	Most Recent Developments

The Modified Waters Deliveries Project (Mod Waters) is being implemented by the Department of the Interior (DOI) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in southern Florida. Previously, DOI had solely funded the project. The Administration's position appeared to be for the Corps to pay for roughly two-thirds of the remaining $146 million required to complete the project from FY2007 to FY2009. A provision in the Interior Appropriations Act for FY2006 ( P.L. 109-54 ) conditions funding for Mod Waters on meeting state water quality standards. The completion of Mod Waters is expected to be significant step towards the implementation of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP; Title VI, P.L. A general reevaluation report and environmental impact statement have been prepared for this project. Issues Surrounding the Modified Water Deliveries Project

Three issues are being debated about the implementation of Mod Waters, including its estimated funding level, project delays, and the controversy surrounding land acquisition in the 8.5 SMA. The current estimated cost for completing the project is $398 million. Three conditions are specified in the section authorizing implementation of Alternative 6D: (1) the Corps may acquire residential property needed to carry out Alternative 6D if the owners are first offered comparable property in the 8.5 SMA that will be provided with flood protection; (2) the Corps is authorized to acquire land from willing sellers in the flood-protected portion of the 8.5 SMA to carry out the first condition; and (3) the Corps and the nonfederal sponsor may carry out these provisions with funds provided under the Everglades National Park Protection and Expansion Act of 1989 ( P.L.
The Modified Water Deliveries Project (Mod Waters) is a controversial ecological restoration project in south Florida designed to improve water delivery to Everglades National Park. The implementation schedule of Mod Waters is of interest to Congress partly because its completion is required before the implementation of portions of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. Concerns have been raised in hearings on the Administration's FY2007 budget request regarding the cost of implementing the project, project delays, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' role in funding the project. Currently, the project is eight years behind schedule and will cost an estimated $400 million to build. Part of the delay is due to extended efforts to acquire land from private and state owners. Federal agencies have used eminent domain to acquire some lands, a process that has been contentious. Further, funding for the project in Interior appropriations acts (FY2004-FY2006) is being conditioned on the State of Florida meeting water quality standards by reducing excessive phosphorus, among other things. This report provides background on Mod Waters and discusses issues relating to its current status, funding, and land acquisition needs. This report will be updated as warranted.