The Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) is located south of Lake Okeechobee and covers over 700 square miles of farm land. The EAA receives water from Lake Okeechobee, runoff from the watershed and inflow from wetlands surrounding the EAA. The irrigation water demand is high in the area due to sugar cane plantations mixed with turf and vegetable farms. A dense network of irrigation canals has been constructed to convey water to the farms and to provide flood control. The water control practices for the EAA are complex because the peat soils of the area are consolidating at a rate of approximately one foot per decade. Farm field elevations are in the range of 3 feet below normal water levels in the canals and surrounding wetlands.
As a part of the Everglades Restoration Program, the rate of delivery from Lake Okeechobee to the EAA will be reduced. To study the water budget in more details DHI has developed an integrated groundwater / surface water model based on the MIKE SHE-MIKE 11 modelling system.
Details can be found under the project description For further information please contact:
DHI Inc
311 S Brevard Ave.
Tampa, FL 33606
Att: Roger Copp
Phone: 813-254-9427
E-mail: roc@dhi.dk