Subject:
Title
2024 grant application for the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Fund Longleaf Landscape Stewardship Fund
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval by the Pinellas County Utilities Director to electronically submit the 2024 grant application to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) Longleaf Landscape Stewardship Fund for the restoration of overgrown longleaf pine habitats within the Cross Bar/AL Bar Ranches in Pasco County.
• Grant request of $250,000.00 in NFWF funds with a match of $250,000 for total project costs of $500,000.00.
• $156,000 of the matching funds are from other partnering agencies, with a net amount of $94,000.00 from Utilities’ budget
• Project timeline will be from October 1st, 2024, to March 30th, 2026, for a total project period of 18 months.
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Strategic Plan:
Practice Superior Environmental Stewardship
3.2 Preserve and manage environmental lands, beaches, parks, and historical assets
3.3 Protect and improve the quality of our water, air, and other natural resources
Summary:
This funding opportunity falls under the Long Leaf Alliance of the National Fish & Wildlife Fund (NFWF) Longleaf Landscape Stewardship Fund. The mechanism for habitat restoration under this fund is America’s Longleaf Restoration Initiative (ALRI). This a collaborative effort of multiple public and private sector partners that actively supports range-wide efforts to restore and conserve longleaf pine ecosystems. The vision of the partners involved in the ALRI is to have functional, viable longleaf pine ecosystems with the full spectrum of ecological, economic and social values inspired through the voluntary involvement of motivated organizations and individuals.
Background/Explanation:
The project to which this grant funding will apply will result in the restoration of large portions of unconverted, fire suppressed, pine-dominated uplands on the Cross Bar/Al Bar Ranches (CB/AB) property; public lands that serve as critical connection to adjacent conservation areas. Restoration will focus on a locally imperiled and unique type of longleaf pine community known as sandhill. This project seeks to restore select sandhill polygons within the approximately 850 acres of sandhill habitat occurring within the Core Conservation Area (CCA) of the property. The project is compatible with the goals of the Ecosystem Management Plan prepared for CB/AB, specifically pertaining to restoration of native habitats within the CCA which provide important habitats for protected/target wildlife species.
Fiscal Impact:
The grant application request is for $250,000 with a match of $250,000, provided by Pinellas County ($94,000) and other partner agencies ($156,000) for a total project cost of $500,000.00. The matching funds from Pinellas County are budgeted in Utilities operating budget under the Land, Forestry and Wildlife cost center.
Delegated Authority:
Authority for the Department Director to approve this proposal is granted under Code Section 2-62 (a)(1).
Staff Member Responsible:
Jeremy Waugh, Director, Pinellas County Utilities
Partners:
US Fish & Wildlife Service Partners for Wildlife
Florida Fish & Wildlife Service
Attachments:
Intent to Apply
Project Proposal Narrative
Delegated Authority Memo