Everglades Restoration: CERP and the Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP)

Everglades Restoration: CERP and the Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP)

May 15, 2014
Everglades Restoration: CERP and the Central Everglades
Planning Project (CEPP)
Overview
CEPP Is a Potential New CERP Project That Has
Not Been Congressionally Authorized
What are the Everglades? The Everglades are a unique
network of subtropical wetlands in South Florida. Due in
The Central Everglades Planning Project, or CEPP (shown
part to federal water supply and flood control projects (as
below in Figure 1), is an Everglades restoration study
well as agricultural and urban runoff), the network has been
under the CERP framework that was initiated in 2011 by
degraded and is approximately half its historical size. The
the Corps and the Department of the Interior, with the State
ecosystem is home to a number of unique species, including
of Florida. It is expected to recommend a suite of
67 species on the federal endangered or threatened species
restoration projects in the central Everglades that would be
lists.
a part of the broader CERP program aiming to address
problems associated with the timing and distribution of
What is CERP? The Comprehensive Everglades
freshwater flows in the central Everglades. It was initiated
Restoration Plan, or CERP, was approved by Congress in
due to a perceived need to prioritize restoration projects in
the Water Resources Development Act of 2000. It is a
this portion of the ecosystem, in order to enhance the
framework under which the federal government, with the
prospects for Everglades restoration overall.
State of Florida, is attempting to restore the Everglades and
expand water supplies by improving the timing, distribution
Figure 1. CEPP Study Area
and quality of the water flowing south from Lake
Okeechobee to the Everglades, 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 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 pre-date CERP) are also
ongoing. These efforts, collectively referred to as “non-
CERP projects,” have totaled more than $3 billion.
Everglades Restoration Projects Must Be
Authorized by Congress
While 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 and/or
reimbursement for nonfederal work undertaken in advance.

WRDA 2007 (P.L. 110-114) authorized three CERP
Source: Corps of Engineers.
construction projects, all of which are currently underway.
Notes: Shaded portions indicate CEPP study area.
Other CERP studies are complete and are awaiting
congressional construction authorization.
www.crs.gov | 7-5700

Everglades Restoration: CERP and the Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP)
Expedited CEPP Study. Due to the interest in expediting
CEPP Authorization Prospects Are Uncertain
CEPP’s authorization and construction, the Corps included
this study among those investigations being undertaken as
Proposed omnibus authorizing legislation for water
part of its National Planning Pilot Program. The aim of this
resources activities in the 113th Congress (H.R. 3080 and S.
effort is to complete feasibility studies in less time than is
601) would provide the Corps with authority to carry out
traditional for Corps investigations. Among other goals,
four additional Everglades restoration projects under the
studies initiated under the pilot are expected to adhere to a
CERP framework (see Figure 2). H.R. 3080 identifies
“3x3x3” rule, which means that feasibility studies will be
specific projects, including the four CERP projects with
completed with no more than $3 million in federal costs, in
completed and transmitted studies awaiting authorizations.
three years or less, and with the involvement of the three
S. 601 would authorize new construction projects meeting
levels of Corps review (districts, divisions, and
specified criteria; among those criteria are a Chief's Report,
Headquarters). To date, the CEPP feasibility study has
and a transmittal from the Assistant Secretary of the Army
completed the scoping and analysis stages, and a tentatively
(Civil Works) to Congress with a recommendation for
selected plan has been announced by the Corps and
construction. That is, while both bills would authorize four
circulated for public comment. The draft project
additional Everglades restoration projects, neither would
implementation report (PIR) for CEPP was released by the
authorize CEPP as of May 2014. Because Corps projects
Corps in August 2013 and was available for public
are not eligible for federal construction appropriations until
comment through November 2013. It is currently
they have been authorized, congressional authorization of
undergoing internal Corps review.
CEPP may remain a concern for Everglades stakeholders,
particularly if a water resources authorization bill is enacted
Civil Works Review Board Involvement. Before a project
without CEPP.
report by the Chief of Engineers (commonly referred to as a
“Chief’s Report”) can be finalized, Corps policy is for the
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study to be approved by the Civil Works Review Board
(CWRB) and undergo a 30-day state and agency review. On
For more information on Everglades restoration, see CRS
April 23, 2014, the Corps announced that CWRB release of
Report R42007, Everglades Restoration: Funding and
CEPP for state and agency review would be delayed
Implementation Progress. CRS reports are also available on
pending unspecified changes to be made to the final report.
Corps authorizations and appropriations processes (CRS
The Corps projected that an updated final report could be
Report R41243) and proposed water resources development
reviewed and released by the CWRB no later than the end
legislation in the 113th Congress (CRS Report R43298).
of June. Based on this, a Chief’s Report could be available
as early as late summer. The Assistant Secretary of the
Charles V. Stern, cstern@crs.loc.gov, 7-7786
Army (Civil Works) would then review the study for

compliance with Administration policy, and transmit a
recommendation for construction to Congress. Some are
IF00026
concerned about the potential timing of subsequent
congressional authorization.
Figure 2. Status of Recent CERP Projects
Project Name
Authorization Construction Status
Site 1 Impoundment
WRDA 2007
In Progress
Picayune Strand
WRDA 2007
In Progress
Indian River Lagoon-
WRDA 2007
In Progress
South
C-43 West Storage
Pending
Awaiting Authorization
Basin
C-111 Spreader Canal Pending
Awaiting Authorization
Broward County
Pending
Awaiting Authorization
Water Preserve Areas
Biscayne Bay Coastal
Pending
Awaiting Authorization
Wetlands
Central Everglades
Not Proposed Study Under Review
Planning Project
Source: CRS, based on Corps data.
Notes: Does not include pilot projects authorized in WRDA 2000.
www.crs.gov | 7-5700

Document Outline

Overview

Everglades Restoration Projects Must Be Authorized by Congress

CEPP Authorization Prospects Are Uncertain

More Information