[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 115 (Monday, June 16, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32589-32591]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-15683]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent to Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 
for the Indian River Lagoon Restoration Feasibility Study

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The Jacksonville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
(Corps) intends to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Indian River Lagoon Restoration Feasibility Study. The study is a 
cooperative effort between the Corps and the South Florida Water 
Management District (SFWMD) which is also a cooperating agency for this 
DEIS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Traxler, 561-683-2178, or Elmar 
Kurzbach, 904-232-2325 Environmental Branch, Planning Division, P.O. 
Box 4970, Jacksonville, Florida 32232-0019.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: a. The Central and Southern Florida (C&SF) 
Project is a multi-purpose project which was first authorized in 1948 
to provide flood control, water control, water supply, and other 
services to the area which stretches from around Orlando to Florida Bay 
(the southern part of the Florida peninsula). The project has performed 
its intended purposes well. However, the project has also contributed 
to the decline of the south Florida ecosystems. The purpose of the C&SF 
Project Comprehensive Review Study is to holistically re-examine the 
C&SF Project to determine the feasibility of providing water resources 
infrastructure that supports the sustainability of south Florida 
ecosystems. Specifically, the study will investigate structural and 
operational modifications to the C&SF Project to improve the quality of 
the environment; protect the aquifer; improve the integrity, 
capability, and conservation of urban and agricultural water supplies; 
and improve other water-related purposes. The C&SF Reconnaissance 
Report described a number of potential feasibility studies including 
the Indian River Lagoon Restoration.
    b. The geographic area encompassed by the Indian River Lagoon 
Restoration Feasibility Study is generally described as hydrologically 
removed from the Everglades and Florida Bay ecosystems. The only 
existing hydraulic connection between those ecosystems is the project 
Canal (C-44 or St. Lucie Canal) which discharges water from Lake 
Okeechobee to the St. Lucie Estuary. The Comprehensive Review Study 
will evaluate alternative regulation schedules for Lake Okeechobee on a 
comprehensive system-wide basis with due consideration being given to 
the needs of St. Lucie Estuary and Indian River Lagoon. These two 
studies will be underway concurrently, the Lake Okeechobee regulation 
schedules evaluated in the Comprehensive Review Study will be 
incorporated into the specific benefits and impacts analysis performed 
for alternatives considered in this study. Similarly, system-wide 
benefits identified by plan alternatives evaluated in this study will 
be incorporated into the Comprehensive Review Study. A plan recommended 
in this study can be considered as a separable element to the overall 
comprehensive plan for restoration of South Florida.
    c. The Indian River Lagoon Restoration Feasibility Study will 
incorporate components previously identified in the C&SF Project 
Comprehensive Review Study Reconnaissance Report. Known concepts that 
will be considered in this feasibility study are summarized in the 
following paragraphs.

Alternative Actions to be Considered in the Indian River Lagoon 
Feasibility Study

    Alternatives to consider include no action, non-structural 
measures, and the structural components discussed below, as well as 
potential, as-yet-unidentified measures or combinations of features to 
be developed during the study.

Water Preserve Areas (Regional Attenuation Facilities)

    a. The Water Preserve Area (WPA) concept, referred to in the 
Reconnaissance Report as Regional Attenuation Facilities (RAFs), would 
provide for the diversion of surplus rainfall runoff from the C-23, C-
24, C-25, and C-44 drainage basins to storage areas where the water 
could be treated prior to discharge for environmental base flow for 
estuarine and other water supply purposes. RAF's would also attempt to 
reduce the damaging effects of uncontrolled basin runoff during storm 
events. The reconnaissance phase of the C&SF Project Comprehensive 
Review Study investigated concepts to capture and store excess surface 
waters by backpumping stormwater that is normally released directly to 
tide through the C&SF Project canal system into WPA's along the eastern 
edge of the Water Conservation Areas. Although the WPA concept for the 
upper east coast area has not been fully formulated or designed, the 
concept is analogous to the proposed Water Preserve Areas for the lower 
east coast which are very important components of the Comprehensive 
Review Study. These WPA's are expected to serve a number of objectives, 
including improved water supply for environmental base flow to the 
estuary, improved water supply for urban and agricultural use, 
increased short hydroperiod wetlands, reduced sediment loading to the 
estuary and improved flow control in the region.
    b. The Water Preserve Area Task Force jointly established by Martin 
and St. Lucie County Commissioners has completed a preliminary study of 
potential locations for WPAs to address the much needed upland 
retention of stormwater runoff to prevent further degradation of the 
Indian River Lagoon

