Everglades Restoration Moves Forward with STA Expansions
Posted: March 3, 2006 9:58 am
Everglades Restoration Moves Forward with STA Expansions
Additional Water Quality Improvements part of Acceler8 Initiative
WEST PALM BEACH - Marking Florida’s ongoing commitment to Everglades restoration, State Representative Richard Machek and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Colleen M. Castille joined local officials, water managers and environmental scientists to break ground on three projects that will further improve water quality in America’s Everglades. Florida is expanding three treatment wetlands, which will expand treatment capacity to more than one-half million acre-feet of water a year. These and other expansions will prevent an additional 45 metric tons per year of phosphorus from entering the River of Grass.
“Accelerating critical restoration projects like the expansions of constructed wetlands will provide immediate environmental, social and economic benefits,” Secretary Castille said. “Breaking ground today on these important Acceler8 projects demonstrates Florida’s steadfast commitment to full and complete restoration.”
As part of the State’s Acceler8 initiative, Florida is expanding Stormwater Treatment Area 2 (STA-2) in Palm Beach County along with STA-5 and STA-6, located in Hendry County. These expansions will add 6,000 acres to the State’s 36,000 acres of treatment wetlands helping to achieve state water quality standards.
“This project represents our strong commitment to improving water quality in the Everglades,” said South Florida Water Management District Executive Director Carol Wehle. “Additional projects will improve water quantity, timing and distribution, and together they will help us achieve restoration success.”
Although phosphorus is a life-essential nutrient, excess amounts can harm the Everglades ecosystem. Constructed wetlands work by accumulating phosphorus in their sediments. Last year, the treatment wetlands prevented more than 189 metric tons of phosphorus from entering the Everglades. Together with improved farming practices, construction wetlands have prevented 2,178 tons of phosphorus from enter the Everglades – cutting phosphorus loads to the River of Grass last year by 71 percent.
Completion of these expanded wetlands is scheduled for the end of this year. Further expansions and new construction will eventually provide an additional 20,000 acres of treatment wetlands. All constructed wetland projects are scheduled to be operational by 2010.
Announced by Governor Bush in October 2004, Acceler8 is stepping up the pace of funding, design and construction to complete eight critical Everglades restoration projects over seven years. At substantial savings to taxpayers, the projects will restore 100,000 acres of wetlands, expand water treatment areas by close to 29,000 acres and provide 418,000 acre-feet of additional water storage for Everglades restoration a decade ahead of schedule.
Under the leadership of Governor Bush, Florida forged a 50-50 State-federal partnership to implement the $8 billion Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan and has invested $1.3 billion and committed an additional $3 billion through the end of the decade to clean up and restore the famed River of Grass. For more information on Acceler8, visit www.evergladesnow.org.
Additional Water Quality Improvements part of Acceler8 Initiative
WEST PALM BEACH - Marking Florida’s ongoing commitment to Everglades restoration, State Representative Richard Machek and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Colleen M. Castille joined local officials, water managers and environmental scientists to break ground on three projects that will further improve water quality in America’s Everglades. Florida is expanding three treatment wetlands, which will expand treatment capacity to more than one-half million acre-feet of water a year. These and other expansions will prevent an additional 45 metric tons per year of phosphorus from entering the River of Grass.
“Accelerating critical restoration projects like the expansions of constructed wetlands will provide immediate environmental, social and economic benefits,” Secretary Castille said. “Breaking ground today on these important Acceler8 projects demonstrates Florida’s steadfast commitment to full and complete restoration.”
As part of the State’s Acceler8 initiative, Florida is expanding Stormwater Treatment Area 2 (STA-2) in Palm Beach County along with STA-5 and STA-6, located in Hendry County. These expansions will add 6,000 acres to the State’s 36,000 acres of treatment wetlands helping to achieve state water quality standards.
“This project represents our strong commitment to improving water quality in the Everglades,” said South Florida Water Management District Executive Director Carol Wehle. “Additional projects will improve water quantity, timing and distribution, and together they will help us achieve restoration success.”
Although phosphorus is a life-essential nutrient, excess amounts can harm the Everglades ecosystem. Constructed wetlands work by accumulating phosphorus in their sediments. Last year, the treatment wetlands prevented more than 189 metric tons of phosphorus from entering the Everglades. Together with improved farming practices, construction wetlands have prevented 2,178 tons of phosphorus from enter the Everglades – cutting phosphorus loads to the River of Grass last year by 71 percent.
Completion of these expanded wetlands is scheduled for the end of this year. Further expansions and new construction will eventually provide an additional 20,000 acres of treatment wetlands. All constructed wetland projects are scheduled to be operational by 2010.
Announced by Governor Bush in October 2004, Acceler8 is stepping up the pace of funding, design and construction to complete eight critical Everglades restoration projects over seven years. At substantial savings to taxpayers, the projects will restore 100,000 acres of wetlands, expand water treatment areas by close to 29,000 acres and provide 418,000 acre-feet of additional water storage for Everglades restoration a decade ahead of schedule.
Under the leadership of Governor Bush, Florida forged a 50-50 State-federal partnership to implement the $8 billion Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan and has invested $1.3 billion and committed an additional $3 billion through the end of the decade to clean up and restore the famed River of Grass. For more information on Acceler8, visit www.evergladesnow.org.