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January 29, 2015
Everglades Restoration: The Central Everglades
Planning Project (CEPP)
Overview
CEPP Is a Proposed New CERP Project That Has
What Is the Everglades? The Everglades is a unique
Not Been Congressionally Authorized
network of subtropical wetlands in South Florida. Due in
The Central Everglades Planning Project, or CEPP (area
part to federal water supply and flood control projects (as
shown below in Figure 1), is an Everglades restoration
well as agricultural and urban runoff), it has been degraded
study under the CERP framework that was initiated in 2011
and is approximately half its historical size. The ecosystem
by the Corps and the Department of the Interior, with the
is home to a number of unique species, including 67 species
State of Florida. It was initiated due to a perceived need to
on the Federal Endangered or Threatened Species lists.
prioritize restoration projects in this portion of the
ecosystem to enhance the prospects for Everglades
What Is CERP? The Comprehensive Everglades
restoration overall. It recommends a suite of restoration
Restoration Plan, or CERP, was approved by Congress in
projects in the central Everglades that would be part of the
the Water Resources Development Act of 2000 (WRDA
broader CERP program aiming to address problems
2000; P.L. 106-541). It is a framework under which the
associated with the timing and distribution of freshwater
federal government, with the State of Florida, is attempting
flows in the central Everglades.
to restore the Everglades and expand water supplies by
improving the timing, distribution, and quality of the water
Figure 1. Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP)
flowing south from Lake Okeechobee to the Everglades,
Study Area
among other things. Under CERP, the federal government
(through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the
Department of the Interior) is required to fund half of the
costs for restoration, with an array of state, tribal, and local
agencies paying the other half. Originally, CERP was
expected to include 60 projects that would be completed
over a 30-year horizon at a cost of $10 billion. More recent
estimates have projected that the project will take
approximately 50 years to implement, at a total cost of
$13.5 billion. To date, federal and state expenditures on
CERP have been approximately $1 billion.
Everglades restoration under CERP was approved in
2000 and is expected to take 50 years to complete.
Outside of CERP, complementary efforts to restore the
Everglades (most of which predate CERP) also are
ongoing. These efforts, collectively referred to as non-
CERP projects, have cost more than $3 billion.
Everglades Restoration Projects Must Be
Authorized by Congress
Although WRDA 2000 approved the overall CERP plan
and process and authorized several pilot projects, most
CERP construction projects require additional study by the
Corps and congressional authorization of construction
before they can receive federal appropriations, including
credit or reimbursement for nonfederal work undertaken in
advance. The Water Resources Development Act of 2007
(WRDA 2007; P.L. 110-114) authorized three CERP
construction projects, all of which are currently under way.
Source: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Other CERP studies are complete and awaiting
Note: Shaded portions indicate CEPP study area.
congressional construction authorization.
Recent Developments
Expedited CEPP Study. Due to the interest in expediting
CEPP’s authorization and construction, the Corps included
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link to page 2 Everglades Restoration: The Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP)
CEPP among those investigations being undertaken as part
Project Name
Authorization
Status
of its National Planning Pilot Program. This effort aims to
complete feasibility studies in less time than is traditional
Central Everglades
Proposed
Awaiting
for Corps investigations. Among other goals, studies
Planning Project
Authorization
initiated under the pilot are expected to adhere to a
“3
Source: Congressional Research Service based on U.S. Army Corps
× 3 × 3” rule, which means that feasibility studies will be
of Engineers data.
completed with no more than $3 million in federal costs, in
3 years or less, and with the involvement of the 3 levels of
Notes: WRDA 2007 = the Water Resources Development Act of
Corps review (districts, divisions, and headquarters).
2007 (P.L. 110-114). WRRDA 2014 = the Water Resources Reform
and Development Act of 2014 (P.L. 113-121). Table does not include
Due to a number of factors, the Corps did not meet its
pilot projects authorized in the Water Resources Development Act
original target of completing CEPP by December 2013. The
of 2000.
Corps released the draft project implementation report for
CEPP in August 2013 and made the report available for
Congressional Interest
public comment through November 2013. In April 2014,
the Corps announced that the Civil Works Review Board’s
With the enactment of WRRDA 2014 and uncertain
release of CEPP for state and agency review would be
prospects for new water resources authorizing legislation in
further delayed pending unspecified changes to the final
the 114th Congress, attention has focused on the status of
report. The Corps formally completed and approved CEPP
CEPP. Absent authorization for CEPP, federal work on
in December 2014.
Everglades restoration could slow if ongoing projects wind
down and the Corps is unable to expend funds and match
WRRDA 2014 Authorizations. The Water Resources
prior state expenditures in the CEPP area. Such a scenario
Reform and Development Act of 2014 (WRRDA 2014;
would potentially delay CERP relative to the current
P.L. 113-121), enacted in June 2014, authorized four CERP
expected timeline.
projects with completed feasibility studies, but the bill did
not authorize CEPP because the project was still under
In the 114th Congress, companion legislation (S. 120 and
study at the time (see Table 1). As of 2015, CEPP is the
H.R. 230) has been proposed in the Senate and House to
only Everglades restoration project with completed studies
authorize CEPP. Historically, it has been unusual for
awaiting authorization.
Congress to authorize a Corps water resource project in
standalone legislation rather than as part of a water
Table 1. Status of Major Comprehensive Everglades
resources development act (which typically authorizes
Restoration Plan (CERP) Projects
many projects). Proponents of CEPP argue that its unique
circumstances and importance to the larger Everglades
Project Name
Authorization
Status
restoration effort merit immediate congressional
consideration.
Site 1 Impoundment WRDA 2007
Under Construction
Picayune Strand
WRDA 2007
Under Construction
If the aforementioned legislation is not enacted, CEPP
potentially could be approved outside of the traditional
Indian River
WRDA 2007
Under Construction
authorization process for water resources projects under
Lagoon-South
new processes established in WRRDA 2014. However, the
C-43 West Storage
WRRDA 2014
Awaiting
prospects for these processes in the 114th Congress are
Basin
Appropriations
unclear. (For more information on these processes, see CRS
Report R41243, Army Corps of Engineers: Water Resource
C-111 Spreader
WRRDA 2014
Awaiting
Authorizations, Appropriations, and Activities, by Nicole T.
Canal
Appropriations
Carter and Charles V. Stern).
Broward County
WRRDA 2014
Awaiting
Water Preserve
Appropriations
Charles V. Stern, Specialist in Natural Resources Policy
Areas
IF10111
Biscayne Bay
WRRDA 2014
Awaiting
Coastal Wetlands
Appropriations
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Everglades Restoration: The Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP)
Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to
congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress.
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