Thanks to Florida Farm Bureau Asst Dir of Gov’t and Community Affairs, Charlie Shinn for this report. The report covers the folllowing:
WRAC, Project & Lands Committee Both Endorse Dispersed Storage
Governing Board Passes Resolution to Protect South Dade Growers
Lake Okeechobee Level Starts Dry Weather Recession
Monthly Reports Available on Florida Farm Bureau Federation’s Website
WRAC, Project & Lands Committee Both Endorse Dispersed Storage
The Water Resources Advisory Commission and the Project & Lands Committee, a sub-committee of the governing board, both endorsed the dispersed storage concept as a way of keeping more water in the Northern Everglades basin. Dispersed storage is the modification of existing water management structures and strategies to hold additional water on working ranch and farm land. In many situations, this will only be visible in the rehydration of areas that were once native wetlands as the water table across the ranch property is raised.
Primarily known to ranchers as the Florida Ranchland Environmental Services Project (FRESP) and the NRCS Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), these models are being developed to create a new profit stream for ranchers. The rancher will determine what will work on his/her land rather than being told by the water management district or another outside party what can be done on their land. They will then be compensated according to the value of the water retention services they provide.
Although at first blush this looks like a win/win for the rancher and the water management district, many details need to be worked out to provide the ranchers with the assurance that they need to participate. These details include:
Developing a framework for eligibility
Valuation of environmental services
Determining comparative costs – nutrient removal using traditional methods (stormwater treatment areas) versus dispersed storage and treatment
Assurances to the landowners that they will be held harmless due to wetland habitat creation and the endangered and threatened species issues that may result from the creation of the wetland.
Assurances to the landowners that they will be held harmless due to the reflux of nutrients when areas are rehydrated.
Florida Farm Bureau Federation will continue to monitor the development of these programs in the Northern Everglades basin.
Governing Board Passes Resolution to Protect South Dade Growers
As the expedited C-111 Spreader Canal Phase I Western Project gets underway, the Governing Board has passed a resolution to assure the growers of South Dade that they will not be impacted by the project. Growers remain highly concerned and skeptical that the project will raise the water table under farm fields to the point that it will limit production and the ability to alter crops due to ever-changing market climate.
The absolute key to the adaptive management concept being used in the incremental operation of this project is defining what might be considered an ‘impact’.
The resolution contains:
Collection of baseline data to start incremental operations.
Site specific farm level monitoring through the use of water table wells.
Periodic updates with farmers.
Periodic updates with the governing board on results of the adaptive management techniques.
Lake Okeechobee Level Starts Dry Weather Recession
It seems that the dry season got an early start in central and south Florida when the weather pattern changed around the first of October. Few areas have received rainfall during the month and the unseasonably warm temperatures the past two weeks have caused high evapotranspiration rates have turned the direction of Lake Okeechobee’s water level downward.
(See Attached File for Graphic)
The current lake level is 14.38 feet after rising to around 14.5 feet in late September.
Farmers and ranchers remain concerned about possible restrictions due to low lake levels in late spring toward the end of the dry season. This situation could be exacerbated by environmental releases to the Caloosahatchee River to protect approximately 400 acres of grass beds in the estuary. The Army Corps of Engineers and the water management district must remain attentive to the needs of all water users including agriculture and the extreme economic harm that can result from imposing any water restrictions.
During the spring of each year, south Florida supplies the nation with the majority of fruits and vegetables consumed.
Monthly Reports Available on Florida Farm Bureau Federation’s Website
This report is also available on Florida Farm Bureau Federation’s website (www.floridafarmbureau.org). Click on ‘Issues and Public Policy’ on the left side of the home page then click on the ‘Water and Natural Resources’ subheading.
If you do not wish to receive this report in the future or are receiving multiple copies, please contact me .