[[Page 32590]]

and St. Lucie River. The WPA Task Force identified 20 potential sites 
totaling approximately 65,600 acres. Sites were classified according to 
basic environmental and engineering design characteristics. The WPA 
Task Force draft report was published on August 31, 1995 and updated on 
December 31, 1996. The Task Force recommendations will be investigated 
further during this feasibility study.
    c. Alternative WPA sites will be studied to identify other 
potential sites that may be less costly, less impacting on wetlands or 
provide additional water uses. In addition, individual upland runoff 
storage could be divided among the sub-basins of the study area, 
interconnected by the existing canal networks, to allow water transfer 
between sub-basins. Various combinations of facilities and operation 
scenarios will be evaluated during this feasibility study.

Upper East Coast Flowway (C-131)

    a. The concept presented in the reconnaissance report included a 
10,500 acre water quality treatment facility (flowway) located at the 
western juncture of Martin and St. Lucie counties, and a feature that 
would allow excess treated water to be backpumped into Lake Okeechobee 
when other needs are being met.
    b. The C-131 concept was first documented in the Survey-Review 
Report on Central and Southern Florida Project Martin County Florida, 
September 22, 1967. It was further discussed in the Corps' Central and 
Southern Florida Project, Part III, Supplement II, General Design 
Memorandum (GDM), Martin County (St. Lucie County Water Supply 
Element), dated June 1984. The basic plan in the GDM was the 
backpumping of stormwater from C-23, C-24, and C-25 through a flowway, 
or nutrient consuming marsh, before discharging the water into Lake 
Okeechobee through the proposed C-131 canal. This concept will be 
revisited during the feasibility study. The C-131 canal plan was 
deferred from further consideration until the completion of other water 
resource studies which would assure the availability of water for 
irrigation uses in the general area.

On-Site Detention/Retention

    On-site detention/retention is similar to the water preserve area 
proposal except that the detention/retention facilities would generally 
be individually constructed on privately developed land as opposed to 
large publicly owned regional facilities. The analysis conducted by 
this study will assume that the on-site facilities will be designed 
according to the applicable regulatory criteria of the SFWMD. On a site 
by site basis, benefits similar to those provided by RAF's may be 
realized. Stormwater discharges would be reduced and water quality 
would be improved. On-site detention/retention could also be designed 
to provide water supply benefits. However, any water supply benefits 
would probably be limited to the owner of the land where the on-site 
facility was located. The present study will evaluate whether a 
sufficient number of on-site facilities could significantly reduce 
stormwater discharges and improve water quality enough to benefit St. 
Lucie Estuary and the Indian River Lagoon. This alternative would 
require regulatory action by SFWMD. It is included in this study to 
evaluate the cost effectiveness of on-site detention and will be 
compared to providing regionally based solutions.

St. Lucie Flowway

    a. The St. Lucie Flowway proposed in the reconnaissance study would 
capture some excess runoff in the C-44 basin that is now diverted to 
tide and divert the flow to the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge 
(Water Conservation Area 1). The flowway would originate at C-44 near 
Indiantown and divert flows south through the Corbett Wildlife 
Management Area to the proposed Everglades Construction Project divide 
structure S-316 that is intended to divert flows south to WCA-1. 
Diverted water would then be available for use in the Everglades system 
via WCA-1. The reconnaissance study also concluded that alternative 
sites for the flowway should be investigated to minimize adverse 
effects on existing natural areas, such as the Corbett Wildlife 
Management Areas. An alternative proposed in the reconnaissance study 
was to divert excess C-44 basin runoff to the north to a proposed 
regional attenuation facility.
    b. The St. Lucie Flowway can be expected to serve a number of 
objectives including water quality improvement, increased supply, 
restoration of short hydroperiod wetlands, reduced sediment loading to 
the estuary and improved flood control.

