For updates on heavy late-January rainfall across South Florida and
SFWMD flood control operations, follow our emergency management 
Twitter feed @SFWMD_EM or visit www.sfwmd.gov .

January 2016 - In This Issue:
PHOTO of the MONTH
This colorful painted bunting was among a wide variety of birds spotted in a
December wildlife survey at the site of the Sam Jones/Abiaki Prairie C-139
Annex Restoration Project. Read how the project will restore 15,000 acres of
former citrus grove back to Everglades habitat in this news release.

   Visit us on Flickr  to see more photos from around South Florida.
Chairman's Message
Daniel O'Keefe
Governing Board Chairman
Starting a new year is always a good opportunity to look at highlights of the past 12 months of SFWMD's work across South Florida and, equally important, look forward to goals in the year ahead.
 
Achievements of 2015 included two milestones in water quality improvements for the Everglades. The SFWMD completed construction of the massive A-1 Flow Equalization Basin, a key project in Governor Scott's Restoration Strategies plan. This shallow water storage area south of Lake Okeechobee is already in use during this unusually rainy dry season to improve the performance of SFWMD's nutrient treatment wetlands, known as Stormwater Treatment Areas (STAs).
 
In addition, 2015 marked the 20th consecutive year that farmers in the Everglades Agricultural Area exceeded annual requirements for reducing nutrients in basin runoff, helping to assure that cleaner water reaches the Everglades.
 
Construction continues as SFWMD broke ground at a pair of projects that will improve the timing and volume of freshwater flows to the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries. With significant investments from the Florida legislature, we are building portions of the C-44 reservoir and STA on the east coast and the C-43 reservoir on the west coast, both of which will help protect the downstream estuaries.
 
In southwest Florida, ecological benefits are already seen from rehydrating wetlands, as old drainage canals were filled and the first of three pump stations for the Picayune Strand Restoration Project is now operating. And in the Orlando area, the Governing Board joined the Southwest and St. Johns water management districts in approving a first-of-its-kind water supply plan for Central Florida.
 
Looking ahead, 2016 promises to be even more productive. At its January meeting, the Governing Board started the year by approving a construction contract to restore more than 1,000 acres within the Southern Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed. The second of three flow equalization basins in the Restoration Strategies plan is scheduled to come online in the spring. And significant progress continues with refurbishments to the regional flood control system, Stormwater Treatment Area 1 West expansion, construction of the C-43 and C-44 reservoirs and Ten Mile Creek Reservoir repairs.
 
I will continue to update you on the District's progress in these and other projects in the months ahead. 

See the Stars at DuPuis Astronomy Night

Get away from the urban lights of South Florida and explore the night sky during Astronomy Night at DuPuis Nature Center on Saturday, Feb. 27, from 7 to 9:30 p.m.
  
The upcoming, free event will feature a short lecture by the Treasure Coast Astronomical Society on celestial wonders followed by an interactive stargazing session. Telescopes will be provided for visitors of all ages.
  
The South Florida Water Management District, Florida Atlantic University's Center for Environmental Studies and the Astronomical Society co-host Astronomy Night twice each winter. For more details on the event, visit the DuPuis web page on the District's website.


Feb. 4 - 9 a.m.
WRAC Meeting
SFWMD Auditorium
3301 Gun Club Road
West Palm Beach, FL 33406
 
Feb. 10 - 3 p.m.
Project & Lands Committee Meeting
Osceola County Administration Office
1 Courthouse Square, Suite 4700
Kissimmee, FL 34741
 
Feb. 11 - 9 a.m.
Governing Board Meeting
Osceola County Administration Office
1 Courthouse Square, Suite 4700
Kissimmee, FL 34741
 
> more
Pump Station Overhaul Provides Critical Flood Control for South Broward County
Work crews remove the first of three pumps from the S-13 Pump Station in Davie as part of a refurbishment project.
With fractions of an inch to spare, work crews at the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) recently lifted one of three giant pumps through the roof of a massive pump station that provides flood protection in south Broward County. The precision work was one of hundreds of critical steps needed to refurbish and automate the S-13 Pump Station, located in Davie.  
 
