SOUTH FLORIDA ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION TASK FORCE SCG SPONSORED PUBLIC WORKSHOP ON SCIENCE CENTRAL EVERGLADES PLANNING PROJECT MINUTES

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "SOUTH FLORIDA ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION TASK FORCE SCG SPONSORED PUBLIC WORKSHOP ON SCIENCE CENTRAL EVERGLADES PLANNING PROJECT MINUTES"

John Scott
6 years ago
Views:

1 SOUTH FLORIDA ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION TASK FORCE SCG SPONSORED PUBLIC WORKSHOP ON SCIENCE CENTRAL EVERGLADES PLANNING PROJECT MINUTES February 13, :30 AM District Headquarters - B-1 Auditorium 3301 Gun Club Road, West Palm Beach, FL Welcome and Introductions - Nick Aumen, SCG and Carrie Beeler, SFERTF Meeting began at 9:33am. Nick Aumen welcomed everyone and thanked everyone for being part of the process. He then went through a short introduction on the CEPP process and the role of science and the SCG in the process and workshops. Everyone was then invited to introduce their names and affiliation. 2. Meeting Procedures, Ground Rules, Parking Lot - Nick Aumen, SCG and Carrie Beeler, SFERTF Carrie Beeler went over the CEPP workshop procedures and ground rules. She noted that all the information for the CEPP workshops is available at < People can listen on the web and can ask questions by ing them to evergladesrestoration@yahoo.com <mailto:evergladesrestoration@yahoo.com>. Her presentation can be found at < f>. 3. Overview of CEPP - Kim Taplin, USACE Kim Taplin did a short overview about CEPP. She began with CERP and showed how the CEPP process fits into CERP. She went through the CEPP plan formulation framework and the 18 month study schedule. We are now in the execution phase. Her presentation can be found at < 4. Overview: How Science Informs Modeling for CEPP Project Planning -, SFWMD Walter went over the CEPP plan formulation and reviewed the Regional Model Approach. He went through the Northern Everglades RSMBN: EAA Storage and Treatment Model and the Southern Everglades RSMGL: Decompartmentalization and 1

2 Seepage Management. Walter explained the performance measures and how they are used and the ecological planning tools and the potential for CEPP. His presentation can be found at < r_cepp.pdf>. John Harley -USGS Martha Musgrove Dave Rudnick - ENP Larry Fink - Joel Vanarden - Marshall Foundation Tom Van Lent Sue Kemp - Corps Agnes McLean Nick Aumen Barry Rosen Martha Musgrove 2

3 5. Greater Everglades: 4 Reasons Why Flow is Important -, USGS went through the models that show flow and direction and looked at the restoration responses. He discussed the response of water depth to flow increases. He talked about some of the new USGS models like the Connectivity of Everglades Landscapes (CEL). He then discussed the Five Reasons Flow Matters. The main driver is water depth and this good as it has been studied for a long time. His presentation can be found at < Susan Gray Kelly Keefe Dave Rudnick Joel Vanarmen Drew Martin 3

4 6. Greater Everglades: Evidence of Wetter Historic Everglades - Christopher McVoy and Colin Saunders, SFWMD went through the historical observations of the Everglades from hundreds of firsthand observers and indirect evidence like vegetation, soils, outflows and navigation. He reviewed micro topography of the Everglades. He also discussed the water depths in the ridge and sloughs as well as the marl prairies. His presentation can be found at < glades.pdf>. Colin Saunders then discussed the sediment fossils. He reviewed fossils as hydrologic indicators, vegetation and hydrology in habitats like tree islands, sawgrass, wet prairies and sloughs. He also looked at the data in WCA 3A for sawgrass habitats. His presentation can be found at < Drew Martin Nick Aumen Colin Saunders 4

5 Pete Quasius Rick Daniels 7. Greater Everglades: Fish and Wildlife (Fish, Crocodilians, and Wading Birds) - Joel Trexler, FIU, and, SFWMD Joel talked about how managers can affect the availability of wading birds in feeding areas. He talked about the data for ecological assessment for aquatic consumers. He reviewed the report card format for shark river slough for Shark River Slough. Food availability is important to nesting success. His presentation can be found at < talked about linking wading birds foraging and nesting to hydrological implications for CEPP. He discussed the hydrologic parameters and the applied tools for restoration. He also looked at linking hydrology to prey availability, some new insights for CEPP. He discussed the percentage by mass of crayfish and fish in the diet of crayfish. His presentation can be found at < talked about alligators and crocodiles. She talked about alligators being a keystone species in the Everglades, they are also an ecological engineer. There are fewer alligator holes closer to canals. Reproduction and recruitment in canals is low compared to marsh. Canals are dominated by large alligators. She also talked about the expectations of CEPP in regard to alligators. Her presentation can be found at < Drew Martin Joel Vanarmen 5

6 Pete Quasius Kelly Keefe Larry Fink - Martha Musgrove Frank Mazzotti 8. Question, Answer and Discussion - Nick Aumen, SCG Jed Harvey - describe the optimum hydroperiod for prey, what vegetation would grow here Joel trexler 6

7 Tom Van Lent Nick Aumen Joel Vanarmen Kelly Keefe Martha Musgrove - parking lot - red line limits of planning, number of scientific issues but manageable decision. When you add pink buffer of STAs and talisman, 2 issues in parking - 1) central everglades 50,000 acres of new water and 2) along Tamiami Trail - seepage control. Project can be derailed by either of these assumptions being incorrect. - another parking lot - pond apple and sawgrass plains -how will we restore flow from LO to WCA 3. Will there be re vegetation 9. Adjourn Nick Aumen wrapped up the workshop at 4:00pm. 7

The Role of Flow in the Everglades Landscape 1

The Role of Flow in the Everglades Landscape 1 CIR 1452 1 Holly E. Fling, Nicholas G. Aumen, Tom Armentano, and Frank J. Mazzotti 2 Introduction The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) aims to improve water quantity, timing, distribution,