Shell and Prairie Creek Watershed Management Plan

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Shell and Prairie Creek Watershed Management Plan
Reasonable Assurance Documentation And Agricultu
ral Reservoirs
Southwest Florida Water Management
District Resource Conservation Data Department
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Water Quality Impairment

• In 2002 City of Punta Gordas reservoir exceeded
  secondary drinking water standards
• In 2004 FDEP determined the Class I waters in
  Shell Prairie Creek impaired

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Drought Conditions
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Location of SPJC Watersheds
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Response to Impairment

• Stakeholders group formed
• Florida Department of Environmental Protection
• Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer
  Services
• Southwest Florida Water Management District
• South Florida Water Management District
• University of Florida Institute of Food and
  Agricultural Science
• USDA/NRCS
• Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program
• City of Punta Gorda
• Charlotte County
• Desoto County
• Peace River Valley Citrus Growers Association
• Florida Farm Bureau
• Florida Citrus Mutual
• Desoto/Charlotte Farm Bureau
• Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association
• Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center
• East Charlotte Drainage District
• Joshua Water Control District

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Response to Impairment

• Regional stakeholders agree to develop a
  Reasonable Assurance Plan documenting
  management actions that will restore water bodies
  to unimpaired conditions
• TMDLs will not be developed
• RA Plan will be responsible for improving water
  quality
• Goal of Reasonable Assurance Plan
• Improve water quality to a sp. conductance level
  of 775 uS/cm (monthly average) with corresponding
  improvement in
• TDS lt 500 mg/l
• Chloride lt 250 mg/l
• Goal will be reached by 2014
• Goal will be achieved through implemented
  management actions

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Management Actions

• SPJC Well Back Plugging Program
• Facilitating Agricultural Resource Management
  Systems (FARMS) Program
• SWFWMD Resource Regulation
• Quality of Water Improvement Program (QWIP)
• Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
• Best Management Practices (BMPs)
• Land Acquisition
• SWUCA Recovery Strategy/Regional Water Management
  Plan
• Research and Education/Outreach

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FARMS Program Overview

• FARMS is a Best Management Practice (BMP)
  cost-share reimbursement program for agricultural
  projects located in the SWUCA
• Created in 2003 as a cooperative program with
  FDACS
• Two Priority Areas within SWUCA region
• Promote public-private partnerships to implement
  agricultural BMPs to
• Reduce Floridan Aquifer ground water withdrawals
• Improve water quality
• Conserve, restore, or augment water resources and
  ecology
• Provides up to 75 reimbursement for project
  costs
• Coordinate with NRCS/EQIP program

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FARMS Projects Funded

• Precision Irrigation
• Soil Moisture Meters
• Auto Pump Starts/Valves

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FARMS Projects Funded

• Alternative Supplies
• Surface water pump stations
• Tail water recovery
• Requires agricultural reservoirs

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FARMS Program Status

• FARMS Goal
• Provide 40 mgd of groundwater offset in 20 years
• Improve water resource conditions in SPJC/Upper
  Myakka
• 32 Board approved projects
• 10.1 predicted ground water offset
• 17 complete and operational projects
• 4.2 mgd actual ground water offset
• Charlotte County
• Nine completed projects and two under
  construction
• Six utilize surface water reservoirs
• 2.1 mgd predicted ground water offset
• Several projects under consideration
• Most require agricultural reservoirs
• FARMS Projects (and reservoirs) will improve
  resource conditions, improve agricultural
  economics, and provide improvement/protection for
  Punta Gordas water supply

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Conclusions

• FDEP has approved RA Plan - pending EPA approval
• 46 of SPJC area has Management Actions occurring
  
• FARMS Program/EQIP are critical Management
  Actions in Charlotte County to protect and
  improve water quality reduce ground water use
• Usually requires Agricultural Reservoirs
• County permit process for Agricultural Reservoirs
  should take into account efforts to improve water
  resources, including protection of Punta Gordas
  water supply
• Priority and expedited permitting
• Value-driven expectations on permit application
  requirements
• Work closely with District FARMS Regulation
  staff

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