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Agenda 03/09/2021 Item # 5C (Update on Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary's decline)5.0 03/09/2021 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Recommendation to receive an update on Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary's declining dry season water levels and completion of a recent regional investigation on causes and solutions. OBJECTIVE: To provide an update on Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary's declining dry season water levels, including the completion of a year -long regional hydrologic model and identification of possible solutions. CONSIDERATIONS: On February 25, 2021, PhD. Shawn Clem, Research Director at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, and Brad Cornell, Audubon Florida's Southwest Florida Policy Associate, presented the results of a year -long hydrologic model study of Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary to the Big Cypress Basin Board. The model revealed the primary cause of drastically declining dry season water levels over the last twenty years as being the canal drainage system south of the Sanctuary, plus additional negative influences from agriculture and public water wells north of the Sanctuary. It also identified potential solutions and additional research and regional collaboration needed to address these regional problems. That canal system is jointly managed by the South Florida Water Management District's Big Cypress Basin and Collier County, with links to drainage systems in Lee County. Consequences of regional dry season water losses include increased risk of catastrophic wildfire in rural communities and the Sanctuary, degradation of water quality and red tide events downstream, and loss of water supply and wildlife. Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary occupies approximately 13,000 acres in the heart of the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed (CREW) in Southwest Florida, part of the Western Everglades. It is a mosaic of habitats dominated by many types of wetlands. These include the largest remaining virgin bald cypress forest in the world (approximately 700 acres) which is over 500 years old. Corkscrew is in a strategically important location where the quality of the natural resources provides excellent habitat for iconic flora and fauna including the Florida panther, river otters, wading birds, the super ghost orchid, and the imperiled Wood Stork nesting colony which was the largest in the nation as recently as 20 years ago. These wetlands recharge the local aquifers, rivers and estuaries, providing the right conditions for fishing and coastal recreation as well as clean drinking water and water for agricultural productivity. It is an internationally recognized ecological treasure of Collier County and a must see for tourists interested in an environmental experience. It attracts 100,000 visitors annually. FISCAL IMPACT: There is a no fiscal impact related to receiving this update report. GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: There is no growth management impact associated with this item. LEGAL CONSIDERATION: This item has been reviewed by the County Attorney, is approved as to form and legality. -JAK RECOMMENDATION: That the Board receive the update report and consider any possible additional direction or actions that may be appropriate. Prepared by: Penny Taylor, Commissioner, District 4 Attachments: 1. Slide presentation by Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary staff summarizing the completed hydrologic model and next steps 2. Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary Hydrologic Model Fact Sheet Packet Pg. 16 03/09/2021 5.0 ATTACHMENT(S) 1. CSS Hydrol Model Final Report AF slides for BCB Board FINAL 2-25-21 (PDF) 2. CSS Hydrol Model Final Report Fact Sheet 3-2-21 (PDF) Packet Pg. 17 5.0 03/09/2021 COLLIER COUNTY Board of County Commissioners Item Number: 5.0 Doc ID: 15173 Item Summary: Recommendation to receive an update on Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary's declining dry season water levels and completion of a recent regional investigation on causes and solutions. (Commissioner Taylor) Meeting Date: 03/09/2021 Prepared by: Title: Executive Secretary to County Manager — County Manager's Office Name: MaryJo Brock 03/02/2021 3:32 PM Submitted by: Title: Executive Secretary to County Manager — County Manager's Office Name: MaryJo Brock 03/02/2021 3:32 PM Approved By: Review: Office of Management and Budget MaryJo Brock County Attorney's Office MaryJo Brock County Manager's Office Dan Rodriguez Board of County Commissioners MaryJo Brock Level 3 OMB Gatekeeper Review Level 3 County Attorney's Office Review Level 4 County Manager Review Meeting Pending Skipped 03/02/2021 3:30 PM Skipped 03/02/2021 3:30 PM Completed 03/02/2021 4:28 PM 03/09/2021 9:00 AM Packet Pg. 18 ,11 — 0.0 E O V '0 601 —O >. o O LLI U cn Lu .- J _ V � — V u v� 4_j z w V - a O w a � w U . � ..., _ Yl -Jdbtdkl= - . =6 r `IMFTt4 r ly,E 1 - 9nJ.. . - T _ F ir - r-�-'i. In . �•• � :y )L � ]Ik i 1 � � �� +� ��JI I•� ,- �. i k of r 4� ,�f � r � � • - } ,,.h � � v� � � � Kam• .. 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Background In 1954, concerned citizens rallied together to protect the old -growth cypress forests of Corkscrew Swamp from logging. These trees, now over 500 years old, supported the renowned Corkscrew Wood Stork colony that seasonally hosted tens of thousands of nests. The Corkscrew colony now lies within Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, a mosaic of wetland and upland habitats that support many wildlife species. These wetlands also provide irreplaceable benefits to surrounding communities by recharging the aquifer, storing excess surface water, reducing the threat of catastrophic wildfires, and filtering freshwater before it flows into estuaries. The protections afforded by land ownership, however, do not extend beyond the Sanctuary's border. Threats to Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary's wetlands, and also to the Corkscrew Swamp region surrounding the Sanctuary, have been intensifying over the past few decades. The Problem Historically, the Sanctuary's wetlands held water throughout the entire winter "dry" season. In the mid-2000's, staff at the Sanctuary started noticing substantial changes to water