started to receive with discharge is about 4,000 CFS coming from Lake Okeechobee to the estuary.
[1:13:02] Not seeing a lot of differences for as the freshwater conditions versus the salinity as you get closer to the mouth of the estuary from last month to this month.
[1:13:12] Again we do similar types of oyster monitoring this occurred on February 18th and the two places we monitor here I own a cove as well as bur Island and we had mortality rates on the order of 25% I own a cove and little less than 10% at bird island.
[1:13:31] That's good news again keeping those levels up in this portion of the estuary where you're not getting to that lethal level we would expect.
[1:13:38] We don't sample here but up around Cape Coral those conditions are fresher you would expect to increase mortality in that portion of the system.
[1:13:48] Those freshwater conditions are generally good for tape grass which is up here in the.
[1:13:54] For Mars section of the estuary and remember this is an area we had seen tape grass for several several several years we've done some.
[1:14:02] Pilot projects that are underway now to rejuvenate tape grass in this portion and the most recent monitoring at took place we're still seeing that tape grass persists.
[1:14:12] Again it's that time of year where they're not very active so we may see impacts of those releases continue and get more into the growing cycle you might see more of an impact from the releases but the good news is we still have that community.
[1:14:24] Of tape grass in the upper part of the estuary and really no significant impact at the lower portion of the estuary that we're seeing to date.
[1:14:33] For the stormwater treatment areas Mr. Ram one of your questions on really the loading for these these stormwater treatment areas and this is a comparison here of.
[1:14:43] The inflow volumes and what's of note here is this is the time of year it's the dry season so those portions on the bar graph shown in green that's the period of record of what typically the SDA would experience.
[1:14:56] We don't have a lot of runoff in the dry season and that's the time when the plan start to react.
[1:15:00] It's kind of the rejuvenation period during the winter. And they have been, you know, substantial inflows into each of those STAs that they've been managing and treating the water.
[1:15:10] So we did see some elevated inflow concentrations and outflow. The inflow concentrations STA1 West was experienced was on the order of 300 parts per billion.
[1:15:22] That certainly has come down as the rainfall has decreased. The outflow concentrations for one West were 73 parts per billion over the 28-day time period STA2.
[1:15:34] So really excellent performance, discharging 16 parts per billion. And I hate to say this because every time I do somebody says you're going to jinx it, but STA34 discharging at 10 parts per billion.
[1:15:45] So those are the STAs that are taking the bulk of the runoff. You can see the volume is coming in.
[1:15:51] So over the period of the last few weeks, as John mentioned, we haven't had a lot of rainfall, so we've had the opportunity to really get those stages down.
[1:15:58] Because it is unusual this time of year for those STAs to have really deep water depths. So getting those back down to closer to their target stage is going to be beneficial.
[1:16:09] Some of those STAs were not directing flows into certain of those cells to give them a chance to recuperate.
[1:16:15] And the other component that has not been a tool we've had in our toolbox before is the A1 FEB.
[1:16:21] Certainly that has just started operation. And so we're kind of going through the cycle of learning how to operate the FEB in conjunction with the STAs to get the best performance.
[1:16:32] But certainly that's been a big help to STA34, the concentrations coming into those STAs from the FEB have been fairly low, and that's certainly going to help us continue to have better performance coming out of those STAs in the future as well.
[1:16:49] Disgain-based amenities, again, with all of that run-off coming in and through the structures along the coast, the Solinities have been very moderated.
[1:16:57] And as John mentioned, we are also undertaking operations where we can take water from conservation area 3A and route it through the coastal canal network to discharge that water to the disgain bay where we can.
[1:17:10] In the Everglades you can see where we were last month on February 10th, very, very high stages throughout the conservation areas.
[1:17:19] And this month as John showed you the level starting to come down in conservation area 2.
[1:17:24] And you can see the results of the operations here starting to see that kind of increased blue.
[1:17:29] So really in response to these really extraordinary natural phenomenon of this Elmino rainfall events, we've taken undertaking some pretty extraordinary operations, some of which we haven't done in this portion of the system before.
[1:17:43] But the water quality monitoring continues to show very good clean water going in through this part of the system to shark river.
[1:17:52] The late readings from the last few weeks we take samples on a weekly basis have been 5.1 parts per billion, 4.6, 5.2.
[1:18:00] So on the order of 4 or 5 and 6 parts per billion, so very good clean water coming into this portion of the system.
[1:18:08] One of the unknowns, I think is your question Mr. Moran is because of these extraordinary operations.
[1:18:14] There are some changes, we don't know how that's going to affect the water quality long term.
[1:18:19] We may see some spikes as a result of the different operations adding the pumps that might stir up some of the sediments in the canal.
[1:18:26] But for now the water quality is certainly very good coming through this part of the system.
[1:18:31] We will do compliance is measured at the end of September and so we'll have a few months before we will actually determine did we need the limiter now.
[1:18:40] Because as the flows go up through this system the long term limit that we need has to go down to 7.6.
[1:18:48] And I will tell you currently the conditions the 12 month limit is 9.9 parts per billion and we are at 7.1 parts per billion for the 12 month rolling average coming into that system.
[1:19:02] So I think that's one of the things we'll certainly learn a lot from this type of operation and how that affects, but on a day to day basis it doesn't affect our operations.
[1:19:11] Water quality is really a constraint of something we deal with once that day is collected after the fact we don't manage and operate for particular water quality performance.
[1:19:24] In Florida Bay those flows coming down through the system again we've gotten solidities down where we would expect them to be fresh water coming in.
[1:19:31] Throughout the stations we monitor in Florida Bay and notably the creek flow has dramatically risen we've gotten back much more to what we would expect coming in at the end of the wet season through Florida Bay.
[1:19:45] I did want to share one risk of graphic that just came out of the compilation of a lot of work this is from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission their wildlife research institute.
[1:19:56] So the mapping projections of impact that we saw in Florida Bay as a result of those drought conditions in very, very high solidities.
[1:20:06] Comparing to 1987 kind of shown that salmon color of 23,000 acres of seagrass that died off with in Florida Bay and a pretty comparable amount is result in 2015, 21,000 acres.
[1:20:20] So we're in a point now we're not seeing fish killed we're not seeing big algae blooms in the bay but the concern for all the scientists or and are kind of a wait and see mode because we know that amount of material is a lot of dead biomass sitting there on the bay bottom.
[1:20:35] That material will start to decompose and as you get decomposing material releasing nutrients and higher temperatures as we start to head into the spring and summer time there's certainly a potential for significant algae blooms throughout the bay as a result of this dial that occurred.
[1:20:51] I think you all also have a copy of this. This is our 2016 environmental report. This is the highlights of the eight page summary of kind of the highlights of our performance from our science perspective our BMPs all of the data that we put out for the public.
[1:21:10] It does cover the time period for a May 2014 through April 2015 it follows the water year. So most of the information in here is not new information it's been out there it's been peer reviewed it's been in the public domain for some time.
[1:21:23] But we submit this report on March 1st to the governor of the legislature and includes not only our science reports which is about a thousand pages in this document total but also our reports on our business cycle things like our capital plan our Florida forever work plan and our permit compliance information is all rolled up into about a 2000 page document that is submitted electronically and this is all available on our web for the public.
[1:21:51] And with I would be happy to answer any questions.
[1:21:54] Thank you Terry board questions regarding the report Mr. Barber.
[1:22:01] Terry feedback that I've gotten on the west coast believe it or not they want some folks want to see the district is kept at the maximum for a shorter period of time so that the
[1:22:15] the history can recover when spawning a different species takes place later on in the spring does that make sense to you or is that something we have any control over.
[1:22:27] Well the decisions on the releases are the Army Corps of Engineers following the lower schedule which I don't think doesn't call for those higher releases.
[1:22:36] At this time of year certainly the spring time is most critical for both of the esteraries for spawning oysters so that is a critical time to hopefully see releases reduced by then I'm not sure that will be there given the stage in the lake but that will be our McCormack engineers decision on those operations.
[1:22:55] What would your input be to them.
[1:23:00] It's from an esterary standpoint that's certainly true having now is a time when the esteraries are not that active from a.
[1:23:10] Oyster spawning seagrass growth period is kind of I don't want to say dormant but it's a slow period for the esterary and so the impact even as I showed in the report weren't as significant as we might have expected from those very very high inflows.
[1:23:24] This is not a lot of activity going on and may be able to better buffer it so strictly speaking from an esterary standpoint.
[1:23:31] Having more flows now if you were in a position that you could actually reduce them substantially to facilitate the spicy.
[1:23:38] I will say not everybody agrees with that position.
[1:23:41] We have almost recent periodic scientists call that the core host and there was input on both sides of the issue from stakeholder scientists.
[1:23:52] Probably depends on rain to me.
[1:23:54] Certainly.
[1:23:55] Thank you.
[1:23:56] Mr. Judgecaft.
[1:23:58] I've heard similar feedback and I think I shared early on that that was the feedback let's keep it high.
[1:24:05] Obviously the core transition to a lower discharge.
[1:24:08] The part of that equation is what's the point we're trying to drive the lake to and so I think part of the major concern is you know if they're back and off now but they're still planning to go to.
[1:24:20] The third team that's problematic and recent conversation I've been hearing is that the core's contemplating hey maybe thirteen's out of reach maybe we'll do fourteen fourteen five and so.
[1:24:33] There is some some balancing of that equation by you know we could back off but we're going to get the lake to a higher stage than what we normally would have driven it to is that accurate.
[1:24:43] And Lieutenant Carl Reynolds addressed that at the rack meeting because that was the specific question is what are you shooting for what your target was it fourteen and a half or fourteen down to your call.
[1:24:54] Fourteen so that's what she shared at the the rack meeting that that was a course thinking was looking at a target of fourteen recognizing that you know the twelve and a half is really not out of reach or feasible this year.
[1:25:08] Any of the board questions or comments for Terry.
[1:25:11] Thank you Mr. Chairman. Yeah Terry just going back to the to S.E.A. one lesser while I was looking at the weekly S.E.A. performance summary chart here and and I see that the.
[1:25:22] The the discharge is prior to all this additional water going in were about.
[1:25:28] I don't know twenty twenty five parts per billion but then when we started moving the extra water through they went up about two hundred percent to about seventy seventy five parts per billion.
[1:25:39] My question is don't don't these S.E.A.s need to rest usually in the dry season and how would this flow affect the future performance of the S.E.A.
[1:25:50] Yeah I mean that that's certainly concerned the S.E.A. is what's their kind of off period where there being able to rejuvenate but we're managing very closely those concentrations certainly were higher than we'd want to see but in respond to a storm event.
[1:26:05] It's not that unusual that you might have those kinds of concentrations and then we try and bring that system back down and manage cell by cell where we're putting the water.
[1:26:14] The loading rate has been high for S.E.A. one West and that's part of the reason we've got through restoration strategies that we're working on the additional BMPs within that basin to try and reduce the concentrations coming in.
[1:26:27] As well as the S.E.A. expansion that's under construction now the additional four thousand acres because this has been one of our.
[1:26:34] Poor performing S.E.A.s overall.
[1:26:37] And we had experience in prior big rainy dry seasons to know what the historical effect was on moving so much water through the S.E.A.
[1:26:49] I can't recall in a dry season I just can't recall this kind of volume in a dry season that's certainly unusual operation.
[1:26:58] We know the worst case scenario for this particular S.E.A. was in response to the hurricane events very, very high flow, very high loading rates which cause the performance to substantially crash.
[1:27:11] This on our order of a 28 day period kind of bumping up will expect that to be coming down as conditions subside.
