EAA reservoir: U.S. Senate authorizes it; President Trump expected to sign legislation

The U.S. Senate Wednesday finally said "yes" to the proposed EAA reservoir to cut Lake Okeechobee discharges.

After pushing and prodding by Florida's citizens, environmental groups and congressmen — as well as President Donald Trump on Tuesday evening —senators voted 99-1 to approve the federal Water Resources Development Act.

Both Florida senators, Democrat Bill Nelson and Republican Marco Rubio, voted for the legislation, and both have been pressuring Senate leaders to bring the bill up for a vote.

More: Nelson, Rubio ask for vote on bill including EAA reservoir 

The nationwide list of water projects includes the Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir, a $1.6 billion state-federal project designed to send excess Lake Okeechobee water to the Everglades and Florida Bay, where it's desperately needed, rather than the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers, where it causes severe environmental damage.

The reservoir project was officially submitted July 11 to both chambers of Congress.

The House acted even before that, approving the bill, with a "placeholder" for the EAA reservoir project on June 6.

And as the bill waited for a floor vote in the Senate, on Sept. 13 the House approved a compromise version worked out to accommodate the expected Senate version.

More: Trump praises Scott, bashes Nelson on EAA Reservoir

In a tweet Tuesday evening before the Senate vote, the president called on Congress to "follow through on the Government’s plan on the Everglades Reservoir."

It's a strong indication Trump intends to sign the bill.

Authorized, not paid for

The legislation, known as WRDA, authorizes water projects nationwide.

Getting federal money for the projects, including the reservoir, is another step that could take a couple of years.

The Army Corps of Engineers, the state's federal partner on the reservoir, is about to start working on its request for money to work on projects during fiscal year 2021, which starts Oct. 1, 2020.

State legislation approved in May 2017 included a funding mechanism for the state's share of the project.

More: Rick Scott signs bill for EAA Reservoir

Once federal funds start flowing, designing and building the 16,600-acre project will take nine to 10 years, according to the South Florida Water Management District.

The reservoir project is expected, when used in conjunction with other existing and planned projects, to reduce the number of damaging discharge events from Lake Okeechobee to the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers by 63 percent.

It also will send an average of about 120.6 billion gallons of clean water south to the thirsty Everglades and Florida Bay.

More: Reservoir plan submitted to Corps of Engineers

The water management district's preliminary design for the project includes a:

• 23-foot-deep, 10,100-acre reservoir to store up to 78.2 billion gallons of excess lake water
• 6,500-acre man-made marsh to clean the water before it's sent south to Everglades National Park and Florida Bay

More:Keeping up with the EAA Reservoir: What's happened? What's next?

What they're saying

• "The Senate’s action today brings us one important step closer to final federal approval of the Everglades Agricultural Area Senate Bill 10 Southern Reservoir, as well as many other critical water infrastructure projects that will benefit our state for years to come." — Florida Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart
• “I applaud Senate passage of this water infrastructure bill, which includes key authorization projects that will address Florida’s growing water challenges." — U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida
• “This reservoir is particularly important right now to help mitigate the toxic algae crisis that’s sweeping the state, but it's also critical for our broader Everglades restoration effort.” — U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Florida
• "Authorizing the EAA Southern Storage Reservoir is a momentous accomplishment for our Treasure Coast community, and I urge the president to sign our bill into law as soon as possible.” — U.S. Rep. Brian Mast, R-Palm City
• “Today is a great day for America’s Everglades and the people of Florida. Construction can now begin on a reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee that is vital to reconnecting the lake to the Florida Keys." — Eric Eikenberg, CEO of the Everglades Foundation
• “We are making history for America’s Everglades today. Special thank you to Senators Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio and to the entire Florida congressional delegation for their strong commitment to Everglades restoration and long support of the EAA Reservoir project." —  Celeste De Palma, Audubon Florida director of Everglades policy