The Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir project has been called “the crown jewel of Everglades restoration.” It is the single most important project to store, clean, and send water south from Lake Okeechobee into the Everglades, helping restore South Florida’s natural freshwater flow. The reservoir will provide water to America's Everglades, recharge the aquifer that provides drinking water to South Florida residents, and help balance the salinity of Florida Bay. The project includes two major features: EAA Reservoir and Stormwater Treatment Area (STA).
EAA Reservoir
Federal Government via the US Army Corps of Engineers
- 10,500 acres
- 240,000 acre-feet storage at 23 feet deep
- 78 billion gallons
- Designed to store excess Lake Okeechobee water
- The water will then be purified in the adjacent stormwater treatment area
- Federal Government via the Corps of Engineers
Stormwater Treatment Area (STA)
State of Florida via the South Florida Water Management District
- 6,500-acre stormwater treatment wetland area
- Purifies water from the EAA Reservoir
- Releases water south to nurture the Everglades and Florida Bay
- Supplies clean freshwater to millions of South Florida residents
- Reduces harmful discharges of polluted Lake Okeechobee water to Florida's east and west coasts
In the video below, Everglades Foundation Chief Science Officer, Dr. Steve Davis, answers questions about the EAA Reservoir: What is it? How big is it? What are its functions?