[1:27:18] But that's certainly concerned one of the things that we monitor for it's not just the concentrations coming in because you might have high concentration.
[1:27:25] For a week or two what we really look at is the loading rate over the course of the year.
[1:27:30] And this is one of the S.E.A.s where the loading rate has been higher.
[1:27:33] So we're very cognizant of that as we're managing week to week and sell by sell with the S.E.A.
[1:27:40] I mean the board questions are comments for Terry.
[1:27:44] Melanie.
[1:27:45] Just the slide where you talked about the the discharge is really kind of hammers the point that Kevin was making about 10 mile.
[1:27:52] Creek and you can see those local based and discharges and I think that is going to be a massive help.
[1:27:58] If we can get that project online there because I think again the misinformation is that the majority of the damage is really coming from the local basins.
[1:28:07] So again local projects are cooperative funding program things like that to really work on local based and run up as well as everything else we're doing with C43 and C44 will eventually really help those spikes.
[1:28:21] Thanks Terry.
[1:28:24] Thank you very much Terry.
[1:28:27] Next up is our project spotlight and we'll call on Alan Shurkey section lead engineering and construction to give us an update on this project.
[1:28:40] Good morning Mr. Chair. Board members.
[1:28:52] Okay so this month's project spotlight is the S46 tail water wearing gate replacement.
[1:28:57] This is one of our structure rehabs it's being done under the O&M capital program.
[1:29:03] A little bit of background the structures located in Palm Beach County.
[1:29:07] Kind of toward the north end in the Jupiter area.
[1:29:10] Basically right the intersection of by 95 and Indian town road.
[1:29:14] And S46 is the structure it's the coastal structure between the C8 team can out to the west and the title locks that hatch you river to the east.
[1:29:29] Team responsible for delivering the project. The project manager is Martha Fox.
[1:29:34] And the the plants and stocks were put together by the district's internal design section and engineering construction.
[1:29:41] Chief designers were shown down like the largest John Alvin.
[1:29:45] And that design was also supported by infrastructure management.
[1:29:49] West Palm Beach field station and our ops groups which all provided input to that design process.
[1:29:55] We've got an inspection support by TYLIN International.
[1:30:00] The construction contractor is Murray Logan. The structure was built by the Corps back in 1958. It's a three-day
[1:30:10] structure, gravity structure with a capacity of roughly 3,400 C.S. And there's an addition
[1:30:17] to the concrete structure. There's steel sheet pile and cut-off walls and wing walls around
[1:30:23] the outside of the structure. And there's rip wrap down the stream to serve as a scour
[1:30:28] protection. Back in 96, there was an issue identified where there was
[1:30:34] excessive seepage coming underneath the structure. Basically due to the high head differential
[1:30:39] between head water side and tail water side. That was causing some seepage underneath
[1:30:46] and the concern there is that you can potentially have a transport of material which will make the structure
[1:30:51] unstable. And since that time there's been various, there's been some
[1:30:56] grout repairs, fuel investigations, monitoring and studies that have revealed and
[1:31:00] need to basically reduce that gradient to something smaller by staffing water on the downstream
[1:31:06] side. And so that's how the tail water weir project came about. The purpose of the tail water
[1:31:11] weir is to stack water on the downstream side and reduce that gradient from head to tail.
[1:31:18] So the overall project scope is to construct a new steel sheet pile tail water weir that I
[1:31:24] just talked about. Also to replace the existing carbon steel roller gates with new stainless
[1:31:30] steel gates. We have the corroded gate-coise platform assembly shown at the top of the picture
[1:31:36] there. Basically, those are the means by which the gates are raised and lowered. Armour
[1:31:42] the canal bottom with rip wrap and marine mattress to prevent scour additional scour
[1:31:47] in the future. Construct walkway stilling wells to measure head and tail,
[1:31:51] stages accurately for our operations folks. Stabilise the embankment by re-grading.
[1:31:57] Make sure the slopes are gradual enough to be stable to prevent scour or washouts.
[1:32:04] And install passive cathodic protection to protect against corrosion on the structure in the future.
[1:32:10] So basically the tail water weir structure consists of sheet pile that's driven down
[1:32:18] just below the structure and the purposes of stack water up to the crest elevation of
[1:32:23] three to again provide that pool which reduces the amount of gradient from head to tail
[1:32:30] across the structure.
[1:32:35] To address some areas of downstream scour, there's basically three sections of marine mattress
[1:32:42] and rip wrap that are being installed. Basically, as you look at the schematic structure,
[1:32:46] sits just off the picture over here to the left and then as you work to the right
[1:32:51] on the picture, you're moving eastward. And so you've got the structure here and the tail water
[1:32:59] weir here between those two pieces. There's marine mattress and 30 inch types of rip wrap
[1:33:05] that's going in between the structure and the weir. And then immediately downstream of the weir
[1:33:09] where the water is going to fall. There's a thicker layer of rip wrap that's being installed
[1:33:14] to protect against scour. Then you've got to run from there of existing rip wrap.
[1:33:20] That's been holding up pretty well over time. And then to fix a scour hole that was found
[1:33:25] a little bit downstream of that we're putting a third layer of marine mattress and rip wrap.
[1:33:32] A little bit about the marine mattress. It's made on site and you can see basically
[1:33:39] there's fabric that's installed in these boxes and then the rock is put fabric
[1:33:45] and then it's closed up. And basically the end product, you can kind of see how it gets its name
[1:33:51] is what looks like a mattress. And you can see there in the lower left and the lower right
[1:33:58] although you definitely try to sleep on this mattress because it's filled with rocks.
[1:34:04] But basically the marine mattress provides the foundation for the rip wrap and goes on top of it
[1:34:09] and basically prevents the bottom of the canal from being scoured out in the future.
[1:34:15] The gate-woodest platforms, as you can see in the upper right picture, we're pretty badly corroded.
[1:34:21] So both all three were taken off site, disassembled, sand blasted, galvanized and repainted
[1:34:29] and are two of the three have been delivered back to the site and re-insult.
[1:34:36] Gate replacement, replacing all the existing carbon steel gates with new stainless gates.
[1:34:42] So those were obviously out there for a long time getting pretty bad shape.
[1:34:47] And this is kind of the new district standards replaced with stainless steel when we go and re-have a structure.
[1:34:52] Recreational considerations. Since this is a coastal structure, there's when the gates and there's the snook like to gather
[1:35:02] downstream and eat all the blue gill and shad to come through. So there's a fishing opportunity there.
[1:35:08] And what's pictured here is a structure S68 for the north and our system that was built.
[1:35:16] And you can see the same type of dealers the tail, water, where there was constructed for this structure as well.
[1:35:22] And with the tail, water, where you've got these areas where folks can come out, stand and pass into the water below.
[1:35:31] So provides a recreation opportunity for people to want to fish there.
[1:35:35] They can stand on these grass platforms and cast, cast their lines into the canal.
[1:35:45] To protect the manatees, we had installed temporary manatee barrier.
[1:35:49] Basically it's a woven fence that goes from all the way down to the bottom, all the way up above the surface water level.
[1:35:58] And keeps manatees from going into the construction area while that's underway.
[1:36:03] And that'll be taken out once the project is done.
[1:36:08] So the current status, the approach appears, are completed with the weird driven to their design elevation.
[1:36:17] Fabrication of the replacement gates is underway, and those are expected to all be delivered later this month.
[1:36:23] The marine mattress building on site is about halfway done and about 20% of all that of marine mattress is actually going to place into the bottom of the waterway.
[1:36:33] And to the three gateways platform assembly has been completed and returned to the site.
[1:36:43] As far as the cost and schedule, the total construction cost is roughly 4.2 million.
[1:36:49] Got a milestone number one coming up, as I said, the gates are due to be delivered to the site later this month.
[1:36:57] And one of the contract milestones is if they get installed completed by April 30th.
[1:37:03] And then we're looking at substantial completion in July of this year and final of seconds to months thereafter.
[1:37:11] And without taking questions.
[1:37:16] Thanks Alan, any questions for Alan on the project spotlight?
[1:37:22] No.
[1:37:23] Okay. Thank you very much Alan for the information.
[1:37:28] Next up is the South Dave Study update and I'll call on Walter Wilcox section administrator, operations engineering and construction.
[1:37:39] Walter, good morning.
[1:37:44] Can't please be back in front of you this morning, giving you an update on the South Dave Study progress today.
[1:37:50] If you recall last month, the board provided a direction to staff and we're appreciative of that direction and moving forward under that direction.
[1:37:58] To basically implement the elements are identified under the South Dave Investigation City that occurred over the last several months.
[1:38:05] And just calling your attention to the figure on the right side of the slide, we're going to be talking about some of the control structures.
[1:38:12] Just wanted to kind of refresh your memory. This is in the southern portion of the system.
[1:38:16] South of David, me trail.
[1:38:18] The developed urban agricultural area is a Miami-D county on the right here in every residential park is on the left.
[1:38:24] And as you move kind of north through south in the system, you go down through a series of control structures.
[1:38:30] Plum stations 332 BC and B and pump stations 299, which move water from the L31 and see when we can now support the west in the residential park.
[1:38:40] And then also some of our control structures.
[1:38:44] Great gravity spillways s176 and s177, which can be water down those canals into the south.
[1:38:50] So this is all infrastructure allows us to move water from the adult areas to other areas in the system for mutual benefit as discussed last month.
[1:39:02] I just to give you an update on kind of what we've been working on last month in response to the board direction
[1:39:08] and we've immediately implemented many of the operational guidance elements.
[1:39:12] So we're identified in the south-to-investigation city that are within the authority of the existing water control plans and within the discretion identified in those operating protocols.
[1:39:22] The specific examples of what that means for the operation of the south-to-toe conveying system is those northern pump stations are being operated at the lower end of their current operating range.
[1:39:32] Kind of as a standard practice at this point.
[1:39:36] And the operation of the lower control structures in 176 and 177 are being operated based on rainfall event criteria.
[1:39:44] What that means is that if we anticipate a large rainfall event or we've experienced a large rainfall event.
[1:39:48] We're opening those structures at lower elevations to try to promote the movement of water through the system.
[1:39:54] I also want to mention and John referenced this earlier in his water conditions update.
[1:39:59] The high water emergency action is actually the operating plan that's in place right now for the south-toe command system.
[1:40:05] So in response to the ability to move water water out of 3A and to raise the stages in northeastern purpose loop.
[1:40:11] In combination with those operations, many of the operating protocols are identified in the south-toe-investigation city were included in that emergency action.
[1:40:20] So the current 90-day operational deviation includes lower control elevations for pretty much all of these structures in the south-toe conveying system.
[1:40:30] And what that's allowing us to do is as water is moved into our residential park in higher volumes out of conservation area 3A and response to the high water.
[1:40:38] That's allowing us to control the seepage of that water toward the east and to keep that water in the natural systems and avoid impacts to the developed areas on the eastern side.
[1:40:46] So that's another positive that's come out of the south-toe action.
[1:40:51] In addition to the items that were within the discretion of the operating plans as they currently exist.
[1:40:57] We've been pursuing actions to update the operating plans in a number of areas in the system to kind of codify the outcomes of the south-toe study.
[1:41:07] The first example of that is the 199 and 200 pump stations.
[1:41:13] We've updated the operational plans to reflect the lower water control elevation and little triggers for those structures.
[1:41:21] So basically early in the dry season we've lowered the water control elevations that they'll operate more frequently and more aggressively to move water and retain water in the natural systems and to move water away from the our cultural areas during the early portion of the planning season.
