CERP Site 1 Impoundment (C)

May 2023

FACT SHEET

COMPREHENSIVE EVERGLADES RESTORATION PLAN
Site 1 Impoundment

Construction (C)
Congressional Districts: 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25

1. DESCRIPTION

Congress authorized the Site 1 Impoundment project in the Water Resource Development Act (WRDA) of 2007. The purpose of this project is to supplement water deliveries to the Hillsboro Canal by capturing and storing excess water currently discharged to the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. These supplemental deliveries will reduce demands on Lake Okeechobee and Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge (LNWR). The 1,660-acre impoundment, which will store up to 13,280 acre-feet of water, will also provide groundwater recharge, reduce seepage from adjacent natural areas, and help prevent saltwater intrusion by releasing impounded water back to the Hillsboro Canal when conditions dictate. The project also includes construction of a 6-acre wildlife wetland area.

Phase 1 features will reduce the amount of seepage loss from the adjacent LNWR, also known as Water Conservation Area 1. This will help maintain the stage of this conservation area, also categorized as an Outstanding Florida Water Body that contains pristine water. Reduction in seepage from LNWR will help to increase the amount of water that remains in that natural system, especially during the dry periods.

2. FUNDING

Estimated Total Cost $386,100,000
Estimated Federal Cost $374,600,000
Allocation for FY23 $0
President’s Budget FY24 $0

 

3. SPONSOR

South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) 
3301 Gun Club Road
West Palm Beach, Florida 33406

4. STATUS

Site 1 Phase 1 construction was completed in January 2016. The Site 1 Phase 1 includes L-40 Modifications and miscellaneous features including clearing, grubbing and dewatering activities, miscellaneous demolitions, establishing onsite borrow and disposal areas, earthwork modifications to approximately 15,000-LF of the existing L-40 levee, installation of dam monitoring instrumentation, and placement of turf reinforcement mat and smooth plate soil cement. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) transferred Phase 1 of the project to the SFWMD for Operation, Maintenance, Repair, Rehabilitation, and Replacement in December 2016. Litigation associated with Site 1 Phase 1 has concluded. The court has ruled in favor of the Federal government. Phase 2 of the project, would include construction of additional impoundment features and recreational areas, is on hold due to the sponsor’s current lack of interest and discussions continue regarding deauthorization.

 

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