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Section 7 Environmental Effects of the Selected Plan

EAA Storage Reservoirs Revised Draft PIR and EIS February 2006

7-16

frequency and severity of flushing events, algal blooms, turbid water and fish

kills. The proposed project is also expected to slightly improve the water quality

in Lake Okeechobee thus reducing pollutant loads to the estuaries. Reducing of

salinity and nutrient fluctuations caused by large pulsed fresh water flows

would allow seagrass and mangrove habitat conditions in the downstream

estuaries to improve. With these improvements in water quality, the

appropriate conditions for sensitive estuarine biota, such as species dependent

on this habitat for egg, larval, and juvenile stages, are anticipated to benefit or

rebound.

All construction features of the proposed project are well inland of any Essential

Fish Habitat. Standard best management practices to reduce erosion and

downstream turbidity will be included in the construction specifications. The

USACE has determined that construction activities would have no adverse

impact on EFH in the downstream estuaries and that implementation of the

project would have a positive affect on EFH.

7.11 WATER MANAGEMENT

The purpose of the Preferred Alternative is to store water from Lake Okeechobee

during high water events to reduce the level in the lake, reduce regulatory

releases to the estuaries, and to provide this water when it is needed to the EPA

to the south. Periodic regulatory releases from the lake are expected to continue

until all CERP water storage projects come on-line.

The existing water management system in the Study Area will be modified by

the proposed action to enhance water storage outside of Lake Okeechobee. The

Regulation Schedule of the Lake and WCAs may be adjusted to take advantage

of additional off-lake water storage capacity as it is constructed and becomes

operational.

Improvements to the conveyance capacity of the Bolles, Cross, North New River,

and Miami Canals will improve the interconnection between the primary basins

of the EAA. This will facilitate the distribution of excess surface water between

basins. The benefits will include a reduction in drainage pumping from EAA

basins that have received localized rainfall and a reduction in irrigation

pumping to EAA basins that lack sufficient rainfall. This benefit has been

demonstrated at the subbasin level as part of the success of the pumping BMPs

implemented by EAA farmers.

In order to meet capacity requirements for water conveyance to the proposed

storage reservoir, deepening the North New River, Cross and Bolles Canals is

proposed. Pump stations and conveyance structures are proposed on the North

New River canal and within Compartment A. Water would be pumped to the

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Wenger 72944 Spezifikationen Seite 282