[1:41:37] Though that relies operating plan has been prepared by staff that was submitted to a DEP yesterday for review and approval.
[1:41:45] Pending approval from the EPA there will also be a notification to the Army Corps of Engineers and then at that point those operations will be the the new operational protocols for the 199 and 200 pump station.
[1:41:56] We're also working with our federal partners at the Army Corps of Engineers and we're going to be identifying what's the appropriate mechanism to move forward but we're looking at.
[1:42:05] The similar way codifying the operational adjustments at the 332 BC and D pump stations as well as the more persistent operational changes of 176 and 177.
[1:42:15] These would be kind of low capacity releases during normal times and not so much in response to the rainfall events and so we're trying to figure out what is the the most expedient path forward for.
[1:42:28] Making those operational changes were permanent and that could be under revised operating criteria under one of the existing authorities for example the income and two or cop or it could be a deviation request that the districts and it's.
[1:42:41] And basically tries to expedite that process.
[1:42:47] We've also continued the technical work that was undertaken under Southane investigations in particular if you recall we had some conversation at last once forward meeting about the movement of water in the vicinity of the head waters of Taylor slew.
[1:43:02] There's a several questions that still exists more detailed questions about how to effectively move water from the canal system toward the Taylor slew area and promote flows down Taylor slew and towards Florida bay.
[1:43:14] We've initiated a more detailed set of analysis looking at the hydraulic conveyance in that area that involves more detailed sets of tools more extensive analysis and is John mentioned because of the high water conditions in the amount of water that's in the system right now.
[1:43:28] We're trying to take advantage of that to deploy some additional monitoring to understand how water is moving in that area under these these higher water conditions.
[1:43:37] And we're going to need to examine both how water moves during the wet conditions what we really want to be able to convey water from the canals away from the developer is toward Taylor slew toward Florida bay and also in the dry area conditions where we don't want to see whatever we put into the system.
[1:43:52] I'm creating an unintended consequence of over-draining everybody's national park and removing water from the marsh and from Taylor slew and from Florida bay.
[1:44:02] So we have kind of a unique design challenge that we have to look at and we're beginning on the technical path of analyzing that condition and trying to understand what infrastructure improvements might help to achieve both things of the hydraulic spectrum.
[1:44:17] There are also a number of structural elements identified coming out of the South-Aid study and obviously those will take longer to implement and will require significant planning activities as well as design and ultimately construction activities.
[1:44:33] The one that's moving forward kind of in a quick pace is the 327 we're which is structure which is shown in the picture here.
[1:44:41] This is the 332D pump station that moves water from this canal again toward a national park in this direction.
[1:44:47] I'm going to notice here all of the standing water when that pump station pumps it fills up this relatively small portion of one of the impoundments and the water will last get very high before it overtops this this we are here.
[1:44:59] We are here.
[1:45:00] And so the next portion of the empowerment, there's been an idea that's been out there for a while to degrade
[1:45:07] a portion of this sphere and allow that water to more efficiently get out from the tail water
[1:45:13] 322D in spread across the system. And that's actually covered under an environmental assessment
[1:45:18] that the Army Corps of Engineers has recently completed and is going through its final review and approval
[1:45:24] process. We're hoping that upon the regulatory approval of the both the EA and the final
[1:45:29] project designs that we can begin construction activities, it kind of have this feature in place
[1:45:35] hopefully by next year I see some to facilitate better water movement away from the 322D
[1:45:40] decomposition in toward the natural systems. And that's basically the progress that we've made over
[1:45:48] the first month of trying to implement the board's directions. We'll be coming back with several other updates
[1:45:54] over time. Thanks for the report, Walter.
[1:45:59] Do we have any board questions and I guess first I'll ask if Sam on the phone, I know that you've
[1:46:06] been tracking this thing very closely and I'll first give you an opportunity with any questions or
[1:46:12] comments if you're there. I don't think we have them.
[1:46:20] Yeah, you're on mute, I think, but we've got to see you again.
[1:46:25] I was walking on mute. Thank you, Mr. Chair. No, at this time, Walter, I have no questions whatsoever.
[1:46:35] I'm still interested in a 332 pump station that sits idle, seems essential to tailor slew in my eyes.
[1:46:44] You know, I just want to learn more about that. But nothing else, no other questions.
[1:46:50] The water seems to be moving through South Dade fairly well. I am concerned with some forecasted rain
[1:46:57] Sunday. I don't think it's forecasted heavy, but it just worries me to have all this water coming through us.
[1:47:03] And with 197 remaining clothes, you know, just once we watch it closely, but at this time,
[1:47:10] you know, we are dry enough to continue our farming operations with no problems in the forecast.
[1:47:18] But at this time, I have no other comments or questions. Thank you.
[1:47:22] Thanks, Sam. And thanks for your efforts to find the right solutions out there and work with our staff
[1:47:29] and the other stakeholders on that. We appreciate it. And there are board questions for Walter, Mr. Patrick.
[1:47:35] Walter, I just want to reiterate again and express appreciation to you and your staff
[1:47:42] for conducting these truly exemplary workshops and coming up with really novel creative
[1:47:50] strategies to address the issue, the water issue, and down there, and you're ongoing work in this effort.
[1:47:59] Thank you. I do want to also acknowledge Brenda Mills as well as her. I'm pointing at her back.
[1:48:03] And really it was the participation of the of the public in the workshops.
[1:48:07] And we really got a lot of great ideas and a lot of engagement and that really was what makes it so helpful.
[1:48:12] For the whole, for all the stakeholders that got together and decided to work together to try to reach some consensus on this.
[1:48:21] So again, thank you all. Thanks, Andy.
[1:48:25] I just want to quickly echo Sandy's comments as well. Walter, thanks for your leadership.
[1:48:31] You know, when I look at this with the system, the entire thing is very complex, but I don't think there's any area that's more complex than this part of the system.
[1:48:39] When you look at the urban interface, South Dade, Ag, the Park, Tribes.
[1:48:45] And this isn't about identifying some multi-billion dollar solution that will take forever to get there.
[1:48:50] This is about getting more out of the system that we have and some here and some there and you guys are doing an excellent job in identifying
[1:48:59] each of those pieces. It's not easy, but I've been following and watching the work and the conversations and keep it up, I appreciate it.
[1:49:08] Mr. Moran. Absolutely. I echo what Mr. Parish has.
[1:49:12] And just another example of the incredibly talented and creative staff that we have here.
[1:49:17] I want to thank you and your crew for all the effort you've put in this.
[1:49:21] Having said that, I do want to try and understand that we're making these tweaks and
[1:49:29] the system to try and protect South Dade, but long-term, for instance, as a court,
[1:49:37] implements increment, too. Won't there be even more water coming down in a regular basis and will
[1:49:43] these strategies work then? And didn't we talk about a curtain wall long-term being necessary
[1:49:53] and are we going to put that on our radar?
[1:49:55] Yes, so when we did the South Dade investigations, we analyzed both the current conditions as well as into the
[1:50:00] future looking at increment two, like conditions. As John mentioned under the high water emergency actions,
[1:50:06] we're kind of in any situation where we're actually experiencing something close to increment two,
[1:50:11] type-in flows at the northern part of the system and it's in a same reported. We're seen relatively
[1:50:17] good performance under these wetter conditions in the South Dade Canadian system and in the the
[1:50:22] part system, so that's kind of encouraging early return. There is a sequence while on the table
[1:50:27] that's something that's kind of contemplated in the future structural modifications, and obviously that'll
[1:50:33] require a fair amount of continued discussion to figure out where that needs to be, how extensive,
[1:50:38] how deep what the engineering considerations are, but we'll be coming back to you in the future with
[1:50:42] with more information as those conversations. Okay, so that's, that's the care,
[1:50:48] yes, I'll go ahead to Jim. I just, so that's on your radar for the future. Yes. Yeah, okay, thank you.
[1:50:55] Sam. Mr. Chair, thank you. Sorry about that, Jim. The only other thing I wanted to mention,
[1:51:03] it concerns me, I don't know if the westerly pumping stations are going to cease to pump west
[1:51:11] on the 15th of this month with simultaneously keeping that 197 closed in this water still coming south.
[1:51:21] Concerned about our water table rising quickly. That's the only other thing I wanted to mention.
[1:51:26] I don't know if that's still the shut-off date at midnight on the 15th of this month to shut down 1999 and 200
[1:51:35] for the sparrow. Next thing is, is that still happening? Is that still the date?
[1:51:42] Yes, Sam, Mr. John, currently on March 15th, as you correctly stated,
[1:51:47] pumps to 2099 and S200 will cease to operate under this sparrow constraint for that portion of the system.
[1:51:54] Even in absence of that, those two stations operating, we will continue to maintain the canal levels
[1:51:58] on any emergency deviation as they are now by operating on 177 and if need to be 177.
[1:52:08] Okay, thank you, John.
[1:52:11] All right, any other board questions for Walter?
[1:52:16] If not, thank you very much. Walter, that was helpful and thanks, John, for that follow-up information.
[1:52:23] All right, well, that brings us to agenda item 26 for consideration of a final order,
[1:52:33] approving the 2016 Upper East Coast Water Supply Plan Update and Mark Ellsner, Section Administrator,
[1:52:43] Water Resource Division will give us the presentation on this item.
[1:52:47] Good morning, it's a pleasure being here. Over the last nine months, I've given you two status reports.
[1:52:53] On development of this update, our process is coming to an end, and today I'm going to ask you to
[1:52:59] approve order approving the 2016 Upper East Coast Water Supply Plan Update. But before we get there,
[1:53:07] I'd like to go ahead and just take a few minutes to cover what we've been up to the last three months.
[1:53:14] In December, I gave you a overview of the draft water supply plan.
[1:53:19] There was post on November 20th. Since then, we've had a stakeholder meeting. We've received
[1:53:24] written comments, which I will summarize as part of this presentation.
[1:53:33] Just to refresher, we have five regional water supply planning areas.
[1:53:37] The Upper East Coast consists of Martens, St. Lucy, and Eastern Okeechobee counties.
[1:53:41] The issues and these have not changed in the water supply plan that we
[1:53:51] want to address was, in this area, the official aquifer system is not that productive
[1:53:57] and it's reached in most areas, it's development limits. So there's limited opportunity to increase
[1:54:03] official aquifer use. In lieu of that, many of the utilities have gone to the Florida
[1:54:08] Knuckle for in this area, which is about 1,200 feet deep. It's brackish and requires decalination
[1:54:14] treatment prior to use. Surface water is a very important source in this area for agriculture.
[1:54:24] You know, because of canal stability concerns as well as lack of storage, there's been restricted
[1:54:31] allocation rules implemented for the C-23-24-25 that prohibit any increased
[1:54:38] allocations from those systems. Also, this area is connected to Lake Okeechobee via the C-44 canal
[1:54:47] and there have been restricted allocations placed on the Lake and the connected water bodies.
[1:54:53] It's been talked about earlier, without the lack of storage, those fresh water discharges in this area
[1:55:01] do affect the coastal resources and with two-thirds of the water rainfall occurring in the rainy season,
[1:55:09] a lot of that has lost a tide. One thing with agriculture and surface water during the dry time,
[1:55:16] sometimes it does become limited and they do tap the Florida Aquifer, blended with available fresh water
[1:55:22] supplies for use. So with the emphasis on the Florida Aquifer system for potable water supply of
[1:55:29] wells, agriculture, the long-term viability of the Florida Aquifer system was really important as
[1:55:34] we looked at this and you may recall we did have the assistance of a Florida Aquifer model for this area and
[1:55:41] looking at the potential impacts of increased, continued and increased demands on that system.
