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Section 3 Future Without Project Conditions

EAA Storage Reservoirs Revised Draft PIR and EIS February 2006

3-2

projected that by 2050, about half the EAA would have soils less than 8-inches in

depth. Most of these shallow soils would be south of the Bolles Canal. Without

new production practices, sugarcane production would be difficult and costly.

The area of these comparatively thin soils should be suitable for pasture, but not

for vegetables. With reduced soil depth to store moisture, water control becomes

crucial for any production of crops.

Whether or not there is extensive agricultural use of lands in the EAA from now

until 2050 depends on many factors that are difficult to predict, such as

commodity prices and governmental policies. The Comprehensive Plans of Palm

Beach and Hendry Counties and the cities in the EAA will play key roles in

determining future land use of the area. Palm Beach County, through its Future

Land Use Plan and Managed Growth Tier System, appears committed to

limiting westward expansion of the Urban/Suburban area. Large areas

designated for Conservation west of the urbanized area would help achieve this

goal.

The EAA would be affected by a variety of existing and proposed projects:

SFWMD Long-term Plan, SFWMD Everglades Regulatory Program, and

SFWMD Adaptive Implementation Strategy. Many of these projects are

scheduled for completion before 2050. Most are associated with lowering total

phosphorus (TP) concentrations entering the EPA. They will also affect other

water quality parameters and the management of water in the EAA.

3.1.1 Geology, Topography, and Soils

Soil conditions in 2050 are expected to continue to subside in the EAA region,

impacting agricultural productivity, costs, and water control. As soil subsides, a

minor lowering of topography would be expected.

3.1.2 Flood Protection Level of Service

The EAA has very little natural drainage and depends on large pump stations to

prevent floods from heavy rains. Pumps move excess water from the EAA to

Lake Okeechobee or the Water Conservation Areas during wet months (Fernald

and Patton, 1984). Construction of the EAA Reservoir Project will remove

31,000 acres of land from the drainage system providing incidental flood control

improvement.

Lake Okeechobee should remain the primary reservoir of the C&SF Project

through 2050 with or without the EAA Storage Reservoirs project (the “without

project” condition). A series of structures situated around the lake in the EAA

provide flood protection, control drainage, and facilitate navigation. USACE

could continue operating the primary structures and navigation locks through

2050 and maintain the regulation schedule. SFWMD would continue to operate

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