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SJRWMD FY 2017-2018 Final Budget the final components of the Upper St. Johns River Basin Project, cumulatively restoring more than 160,000 acres of the St. Johns River headwater wetlands for flood protection, water supply and wetland restoration. Upon receiving funding from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the District was able to complete the first phase of reconnection of Emeralda Marsh Area 3 to Lake Griffin. The District is currently completing the phase two reconnection, with a likely completion date of November 2017. The District has completed 60 percent of the design for the C-10 water management area, which will provide an additional 1,300 acres of land and a projected storage of 6,500 acre-feet. Restoration Efforts • The District and its partners celebrated the completion of the Upper St. Johns River Basin Project, a marsh restoration and flood control project covering more than 166,000 acres in Brevard and Indian River counties. • The District, partnering with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND), Brevard County, and the City of Melbourne, celebrated the groundbreaking of the Eau Gallie River muck dredging project in January 2017. For FY 2016-17 $4.1 million was spent on this project. Once completed in fall 2018, approximately 632,000 cubic yards of muck will have been removed from the main stem of the 3.9 -mile -long Eau Gallie River, a major tributary of the Indian River Lagoon. • The District has spent $1.5 million on water quality improvements since purchasing Silver Springs Forest Conservation Area in 2015. District staff have completed construction on seven gabion weirs, two low level crossings, and three other water control structures in an effort to reduce turbidity and provide erosion control for the Half -Mile Creek flows into Silver River. Resource Evaluation and Modelinq • The District is working with the City of Ocala to conduct Lower Floridan aquifer (LFA) pump tests in an effort to determine if water use can be shifted from the Upper Floridan aquifer to the LFA so that flows can increase within Silver Springs. Natural Systems Land Resources • This District has begun multiple surveys to track the spread of Lygodium presence and density throughout the District. This invasive species, also known as the old world climbing fern, threatens plant life and habitats within the District and the state. As of October 2016, a total of 147,958 acres of District lands have been surveyed. Furthermore, the District completed the first phase of its mapping of Lygodium within the upper St. Johns River and Ocklawaha River basins (UORB). The District intends to complete Phase 2 of the Upper St. Johns River Basin (USJRB) mapping and Phase 1 of the UORB to be completed in FY 2016- 17. Page 11 5, PvlI