The overarching goal of the Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP) is to improve the quantity, quality, timing, and distribution of water flows to the central Everglades, Water Conservation Area 3 (WCA-3) and Everglades National Park (ENP).

The purpose of the Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP) Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir Phase is to construct a 240,000 acre-foot EAA reservoir and 6,500 acre-foot stormwater treatment area, and integrate with A-1 FEB operations.

All features for the reservoir are under design. The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) design of the Stormwater Treatment Area (STA) features is nearing completion and construction started in Fiscal Year 2021.

EAA Phase History:

• Authorized in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) 2018, Section 1308
• Reauthorized in WRDA 2020 as a modification of CEPP
• Project Partnership Agreement (PPA) executed 29 April 2021
• South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) design and construction initiated 20 April 2020
• USACE construction contract award September Pre-Partnership Credit Agreement 2021

The EAA Section 1308 report serves as the Validation Report for CEPP EAA and was completed in April 2021. The Pre-Partnership Credit Agreement (PPCA) for EAA was executed 29 May 29, 2020 and a Project Partnership Agreement (PPA) was executed 29 April 29, 2021. Construction of the A-2 Stormwater Treatment Area and associated Inflow/Outflow and Seepage Canals was initiated by the local sponsor, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) in Fiscal Year 2021. Design of the A-2 Reservoir Inflow/Outflow and Seepage Canals will be complete in Fiscal Year 2021; construction will begin in Fiscal Year 2022. Design for a portion of the A-2 Reservoir and Pumping Station will be complete in Fiscal Year 22; construction is expected to begin in Fiscal Year 2023. The remaining reservoir components will be awarded in Fiscal Year 2023 for construction from Fiscal Year 2024 through Fiscal Year 2029.

• Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Features
• A-2 Reservoir: 10,500 acres with 240,000 acre-foot storage at about 23 feet deep
• A-2 Stormwater Treatment Area (STA): 6,500 acres
• Adds 160,000 to CEPP’s 210,000 for a total of 370,000 average annual acre-feet of new water flowing through to the central Everglades

The CEPP Post Authorization Change Report (PACR) was prepared by the SFWMD and submitted to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, the ASA(CW), for review and determination of feasibility under authority granted by Section 203 of the WRDA of 1986, as amended. ASA (CW) submitted a report to Congress confirming feasibility and serving as the basis for Congressional authorization. Subsequently, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA )18, Section 1308, authorized the EAA project as recommended in the addendum of the CEPP PACR, subject to certain requirements in Section 1308(b), and in accordance with Section 601 of WRDA 2000. The ASA(CW) provided interim guidance on how to develop the report required under Section 1308(b) through "Interim Guidance for Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, Central and Southern Florida, Everglades Agricultural Area, Florida" dated October 26, 2018. The Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir and Stormwater Treatment Area Project WRDA 2018 Section 1308(b) Report is complete and was transmitted to Congress on October 21, 2020.