Northern Everglades Watershed Protection Plans (WPPs)
Lake Okeechobee Watershed
St. Lucie River Watershed
Caloosahatchee River WatershedThe 2016 Northern Everglades and Estuaries Protection Program (NEEPP; Section 373.4595, F.S.) describes the legislative intent to protect and restore surface water resources and achieve and maintain compliance with water quality standards in the Northern Everglades through a phased, comprehensive and innovative protection program that includes long-term solutions based upon the state’s total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) established in accordance with Section 403.067, F.S. Together, the Coordinating Agencies―FDEP, FDACS and SFWMD―are jointly responsible for implementing NEEPP, each with specific areas of responsibility and coordinating together for the program’s success. The Northern Everglades watersheds include the Lake Okeechobee watershed and the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie River watersheds and estuaries (click here to see the map).
NEEPP requires watershed protection programs to improve the quality, quantity, timing and distribution of water in the Northern Everglades ecosystem. The programs are watershed specific and comprised of research and monitoring, development and implementation of best management practices, refinement of existing regulations, and structural and nonstructural projects, including public works. The programs are driven by FDEP’s Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs) and supported, in part, by the Watershed Protection Plans (WPPs) developed by the District and integrated with FDEP and FDACS programs to control nutrient sources at the local, subregional and regional levels.
2024 NEEPP ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORTS
- Draft 2024 South Florida Environmental Report – Volume I, Chapter 8A, Northern Everglades and Estuaries Protection Program – Annual Progress Report (Coordinating Agencies, October 2023)
- Draft 2024 South Florida Environmental Report – Volume I, Chapter 8B, Lake Okeechobee Watershed Protection Plan Annual Progress Report (SFWMD, October 2023)
- Draft 2024 South Florida Environmental Report – Volume I, Chapter 8C, St. Lucie River Watershed Protection Plan Annual Progress Report (SFWMD, October 2023)
- Draft 2024 South Florida Environmental Report – Volume I, Chapter 8D, Caloosahatchee River Watershed Protection Plan Annual Progress Report (SFWMD, October 2023)
The SFWMD encourages stakeholders and the public to review the drafted report and share your comments on the Draft 2024 South Florida Environmental Report on the web board. The complete Volume I can be accessed at Draft 2024 South Florida Environmental Report – Volume I. The deadline for submitting comments via the web board is November 8, 2023.
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND WORKSHOPS
The District, in partnership with the Coordinating Agencies, encourages stakeholder and public engagement in the NEEPP process through open-forum public workshops. Annual workshops will be held to collaboratively summarize NEEPP key accomplishments and progress made over the past year in achieving program and project-specific goals. This process is intended to provide transparency and accountability regarding the implementation of NEEPP and offer the public an opportunity to comment and provide input on the planning process and future agency reporting.
Note: Information on future workshops will be posted when available.
- September 22, 2023, 9:00 am: Coordinating Agencies’ workshop on Progress Update on the Northern Everglades and Estuaries Protection Program (NEEPP), to be held in-person and via Zoom. During the workshop, there will also be an Open House for the public/stakeholders to have an opportunity to discuss NEEPP-related topics of interest with the Coordinating Agencies.
- September 2, 2020, 2:00 pm: Zoom virtual workshop on Caloosahatchee River Watershed Protection Plan Update
- August 28, 2020, 1:00 pm: Zoom virtual workshop on St. Lucie River Watershed Protection Plan Update
- July 21, 2020, 9:00 am: Zoom virtual workshop on Lake Okeechobee Watershed Protection Plan Update
- June 26, 2020, 2:00 pm: Zoom virtual kickoff workshop on Northern Everglades Watershed Protection Plan Updates
KEY INFORMATION AND REFERENCES
- Lake Okeechobee Watershed, Taylor Creek/Nubbin Slough (TCNS) Analysis (SFWMD, April 2023)
- Focus Area Assessment Report: Taylor Creek/Nubbin Slough Subwatershed S-191 Basin (SFWMD, April 2023)
- Final 2022 South Florida Environmental Report – Volume I, Appendix 8B-2, Water Year 2021 Lake Okeechobee Watershed Focus Area Assessments (SFWMD, March 2022)
- Final 2022 South Florida Environmental Report – Volume I, Appendix 8C-2, Water Year 2021 St. Lucie River Watershed Focus Area Assessments (SFWMD, March 2022)
- Final 2022 South Florida Environmental Report – Volume I, Appendix 8D-2, Water Year 2021 Caloosahatchee River Watershed Focus Area Assessments (SFWMD, March 2022)
- 2022 Statewide Annual Report on Total Maximum Daily Loads, Basin Management Action Plans, Minimum Flows or Minimum Water Levels, and Recovery or Prevention Strategies (FDEP, July 2023)
- 2022 Status of Implementation of Agricultural Nonpoint Source Best Management Practices Report (FDACS, July 2023)
- 2023 5-Year Review of the St. Lucie River and Estuary Basin Management Action Plan (FDEP, June 2023)
- 2022 5-Year Review of the Caloosahatchee River and Estuary Basin Management Action Plan (FDEP, December 2022)
- Final 2020 South Florida Environmental Report – Volume I, Appendix 8A-1: Lake Okeechobee Watershed Protection Plan 2020 Update (SFWMD, March 2020)
- 2020 Website with supporting information for Lake Okeechobee Watershed Construction Project (LOWCP) 2020 Update
- Lake Okeechobee Basin Management Action Plan, 2020 Update (FDEP, January 2020)
- St. Lucie River and Estuary Basin Management Action Plan, 2020 Update (FDEP, January 2020)
- Caloosahatchee River and Estuary Basin Management Action Plan, 2020 Update (FDEP, January 2020)
- Lake Okeechobee Watershed Construction Project – Phase II Technical Plan – Main Report (SFWMD, FDEP and FDACS, February 2008)
- Lake Okeechobee Watershed Construction Project – Phase II Technical Plan – Appendices (SFWMD, FDEP and FDACS, February 2008)
- Executive Order 23-06: Achieving Even More Now for Florida’s Environment (State of Florida, Office of the Governor, January 2023)
- Final 40E-61, F.A.C. Rule, Northern Everglades Basins (published April 11, 2021)
- Executive Order 19-12: Achieving More Now for Florida’s Environment (State of Florida, Office of the Governor, January 2019)
- Northern Everglades and Estuaries Protection Program (NEEPP; Section 373.4595, F.S.) (amended 2016)
QUICK LINKS TO COORDINATING AGENCIES’ WEBSITES
- FDEP Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs) Website
- FDACS Office of Agricultural Water Policy (OAWP) Website
WHO TO CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION
Lake Okeechobee Watershed: Anthony Betts, Principal Scientist, 561-682-6354, abetts@sfwmd.gov
St. Lucie River Watershed: Sara Ouly, Lead Scientist, 561-682-2115, souly@sfwmd.gov
Caloosahatchee River Watershed: Jenna Bobsein, Lead Engineer, 561-682-6771, jebobsei@sfwmd.gov
NEEPP General Inquiries: NEEPP@sfwmd.gov