[1:55:52] We got a very good comment from a host of local governments, agencies, utilities,
[1:56:00] and other stakeholders in this area. We worked with these commenters to understand
[1:56:06] their issues and ensure that this plan addresses the issues and concerns of this region and I'll say
[1:56:13] that the comments we did receive have improved and have improved the document.
[1:56:19] And I'll summarize those with the man projections and you've been involved in them. They're very challenging
[1:56:28] and there is uncertainty built into it under normal circumstances. However, in this area,
[1:56:34] it has been devastated by citrus greening and there's tens of thousands of acres of
[1:56:40] a former citrus land that lay phallow and what's going to happen with that land.
[1:56:46] In our current projections are that probably see a continued decrease but we're optimistic there would be
[1:56:52] a root stock that would be found to be disease resistance and we would see some increase in
[1:56:57] industry over time. I think acknowledging that uncertainty is really important and recently we've seen
[1:57:05] indications that some of this crop land phallow citrus may be converting to other crops,
[1:57:13] like vegetables, greenhouses and things like that and a recent article I read indicated Mr.
[1:57:19] Powers has actually filled verified some of that. I think that as part of this plan
[1:57:28] recognizing that potential conversion that we need to continue to watch that because if it moves to
[1:57:34] crops other than citrus they may be less salt tolerant and not able to use the flooring aquifer
[1:57:40] and may require additional fresh water. Another common comment was we need surface water storage
[1:57:49] in this area and it was indicated a lot of the water that we that falls here is lost to tide and
[1:57:56] can we capture that and can we look at private public partnerships and doing that also. We have the
[1:58:02] Indian River of New and South project proposed for this area. However, the comments are it's not
[1:58:10] moving quickly enough and it's primarily focused on environmental needs and we'll provide water
[1:58:18] for agriculture and other urban needs and then another request was to include a menu of water supply
[1:58:26] project options. With those comments we did make several changes to the document including the
[1:58:37] conclusion and the future water demands of the region can continue to be met through 2040 with
[1:58:44] appropriate management conservation and implementation of the projects in this plan. However, we do
[1:58:49] acknowledge the uncertainty in this in the agricultural demand projections and that if we do see a
[1:58:55] changing of the agriculture landscape to less salt tolerant crops we may have to look for additional
[1:59:02] surface water storage to meet those needs. And then with all plans the implementation requires
[1:59:08] close coordination with stakeholders and it's part of this effort and the flooring aquifer you may
[1:59:15] recall that the flooring aquifer doesn't observe political boundaries and to water management district
[1:59:24] to the north we do need to coordinate the use of the flooring with our efforts also.
[1:59:33] Besides our efforts in the way of implementing this plan after year approval it also trigger statutory
[1:59:39] requirements of local governments and utilities. After year approval local governments have to update
[1:59:46] their water facilities work plan within 18 months of year approval. And what that is is they are going to
[1:59:54] work with utilities and identify the projects and how they're going to meet their projected needs.
[2:00:00] And then in addition, utilities required to report to us annually the progress on implementing their projects to meet those future needs.
[2:00:13] And with that, staff recommendation is to enter a final order of proving the 2016 Upper East Coast Guard Supply Plan Update.
[2:00:22] Thank you, Mark. Do we have board questions on this item?
[2:00:29] Mr. Howard?
[2:00:30] I just have an observation. Thank you very much.
[2:00:32] And for me, is a reminder of one of the core missions of this agency.
[2:00:35] And that's water supply it oftentimes.
[2:00:38] Doesn't get the attention that some of the other areas do.
[2:00:41] But, gosh, it's so key in terms of, I think folks are upset now.
[2:00:48] Imagine if their water supply was compromised.
[2:00:50] So, good job, Mark. This is very comprehensive, especially in the outreach to the stakeholders.
[2:00:55] And how the AG is in flux and you incorporate that into this water supply plan.
[2:01:02] Thanks Kevin. Do we have public comment on this, Tia?
[2:01:05] No, Mr. Chair.
[2:01:07] Okay.
[2:01:08] We have a motion.
[2:01:09] I'll move approval of the Upper East Coast Water Supply Plan.
[2:01:14] We have a motion in a second and further discussion.
[2:01:18] Just for discussion, one I'll be voting on this, but as a landowner in this area,
[2:01:24] we're not uniquely affected, but this is an important discussion.
[2:01:28] So, I wanted to thank Mark for his team for the work.
[2:01:31] But the conversation about the impact on citrus and agriculture in general is important.
[2:01:36] And we need to keep that in focus.
[2:01:39] These counties have been uniquely impacted because of the greening.
[2:01:44] And there is a significant transition.
[2:01:47] And so, it's a time of flux and the water needs and the water allocations are critical.
[2:01:51] And I think this is a good plan.
[2:01:53] But there is still a reliance on the radiant aquifer.
[2:01:57] And I think on a going forward basis, we might need to be prepared to re-evaluate that.
[2:02:02] And I think some of the potential solutions are additional surface storage.
[2:02:07] And doing those public private partnerships.
[2:02:10] So, I think it's a good plan and a challenging time.
[2:02:13] But we need to be prepared to keep our eye on it.
[2:02:16] In case there are things that happen that we didn't anticipate.
[2:02:21] Thank you, Mitch.
[2:02:22] Any further board discussion?
[2:02:24] Seeing none.
[2:02:25] We'll call the question all those in favor.
[2:02:27] I oppose.
[2:02:30] Sam.
[2:02:31] I.
[2:02:32] Thank you, Sam.
[2:02:33] Then the result of that is a unanimous vote in favor with Mr. Hutchcraft obscene.
[2:02:40] Thank you.
[2:02:41] Thank you, Mark.
[2:02:43] That brings us to agenda item 27.
[2:02:48] And we'll call Alan Cherke's section lead engineering and construction to present this item.
[2:03:02] Okay.
[2:03:03] Thank you.
[2:03:04] This is a construction contract award.
[2:03:07] Package to the C43 reservoir complex.
[2:03:14] Location wise.
[2:03:16] This contract award is for the S476 consultation, which is a irrigation consultation.
[2:03:21] Basically, to replace the water supply that's going to be cut off.
[2:03:26] Starting here.
[2:03:27] Running along this canal that cuts through the reservoir footprint over to these farms east of the project.
[2:03:34] Basically, the point of this pump station is to replace that feature.
[2:03:38] This will ultimately, once Package is three and four is done.
[2:03:43] We'll ultimately provide water around the south side of the reservoir over to those same farm properties.
[2:03:51] So this project was big beginning of February.
[2:03:54] Bits were open.
[2:03:55] Beginning in March, we received three bids ranging from roughly 10.8 million to 11.6 million.
[2:04:00] And engineers estimate on the project was 10.5 million.
[2:04:07] So the resolution is to enter into a 580 day contract with Harry Peppern Associates.
[2:04:12] The lowest response in responsible bidder.
[2:04:14] The amount of roughly 10.8 million dollars.
[2:04:19] And without taking any questions.
[2:04:23] Thank you.
[2:04:24] Any board questions?
[2:04:28] Has this contractor done work with the district previously?
[2:04:32] Yes.
[2:04:33] They've done several of our pump stations, including the compartment B.
[2:04:36] I'm also some work at picking in.
[2:04:40] Any further board questions?
[2:04:45] If not, we'll go to public comment.
[2:04:47] Mr. Moran.
[2:04:48] Now, I thought you'd give me the.
[2:04:51] We were briefed on this thoroughly in our monthly briefing.
[2:04:56] So I'm prepared to move the motion.
[2:04:59] We're going to hear public comment first.
[2:05:01] Any public comment?
[2:05:02] Yes, sir.
[2:05:03] I guess we're not.
[2:05:04] I'll move the resolution.
[2:05:06] I have a motion in a second further discussion.
[2:05:09] An under discussion.
[2:05:11] Let's keep our foot on the gas.
[2:05:12] And I look forward to the money that we've got budgeted for the next phase of the project as well.
[2:05:17] That's why I only got a period.
[2:05:20] You guys got that?
[2:05:22] All those in favor?
[2:05:24] I.
[2:05:25] I.
[2:05:26] Opposed.
[2:05:27] Motion carries unanimously.
[2:05:28] Thank you very much.
[2:05:30] Okay.
[2:05:31] That brings us to general public comment and TIA.
[2:05:33] I know we've got some cards.
[2:05:34] So let's TMA.
[2:05:36] Yes, sir.
[2:05:37] First, we're going to have Mike Collins followed by Darrell Brand and then Mark Perry.
[2:05:45] Mike Collins.
[2:05:46] Good morning and welcome.
[2:05:49] Good morning, Chairman.
[2:05:50] Members of the board.
[2:05:51] Appreciate the opportunity.
[2:05:52] Florida Bay.
[2:05:53] As Terry mentioned FMRI and our staff have been monitoring the situation pretty closely.
[2:06:00] I can tell you in from personal observations that there's a one foot deep mat of dead
[2:06:07] sea grass that covers virtually the entire shoreline east of.
[2:06:13] Well, men go to.
[2:06:15] Meteor Bay.
[2:06:16] And just as an 87 is Terry pointed out, we're tracking pretty much exactly.
[2:06:20] This is going to be an algae bloom this summer when that starts rotting.
[2:06:24] There's really nothing that can move it.
[2:06:28] And so we're tracking on a four or five year event.
[2:06:31] I guess, which was what it took the last time.
[2:06:33] But that was four or five years when this district had a free hand to put a lot of water in Florida
[2:06:38] Bay and maintain a salinity level.
[2:06:41] It was pretty much optimal.
[2:06:42] We're not going to be able to do that this time.
[2:06:45] I have the same concerns that Mr. Curcio had about the 15th and this, the sparrow closures.
[2:06:54] I am not going to get the same answer that he got, which is we have the operational flexibility
[2:06:59] to protect his flood protection because we are not going to have the operational flexibility
[2:07:04] to continue the flows to Florida Bay.
[2:07:06] I don't know what the long term result of that's going to be.
[2:07:10] I just know that the long term result of the sparrow operational plan is probably the single most important factor
[2:07:18] in the crash of Florida Bay.
[2:07:21] So we will probably be the single most significant factor in how long Florida Bay takes to recover.
[2:07:27] Just for the record, I brought it up to interior leadership at the Rack last week that as Mr.
[2:07:37] Moran is against it. It's hard for them to justify what they're doing.
[2:07:41] They don't feel they have to.
[2:07:44] They feel that they have the ability to decide that the survival or the optimal survival of one species to take precedence over the rest of the ecosystem.
[2:07:52] I've made it clear.
[2:07:53] I don't think they have the moral of the ethical right to do that, but they feel that they have the legal right.
[2:07:58] It makes right. So for what is worth.
[2:08:02] In spite of all the unbelievably effective work this been done by John Smith.
[2:08:07] His staff and Walter and identified solutions on what somebody really leans pretty hard on the Department of Interior.
[2:08:15] I have absolutely no faith that they're going to let us implement those solutions.
[2:08:19] So again, appreciate your support, appreciate your help and please keep pushing.
[2:08:23] Thank you.
[2:08:24] Thank you, Mr. Collins.
[2:08:26] Darrell Brand.
[2:08:30] Darrell Good morning. Good morning.
[2:08:32] Good morning.
[2:08:34] I've heard today.
[2:08:36] My name is Darrell Brand.
[2:08:38] I live in Palm City.
[2:08:40] I'm here today representing the Rivers Coalition 83 voting members.
[2:08:45] We represent well over 300,000 individuals through various HOAs, yacht clubs.
