The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District is in the process of finalizing a comprehensive study on research related to the use of Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR), an Everglades restoration component proposed as part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) to recharge, store and recover water underground for ecological restoration uses.
The study, which documents the results of over a decade’s worth of scientific and engineering investigations, will serve as a technical guide when considering ASR implementation as part of future Everglades restoration efforts and is scheduled to be finalized by this summer.
The ASR Regional Study was developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) to reduce uncertainties of ASR implementation on hydrological, ecological, and geotechnical conditions in the Greater Everglades.
View key findings of the Draft ASR Regional Study: http://1.usa.gov/1zcWXt0
View the Draft ASR Regional Study: http://bit.ly/ASR_RegionalStudy
As part of the review process, the National Research Council conducted a peer-review of the Draft ASR Regional Study. The National Research Council has completed their peer review and the resulting report.
View the National Research Council’s News Release: http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=21724
Now that the peer review has been completed, the Corps is working to finalize the ASR Regional Study and will incorporate the National Research Council’s findings into the final report.
As part of the CERP, it was estimated that up to 333 wells could store water underground for the Everglades and natural systems. These wells, known as Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) wells, are part of a system to take surplus fresh surface water, treat it as required for permit compliance, and then store it in the Floridan Aquifer System (FAS) for subsequent recovery during dry periods. ASR technology offers the potential to store and supply large volumes of water beneath a relatively small surface footprint.
The study investigates the feasibility of regional-scale ASR, using state-of-the-art methods and models. Investigations were performed in collaboration with the SFWMD, U.S. Geological Survey, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Additional information on the ASR Regional Study available at: http://bit.ly/ASR_RegionalStudy.