This presentation was given by Amy Goodden at the 2014 Florida Stormwater Association (FSA) Annual Conference.

1. Sweetwater Branch / Paynes Prairie
Sheetflow Restoration:
An Innovative Integrated Water Resources
Projectj
June 13, 2014
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2. Project Location
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3. Presentation Outline
• History
• Project Background & DriversProject Background & Drivers
• Design Concepts
• Park Facilities
• Project PartnersProject Partners
• Public Relations
• Permitting
• Construction Photos
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• Conclusion

4. History
• 1800s (Cattle Ranch)
• 1930s: SWB channeled
directly to Alachua Sinkdirectly to Alachua Sink
• 1,300 acres of wetlands
impacted.
• Direct flow path from Gainesville• Direct flow path from Gainesville
to Alachua Sink
• 1930s: Portion of Prairie
Creek flow diverted away
from Payne’s Prairie
• Urbanization of Gainesville• Urbanization of Gainesville
• Stormwater runoff
• Trash & sediment
• WW Effluent (1 to 7 MGD)
Septic Tanks
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• Septic Tanks
• WQ Currently (TN- 5-8; TP – 1
mg/L)

5. Project Background
1971 - Payne’s Prairie became Florida’s
1st state Preserve1 state Preserve
…getting it right can take time
– 1972 – Dr. Larry White proposed studying
effect of wastewater treatment effluenteffect of wastewater treatment effluent
disposal on Payne’s Prairie
1975-2004 – Lot more studies!– 1975-2004 – Lot more studies!
– 2004 – Watershed Management Plan
2009 Preliminary Design
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– 2009 – Preliminary Design
October 2012 – Construction Started

6. Project Background
•2004 Sweetwater Branch
Watershed Management PlanWatershed Management Plan
•WMP Tasks
• CharacterizationCharacterization
• Topography
• H&H Modelingg
• BMP Recommendations
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7. Project Background
Project Drivers:
Alachua Sink TMDLAlachua Sink TMDL
TN and TP load
d tireduction
Park Management Plan
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8. Project Background
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9. Design Considerations
• WQ Improvement
• Goal TN < 3 and TP < 0.3mg/L
• Public Access
• Heritage Trees
• Estimated 124,000 lb/yr TN and
2,900 lb/yr TP removal
• Sediment Loads – 1700 CY/yr
• O&M
• Sediment Loads 1700 CY/yr
• Trash
• Peak Flows
• Mean daily; 25 cfs
• Peak hourly;(2,385 cfs recorded!)
• Wetland Impacts
•Number, Size, and Location of Cells
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•Cut and Fill Balance

10. Project Site Plan
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11. Project Site Cut Fill Balance
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12. Environmental Benefits
Water Quality Benefits
• Exceeds total N TMDL
• Achieves background total
N and P on Prairie
• Removes suspendedRemoves suspended
sediment loads from
Prairie
Hydrologic RestorationHydrologic Restoration
Benefits
• Restores Sweetwater
fBranch sheetflow to about
1,300 acres
• Reduces current water
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deficit on Prairie

13. Environmental Benefits (cont.)
•Wetland Restoration
- Backfills 2 miles of Sweetwater Branch Canal
- Restores sheetflow in these wetland areasRestores sheetflow in these wetland areas
• Wetland Creation
- Creates 125 acres of high-quality emergent marsh
- Aquatic habitat in distribution channels
• Regional Showcase
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14. Project Partners
• FDEP- Parks, TMDL grants, Greenways & Trails
• St Johns River Water Management District• St. Johns River Water Management District
• Florida Department of Transportation
• US EPAUS EPA
• Alachua County
• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Over $5.7 M in grants
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15. Public Relations
 Project Video
C bl A Ch l– Cable Access Channel
– Audubon, Sierra Club,
F i d f P P i i– Friends of Paynes Prairie
 Public Meetings
– City Commission
– Design Workshops
 Neighborhood Representative
 Newspaper Articles & Utility Flyer
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p p y y
 Project Website(s)

16. Public Relations
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17. www cityofgainesville org/pps
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www.cityofgainesville.org/pps

18. Environmental Permitting
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19. Permitting & Reviewing Agencies
• SJRWMD
• Alachua CountyAlachua County
• Environmental Protection
• Public Works
G th M t• Growth Management
• Alachua County Forever
• Florida Department of HealthFlorida Department of Health
• US Army Corps of Engineers
• GRU• GRU
• FDEP
• Florida Bureau of Historic Resources
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• Florida Bureau of Historic Resources

20. Permitting Issues - Example
Minimize Wetland
Impacts On Site
Minimize Impact to
H it T d
Minimize Wetland
Impacts by
Heritage Trees and
Uplands
p y
Changing Site
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21. Project Site Plan
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22. Park Facilities
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23. Park Facilities
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24. Future Park Facilities
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25. Project Site May 20, 2014
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26. Project Site June 2, 2014
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27. Project Site June 2014
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28. Summary
Water Quality Benefits
• Exceeds total N TMDL
124,000 lb TN/ yr
$21/ lb per year
• Achieves background total• Achieves background total
N and P on Prairie
• Removes 1700 CY/ yr
di t l dsediment loads
Hydrologic Restoration
Benefits
• Restores Sweetwater
Branch sheetflow to 1,300
acres
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acres
• Reduces current water
deficit on Prairie

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