[2:08:53] We're in related businesses in numerous civic and environmental organizations.
[2:08:58] I would like to present to you a resolution that was passed.
[2:09:02] You know, you know, you're manously in our last membership meeting.
[2:09:06] I will read just a portion of that statement because of my time constraint.
[2:09:12] Whereas the mission of the Rivers Coalition is to fight for a safe, healthy and ecologically balanced, safe, lucy river estuary.
[2:09:21] And Indian River Lagoon.
[2:09:24] Natural resources that are vital to the economy and quality of life of Martin County in the treasure coast.
[2:09:31] Now, therefore, be it resolved that one, the Rivers Coalition demands the US Army Corps of Engineers and South Florida Water Management District.
[2:09:44] Stop the massive destructive discharges from Lake Okejobi to the St. Lucie Estuary Indian River Lagoon in the Close Hatchi Estuary.
[2:09:54] 2.
[2:09:56] The Rivers Coalition advocates that the state of Florida and Congress amend the comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan to include a river of grass project that provides 500,000 acre feet of storage south of the lake.
[2:10:12] In the EA, connecting to 40,000 acres of existing stormwater treatment areas with a capacity to move 18,000 cubic feet per second of water out of the lake.
[2:10:26] Providing for a dynamic slow movement of clean water from the lake through the Everglades to Florida Bay.
[2:10:37] In the approximate amount of 1.5 million acre feet per year.
[2:10:42] 3.
[2:10:44] The Rivers Coalition advocates that the state of Florida use the funds from the 2014 amendment 1 land acquisition trust fund to buy the lands necessary for the River Grass project.
[2:10:59] About stated to provide enough storage, treatment and conveyance of water from Lake Okejobi south to the Everglades and thereby stopping the destructive discharges of the lake water to the northern coastal estuaries.
[2:11:15] In testimony where of the Rivers Chairs of the Rivers Coalition authorize and forward this resolution on behalf of the 83 Rivers Coalition members by signature below.
[2:11:27] Dually passed an adopted the 7 day of March 2016.
[2:11:32] Thank you.
[2:11:34] Thank you, Darrell.
[2:11:35] And for the record, we have a copy of the complete resolution for everyone to go through.
[2:11:42] Next up is Mark Perry.
[2:11:44] Mark, good morning.
[2:11:45] Welcome.
[2:11:46] Good morning.
[2:11:47] Tara and a governing board.
[2:11:49] She know the estuaries are under kind of siege here of it's pretty critical in some of the situations.
[2:11:55] I know the ecological reports have shown you kind of the oysters and sea grass beds and it is getting a little better perhaps with a reduced discharges.
[2:12:04] But at the rack, we also talked about what is that target elevation that they need to get to?
[2:12:09] Is it going to be 14 or 13 half feet?
[2:12:12] And you got 80 days between now and June 1, she discharged in about 11,000 acre feet a day at the current rate.
[2:12:19] So it'll take, you know, it'll get down to about 13.8 or so of feet.
[2:12:23] And if we massively discharged it all at once and then tried to stop, I think the course said, well we can't guarantee that we'll stop April 1 and you'll have a spawning season.
[2:12:33] So the critical times for spawn obviously are April 1 and May in these estuaries from not only oysters and sea grass and grass are there, but also the fish that come into the estuaries to spawn.
[2:12:44] You know, we're at 15.5 feet in the lake.
[2:12:47] We're just charging about, you know, 6,800 CFS compared to inflows of 2,400.
[2:12:53] But also we're starting to do water supply discharges which we haven't done since mid November last year down south from the lake.
[2:13:00] And if we, we advocate you increase those.
[2:13:03] I, in this letter and in the resolution I passed out to the governor Scott and others.
[2:13:08] I'm basically, his actions of February 11th really requesting the court of move fell 29 from 7.5 to 8.5.
[2:13:15] What's a move, but he, he misinformed about saying this will allow us to move more water out of Lake Gopchobie and release the discharges.
[2:13:24] Unfortunately, the emergency deviation of 90 days and at what concentration area 3A is of 11.5 feet.
[2:13:31] And it's got to be down to 9.5 feet scheduled by June 1st.
[2:13:35] At 7,000 acre feet a day which is currently the rates coming out of both the estuaries and the 33rd is going to be about 10.5 feet by June 1st.
[2:13:45] So we're not going to get there, we're not going to have enough capacity in there to allow any lake water to come.
[2:13:51] So the other thing is the executive order talked about the Hoover Dyke.
[2:13:55] And it's been mentioned about Hoover Dyke being, if we just repaired the Hoover Dyke, we'd have more capacity to store water in the lake.
[2:14:02] The truth is that the Hoover Dyke needs repair because of the safety of the Hoover Dyke.
[2:14:07] But the lake up until the regulation schedule, which governs the water, which Mr. Moran pointed out is, is the controlling factor.
[2:14:14] And it's got to be the core that deviates from that schedule or adjusts that schedule in order to control those discharge.
[2:14:20] And lastly, the project that we mentioned in this, our resolution that's attached here to the governor and others is appreciated.
[2:14:28] The river school is from resolution back in the end of February.
[2:14:31] It does need that we, yes, we need to complete the projects.
[2:14:35] We need to complete the projects that hand their eight currently authorized and appropriate projects.
[2:14:40] They're set ready to be authorized and word it perhaps.
[2:14:44] And we need to complete the water storage projects.
[2:14:47] If we don't have in the works under the integrated delivery schedule, anything coming up that we'll do it.
[2:14:53] And back in River of Grass Planning, which I've been involved with for 30 years now, with stuff we need to really work.
[2:15:00] We're working on putting a project into the serve that will make this happen and have some dynamic storage
[2:15:06] treatment and movement of that water south. And we think we can achieve it if we just need to land acquisition.
[2:15:12] And as far as just the misinformation, I appreciate the information from the district, the opinions of the district, the information is going out. It's very helpful.
[2:15:22] But there was some other information put out by you as sure through the water management, you know, resource advisory commission.
[2:15:29] I wish we kind of curtail some of those opposites and those kind of things going through it. But I think the information is very valid that comes out and the facts are the facts. And we ought to stick to those and I appreciate that.
[2:15:40] Thank you, Mr. Perry.
[2:15:41] Next up.
[2:15:42] Next we have Jen Moore followed by WC Summers, then Michael Baldwin.
[2:15:46] Good afternoon, we're members.
[2:15:59] It's still morning.
[2:16:01] It's still morning.
[2:16:03] My name's Jim Moore. I'm a citizen of Martin County. I'm a father and enthusiast of the water.
[2:16:11] I'm an environmental volunteer and a civic volunteer. I'm the co-chair of the Rivers Coalition leadership team and the chairman of the Board of Directors for the Marine Resources Council of the Treasure Coast.
[2:16:22] And I personally implore you to do the hard things and stop and paralleling our health and our prosperity and destroying the equity diversity of this English yesterday.
[2:16:36] We need to buy the land in the EAA that could be used for improved storage and dynamic storage of water as well as conveying water into the south through the Everglades.
[2:16:52] The restoration sheet flow has to be the goal.
[2:16:59] Using the state of the dive is a canard to avoid doing the hard things, which is spending memory money to purchase land south of the lake in the EAA to do those things that we all need to be done.
[2:17:16] Further, removing some of the urban dikes and structures that are south of the EAA and the historic Everglades is necessary and expensive and difficult thing for you all to have to do.
[2:17:33] But it needs to be done, talking about increasing storage in the Capuchovi is not your charge.
[2:17:43] It's the... I'm a part of engineers decision making process that has to be responsible for that.
[2:17:49] But it is not the way the historic Everglades worked and restoring the historic flows to the Everglades and to Florida Bay and recharging the aquifer in the south Florida.
[2:18:00] It needs to be your highest priority.
[2:18:03] I'd like to read the first part of the resolution that Darryl didn't read.
[2:18:11] This comes from the reverse coalition that we've followed up by several other organizations that I'm responsible to.
[2:18:19] We're as prior to the 1930 Lake of Chubby Waters would overflow to the south and move slowly through the 40 mile wide river of grass Everglades to Florida Bay.
[2:18:31] However, the construction of the Herper Povered Dike around the Chubby in 1937 stopped the slow to the south and we're as the 700,000 acres of land south of the lake is drained for agriculture mainly sugar cane.
[2:18:43] It was designated as the Everglades, our culture, our wild waters in the lake are now controlled by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers using Lake of Chubby Regulations Schedule that discharges water to the east and west from the lake to the coastal east for us in the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico instead of south to the Everglades river of grass.
[2:19:02] Where as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, I'm going to have an introduction here and we do have the handout with the resolution and we will go through it.
[2:19:11] We do appreciate your comments and taking time to come here.
[2:19:19] Good morning. Good morning to you all.
[2:19:23] For the record, my name is Bill Summers and I want to add my comments and say that I'm in 1000% in agreement with Mr. Newman.
[2:19:37] And what he had to say this morning regarding the final solution of what needs to be done before the Lake Okechubby situation is concerned.
[2:19:49] I see that the pollution according to the experts is now affecting businesses as well as the tourist industry and south Florida.
[2:20:02] I also see that the regulators, people such as you, are responsible for solving the problems, are continuing to use bandades in the solution.
[2:20:19] Classical example is what I've said here this morning and heard regarding the various projects that you have underway.
[2:20:30] After Governor Scott signed the law recently, I guess you'd say the so-called Water Bill.
[2:20:40] I wrote the Governor letter and I included in it some bandades for him to use as well.
[2:20:49] At this body as you know and you're meeting in Fort Pierce a few months ago, I presented you a bandade to use and you're solving the problems.
[2:21:04] The thing that I hold in my hand, some 25 plus full page ads that have been placed in the news media by the sugar industry, telling the public how great and wonderful they are.
[2:21:22] The thing that they missed is they didn't think the public were paying for these out of the $500 million subsidy that they did each year from the taxpayers that you and I.
[2:21:41] My question to you today is, and I'm going to be asking this question from you in the future.
[2:21:51] When are you going to solve the problem? When are you going to stop using the bandades and really and truly solve the problem that you know is out there as well as I know what the problem is.
[2:22:08] I need to get it solved because you as one of the regulators on the street are getting a bad name.
[2:22:18] Thank you Mr. Summers for the public comment.
[2:22:21] Michael Baldwin in Martha Musgrove.
[2:22:27] Mr. Baldwin, good morning and welcome.
[2:22:29] Good morning Mr. Chairman, both members. Two or three times during the course of this meeting the subject of misinformation has come up.
[2:22:37] And I agree with the comments that have been made that there is considerable misinformation out among the public about the situation that's been created by the excessive January rainfalls.
[2:22:49] However, I'd also suggest that perhaps that misinformation could have been avoided or at least mitigated some if there had been more advanced communication.
[2:23:01] By both the water management district and the Army Corps of Engineers, it seems too often that the communication has been this has happened as opposed to this is what we're going to do.
[2:23:14] These were the options we looked at and this is why we're going in the direction we're going.
[2:23:20] Additionally, as the events of the last several weeks have evolved, it seems like I'm beginning to hear more of them and others discussions going on relative to the Army Corps and to the water management district.
[2:23:36] Everybody knows that the Lake Okejelbe situation and Everglades restoration will only be resolved long term by a continuing collaborative effort between those two groups.
[2:23:49] And I trust Mr. Chairman and board members that you will continue the focus on that collaborative effort. Thank you.
[2:23:56] Thank you for your comments, Mr. Baldwin. Next up, Martha Musgrove.
