SFWMD Governing Board Approves Agreements with USACE to Ensure Federal Cost Share for EAA Storage Reservoir

November 9, 2017

Doral, FL – The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Governing Board today approved entering into support agreements to work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to ensure the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Storage Reservoir Project becomes a reality.

The EAA Reservoir project, which will build a reservoir on land south of Lake Okeechobee, began as Senate Bill 10, authorized by the Legislature through Senate President Joe Negron and signed by Gov. Rick Scott earlier this year. As part of the support agreements approved by the Governing Board, the District will pay the USACE up to $1.5 million to provide technical assistance during the development of a Post-Authorization Change Report (PACR) critical to the construction of the reservoir.

The PACR is needed for the federal government to approve sharing the cost associated with the reservoir project as part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP). The USACE's technical assistance as the District develops the EAA Storage Reservoir's PACR would ensure consistency with federal guidelines and regulations.

"SFWMD has moved swiftly and decisively since receiving direction from the Legislature to get this project completed as quickly as possible," said SFWMD Governing Board Chairman Dan O'Keefe. "By hiring the Army Corps, this District is doubling down on making this reservoir a success."

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