History & Scope

The Technical Oversight Committee (TOC) originated from the Settlement Agreement of July 11, 1991 as a mechanism for technical review and conflict resolution to support the Everglades Program begun by the Agreement and continued in the 1994 Everglades Forever Act (373.4592 F.S.).

The Agreement, entered into by the federal government, the State of Florida, and the South Florida Water Management District establishes interim and long-term total phosphorus concentration limits for the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) and Everglades National Park (Park). The Agreement calls for the construction of Stormwater Treatment Areas (STAs) to meet the long-term phosphorus limits and for establishment of a regulatory program, with agricultural Best Management Practices as a key component.

In accordance with the Joint Progress Report submitted to the U.S. District Court on October 30, 1995, the Technical Oversight Committee was organized for consensus building and dispute avoidance on technical issues related to Everglades monitoring, phosphorus management and applied research. The TOC meets quarterly to review and recommend applied research, monitoring and compliance conducted pursuant to the terms of the Settlement Agreement and to consider technical advice and assistance from consultants and appropriate state and federal agencies regarding Everglades Program activities. Though the TOC does not bind any party or person as an independent authority, it does provide a public forum to evaluate technical information, particularly as it relates to water quality management and compliance tracking in the Everglades Protection Area. The TOC's overall charge is to serve the needs of the parties to the Settlement Agreement to deliberate and communicate on technical matters.

Accomplishments of the Technical Oversight Committee

The TOC has been effective at generating open discussion of water quality issues in the Everglades Protection Area and as a mechanism for developing mutually acceptable solutions. The quarterly public meetings are routinely attended by representatives of agencies signatory to the Settlement Agreement, Indian tribes, agricultural interests, environmental groups and other interested parties. This forum has addressed many important technical issues in the Everglades Protection Area, as summarized below:

1. Water quality compliance. Each TOC meeting includes a discussion of the Settlement Agreement Report and compliance with interim and long-term phosphorus limits for the Park and the Refuge. These discussions have produced the fabric for two letters to the TOC principals examining excursions above interim phosphorus limits in the Refuge. Open deliberation of compliance data has led to increased understanding of phosphorus levels and their linkage to natural and human-induced events. Detailed discussion of phosphorus levels in Shark River Slough is a recent example; the subject is being pursued with consulting assistance from the Department of the Interior (DOI).

2. Monitoring methods and data quality assurance. The District's laboratory submits an appendix to the quarterly Settlement Agreement Report to the TOC concerning quality assurance for phosphorus data. Discussion of this information has led to modifications to the District's quality assurance procedures and reports. Interaction with TOC representatives and other interested parties has been helpful in developing a mutual understanding of the strengths and limitations of analytical methods. The District's new method for detecting phosphorus at low levels was recently presented to the TOC and was given strong support by attendees. Discussion of quality assurance has identified problems and has facilitated solutions. "Drift" in phosphorus data, caused by laboratory procedures, was discovered through examination of compliance data, and corrective actions were communicated to the TOC. Phosphorus monitoring associated with the C-111 Project was considered at length through the TOC. This in-depth deliberation led to improvements in laboratory and quality assurance methods and in contracting procedures for phosphorus analyses.

3. Monitoring-network design. Changes to the District's water quality monitoring programs in the Everglades Protection Area are a routine agenda item for the TOC. External input is sought before the District alters sampling designs, and TOC discussions keep interested parties updated on monitoring programs. The TOC has considered many changes in water quality monitoring networks, including changes in sampling stations used for Shark River Slough phosphorus compliance; discontinuation of monitoring at G-211 in the 8.5 Square Mile Area, L40-1, L40-2, and the L-3 site in the Refuge; changes in trace metal and mercury sampling; and development of an innovative, new composite sampling system for the S-5A pump station. Dr. William Walker, consultant to the DOI, conducted an analysis of monitoring data from the Refuge, and then presented to the TOC his findings on the effects of sampling depth and the value of replicate samples for tracking phosphorus levels.

4. Presentations on programs relevant to water quality in the Everglades Protection Area. The TOC also provides an opportunity to keep interested parties up to date on important activities affecting current and future water quality. Presentations on Basin Feasibility Studies and Advanced Treatment Technologies are recent examples. The status of STAs has also been presented to the TOC. Discussion has typically focused on the use of monitoring information for STA design and management.