[2:24:01] After Martha will have Laura Reynolds, Tabitha Kale and Carolyn McLaughlin.
[2:24:08] Martha, good morning and welcome.
[2:24:12] This is New podium. Martha Musgrove.
[2:24:16] No place to put in.
[2:24:17] You've got more space to work there.
[2:24:18] You've got more space to work there.
[2:24:19] That's a part of wildlife exploration.
[2:24:21] I guess I've known plus this is the greatest.
[2:24:25] I wanted to give a shout out and Kuno's to Walter Wilk, harks, brindamels, Sam curseil on the phone for coalescing to open the dialogue that is desperately needed in south day.
[2:24:47] South-Date is probably the most complex issue, not only because of the number of people there
[2:24:55] and the various economic interests, but also the underlying geology.
[2:25:01] And it has an impact on Florida Bay as well.
[2:25:04] So what I'm asking is that you're not disband this group, but continue and ask the next question,
[2:25:13] which is how does the flow of water affect Florida Bay and where in Florida Bay do you want
[2:25:20] to get the discharges?
[2:25:22] Because all your discharges are in, let us say, well, the biggest discharges, the 1997,
[2:25:31] goes into the Manate Bay.
[2:25:33] And there's a road that prevents it from going flowing into Florida Bay.
[2:25:38] We know the Florida Bay is in itself a very complex issue, but it would be very
[2:25:43] nice to be proactive rather than always reactive on these situations.
[2:25:48] And as Mike Collins pointed out, with the masses of dead vegetation there, we're going
[2:25:54] to have an alcohol pool on Florida Bay, it's in the scapellable.
[2:26:00] And I would point out that we used to have a lot, and we probably still have some, in Lake Okeechobee.
[2:26:06] For much of the same reason, I do not understand why this board seems to think, or it's
[2:26:13] statements have been made that the Lake Okeechobee deck won't be repaired, and there isn't
[2:26:17] any money there, because it's in an entirely different fund.
[2:26:22] And it's going downbusters.
[2:26:24] The only thing that we've retarded is if the Mississippi River began having floods up there,
[2:26:30] and they would have to divert to the dams up there.
[2:26:33] That's going back to the, the, the set project for South Florida is the one that opens up the
[2:26:41] system.
[2:26:42] It sends the water south, and it flows through the, the words flow through.
[2:26:49] I thought, uh, vigorously during the set process about the conditions of, of, of, of, what
[2:26:57] a conservation area, three, where the water is too high right now, but it still doesn't have
[2:27:04] a channel out.
[2:27:05] What the South Dave's study showed is that there are many channels, because we, through deviations,
[2:27:12] we are now using many channels of the water to flow onto the coast.
[2:27:16] I would, I would look at it more holistically, as conceptually holistically, and say, let us put
[2:27:25] our resources where we can get the water flowing through, and make sure it goes to where we
[2:27:31] want it, and we have marvelous tools.
[2:27:33] This whole modeling thing, I've, I've been skeptical over the years, but it works.
[2:27:38] Thank you.
[2:27:39] Thank you.
[2:27:40] Thank you, Martha.
[2:27:41] So a lot better than the back hall that we used to take to unplug.
[2:27:45] I want to.
[2:27:46] Thank you.
[2:27:47] Appreciate your comments and your time to address us.
[2:27:51] Laura Reynolds, good morning.
[2:27:52] Welcome.
[2:27:53] It's still morning, uh, Laura Reynolds, and I'm here today, representing the Southern Alliance
[2:27:58] for Clean Energy, and I wanted to address a different issue, although, of course, I think,
[2:28:03] Florida Bay is very important, and so are the discharges from the lake, but just to change
[2:28:09] the subject, uh, really quickly.
[2:28:11] I'm sure you've noticed in the media as of late, uh, pollution in Biscayne Bay associated
[2:28:16] with the cooling canal system.
[2:28:18] And I wanted to give you some new information, I'm providing you a graphic that's just come
[2:28:24] out of date county if you could just look at this page right here.
[2:28:29] And that page shows you all of the water that was put into the cooling canal system in 2015.
[2:28:37] And all of the weight of that water has put the pollution plume into the surface waters
[2:28:44] of Biscayne Bay, and is loading the aquifer with up to 3 million pounds of salt daily.
[2:28:52] I'm going to say that again, 3 million pounds of salt daily.
[2:28:56] Now that's an estimate that your own expert at one time, Bill Nuddle has estimated, and FPL has given
[2:29:04] us a number of 600,000 pounds of salt daily.
[2:29:08] So somewhere in between there is probably the right number.
[2:29:12] However, there's such a percent error because number one, the equipment that we use to collect
[2:29:18] rainfall data at the site, there's only one rain gauge.
[2:29:23] You need to have more rain gauges put there.
[2:29:25] You also need to have additional flow meters.
[2:29:28] We can't even get a handle on what the evaporation is, and the flux in that area to inform
[2:29:35] the models to really come up with a water budget.
[2:29:38] So here we are with this major emergency, the plume is affecting a national park.
[2:29:44] It is loading salt daily into a sole source aquifer, and I'm asking for help.
[2:29:51] Number one, please update some of that equipment there, move the utility to work with you
[2:29:58] on that.
[2:29:59] Secondly, you should...
[2:30:00] It suspend all use of L31 water until the problem is resolved. If we continue to put water into this system, it will continue to
[2:30:10] pollute the surface waters of a national park. And frankly, that violates the Clean Water Act. So I urge you to review the data that I've sent you.
[2:30:21] I urge you to meet with environmental groups and Dave County and your excellent staff to elevate this issue once again. It's very important that we take it seriously. Thank you.
[2:30:36] Thank you, Laura. And thank you for the handouts and the reference materials and we'll go through that. All right. Next up is Tabitha.
[2:30:45] Good morning, Tabitha. With Audubon Florida. The first thing I just wanted to address is, you know, discussion of the Herbert Hoover diaper pair.
[2:30:53] Right now, the Dijk is the Army Corps uses a safety rating that goes from one to five with five being the safest. And right now, the Dijk is rated at a one. Once they complete the repairs, the Dijk safety is going to be rated as a three.
[2:31:08] So we understand that the repairs are really necessary. It'll make the Dijk safer. But it's not necessarily the solution for storage and holding more water in the lake, because the Dijk is still going to be, you know, there's still going to be a risk once you get higher and higher levels in the lake, just for the safety of the Dijk.
[2:31:26] Audubon Florida has always tried to make sure we can help educate people about the value of maintaining the health of the lake's marshes.
[2:31:33] Not just because they provide really quality habitat and nesting ground for waiting birds. We actually help manage some of the marshes around the lake, but also because if you don't keep, if you keep the water levels too low or too high, it can kill off those marshes.
[2:31:47] And if you have a deeper lake where you don't have those marshes, a deeper lake is actually a dirtier lake.
[2:31:52] Because along the close to hatchy side, some of those marshes help filter the water that is discharged when we do discharge water.
[2:31:59] And it's a bit cleaner because it's flowing through those marshes on the western side.
[2:32:04] So a deeper lake is a more dangerous lake and a dirtier lake, so we just urge you to kind of consider that and we know we're going to be moving forward with adjusting lures. That schedule once we do finish the Dijk repairs.
[2:32:17] The other thing I wanted to mention, there was a really lively discussion at RAC about the sparrow and operations.
[2:32:24] That's something that's come up in the conversation today.
[2:32:27] I know Shannon Estinos made some really impassioned comments about management and the sparrow and that I urge you to talk to her about, you know, the interior, one of your federal partners positions on that.
[2:32:40] Right now we're under an emergency order to reduce water levels in WCA3.
[2:32:45] Partially thanks to the leadership of Commissioner Burzeron.
[2:32:48] And, you know, as Mark had mentioned right now, they're really high, they're above schedule.
[2:32:53] We don't really have a lot of capacity to move more, much more water into those water conservation areas.
[2:32:59] And in order to move enough water through the S12s to really provide a substantive benefit to the S-Juaries,
[2:33:05] you'd have to reflub the water conservation areas in such a way that you'd really have a lot of negative impacts about being there that we've already seen.
[2:33:12] So we know right now the WCA's are too high and we're just now getting to the point where they're starting to receive a bit.
[2:33:19] So one of the things I do want to mention that's just been positive in all this chaos is we have been able to raise canow levels along the trail.
[2:33:26] We have been able to see some operations that are kind of similar to increment two.
[2:33:30] I really hope we can keep up the momentum on that.
[2:33:33] Your partners, the core, really seem to want to move forward everything they can with contracts eight and nine and increment two.
[2:33:39] I think that's such a step in the right direction.
[2:33:42] So hopefully we can keep up that momentum towards increment two.
[2:33:46] And I also just wanted to quickly reference the, you know, it's also really important to do that for Florida Bay.
[2:33:51] You all saw Terry's maps of the Sea Grass Dioffs.
[2:33:53] We know how valuable and important that S-Juaries in addition to the S-Juaries that are being harmed by the district.
[2:33:59] So please keep the momentum up with just moving towards finishing projects, getting PDA's established and you know, please consider the health of the lake too.
[2:34:08] Thanks.
[2:34:09] Thank you, Tabitha.
[2:34:10] Further forward.
[2:34:11] We have Carolyn McLaughlin followed by Charles Verroclah ending with Matt Raffinberg.
[2:34:17] Good morning, Carolyn McLaughlin on behalf of the National Parks Conservation Association.
[2:34:25] I'd like to start off by echoing Laura's comments when she discussed the county's recent report showing that water from the cooling can access to him has definitively moved into surface waters that are tightly connected to the S-Juaries National Park.
[2:34:38] I mean, this is in addition to the massive plume of salt water that's underground spreading throughout the Biscanoke for that's threatening the drinking water supply for hundreds of thousands of people and the freshwater supply to the S-Juaries National Park.
[2:34:51] As you all know, we're spending millions of dollars to restore Biscan Bay through the Biscan-Baco's Wettlands project and you know, what are we doing all of this?
[2:34:58] What are we spending all of this money for if we're going to continue to allow F-P-NL to contaminate our surface water and groundwater with hypercelli water, essentially pushing back on all the freshwater we're trying to put back into the S-Juaries National Park in the Biscan Bay.
[2:35:11] Now, the county has definitive evidence showing that this water is our surface waters.
[2:35:15] This water has high levels of sodium, ammonia, and phosphorus and tridium levels that are about 215 times normal levels.
[2:35:23] The cooling can access to misclearly failing and F-NL should be on the hook for cleaning up the mess that we're seeing now.
[2:35:28] If they're going to continue to operate their plan safely, without polluting our drinking water and our national park, we really need to see a realistic, sustainable, long-term solution to this problem.
[2:35:40] I'd also like to comment on the presentation on the update on the South Data Investigations.
[2:35:45] I want to thank District staff and Mr. Garcia for all the hard work they put into this process.
[2:35:50] I just want to urge you to continue to move forward and operating the structures we have towards completing projects.
[2:35:56] Just keeping in mind ways to operate these systems to maximize benefits to everybody's national park and to Florida Bay.
[2:36:02] Especially given the conditions we've seen implored a bay the past year and the sea grass dios.
[2:36:07] Finally, I'd like to thank you all for yesterday's presentation at the Project and Lands Committee meeting on the Biscan Maco Stowettlands project.
[2:36:14] The District has done a tremendous job in moving forward and progressing completing phase one.
[2:36:19] And I think right now we've really got a great opportunity to move forward of planning for phase two with Miami-Veigh County as a partner.
[2:36:25] So I really do hope you'll take advantage of this opportunity and have your staff meet with the county to just discuss the opportunity and some possibilities for a productive partnership to move that project forward.
