Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Market-Based Program for Environmental Services on South Florida Ranch Lands

Agreement Number
05-159
Awardee Name
World Wildlife Fund
Grant Type
Classic
Project Title
Market-Based Program for Environmental Services on South Florida Ranch Lands
Awardee State/Territory
District of Columbia
Involved States/territories
District of Columbia
Award Year
2005
Start Date
End Date
Award Amount
$25,480.00
Resource Concern (Broad)
Water
Project Background
Florida’s Lake Okeechobee, at the heart of the Everglades system, suffers from excessive phosphorous (P) loads and unnatural lake levels due in part to rapid runoff from its surrounding watershed. Agriculture is the dominant land use and a significant source of P in the watershed. Ranchers in this region are under regulatory requirements to reduce P loading, although they are not required to aggressively manage water to retain P. New approaches to managing runoff from this large area can help improve water quality and mediate water level changes in Lake Okeechobee. The purpose of this program is to design, establish, and evaluate a market-based program on ranches in the Lake Okeechobee watershed to reduce P loads, improve wildlife Habitat, and sequester carbon. Results of the pilot will be used to design a scalable version of the program that could be used on a broader scale.
Awardee Technical Contact Name
Sarah Lynch