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Chairman's Message
Daniel O'Keefe
Governing Board Chairman
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While October typically marks South Florida's transition into the dry season, the District's operations staff is busy preparing for a wet winter. The National Weather Service is predicting above-average rainfall for the region in the coming months as a result of a strong El Niño weather pattern.
Given this forecast, the District continues working to help protect the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries by moving water south from Lake Okeechobee. At the same time, operations staff is looking for opportunities to improve conditions at the southern end of the peninsula, where Florida Bay is seeing the ecological impacts of a multiyear drought.
As the District works to improve water management across South Florida, restoration of complex ecosystems involves even more. This month, the Board renewed an agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's research service to develop biological controls for invasive plants. These "biocontrols" are insects, specially raised at a laboratory built as a project in the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. Biocontrols are a cost-effective part of the District's extensive efforts to control aggressive exotic plants that harm the region's natural ecosystems.
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Curbing the 'Bad' Plants Naturally
The South Florida Water Management District continues to fund research and development at the Invasive Plant Research Laboratory in Davie. The "bug" lab, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service, develops biocontrols to manage exotic plant spread. The objective is to suppress aggressive growth of an invasive plant by importing natural enemies from its native range and establishing a sustained population that feed on the "bad" plant, keeping it in check.
Between 2013 and 2015, 485,500 brown Lygodium moths and 268,200 Lygodium mites were released to battle Old World climbing fern; 406,500 hyacinth leafhoppers to suppress water hyacinth; and 116,200 air potato leaf beetles to combat air potato plants.
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2015 LagoonFest Set for
Nov. 14
You are invited to join the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) for the 2015 LagoonFest to benefit the Lake Worth Lagoon on Saturday, Nov. 14, from
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on South Flagler Drive along the downtown West Palm Beach waterfront. The District partners with Palm Beach County to gather the science necessary to improve water quality and habitat in the lagoon.
The free family event hosted by the
Lake Worth Lagoon Initiative
will feature live music, wildlife presentations, water sports, exhibitors, children's activities and lagoon tours to raise awareness of the lagoon's environmental, recreational and economic value. SFWMD staff will provide educational materials on protecting local water resources and giveaways.
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Nov. 5 - 9 a.m.
WRAC Meeting
SFWMD Auditorium
3301 Gun Club Road
West Palm Beach, FL 33406
Nov. 9 - 3 p.m.
Project & Lands Committee Meeting
SFWMD Okeechobee Service Center
3800 N.W. 16th Blvd., Suite A
Okeechobee, FL 34972
Nov. 11 SFWMD Offices Closed - Veterans Day
Governing Board Meeting
SFWMD Auditorium
3301 Gun Club Road
West Palm Beach, FL 33406
Nov. 26-27
SFWMD Offices Closed - Thanksgiving
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| TRASH RAKE CONSTRUCTION COMPLETED ON LAKE OKEECHOBEE'S NORTH SHORE |
As part of the South Florida Water Management District's ongoing refurbishment of South Florida's flood control system, construction of four automated trash rakes is completed on four enormous pump stations on Lake Okeechobee's north shore. The pump stations, built in the early 1960s, previously required field crews to clear trash and vegetation debris manually from the water to prevent damage to equipment and keep water flowing during storms. With the automated trash rake systems in place,
field crew safety is improved, labor and fuel costs reduced and pumping efficiency increased.
Learn more
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| WOODPECKERS FLY SO WILDLIFE DIVERSITY WILL SOAR |
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To see the woodpeckers being placed
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In an effort to boost diversity among South Florida's wildlife, eight red-cockaded woodpeckers were introduced to the DuPuis Management Area early one October morning by biologists from the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
Considered a "keystone" species, the endangered woodpeckers and the nests they build play a vital role in the ecosystems of southern pine forests. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has documented at least 27 species - including insects, birds, snakes, lizards, squirrels and frogs - using the cavities the woodpeckers peck in pine trees.
"Ensuring biodiversity on natural lands is crucial to restoration efforts," said SFWMD Governing Board member Melanie Peterson. "The health of these birds and the overall wildlife population helps indicate how restoration projects are improving South Florida's ecosystems."
