Temporary Emergency Deviation Recovery Period Extension Approval - July 11, 2016
Environmental documents for additional temporary emergency deviation available for 30-day public and agency review - April 21, 2016
The Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for an additional temporary emergency deviation to alleviate high water levels in Water Conservation Area-3A (WCA-3A) are now available for public and agency review. Comments will be accepted through May 18, 2016.
This temporary emergency deviation will affect the S-344 structure in the southwest portion of WCA-3A and the L-28 Levee and Borrow Canal located near Big Cypress National Preserve (BCNP). The deviation calls for water managers to open S-344 immediately instead of waiting for July 15, 2016, which is the normal opening date in the approved water control plan. The opening would allow water to be released from WCA-3A into BCNP and the L-28 Canal. The temporary emergency deviation is needed due to the elevated water levels in WCA-3A, and is expected to benefit natural resources within WCA-3A and BCNP.
The Corps initiated a temporary emergency deviation for purposes of providing high water relief in WCA-3A on February 15, 2016 by removing the current operating constraint of 7.5 feet National Geodetic Vertical Datum (of 1929 NGVD) in the L-29 Canal. The proposed deviation for the S-344 and L-28 would complement that effort by providing another outlet to reduce high water levels in WCA-3A.
Appendices:
Comments will be accepted through May 18, 2016 and can be sent electronically to: melissa.a.nasuti@usace.army.mil, or mailed to:
Melissa Nasuti
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District
P.O. Box 4970
Jacksonville, FL 32232-0019
Supplemental environmental documents for temporary emergency deviation available for 30-day public and agency review - March 29, 2016
The Supplemental Environmental Assessment (EA) and Proposed Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for a temporary emergency deviation to alleviate high water levels in Water Conservation Area 3A (WCA- 3A) are now available for public and agency review. Comments will be accepted through April 27, 2016.
Comments will be accepted through April 27, 2016 and can be sent electronically to: melissa.a.nasuti@usace.army.mil, or mailed to:
Melissa Nasuti
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District
P.O. Box 4970
Jacksonville, FL 32232-0019
Environmental documents for temporary emergency deviation available for 30-day public and agency review - Feb. 17, 2016
The Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for a temporary emergency deviation to alleviate high water levels in Water Conservation Area 3A (WCA- 3A) are now available for public and agency review. Comments will be accepted through March 18, 2016.
In response to a request made by Florida Governor Rick Scott for a deviation from the Corps’ Water Control Plan in WCA-3A, the Corps has initiated a temporary deviation for 90-days to raise water levels in the L-29 Canal in order to allow more water to flow from WCA-3A to Everglades National Park.
Comments will be accepted through March 18, 2016 and can be sent electronically to: melissa.a.nasuti@usace.army.mil, or mailed to:
Melissa Nasuti
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District
P.O. Box 4970
Jacksonville, FL 32232-0019
* This EA and FONSI is for an emergency purpose. A supplemental National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) document will be completed to supplement this EA and FONSI, providing additional discussion of the actions proposed as appropriate. Completion of the draft document is expected by the end of February, upon which members of the public will receive an additional 30 day comment period.
Corps approves request for increased Everglades’ flows - Feb. 15, 2016
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers South Atlantic Division has approved a request from Florida Governor Rick Scott for deviation from its water control plan for a key Everglades reservoir located west of Miami.
The division made the decision to grant the request for deviation based on extensive documentation from within the Corps and multiple partners representing federal, state, and tribal interests.
The deviation raises water levels in the L-29 canal, which runs along the north side of the Tamiami Trail (US Hwy 41) between Water Conservation Area 3 (WCA-3) and Everglades National Park. The WCA-3 water control plan limited those levels to elevation 7.5 feet (NGVD). The deviation raises the levels as high as elevation 8.5 feet, which would allow more water to flow from WCA-3 to Everglades National Park.