24
achieving the right balance of carbon, silica, calcium, natural bacteria and algae,
and a myriad of other components that aquatic invertebrates require to create the
necessary marsh water for the Everglades (Payne et al. 2000; Walker 1995). The
STAs, while being constructed mostly on former farmlands and state wildlife management areas, are all located downstream of main agricultural discharge canals
(Guardo et al. 1995). In addition to the STAs, landowners in the EAA have been
required since 1996 to lower the phosphorus in their runoff by nearly 25% (Payne
et al. 2000; Rizzardi 2001). These commercial farmers use a variety of techniques
to accomplish this, which include applying fertilizer efficiently, preventing runoff
with dikes, controlling erosion, and altering pumping operations (Snyder and
Davidson 1994). Additionally, the ECP is responsible for the control of exotic plants
and the improvement of hydropatterns (i.e. the flow of water over a surface, including the velocity, direction, location, and depth) within the Everglades (Guardo et al.
1995).
1.3.4 Modified Water Deliveries Project
The Modified Water Deliveries Project (Mod Waters), under the authorization of the
Everglades National Park Protection and Expansion Act of 1989, is a controversial
ecological restoration project in south Florida charged with improving water delivery mechanisms and restoring natural hydrological conditions within Everglades
National Park (ENP) (Light et al. 1995; Walters et al. 1992). Mod Waters proposes
structural modifications and additions to the construction of the Central and
Southern Florida (C&SF) Project in order to improve the timing, distribution, and
quantity of water flow to the Northeast Shark River Slough (Light and Dineen 1994;
Walters and Gunderson 1994). Increasing water flow to this particular slough will
initiate a cascade of enhanced water delivery into the ENP, thereby, improving the
natural habitat and hydrology of the Everglades ecosystem (Perry 2008).
There are four main components to the Mod Waters project, which include: a
22 km
2
flood mitigation plan, Tamiami Trail modifications, conveyance and seepage
control features, and combined structural and operational plan as part of project
implementation support (Perry 2008; Walters et al. 1992). The flood mitigation plan
includes the acquisition of approximately 20 km
2
of land located in south MiamiDade County, about 10 km south of Tamiami Trail, and the construction of a levee,
seepage canal, pump station, and detention area. Tamiami Trail alone creates an
enormous physical barrier for water movement into ENP by preventing sheet flow
from the L-29 canal to the Northeast Shark River Slough, located in the far northeastern corner of the park. Modifications involve the construction of a 1-mile eastern bridge, which would allow for water levels in the L-29 Canal to rise periodically
and create a flow of water into the ENP and the Northeast Shark River Slough. The
purpose of the conveyance and seepage control features was to reconnect freshwater
flows and control seepage from west to east and out of the ENP. And finally, the
combined structural and operational plan includes hydrological stream gauge moniC.W. Finkl and C. Makowski
achieving the right balance of carbon, silica, calcium, natural bacteria and algae,
and a myriad of other components that aquatic invertebrates require to create the
necessary marsh water for the Everglades (Payne et al. 2000; Walker 1995). The
STAs, while being constructed mostly on former farmlands and state wildlife management areas, are all located downstream of main agricultural discharge canals
(Guardo et al. 1995). In addition to the STAs, landowners in the EAA have been
required since 1996 to lower the phosphorus in their runoff by nearly 25% (Payne
et al. 2000; Rizzardi 2001). These commercial farmers use a variety of techniques
to accomplish this, which include applying fertilizer efficiently, preventing runoff
with dikes, controlling erosion, and altering pumping operations (Snyder and
Davidson 1994). Additionally, the ECP is responsible for the control of exotic plants
and the improvement of hydropatterns (i.e. the flow of water over a surface, including the velocity, direction, location, and depth) within the Everglades (Guardo et al.
1995).
1.3.4 Modified Water Deliveries Project
The Modified Water Deliveries Project (Mod Waters), under the authorization of the
Everglades National Park Protection and Expansion Act of 1989, is a controversial
ecological restoration project in south Florida charged with improving water delivery mechanisms and restoring natural hydrological conditions within Everglades
National Park (ENP) (Light et al. 1995; Walters et al. 1992). Mod Waters proposes
structural modifications and additions to the construction of the Central and
Southern Florida (C&SF) Project in order to improve the timing, distribution, and
quantity of water flow to the Northeast Shark River Slough (Light and Dineen 1994;
Walters and Gunderson 1994). Increasing water flow to this particular slough will
initiate a cascade of enhanced water delivery into the ENP, thereby, improving the
natural habitat and hydrology of the Everglades ecosystem (Perry 2008).
There are four main components to the Mod Waters project, which include: a
22 km
2
flood mitigation plan, Tamiami Trail modifications, conveyance and seepage
control features, and combined structural and operational plan as part of project
implementation support (Perry 2008; Walters et al. 1992). The flood mitigation plan
includes the acquisition of approximately 20 km
2
of land located in south MiamiDade County, about 10 km south of Tamiami Trail, and the construction of a levee,
seepage canal, pump station, and detention area. Tamiami Trail alone creates an
enormous physical barrier for water movement into ENP by preventing sheet flow
from the L-29 canal to the Northeast Shark River Slough, located in the far northeastern corner of the park. Modifications involve the construction of a 1-mile eastern bridge, which would allow for water levels in the L-29 Canal to rise periodically
and create a flow of water into the ENP and the Northeast Shark River Slough. The
purpose of the conveyance and seepage control features was to reconnect freshwater
flows and control seepage from west to east and out of the ENP. And finally, the
combined structural and operational plan includes hydrological stream gauge moniC.W. Finkl and C. Makowski