[2:36:35] Thank you.
[2:36:36] Thank you, Carolyn.
[2:36:38] Up next is Charles.
[2:36:40] Good morning, welcome.
[2:36:42] Good morning.
[2:36:44] Chuck Barrett.
[2:36:46] I'd like to reflect for a moment, if I could, not so much in a biblical sense.
[2:36:56] Although my friends and family probably insist I do more of that.
[2:37:00] But specifically to yesterday's Project and Lands meeting.
[2:37:05] The presentation done by Mr. Bicell and Mr. Palmer really shows I think the commitment that staff and the board have.
[2:37:15] To managing the resources with a stakeholder input.
[2:37:22] I'm continued to be amazed by the fact that the District and the staff really do engage stakeholders as part of the process.
[2:37:34] Specifically with the agricultural land lease that was proposed yesterday coming up with an equitable and fair methodology.
[2:37:44] For managing those agricultural leases.
[2:37:47] You know, as a land manager and as a, excuse me.
[2:37:52] Those are one of the states.
[2:37:54] As a land manager and a past board member of Florida Trail Association.
[2:37:59] I've had firsthand experience with dealing with staff.
[2:38:03] And again, they should be commended for that.
[2:38:06] The interesting part of yesterday's conversation really what I wanted to reflect on was the difference between conservation.
[2:38:13] And I think we have to be mindful of that in the negotiation of lease with project lands that, you know, there is a finite time in which that land can be leased.
[2:38:30] And I think again we did a wonderful job in addressing that.
[2:38:33] But in terms of the conservation lands, I wanted to point out a project at the Martin County, a Palabata Ranch.
[2:38:40] Which is a great example of a conservation land that the District bought for natural areas storage has a very restrictive WRP easement over it.
[2:38:50] And yet we're able to manage that property effectively, not only to restore the natural hydro period, but also has an active cattle lease on that property.
[2:39:02] Today I wanted to discuss the funds being allocated through specific appropriation 1590.
[2:39:10] And the provision that provides for the district to provide the governor and the speaker of the House and the Senate.
[2:39:17] A written report to implement a plan that addresses the objectives of serve.
[2:39:24] And wanting to encourage you to implement the C23 C24 project as part of that list.
[2:39:30] The C23 and C24 continue to flow urban and agricultural runoff on a baited into ultimately the north fork of the scene Lucy.
[2:39:40] The IDS for that project has been moved up to years 18 and 19.
[2:39:45] Well yesterday Mr. Morrison indicated that there is a PPA in place for this project and pointed out the inequity in the investment on the part of the core in the state.
[2:39:57] I'm going to have to wrap up your time, but if you want to follow up with staff directly on specific projects or the specifics of what you're just getting into.
[2:40:08] Our staff will be available to talk to you.
[2:40:10] Very much. I do want to add one last thing. I want to commend Mr. Antonachi on this choice of pizza joints.
[2:40:18] The red elephant is one of the best pizza places until last important important stuff.
[2:40:25] Okay, up next is Matt Raffinburg.
[2:40:28] Matt, good morning, welcome.
[2:40:34] Good morning for the record. Matt Raffinburg, Florida Power and Light.
[2:40:38] 700 universe Boulevard, Juno Beach, Florida, 33408. Mr. Chair, we're members. Good morning.
[2:40:45] Here today to talk about our turkey point cooling canals.
[2:40:49] There's been a lot of focus recently in the media and you've heard some statements today.
[2:40:55] I think you're all aware we've been working very closely with the water management district and other ADCs for some time on this issue.
[2:41:02] We've been collecting data since 2010 analyzing those data, developing plans for moving forward.
[2:41:08] And I'm here to say we are moving forward. We're in the process of implementing a long-term plan to extract groundwater,
[2:41:15] hyper-sailing groundwater and inject it into the boulders zone, the same zone where my media county discharges their water.
[2:41:22] We think that's an important first step. That doesn't happen overnight.
[2:41:25] We're working very closely with my media county on building a three-dimensional model so we can design the appropriate systems.
[2:41:31] So we're just not putting holes in the ground. We're actually designing a system that works.
[2:41:36] I'm a biologist and a scientist and so I'm very data-driven.
[2:41:42] One of the things I'd like to talk about is Biscayne Bay. We have collected data.
[2:41:47] For many years since 2010 and have demonstrated that there's no ecological impact of Biscayne Bay, we have loads of data that we've analyzed.
[2:41:54] But it is clear that in some deep canals adjacent to our cooling canals that there is some water that has ammonia and nitrogen and nutrients in it.
[2:42:02] And we're working very closely with the county, we've talked to the district as well, and the DEP to address that.
[2:42:09] And put a plan in place to address those localized areas.
[2:42:12] But the long-term data shows when you look at water quality, fish, shellfish, other ecological indicators that we're not having an impact.
[2:42:22] This is an important issue to our company all the way to the top. We're very focused on it.
[2:42:26] I want to be clear that we're not, you know, none of our data support that we're impacting drinking water or the bay.
[2:42:32] The last thing I'll say is that the cooling canals are in a lot better shape than they've been.
[2:42:37] We've improved the water quality. There are about 37 parts per thousand today, which is pretty close to the salinity of bay water.
[2:42:44] We think that's an important step because the fresher that water is, the less salt we're producing in the environment, and less impact that we could have to the groundwater.
[2:42:54] So I appreciate you listening to my comments today. Thank you.
[2:42:58] Okay Matt, thank you for your comment.
[2:43:01] Any further public comment? Okay. That does it on general public comment. That brings us to our staff report and first up we're going to have Barbara Ross give us a public affairs report.
[2:43:14] Good morning board members. I wanted to follow up on your discussion from last month on expanding communication and outreach.
[2:43:22] And it feels appropriate that I follow public comment in the meeting right now.
[2:43:27] The extraordinary water conditions that we've experienced this winter have been parallel with extraordinary public concern.
[2:43:34] And adding to that is that it's the winter and we have a lot of newcomers or people wanting to come to Florida and they don't have experience with high water conditions.
[2:43:44] So that has presented a challenge for my team and I'd like to look at us with an opportunity to connect new people with our information and both accurate existing information and timely new information as it happens.
[2:43:58] And one of the most important pieces we've we've identified is with John Mittenick's group doing operations to relieve pressure on the system getting that information out there not waiting.
[2:44:09] Weeks monthly wrap up none of that as it's happening we're pushing it out in a timely way and we're making sure people see in here what this agency is doing to address that we're also addressing misinformation in the media with general fact sheets but also pushing out facts that
[2:44:27] Refute bad information misinformation some some of intentional some people one information and want to know what's going on and really just looking to learn and that's that's been one of our opportunities.
[2:44:38] We're taking a hard look at our social media tools I know some of you have spoken me directly about that and I appreciate your input.
[2:44:45] I'd like to plant the seed if any of you would like to join the social media world we can set you up with Twitter account or blogs or whatever but that I see a no.
[2:44:55] But I also know there's a few yeses up there so thank you for that.
[2:45:00] In the world of community outreach, we've responded to additional requests for presentations, what's going on, how does the water move, inquiries, everything from high schools, to civic groups, rotary clubs and all of that, and my staff has also interacted with several of the tourism councils and convention bureaus that have expressed interested and shared messaging and reaching out to their people with accurate information.
[2:45:29] In the electronic world, we've identified opportunities to expand our stakeholder database so that at a push of a button we can get lots of information out to thousands of people at the same time and make sure that that's loaded up and we can move it out in a timely way.
[2:45:45] And also in the electronic world, our website is a very robust tool that we value a lot. We have more than 3 million pages viewed every single year.
[2:45:55] And I'm excited in the next couple of months, we'll be transferring the platform that supports more mobile devices so you can all carry around some additional tools in this new web platform on your tablet or your mobile phone.
[2:46:09] And from maps to news or whatever, we'll be very visible on those mobile devices and we'll continue to add new web pages as hot topics and information requires.
[2:46:22] And finally, I just want you to hear from me that we're going to continue to support you individually as board members with information on high profile topics.
[2:46:30] As you address citizen concerns, answer members of the media who may reach out to you local governments or other citizens.
[2:46:38] And that's my report and let the answer to questions or have additional guidance from you.
[2:46:43] Thanks Barbara and I really appreciate the stuff on the social media and although, you know, personally I'm a little bit behind the times on that.
[2:46:50] My, my nieces and nephews have stressed to me that that's that's how you keep up with them and and then I see in the business that, you know, that's so much information that used to be disseminated through print media and you know,
[2:47:07] news channels is now that that whole segment just doesn't reach a huge portion of the population now because they get their information in a different manner than, you know, the old models.
[2:47:20] And so it's, it's good to see a focus there that we're going to keep up with that and make sure that, you know, as some of the public comment and said that we're staying ahead getting information out and that we're not relying on old.
[2:47:35] old old avenues of delivery when that doesn't work in today's in today's world.
[2:47:42] Yes, sir.
[2:47:44] Other public comment or a comment for Barbara or media and.
[2:47:49] I just want to thank you again.
[2:47:51] You know, getting the information out and I think Martha I even mentioned, you know, getting ahead of the story and the sad part is Martha is that we're always ahead of the story.
[2:48:02] They're just not printing our version.
[2:48:04] So the facts are out there.
[2:48:06] Our email is robust.
[2:48:08] We're going to continue to make that even more robust.
[2:48:10] We're working on making sure that every elected official in the 16 counties of the Southwater Management District is available by the touch of a button.
[2:48:17] So that our fact sheet goes to every elected office this way if they're.
[2:48:21] Talk to you by the media or they have constituents that have concerns that they have that information at the touch of their.
[2:48:28] They're keyboard.
[2:48:30] So that's really something that I've been stressing that we, you know, ramp up our email list and make sure that.
[2:48:37] All the elected's are on that as well.
[2:48:42] I also think, you know, you don't get enough credit because it's a full time job to respond to all the misinformation in the media.
[2:48:49] We get these emails on a constant basis.
[2:48:52] We're reading articles where the, maybe the journalist hasn't even reached out to this agency at all for any comment.
[2:48:59] But they've reached out to other representatives in the community that maybe even and hold, you know, standing in this agency in some capacity or another.
[2:49:07] And they're giving quotes that are not, you know, factual.
[2:49:10] So Barbara and her team has basically been running those stories down, correcting that information.
[2:49:16] In some cases, we've asked for retractions and I appreciate that because I think that we have to run down this narrative.
[2:49:22] Unfortunately, the truth doesn't fit the narrative, so we can keep pushing the truth out.
[2:49:27] And hopefully the more people we reach the better educated everybody becomes.
[2:49:33] Other comments or questions for Barbara.
[2:49:36] Mitch.
[2:49:39] I also want to echo those comments.
[2:49:41] And I think as Michael Baldwin indicated that, you know, yes, this has been a big event.
[2:49:45] And we all learn how we can do things better.
[2:49:48] I know that on the West Coast there were opportunities where we could communicate better.
[2:49:52] I know that I'm working on it.
[2:49:54] I appreciate you and your team's help in doing that.
[2:49:58] And hopefully we'll make sure that those communication lines are open and flowing.
[2:50:03] Particularly directly with the government, the elected officials, because I think they have a responsibility to their constituents where they've got that information.
[2:50:12] I agree. I'm just remarkably disgusted with most of the media because I think they pick up the most scintillating piece of information regardless of its basis and fact and run with it.
[2:50:24] And so I appreciate the work that you're doing particularly at beginning to respond back to inaccurate information.
[2:50:32] We're not going to create a narrative.
