Introduction to CERP
THE COMPREHENSIVE EVERGLADES RESTORATION PLAN:
Its History and the Role of the USGS
The Past . . . Flood Control and Water Supply
The Central and Southern Florida (C&SF) Project is a multi-purpose project which
was first authorized in 1948 to provide flood control, water control, water supply,
and other services to the area that stretches from Orlando to Florida Bay. The
project has performed its intended purposes well. However, the project has also
contributed to the decline of the south Florida ecosystem.
Recently . . . the Restudy
In 1992, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) was authorized to review the
current C&SF project and develop a Comprehensive Plan to restore and preserve
south Florida's natural ecosystem, while enhancing water supply and maintaining
flood protection. The resulting C&SF Project Comprehensive Review Study - commonly
called the Restudy - was led by the USACE and the South Florida Water Management
District. The Restudy was accomplished by a team of more than 100 ecologists,
hydrologists, engineers, and other professionals from more than 30 federal, state,
tribal, and local agencies. Unlike most previous studies, the Restudy took a
system-wide look at water. The Restudy culminated in development of a Comprehensive
Everglades Restoration Plan.
Now . . .CERP!
The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, or "CERP", was submitted to Congress
in April 1999 and was approved with overwhelming bipartisan support in December 2000.
Implementation of the Plan began immediately.
Everyone is Involved . . .
The interagency, inter-disciplinary process to develop the CERP was an open,
collaborative partnership that involved many participants from a diversity of
backgrounds, interests, and agency missions. The flexibility and openness of this
process is continuing during implementation to allow for continual dialogue and
improvements to the Plan.
. . . including the USGS
The USGS, along with other DOI agencies, has a critical role in the implementation
of CERP - particularly during the feasibility and general design phases and
associated research efforts to evaluate and support the proposed CERP project
components. In addition, the USGS is conducting and evaluating long-term
environmental monitoring programs needed to define the progress
toward achieving overall restoration success. Finally, the USGS has an important
role in the adaptive assessment process, using the results of scientific and
technical analyses to refine the Plan.
. . . in the largest restoration plan on Earth!
The current CERP plan represents the single greatest, and quite likely the last,
opportunity to dramatically improve the ecological health of the greater Everglades
in south Florida. A strong and active contribution by the USGS is critical to
ensuring that CERP implementation is a success.
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