Removal of St. Lucie Organic Sediments

    a. Fine, organic-rich sediments (ooze or muck) have accumulated in 
the St. Lucie Estuary. Organic sediments, which are carried to the 
estuary as suspended load through the C-44, C-23 and C-24 canals, 
settle out in the estuary as the result of the interaction between the 
fresh and estuarine water. The highly organic sediment depletes the 
dissolved oxygen in the water column through natural chemical 
processes. The fine particulate sediments, composed of organic matter 
and silt, can also be re-suspended in the water column by wind and 
current action, creating turbidity conditions which diminish light 
penetration needed to maintain seagrass communities.
    b. In a 1994 report on a muck removal demonstration project, the 
South Florida Water Management District concluded that large-scale 
sediment removal may improve water quality by reducing re-suspension of 
fine sediments during periods of physical disturbance, and would reduce 
oxygen demands in the water column. Further, exposing a courser grained 
substrate along the littoral shelf may promote a more diverse and 
abundant benthic macroinvertebrate community which would increase 
feeding opportunities for bottom feeding fish. However, the report 
recommended that further studies be undertaken prior to proceeding with 
the demonstration project. This study will further investigate the 
feasibility of a muck removal project.

Water Supply Alternatives

    The exiting C&SF Project was designed to provide regional water 
supply for the study area. Consequently, alternatives developed for 
this feasibility study will identify urban and agricultural water 
supply demands and will include water supply features to help meet 
identified regional needs, including environmental needs and the 
potential conflicts that this may create with other water users. All of 
the alternatives described above have features related to the C&SF 
Project that are consistent with water supply and will be further 
evaluated as part of the plan formulation process during this 
feasibility study. These alternatives could be further developed for 
water supply by adding features such as aquifer storage and recovery.

Issues

    The DEIS will consider impacts on protected species, wetlands 
health and safety, water quality, aesthetics and recreation, fish and 
wildlife resources, cultural resources, energy conservation, land use, 
socioeconomic resources, and other impacts identified through scoping, 
public involvement, and interagency coordination.

Scoping

    A scoping letter was sent to interested parties on December 2, 
1996. In addition, all parties are invited to

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participate in the scoping process by identifying any additional 
concerns on issues, studies needed, alternatives, procedures, and other 
matters related to the scoping process. At this time, there are no 
plans for a public scoping meeting.

Public Involvement

    We invite the participation of affected Federal, state and local 
agencies, affected Indian tribes, and other interested private 
organizations and parties.

Coordination

    The proposed action is being coordinated with the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service under 
Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, with the FWS under the Fish 
and Wildlife Coordination Act, and with the State Historic Preservation 
Officer under the Natural Historic Preservation Act. On a working 
level, the proposed action is being conducted by an interdisciplinary/
interagency team combining local, state, and federal organizations.

Other Environmental Review and Consultation

    The proposed action would involve evaluation for compliance with 
guidelines pursuant to Section 404(b) of the Clean Water Act; 
application (to the State of Florida) for Environmental Resource 
Permits pursuant to Section 401 of the Clean Water Act; certification 
of state lands, easements, and rights of way; and determination of 
Coastal Zone Management Act consistency.

Agency Role

    As cooperating agency, non-Federal sponsor, and leading local 
expert; SFWD will provide extensive information and assistance on the 
resources to be impacted and alternatives.

DEIS Preparation

    It is estimated that the DEIS will be available to the public in 
September, 1999.
Gregory D. Showalter,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 97-15683 Filed 6-13-97; 8:45 am]
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