Northern Everglades Watershed Protection Plans

• Lake Okeechobee Watershed
• St. Lucie River Watershed
• Caloosahatchee River Watershed

The 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. The Northern Everglades watersheds include Lake Okeechobee watershed and the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie River watersheds and estuaries (see 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.

GEOGRAPHIC AREA

Northern Everglades map:

Map of current Northern Everglades and Estuaries Protection Program boundaries

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT 

SFWMD is encouraging extensive public engagement through this website and public workshops. If you would like to be added to the list of stakeholders for this effort on record at SFWMD, please sign up at: 

Sign up for the Northern Everglades Watershed Protection Planning Stakeholders List

PUBLIC WORKSHOPS 

Through a series of interactive public workshops, the District will engage the public and stakeholders for input on the planning process for water quality improvements in the Northern Everglades, and will consider local and regional expertise in tailoring actions for the most effective holistic approach for water quality improvements, both near- and long-term, as the latest plan updates for each watershed are developed.

Watershed Protection Plan workshops were held on the following dates, and a NEEPP Program/Projects Update workshop is tentatively planned for December:

• Upcoming Meeting (to be scheduled): Zoom virtual workshop on NEEPP Programs/Project Update with the Coordinating Agencies
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Meeting Handouts
  • Meeting Presentation 
  • Meeting Video


• September 2, 2020, 2:00 pm: Zoom virtual workshop on Caloosahatchee River Watershed Protection Plan Update
  • Meeting Agenda and Registration
  • Meeting Handouts
  • Meeting Presentation
  • Meeting Video
  • Meeting Menti Results


• August 28, 2020, 1:00 pm: Zoom virtual workshop on St. Lucie River Watershed Protection Plan Update
  • Meeting Agenda and Registration
  • Meeting Handouts
  • Meeting Presentation
  • Meeting Video
  • Meeting Menti Results


• July 21, 2020, 9:00 am: Zoom virtual workshop on Lake Okeechobee Watershed Protection Plan Update
  • Meeting Agenda and Registration
  • Meeting Handouts
  • Meeting Presentation
  • Meeting Video
  • Meeting Menti Result


• June 26, 2020, 2:00 pm: Zoom virtual kickoff workshop on Northern Everglades Watershed Protection Plan Updates
  • Meeting Agenda and Registration
  • Meeting Presentation
  • Meeting Video

If you would like to submit a comment, please go to the following link. Note that all comments received by SFWMD, regardless of how they were submitted, are public record. 

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LATEST INFORMATION AND REFERENCES

• Draft 2021 South Florida Environmental Report – Volume I, Chapter 8A, Northern Everglades and Estuaries Protection Program – Annual Progress Report (SFWMD, October 2020)
• Draft 2021 South Florida Environmental Report – Volume I, Chapter 8B, Lake Okeechobee Watershed Protection Plan Annual Progress Report (SFWMD, October 2020)
• Draft 2021 South Florida Environmental Report – Volume I, Chapter 8C, St. Lucie River Watershed Protection Plan Annual Progress Report (SFWMD, October 2020)
• Draft 2021 South Florida Environmental Report – Volume I, Chapter 8D, St. Lucie River Watershed Protection Plan Annual Progress Report (SFWMD, October 2020)
• Final 2020 South Florida Environmental Report – Volume I, Chapter 8A: Northern Everglades and Estuaries Protection Program – Annual Progress Report (SFWMD, March 2020)
• Final 2020 South Florida Environmental Report – Volume I, Appendix 8A-1: Lake Okeechobee Watershed Protection Plan 2020 Update (SFWMD, March 2020)
• 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)
• FDACS Office of Agricultural Water Policy (OAWP) Website
• Status of Implementation of Agricultural Nonpoint Source Best Management Practices Report (FDACS, July 2020
• 2019 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 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)

WHO TO CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION

Lake Okeechobee Watershed: Steffany Olson, Science Supervisor, 561-682-2759, solson@sfwmd.gov

St. Lucie River Watershed: Jodie Hutchins, Lead Engineer, 561-682-214, jhutchin@sfwmd.gov

Caloosahatchee River Watershed: Anthony Betts, Lead Scientist, 561- 682-6354, abetts@sfwmd.gov