SUMMARY OF DOI RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCIENCE NEEDS RELATED TO WATER PROJECTS IN THE KISSIMMEE-OKEECHOBEE WATERSHED AND THE EVERGLADES AGRICULTURAL AREA
Major DOI Responsibilities and Interests	Major Unanswered Questions	Needed Science	Timeline
Help ensure that hydrologic performance targets accurately reflect the natural predrainage hydrology and ecology (DOI CERP partnership responsibility)	Lake Okeechobee, Lake Okeechobee Watershed and Kissimmee River Restoration
	What operating protocols for these projects will mimic the natural predrainage hydrology in the Kissimmee-Okeechobee Watershed?	Research and possible model refinement to establish operating protocols	NEPA Scoping Lake Okeechobee Watershed Completed Kissimmee River Restoration
	Aquifer Storage and Recovery
	Will recovered ASR waters be of adequate quality to discharge into natural areas?	Water quality studies	NEPA Scoping ASR Pilot Projects Completed Pilot Project Design Report (PPDR) Complete ASR Projects Currently scheduled to start directly following completion of the pilots in November 2009
	EAA Reservoirs
	What hydrologic targets will mimic historic flows (including water depths, timing, and distribution) and water quality in the water conservation areas and Everglades National Park? What operating protocols for releases of reservoir waters will mimic the natural predrainage hydrology in the Everglades? What water quality hazards are associated with storing water on former agricultural lands, and how can they be avoided?	Research and modeling to refine hydrologic targets, including targets for water quality Research and possible model refinement to establish operating protocols Environmental risk assessments of water quality contaminants	NEPA Scoping Phase 1: 2001 Phase 2 TBD
Help ensure that hydrologic performance targets protect threatened and endangered species and promote fish, wildlife, and park values (consultations on project design related to DOI stewardship responsibilities)	Lake Okeechobee , Lake Okeechobee Watershed and Kissimmee River
	Where should treatment wetlands and reservoirs be sited to minimize negative impacts on flora and fauna in the basin and where possible to provide additional habitat benefits? What are the potential benefits and adverse effects of the water treatment facilities and aboveground water storage reservoirs on watershed resources?	Studies of threatened/endangered species population distributions and abundance. GIS mapping of habitat Research to evaluate effects on dry prairie species Research and modeling to evaluate effects on Everglade snail kites	EIS Review, Section 7 Consultation, and CAR Lake Okeechobee Watershed Draft CAR: Feb 2006 Draft PIR/EIS May 2006 Final CAR: Jan 2007 Final PIR/EIS: April 2007 Kissimmee River Restoration Final CAR: 1992
	Aquifer Storage and Recovery
	What factors contribute to fish mortality at intake structures? What intake configurations will best reduce the potential for impacting aquatic organisms? What are the tolerances of plants and animals to the ranges of water quality likely to result from ASR?	Studies of the effects of intake pumps and control structures Research to understand the tolerance of plants and animals to changes in water quality	EIS Review, Section 7 Consultation, and CAR ASR Pilot Projects Draft: June 2004 Final: November 2004 ASR Projects Currently scheduled to start directly following completion of the pilots in November 2009
	EAA Reservoirs
	Are there design and operational improvements that could enhance the ecological value of the reservoirs without reducing the intended purpose?	Research to support design and operational rules to enhance fish and wildlife resources	EIS Review, Section 7 Consultation, and CAR Phase 1 Draft: October 2005 Final: December 2005 Phase 2: TBD
Major DOI Responsibilities and Interests	Major Unanswered Questions	Needed Science	Timeline
Assess the responses of ecological communities and species as a basis for adaptive management (continuation of DOI responsibilities outlined above)	Lake Okeechobee, Lake Okeechobee Watershed and Kissimmee River Restoration
	What are the project effects on Audubon's crested caracara, Florida grasshopper sparrow, and Everglade snail kite? (Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule review is included with CERP and other C&SF Projects.)	Monitoring and assessment to determine species responses to habitat changes: Audubon's crested caracara Florida grasshopper sparrow Everglade snail kite (and its prey, Florida apple snail)	Post-implementation monitoring and assessment For proposed revision to Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule, monitoring of apple snail abundance in the lake's littoral zone must start in FY 06 and continue indefinitely.
	Aquifer Storage and Recovery
	What are the project effects on fish and wildlife in target ASR locations? What are the effects of water recovered from ASR projects on fish and wildlife in downstream wetlands and estuaries? Does the Upper Floridan contribute to subsurface flows into Biscayne and Florida Bays? How will the Implementation of ASR in CERP affect the water quality, geohydrology and/or ecology in Biscayne or Florida Bay?	Baseline studies and monitoring at ASR locations Baseline studies and monitoring in downstream wetlands Geological description of the Floridan aquifer under peninsular Florida, the continental margin, and Biscayne and Florida Bays. Research and modeling to determine the effects to the ecology of Biscayne or Florida Bay.	Post-implementation monitoring and assessment
	EAA Reservoirs
	What are the effects of the reservoirs on fish and wildlife values? What are the effects of water recovered from EAA reservoirs on fish and wildlife in downstream wetlands and estuaries?	Monitoring and assessment to determine the effects of the reservoirs on the natural system	Post-implementation monitoring and assessment Part 1, Phase 1 Completion: Dec 2009 Part 1, phase 2 Complete 2015 Part 2 Completion: 2020