The project is a hallmark of the agency's dedicated system-wide maintenance program. The approximately $8 million investment will help ensure continuous operation of this key pump station, one of 71 in a system that serves 8.1 million residents from Orlando to the Florida Keys.
 
"A robust maintenance program and dedicated field station crews have ensured operation of this vast flood control system for more than six decades," said SFWMD Governing Board Member Clarke Harlow. "The refurbished S-13 Pump Station will continue protecting Broward County's residents, businesses and visitors well into the future."
 
Located near the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, the S-13 provides flood protection for Cooper City, Pembroke Pines, West Hollywood, Westin, Southwest Ranches and Miramar.
 
Along with moving excess stormwater, the pump station helps prevent saltwater intrusion of freshwater aquifer wellfields by holding water levels at appropriate stages in the C-11 Canal.
 
Work, which also included station automation, gearbox refurbishment and new electrical system, had to be scheduled around South Florida's wet season because the pumps cannot be out of service during the wettest time of year.
 
The pumps will be overhauled by the manufacturer and reinstalled. The project is scheduled to be complete in May.
 
For more information about the SFWMD's canal and water control structure operations, click here . 

SFWMD Board Awards Contract to Continue Corkscrew Restoration
The Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed in Lee and Collier counties
On Jan. 14, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Governing Board renewed its commitment to restoring the vast and ecologically diverse habitat of the Southern Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed (CREW) Project in southwest Florida.

The Board approved a $2.9 million construction contract to restore the natural hydrology and ecology on more than 1,000 acres of the project. This contract will involve removing 10 miles of roads cut through the area in the past, removing several spoil piles, plugging or filling drainage ditches to allow the area to naturally flood again and degrading existing berms previously built in the area.

The restoration construction contract is just the latest investment by Florida to restore this unique area near Bonita Springs. The 60,000 acres that make up CREW span both Lee and Collier counties. It is an area where, for centuries, floodwaters naturally flowed in sheets across the pristine landscape. It is also home to panthers, snail kites, wood storks, dozens of different species of wildflowers like the buttonbush and horned blatterwort. The CREW property includes a 5,000-acre marsh as well as Flint Pen Strands, the Bird Rookery Swamp and several hiking trails.

Development eventually blocked much of the natural flow of water with roads, agricultural ditches and homes; however, the state has been buying, preserving and restoring the land for years. A series of floods in 1995 led the District to create a comprehensive restoration project to restore the ecosystem while protecting nearby residents from flooding. To date, Florida and the U.S. Department of the Interior have invested nearly $40 million in the restoration of this critical ecosystem.

SFWMD Flow-Way Recognized With Partnership Award
At its Jan. 14 meeting, the SFWMD Governing Board celebrated
receiving the Deering Estate Foundation's 2015 Champion Partner
of the Year Award.
The Deering Estate Foundation recognized the South Florida Water Management District as 2015 Champion Partner of the Year. Governing Board Member Sandy Batchelor accepted the award from the Foundation.
  
The Deering Estate Flow-Way is the first completed component of the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Project, a part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP). The project includes a small canal and pump station, restoring historic flow to coastal wetlands.  Through an ongoing partnership with the Deering Estate and Miami-Dade County, the flow-way component is achieving success and short-term hydrologic improvements are being realized.

Water quality and timing of flows to wetlands is improved. Sawgrass has expanded, upland plants have died off, and new wetland vegetation species are emerging. Salinity in groundwater and nearshore waters is reduced, and exotic and invasive plant species are reduced.
Efficient Water Use in Agricultural Operations is Focus of Conservation Expo
The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) are partnering to host the 2016 Water Conservation Expo and Vendor Fair. This year's event will focus on practices that agricultural operations can implement to improve efficiency in their water use. The FREE Expo offers informative sessions, networking opportunities and technology and hardware vendors.
  
The 2016 Water Conservation Expo and Vendor Fair is Friday, Feb. 19, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at SFWMD Headquarters, B-1 Auditorium, 3301 Gun Club Road, West Palm Beach, FL 33406. To RSVP or for more information, please contact Stacey Adams at  [email protected]  or (561) 682-2577.