levels in the swamp. Monitoring efforts showed that the wetlands were drying out faster, with water levels remaining lower for longer intervals, despite no change in rainfall patterns. In Southwest Florida's flat landscape, water normally moves slowly through swamps like Corkscrew. But canals operated to drain water during rainfall events from low- lying communities downstream have also had the effect of pulling water faster out of this increasingly vulnerable wetland of international significance. The length of time that these wetlands remain filled with water has a direct impact on plants and animals in this water -driven ecosystem. Wood Storks, for example, depend on having an abundant food source throughout the nesting season (December through May). Packet Pg. 56 5.C.2 High water levels throughout the summer/fall rainy season allow fish populations to grow, and falling water levels in the winter and spring concentrate those fish in depressions where wading birds readily feed on them. Disruptions in this cycle reduce food availability for fast- growing Wood Stork chicks. Audubon scientists believe the combination of , regional wetland loss, on the order of tens of _ thousands of acres over the last 25 years, and drainage of many remaining wetlands, including those at the Sanctuary, has led to the near- wood story family. Photo: RJ Wiley collapse of the nesting colony that historically relied on Corkscrew Swamp. This prompted an investigation into the potential causes of these water level changes. A solution to reverse the water -loss trend would not only help Wood Storks, but the greater Everglades ecosystem, as well. It is important to note that regional water impacts during the dry season also significantly increase human community threats as well. These include significant increases of catastrophic wildfire risk in Golden Gate Estates and similar semi -rural communities, degradation of water supply and quality, and increases in harmful algal blooms like red tide and cyanobacteria. Corkscrew Sanctuary is a critical part of the Western Everglades. The Research In early 2020, with support from the Big Cypress Basin, Audubon contracted Water Science Associates (led by Roger Copp and W. Kirk Martin) to complete a hydrologic modeling study aimed at better understanding the causes of the over -drying of Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. The modeling team compared the relative impact of three stressors: water use (from agriculture and well fields), an influx of woody vegetation, and drainage for flood control, i.e. canals that drain surface waters downstream of the Sanctuary. m a E 3 Cn 3 L L O U CO) LO Engineer installing water level recorder. Packet Pg. 57 5.C.2 The Findings While agricultural and public water supply withdrawals have some negative impacts on the Sanctuary, flood management structures and operations downstream are more directly responsible for water loss. Water Level Models Current and After Drainage Structures South of the Sanctuary are Removed 0 6/1/13 6/1/14 Legend: Ground level 6/1/15 5/31/16 Actual water levels have fallen below ground level four times in six years 5/31/17 5/31/18 Modeled scenario predicts higher water levels post -mitigation This graph shows that water levels would improve if drainage south of the Sanctuary was reduced. Graph reproduced from Water Science Associates figure 4.14. Complete elimination of downstream drainage is not feasible due to residential and commercial development; therefore, the study examined potential engineering and operations changes that could help protect the Sanctuary's natural resources while continuing to provide necessary flood control for our neighbors. The model demonstrated that improved engineering could provide some water level restoration for the Sanctuary, but more work is necessary to create a more effective solution. Sample engineering strategy to prevent water loss across the southern border of the Sanctuary. Conclusion The Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary Hydrologic Model is a very powerful new tool. This tool can provide the information Audubon needs to diagnose the causes of a twenty-year decline in water levels and all the harm attenuating that decline, and also illuminates the regional nature of watershed hydrologic impacts and solutions. That regional nature requires Audubon to work collaboratively with the Big Cypress Basin, the South Florida Water Management District, local governments, and all Audubon's landowning neighbors in order to solve these grave challenges for everyone's mutual benefit. Upon presentation of these findings to the Big Cypress Basin Board of Directors, Board Chair Charlette Roman concurred that the Sanctuary is a gem of Collier County and instructed her team and Basin staff to closely review the study and return with steps forward. Packet Pg. 58 Audubon Policy Recommendations Contacts 5.C.2 • Audubon needs more data, including topographic information and more data on water level monitoring wells, to model additional solutions to return the Sanctuary to 1970's water levels. • Policy staff will pursue regulatory fixes to both ERP and the 404 programs. • Working with partners, land acquisition and restoration of wetlands will reduce future water needs and provide more land in which to implement possible water solutions. • Buying out flood -prone properties to allow these areas to return to wetlands for part or all of the year. • Retrofitting farm water management systems to fix impacts downstream. Shawn Clem, PhD Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary Director of Research shawn.clem@audubon.org Brad Cornell Big Cypress Ecosystem Policy Associate brad ley.cornel l@audubon.org Lisa Korte, PhD Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary Director lisa.korte@audubon.org Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, recognized as a Wetland of International Importance by the Ramsar convention and a Wetland of Distinction by the Society of Wetland Scientists, has been an Audubon -protected site for more than loo years. It includes over 13,000 acres, including the world's largest remaining, old -growth bald cypress forest. An estimated loo,000 visitors annually explore the Sanctuary's 2.25 miles of boardwalk through ancient forest and marsh habitat. t� Corkscrew Swamp Corkscrew.Audubon.org 1 375 Sanctuary Road, Naples, FL 34,120 Audubon Sanctuary Packet Pg. 59