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1 1 (September 28, 2021)

handle is hein.crs/govehfy0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressbon I Research Service Informing 1h legisative debatesince 1914 Updated September 28, 2021 Recent Developments in Everglades Restoration Overview What Is the Everglades? The Everglades is a unique network of subtropical wetlands in South Florida. Due in part to federal water supply and flood control projects (as well as agricultural and urban runoff), the ecosystem was degraded and was approximately half its historical size by the end of the 20th century. The ecosystem is home to a number of unique species, including 67 species listed under the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. §§1531 et seq.). What Is CERP? Congress approved the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) in the Water Resources Development Act of 2000 (WRDA 2000; P.L. 106-541). CERP is a framework under which the federal government, with the State of Florida, is attempting to restore the Everglades and improve the timing, distribution, and quality of the water flowing south from Lake Okeechobee to the Everglades. Under CERP, the federal government, through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Department of the Interior (DOI), is to fund half the costs of restoration; the State of Florida is to contribute the other half. Several tribal and local agencies also are involved in this restoration effort. Originally, CERP was to include 60 projects to be completed over 30 years at a cost of $8.2 billion in 2000 dollars (equivalent to $13.2 billion in 2021 after accounting for inflation). Subsequent reports to Congress projected CERP would take approximately 50 years from its authorization to implement at a total cost of $23.2 billion (in FY2020 dollars). As of FY2021, the federal government has provided more than $2.0 billion and the State of Florida has spent an estimated $5.0 billion on CERP in nominal dollars (although much of this state funding is not yet officially credited toward Florida's share of the cost). CERP is expected to cost $23.2 billion (FY2020 dollars) and take 50 years (from 2000) to complete. Outside of CERP, complementary efforts to restore the Everglades (most of which predate CERP) are ongoing. Construction of a major project, Kissimmee River Restoration, was completed in July 2021 after 22 years. The federal government has spent more than $3.7 billion on these efforts, collectively referred to as non-CERP projects. CERP Projects Must Be Authorized by Congress WRDA 2000 approved CERP and the process for its implementation. The law also authorized several pilot projects. Subsequent projects require study by USACE and congressional authorization before they can receive federal appropriations for construction, including credit or reimbursement for nonfederal work undertaken in advance. Several laws subsequent to WRDA 2000 authorized projects contemplated under CERP. Some projects received appropriations and are under construction. Studies for other CERP projects are in progress (see Table 1). Table I. Status of CERP USACE Projects Construction Project Name Authorization Status Site I Impoundment Picayune Strand Indian River Lagoon- South C-43 West Storage Basin C-I II Spreader Canal Broward County Water Preserve Areas Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Central Everglades Planning Project Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir Storage Loxahatchee River Watershed Project Lake Okeechobee Watershed Project Western Everglades Restoration Project Biscayne Bay and SE Everglades Southern Everglades WRDA 2007 Phase I completed Phase II on hold WRDA 2007 Under construction WRDA 2007 WRRDA 2014 and WRDA 2020 WRRDA 2014 WRRDA 2014 WRRDA 2014 WRDA 2016 and WRDA 2020 WRDA 2018 and WRDA 2020 Under construction Under construction Phase I completed Phase 2 in planning Under construction Under construction Under construction Under construction WRDA 2020 Awaiting construction N/A N/A N/A N/A Study in progress Study in progress Study in progress Study in progress Source: Congressional Research Service based on the 2015- 2020 CERP Report to Congress and enacted legislation. Note: CERP = Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. USACE = U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. WRDA = Water Resources Development Act. N/A = not applicable. WRDA 2007, WRDA 2016, WRDA 2018, and WRDA 2020 are P.L. 110-1 14, Title I of P.L. 114- 322, Title I of P.L. 115-270, and Division AA of P.L. 116-260, respectively. WRRDA 2014 = Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 (P.L. 113-121).

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