Biologists relocated the woodpeckers to DuPuis from the Citrus Wildlife Management Area in central Florida, which has a large population of the birds. Prior to their arrival, District staff prepared artificial cavities in pine trees to help the woodpeckers adapt to their new surroundings.
For more details on the birds and the partnership between SFWMD and FWC, read our
news release.
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| MIRROR LAKES PROJECT BENEFITS CALOOSAHATCHEE RIVER |
Located in southwest Florida, the Mirror Lakes Preserve Rehydration Project is a water storage project partnership with the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and Lehigh Acres Municipal Services Improvement District in Lee County. The project captures water that flows into the Caloosahatchee River and pumps it into the preserve. The benefits are additional water storage and nutrient reduction for the river.
The project is exceeding expectations. As of Oct. 5, 990 acre-feet of water had been pumped for this year's rainy season. (An acre-foot is equivalent to the volume needed to cover 1 acre of land with 1 foot of water, or
325,851 gallons.
) During the 2014 rainy season, 2,230 acre-feet of water was pumped into Mirror Lakes.
The lakes were largely drained when canals were dug as part of the original development of Lehigh Acres. The Mirror Lakes Preserve now consists of approximately 250 acres of former lake bottom that has a high capacity to recharge the aquifer. In 2012, the District constructed a pump station to move approximately 1,000 acre-feet of water destined for the Caloosahatchee River into the preserve for habitat restoration and aquifer recharge. A second phase of the project is currently under design that will move an additional 2,500 acre-feet of water south of State Road 82.
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| VEGETATION REMOVAL ALLOWS WATER TO FLOW AGAIN |
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This vegetation "barge" was so large that it broke through
SFWMD vegetation barriers in St. Lucie County. |
Along with stormwater runoff comes massive amounts of debris into the South Florida Water Management District's (SFWMD) primary canals, the conduits to quickly move water off land. An average of 8.01 inches of rainfall fell across South Florida's 16 counties in September, representing 117 percent of average or 1.18 inches above average.
In St. Lucie County, September's heavy rain resulted
in a giant mass of vegetation moving from private drainage canals into a primary canal,
significantly reducing the flow of water. Operations field crews removed more than 600 cubic yards of vegetation, equivalent to approximately 33 dump truck loads. Their swift work brought the canal back to full flow within 24 hours.
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In central Florida, operations staff were informed of large amounts of vegetation impacting water flow in a feeder canal near Clewiston. A crew was dispatched to inspect the vegetation "restriction." Equipment was mobilized and with the aid of an operator and towboat, the floating grass and debris were moved to the side for removal by an excavator. Within three days, all vegetation was removed and canal conveyance was restored to full capacity.
Freeing up these critical areas quickly so water can flow through primary flood control canals is essential to reduce water levels in local areas and protect neighborhoods from flooding.
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| WATER CONSERVATION EDUCATION PROGRAM HITS 10-YEAR MARK |
This year marks the 10th
year the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) has offered
The Great Water Odyssey
training program at no cost to more than 2,700 elementary teachers in the District's 16 counties.
From Orlando to the Florida Keys, the SFWMD has sponsored this animated computer program through Florida Atlantic University's Center for Environmental Studies. Originally offered as in-school teacher training, the program is now presented as an online training tool, broadening access and availability to 3rd, 4th and 5th grade teachers throughout the region.
"Hydro" and "Agua," two animated water drop characters, have led more than 60,500 elementary school students through Florida's wetlands, river and aquifers. They have even helped plan a sustainable future through water conservation and waterwise landscaping.
In the classroom, the educational program becomes a creative, hands-on way to teach students about reading, science, language arts, geography, history and math by learning about water conservation.
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| OCTOBER IS FLORIDA GREENWAYS AND TRAILS MONTH |
Hiking trails abound in South Florida's unique ecosystems with miles of paths meandering through conservation and restoration lands. This month, and throughout the year, experience hiking on thousands of acres of public land managed by the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD).
As you discover South Florida on foot, you will encounter the one-of-a-kind Everglades ecosystem teeming with a kaleidoscope of wading birds, alligators, wildlife, trees and flowers. The SFWMD manages approximately 621,000 acres of land that are open to the public, including 330 miles of trails, 50 designated camping areas and 66 trailhead/parking areas available for public use. This interactive map allows you to find out where hiking, as well as other outdoor activities, is allowed on District-owned public lands.
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