SFWMD Compartment C Build-Out
Florida Everglades

Client
South Florida Water Management District

Project Value
$12,000,000

Project Type
Water Resource Management

Overview


Compartment C is an 8,800 acre parcel of land located west of Rotenberger Wildlife Management Area (RWMA) and between the original Stormwater Treatment Area (STA) 5 and STA 6 in Hendry County, Florida. The expansion of STAs into Compartment C is being implemented in two phases. Phase 1, the Initial Expansion, included construction of one additional flow-way to STA 5, known as STA 5 Flow-way 3 (STA 5-3). STA 6 Section 2 (STA 6-2) was also part of the original ECP and not part of Compartment C.

Implementation of Phase 2 will allow for the expansion of STAs into the remaining 6,395-acre area of Compartment C. This phase of implementation is known as the Compartment C Buildout (Buildout). Implementation of the Buildout will further improve the quality of water entering the Everglades Protection Area (EPA).


Background


The Everglades Construction Project (ECP), as mandated by the Florida's EFA, has exceeded treatment expectations. Nonetheless, additional measures are necessary to ensure the discharges to the EPA meet water quality goals including compliance with the phosphorus criterion established in Rule 62-302.540. F.A.C.  The Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins Long-Term Plan for Achieving Water Quality Goals (Long-Term Plan) was prepared in 2003. One of the key assumptions during the development of the Long-Term Plan was that Compartment C, would be included as part of the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Storage Reservoir Project. 

 

Summary of Work


The Compartment C Buildout is the final addition to the STA5/6 system and is to be constructed on a site of approximately 6,395 acres.  The STA’s are divided into two cell types: Emergent Vegetation (EMG) Cells and Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) Cells.  The Buildout consists of a series of perimeter impoundment levees, canals, flow control structures, flow control berms/weir structures and a hydration pump station.  The new inflow canal, Distribution, Collection, and SpreaderCanals will be excavated to distribute water into and internally across (west to east) the STA’s.  The treated discharge flows from the STAs will drain to the discharge canal located along the east side of the Project and will ultimately discharge toward the Water Conservation Area (WCA) 3A.

 
There is approximately 40 miles of new canal, 45 miles of levee, and 42 miles of canal backfill and grading work associated with this project.

 

Construction Tasks


 The Buildout will provide an additional 6,200 acres of effective treatment area to the existing STA 5/6 system. Structure additions and modifications necessary to accomplish this are listed below:

  • 18 new hydraulic control gravity inflow and discharge structures to manipulate flows through the proposed new treatment flow-way.

  • 2.5 miles of drainage canals will be constructed along the eastern boundary of the project area to serve as a flow

for the treatment areas. This canal will adjoin the existing STA 5 and STA 6 Discharge Canals.

  • One gated, twin-barrel 10’ by 9’ box culvert diversion structure will be constructed on the Discharge Canal. This structure will separate discharge flows between Flow ways 1 and 2, and the remaining Flow-ways to the South.
  • 5.5 miles of a new inflow canal will be constructed along the western boundary of the project area to serve as a flow inlet for the treatment areas.
  • One gated twin-barrel 10’ by 9’ box culvert diversion structure (remote operable) across the L-3 Canal immediately north of the proposed G-351. The L-3 canal section north of this structure will function as a Seepage boundary.
  • One 1,610 cfs Inflow Pump Station (G-508) is planned to provide pumped inflow into the STAs that will allow flow over the naturally high topographical areas in the western areas of the STA. 
  • One 100 cfs Hydration PS (G-509) will provide supplemental water to the SAV cells from the Discharge Canal, as necessary, during drought conditions.
  • Power distribution is planned to be provided by FPL from the supply currently entering the site at STA 5 Flow-way 1 (STA 5-1) via an underground distribution system. An emergency standby power system at the G-508 PS, will provide emergency power across the site during FPL power outages.
  • G-600 Pump Station is to be demolished at the end of buildout construction