Tampa Bay Region - Southwest Florida Water Management District
Tampa Bay Region - Southwest Florida Water Management District
Tampa Bay Region - Southwest Florida Water Management District
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N454<br />
Reclaimed <strong>Water</strong> - Pasco County - Crews Lake Natural Systems Restoration<br />
Project Type<br />
AORs<br />
Natural Systems<br />
<strong>Water</strong> Supply<br />
Cooperative Funding<br />
Strategic Initiatives<br />
Minimum Flows and Levels Recovery<br />
Reclaimed <strong>Water</strong><br />
Pasco County<br />
Cooperator(s)<br />
Project Manager Mike Hancock<br />
Task Manager(s) Philip Rhinesmith, Anthony Andrade<br />
Status<br />
Proposed Coop. Funding Application<br />
Recommendation<br />
Fund as a Low priority. The feasibility of the project remains in question as the County is working with their consultant (CH2MHill) to<br />
complete a feasibility study. If the project is deemed feasible, a lengthy environmental resource permitting process will likely delay<br />
the construction of the project for several years.<br />
Description<br />
This project will investigate the use of reclaimed water to improve water levels in Crews Lake. Crews Lake has seen a historic<br />
drop in water levels over the past several decades resulting from regional groundwater withdrawals and periods of below average<br />
precipitation. Initial feasibility studies have brought to light several different options for restoring of a portion of Crews Lake. While<br />
various specific options will be assessed, the basic concept is to create a constructed wetland or recharge basin adjacent to the<br />
lake into which wet weather reclaimed water flows from the County's regional system would be discharged. The reclaimed water<br />
would received further treatment from the wetland/basin through recharge into the surficial aquifer. This water would recharge the<br />
water table adjacent to the lake (providing additional base flow to the lake) and/or flow into the lake via a dischage point. The<br />
amount of reclaimed water that could be discharged to the wetland/basin would depend on site-specific testing done as part of the<br />
project. Variations of this approach have been employed before in natural and constructed wetland systems and infiltration basins<br />
throughout <strong>Florida</strong>, leading to improved wildlife usage, restored water levels, and natural treatment of effluent. This project would<br />
support the rehydration and other enhancements for a portion of Crews Lake while enabling Pasco County to better manage its<br />
reclaimed water supply. This is a multi-year phased project beginning with the completion of the feasibility study in Phase 1.<br />
Phase 2 includes design, permitting, and construction to complete the project using additional monies in 2014.<br />
Benefits<br />
The project benefits remain somewhat in question until the feasibility study is completed. The project will use created wetlands or<br />
infiltration basins to treat waste water to acceptable levels prior to discharging into Crews Lake. If feasible, the increase in surface<br />
water to the lake will not only help restore the recreation and aesthetic values of the lake, but may help with meeting Minimum<br />
Flows and Levels. With restored water levels, there are a myriad of benefits to Pasco County's Crews Lake Wilderness Park,<br />
including: rehydration of a portion of the dry lake, improved ecological productivity of the area, improved wildlife habitat, educational<br />
opportunities, enhanced recreational experience and incremental restoration of local groundwater tables and to possibly serve as<br />
an irrigation source for the park. The project would also provide improved regulatory compliance with reclaimed wet-weather flows<br />
in the County's reclaimed water system.<br />
Costs<br />
The FY2013 project is expected to cost $535,000, with $267,500 from both the Coastal Rivers Basin funds and Pasco County. An<br />
additional $6,000,000 will be needed in FY2014 to construct the project.<br />
Additional Information<br />
Although the addition of water to Crews Lake could provide many benefits, <strong>District</strong> staff has strong concerns (based on initial<br />
conceptual designs) on whether the lake would see significant benefits from the application of the reclaimed water to a nearby<br />
wetland or recharge basin. Additionally, <strong>District</strong> staff is concerned that this project would be difficult to permit, based on meetings<br />
with the <strong>Florida</strong> Department of Environmental Protection.<br />
Prior<br />
Funding<br />
Cumulative<br />
Transfer or<br />
Lapsed Funding<br />
FY2012<br />
Funding<br />
FY2013<br />
Funding<br />
Future<br />
Funding<br />
Total<br />
Funding<br />
<strong>District</strong> Budgeted - Ad Valorem<br />
Based Revenue<br />
015 Coastal Rivers Basin 0 0 0 267,500 3,000,000 3,267,500<br />
Project Funds Not Budgeted by the<br />
<strong>District</strong><br />
Pasco County 0 0 0 267,500<br />
0 267,500<br />
Total<br />
$3,535,000<br />
99
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