HomeMy WebLinkAboutPresentation_Environmental Advisory Committee_9/10/2025Project Manger
Michael Tompkins
Lead
Update
Ecosystem Restoration Planning Bureau
Status
Overview and
Project
Loxahatchee River Watershed Restoration Project (LRWRP)
Lainhart Dam on
Loxahatchee River
2
by Congress in
by Congress in the
a part of the
authorized
partnership between the U.S.
authorized
The LRWRP is CERP LRWRP 50/50
Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP)Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2000 WRDA 2020Army Corps of Engineers and the State of Florida (SFWMD)
Loxahatchee River Watershed Restoration Project (LRWRP)
Study Area
LRWRP
mosaic of
land and
by
open
)
2
Use
area/dominated
Land
Highly urbanized in the eastNaturalwater in the west and north
LRWRP Study area is ~480,000 CurrentHistorically
acres (~750 miwetlands, uplands, and sloughs
4
of
to the
Purpose of the LRWRP
flows
connectivity
and
Project Purpose Improve freshwater Northwest Fork of the Loxahatchee River, which is a nationally designated Wild and Scenic River, and to restore the hydrology wetlands and watersheds
that form the historic headwaters of the river
5
LRWRP Objectives
Restore oysters, seagrass and other Restore watershed connections among Restore abundance and diversity of native
Restore wet and dry season flows to the
: : : Increase spatial extent and function of : :
and estuary
,
Objective 1 nationally designated Wild Scenic Northwest Fork of the Loxahatchee River Objective 2 estuarine communities in the Loxahatchee River Estuary Objective 3 wetlands Objective
4 the Loxahatchee River headwater natural areas to improve hydrology, sheetflow, hydroperiods, natural storage and vegetative communities Objective 5 plant and animal species in watershed,
natural areas, river
6
sp.
Vallisneria
Loxahatchee Floodplain
Project Benefits
recreation opportunities
w targets for the NW Fork
outdoor
(110 cfs)
(68 cfs)
flo
season
season
additional
91% dry 98% wet Minimum Flow and Level (35 cfs)17,000 acres existing or former agricultural lands10,000 acres existing natural areas
Meet restoration Improves watershed wetland hydrologyImproves/maintains ecological connectivity for ~78,000 acresProvides
Promotes recovery of riverine freshwater species and
estuarine zones for fish, seagrass, oysters and other protected species
7
`
1 Pump Station
-
160 Structure161 Structure
--
18W Impoundment (9,500 ac/ft & 4
M
-
GGGrassy Waters Triangle
C
ASR wells)
–
Kitching CreekMoonshine Creek/Gulfstream EastCypress Creek CanalGulfstream WestPalmar East
---
-
-----
7 8 9
6 10
1 2 3 4 5
Flow Way 2Flow Way 1
Authorized Plan: Alt 5R Flow Way 3
8
way 1
-
Flow
6
FY2
100)
-
Canal Pump Station (S
-
MGrassy Waters Triangle RegradingCapture excess water from ITID Lower Basin that would otherwise be lost to tide and redirect to NW Fork of Lox River.Restore and enhance connectivity
for WildlifeDesign SOW pending execution in
Status
Project FeaturesPurpose
9
way 2
-
,
Flow
(upper basin)
District
and ASR
located Aquifer Storage
-
J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management
Impoundment
-
of Water for
18W Impoundment & 4 co
-
Cand Recovery (ASR) wellsProvide water delivery to the Northwest Fork of the Loxahatchee River to achieve restoration target flowsCapture water that would otherwise be lost to tideExcess
water will be stored, then released when needed to establish a more natural seasonal delivery of water to the riverSurface water Area, Indian Trail Improvement and Hungryland Slough
Project FeaturesPurposeSources
10
modeling
Draft Structure Locations, pending review.Preliminary indicates new configuration performs better than PIR.Impoundment footprint and storage unchanged.Single pump station in SW corner
(new)Single discharge point (new)Weirs (new)
••••••
Service Spillway
-
103W Gated Culvert 103E Gated Culvert
--
SS
106 Pump Station104 ungated culvert
--
--
107 Gated Culvert 105 Gated Culvert
101B 102 Gated Culvert
Structure (weir)SS
--
--
GCGCSSSSWeir 1Weir 2Weir 3
1. 2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.11.12.
11
way 2 Status
-
Flow
expected December
General Info:
Preliminary Design Contract Executed FY23Site investigations ongoingPreliminary design 2025Intermediate and Final Design Phases to Follow
12
way 3
-
, OTL Bridge
Weir
Flow
not shown)
(
Spreader Swale
Hobe Grove Ditch
Wetland Restoration
Pump Station and
.
Creek
Dairy
Gulfstream East Regrading, (not shown)Gulfstream West Flow Thru MarshPalmar East Restoration and ConnectivityCypress Creek Weir and Berm Improvements Mack Kitching Improve hydroperiod
and ecological function of wetlands.Improve timing of discharges to NW fork.Restore historic topography.Reduce over draining.Enhance habitat for wildlife by restoring connectivity and
hydrology
Project FeaturesPurpose
13
and
in
Grove
Gulfstream East Restoration
fill
to
Hobe
ditches
Ditch Weir
site
natural topography
over
RegradeagriculturalrestoreMaintenance roadsBridge over turnpike ditchTurnpike (S117A)Hobe Grove Ditch Weir (S117)Access road to Weir (S117)Bridge over Moonshine CreekBridgeDitch
Phase 1 (late 2026)Phase 2
, bubble up structure
pipe
Proposed Alternative for Kitching Creek
Mitigate offsite Impacts, achieve benefitsSmall pump(s) 3 x 5 cfs, buried pressurized No structure in Jenkins Ditch
Proposed Alternative
15
way 3 Status
-
Flow
and
GSE
late 2026 and
respectively
in FY23.
General Info:
tracking
Design contract executedSemi regional modeling near completionPreliminary Design underway for Gulfstream East (GSE) and Kitching Creek (KC)Construction at KC mid 2027,
Discussion
Palm Beach County
Loxahatchee River in
mtompkin@sfwmd.govjleeds@sfwmd.gov
1173 •6338 •
--
SFWMD LOX RIVER CONTACTS
Lox River Overall Project Manager
–
6900 Cell: (954) 6436088 Cell: (561) 906
--
, PMP
EEDS
OMPKINS
L
T
Project Manager
CHAEL
I
ENNIFER
M LeadEcosystem Restoration Planning & Project Management SectionSouth Florida Water Management District3301 Gun Club Road, MS 8312 • West Palm Beach, Florida 33406Office: (561) 682
J Bureau Chief, Ecosystem Restoration Planning & Project Management SectionSouth Florida Water Management District3301 Gun Club Road, MS 8312 • West Palm Beach, Florida 33406Office:
(561) 682