[2:50:35] We're going to share facts.
[2:50:37] And that's what we all base our opinions and our decisions on is fact.
[2:50:41] And I only hope that the rest of the consumers of media ultimately will base their determinations on fact as well.
[2:50:50] Thank you.
[2:50:52] All right. Thanks. Thanks, Barbara. Next up is Doug Barksham with our financial report.
[2:50:57] Mr. Chairman, going board members. Good morning.
[2:51:00] We've included our monthly financial report through January.
[2:51:03] One of the key things we track is our have a long collections, which through January.
[2:51:07] Our head of the five-year historic trend.
[2:51:11] One thing I mentioned in some of our briefings is that we are pulling together data to look at kind of our expenditures during the dry season given the unusual nature of some of the activities that have gone on this dry season.
[2:51:26] And we will put that together and provide that for a future months report.
[2:51:30] Just a couple other items. Also in your backup is a preliminary look at the state appropriations that are in the bill that the legislature will vote on tomorrow.
[2:51:46] Still subject to that vote.
[2:51:48] Still subject to review and approved by the governor.
[2:51:51] Just a couple of those items in there.
[2:51:55] 132 million for Everglades restoration.
[2:51:58] 32 million of that for restoration strategies.
[2:52:01] 100 million for serve planning, design, engineering and construction.
[2:52:07] 56 million for northern Everglades implementation with a significant portion of that being directed through public private partnerships.
[2:52:18] 27.7 million for land acquisition within Lake Kikpachi, Disking Bay, and picking and strand.
[2:52:27] And then five million dollars for dispersed water management.
[2:52:31] 3.85 million for land management.
[2:52:36] As we go along, we will continue to track the process.
[2:52:39] And we will bring you back a kind of comparative result between this year and last year based on how this all ends up.
[2:52:47] And just a lastly.
[2:52:50] As you know, we submitted our budget for a review by the legislature on January the 15th.
[2:52:55] Their deadline for comments to us is March the first.
[2:52:59] We receive no comments.
[2:53:02] With that serve, that completes my update.
[2:53:05] Thank you, Doug.
[2:53:06] Thank you.
[2:53:07] Next up is.
[2:53:08] Pete, do you want to?
[2:53:09] Yes.
[2:53:10] Here we will be the last before at the break.
[2:53:12] Okay.
[2:53:14] Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the board.
[2:53:17] As you see, for the first time, I think in y'all service, Tom Teats is not in the room.
[2:53:22] So we had to go out on the street and find someone to replace Tom.
[2:53:27] Hard to do.
[2:53:30] And because I could not bear the prospect of having any more extravagant hair around here like Mr. Bergstrom's.
[2:53:38] Or Mr. Bassels.
[2:53:41] And out of respect for Tom's long service, we brought Ernie and Ernie Marx, please stand.
[2:53:47] So he's our new Everglades policy director and boy, what a fine he is, please.
[2:53:53] He's a veteran of.
[2:53:59] He's a veteran of the Everglades war.
[2:54:01] So he commented to me the other day that when he worked for DEP, it was often observed that if you were assigned to the Everglades.
[2:54:07] The Everglades beat you lost your life.
[2:54:10] You donated years of your life to the Everglades and they became lost.
[2:54:15] Ernie's years in devotion to the Everglades have not been lost.
[2:54:19] They are our gains. So welcome Ernie.
[2:54:25] As you call, we last month and I think Mr. Peterson mentioned this few minutes ago about our cooperative funding program.
[2:54:33] That cooperative funding program is being rolled out.
[2:54:37] Applications will begin.
[2:54:41] The opening of applications will begin later this month in March.
[2:54:45] We will be open for 60 days.
[2:54:47] So we'll be reaching out to communities around the district to urge them to apply for projects.
[2:54:55] There's $9 million that will be matched.
[2:54:58] So we'll have about $18 million worth of expenditures and pursuit of various water projects.
[2:55:06] Because if you're sticking with the cooperative funding program, and thank you for it.
[2:55:13] As you know, the governor entered an emergency order last month.
[2:55:18] And because of that emergency order, we've been able to bypass the procurement process and go out on the street without.
[2:55:27] We've lent the time of procurement and obtained some of these pumps that you saw in the various graphs here before.
[2:55:37] With some of this emergency pumping, we're doing out of 3A into the L29.
[2:55:45] So we've been able to use that order to our good ends.
[2:55:51] We've also been informed by the EEP that a good hunk of the expense that we're putting towards implementing the emergency order will be paid by the state and not out of your alarm funds.
[2:56:07] As you know, I've been providing you with the update from time to time with an unfortunate.
[2:56:17] A situation that occurred regarding the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[2:56:22] I believe that those have been put aside and we've resolved that issue and we're going to try to cooperatively work together on the projects that need be recognizing that.
[2:56:38] People have points of view and those points of view will be respected and argued about respectfully and civilly with an agreement to disagree on things when necessary.
[2:56:51] Finally, as I mentioned to you during briefing, we had an election over the last two days with respect to union representation.
[2:57:02] That election took place Tuesday and Wednesday and the results are that the 218 member bargaining unit that was proposed by the union will be represented by that union for the purposes of collective bargaining.
[2:57:17] The vote was 126-27-9 or 129-76.
[2:57:24] That's right.
[2:57:25] 129-76.
[2:57:28] And I can represent to you and to the members of that bargaining unit that I pledge that I will bargain in good faith as required by the law.
[2:57:39] That constitutes my report, Mr. Chairman.
[2:57:42] Thank you, Pete. Next up, General Council's report from Brian Ricardo.
[2:57:48] Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have no General Council's report this month, but if we're ready for the attorney client item on the agenda, I can move there.
[2:57:56] All right, just one second on that. Is there any additional general board comment?
[2:58:01] We had Mitch.
[2:58:05] Just two things, one, I wanted to welcome Ernie and I wondered if goatese are a requirement or just a sign of skill.
[2:58:15] But along the lines of clearing up the record, one of the comments that I heard today was about the efforts of the district being banded.
[2:58:23] And so I just kind of quickly wrote down C-44, C-43, A-1-F-E-B, S-T-A-1-West, Kissimmee River Restoration, Culkin Storage, L-A-F-E-B, Contracts, A-9, Nicodemis Luz, C-139, Annex, upcoming projects, the Laco watershed project.
[2:58:41] Not to mention the convenience improvements that we've been working on and removal of constraints in the system.
[2:58:47] And with that being said, over the next five years, we've got $1.6 billion of capital improvements that are funded and over the next 20 years, over $5 billion.
[2:58:57] And so people that say the efforts of the district have been banded, I think, are either ignorant or avoiding the facts.
[2:59:04] It's important that this information gets out because we are making serious significant improvement and we're doing it in a meaningful way.
[2:59:12] And there has to be a certain sequencing of this so that all of the pieces in the parts can work when it comes time for them to come online.
[2:59:20] So, you know, and over and above that, people continue to seem to lose sight of the fact that this rainfall is the wetest since 1932.
[2:59:29] And oh by the way, we now have over 1 million people living within what used to be the boundaries of the Everglades.
[2:59:36] And so to say we're going to go back to a natural flowway, go tell that to the million people that live there because I don't think it's realistic.
[2:59:43] We have to work within the constraints that we've been given and make the best that we can out of the system.
[2:59:49] And so again, I applaud the staff, I think we're moving forward in a significant way.
[2:59:56] I'm thankful for the funding that looks like we're getting.
[3:00:00] I look forward to continuing to partner with the federal government to make sure that these projects get done, get done quickly, and begin to relieve the system.
[3:00:10] Thanks for correcting that real obvious misstatement or misinformation that was given earlier.
[3:00:22] And when you look at the laundry list of projects completed underway and planned, it is amazing.
[3:00:31] You know, for someone to call that a band-aid approach and with a straight face is, it's just in generous.
[3:00:38] Any other general board comment before we have a attorney session, Mr. Barber?
[3:00:45] The only thing I would add in which this kind of analysis is the list of projects was vetted over 20 years to get us to that list of projects.
[3:00:57] If there were things that needed to be done that didn't get on the radar, I'm sorry.
[3:01:03] But what we're building now, and since I've been on the board, I see projects being built and completed and it's heartwarming.
[3:01:14] So thank you all.
[3:01:16] Thank you, Rick.
[3:01:17] Melanie.
[3:01:18] Yeah, I want to echo those comments.
[3:01:20] And I just want to clarify, you know, when we're talking about the diaper pair, I mean, I think before we were in the situation of the excessive rainfall, we were brief that,
[3:01:29] Basically, if we weren't careful, and we weren't diligent about our cooperation with the Army Corps and pushing them along as far as this diaper pair, we were going to be in a situation where they were going to downgrade the status to a level that would have us competing for funds with over 500 other projects nationwide.
[3:01:49] So when you have a safety rating, if we're taking what Tabitha was talking about as fact, which I don't know for sure, someone else can clarify here.
[3:01:58] But if it's really out of one now and after billions of taxpayer dollars, which is a little bit disconcerting and disappointing to me, that we would only be at a level three.
[3:02:08] You know, we have to make sure that the concern is at that elevated status to where we're only competing with a handful of other projects nationwide for those dedicated dollars to finish this repair.
[3:02:21] You know, Lieutenant Colonel Reynolds was quoted recently when asked about the damaging releases that it would be irresponsible for them not to release.
[3:02:30] Well, if it's that irresponsible to damage our coastlines and our estuaries on the coast for three quarters of a foot of water, then how damaging would it be if we don't actually keep our foot to the pedal, as Mitch was saying, and continue forward ahead on this diaper pair.
[3:02:50] Obviously, once the repair is made, you know, we would revisit the lower schedule. I'm not for any reason proposing that we store 18 feet of water in the lake.
[3:02:59] But I'm saying is if we have a super El Nino again, and we have a situation where we need to store that water that three quarters of a foot that we would be able to.
[3:03:08] So just for clarification purposes and just so the public knows that we have that competitive level of funding that we have to deal with as well.
[3:03:17] So there's another constraint for you, that we are constantly juggling here among our divisions and among the board.
[3:03:25] Thank you, Melanie.
[3:03:27] Okay, if there's no further board comment than calling.
[3:03:32] Yes, Sam.
[3:03:33] I didn't see your hand up.
[3:03:35] I agree with all the statements of the board members, but we cannot discount the importance of the EAA agriculture area.
[3:03:46] To feed us, you know, in 2015, we're going to have nine billion people worldwide to feed.
[3:03:54] And although they do grow sugar, there's a lot of vegetables grown in that region, and to me, to discard agriculture in South Florida is national security.
[3:04:08] I just wanted to add that. Thank you.
[3:04:11] Thanks, Sam. Okay. I'll call on our general counsel to introduce the attorney client session.
[3:04:17] Thank you, Mr. Chair.
[3:04:18] At this time, I requested Vice from the governing board concerning the litigation in the USA case.
[3:04:23] That is agenda item number 34.
[3:04:26] The governing board session shall now move into the attorney client session.
[3:04:30] The session is expected to last approximately 60 minutes.
[3:04:34] The person's attending our governing board members present and Mr. Curcio by telephone.
[3:04:40] Executive director Antonachi district attorneys are Cardo Burns, Colowski and Nut.
[3:04:49] We're adjourned to the attorney client session. Thank you.
[3:05:04] Thank you.
[3:05:34] Thank you, the attorney client session has concluded.
[3:05:44] The governing board meeting is now resumed.
[3:05:47] I asked for a motion and a second to adjourn.
[3:06:04] All those in favor?
[3:06:07] We stand adjourned. Thank you very much.