Subject:
Title
Cooperative funding agreement with the Southwest Florida Water Management District for completion of a Watershed Management Plan (N734) for the Curlew Creek and Smith Bayou Watersheds.
label
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approve the Cooperative Funding Agreement for a Watershed Management Plan (WMP) for the Curlew Creek and Smith Bayou Watersheds that will result in recommendations for water quality, drainage, and natural system improvement projects.
SWFWMD Agreement No. 16CF0000208; SWFWMD Funding: $425,000, County Funding (including city contributions): $425,000 - amount includes funding contributions from the Cities of Dunedin and Clearwater through a separate agreement.
The County’s portion of the cost of the $850,000 project is $262,943.91 and is funded through the Surface Water Assessment.
Body
Strategic Plan:
Practice Superior Environmental Stewardship
3.1 Implement green technologies and practices where practical
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
Deliver First Class Services to the Public and Our Customers
5.1 Maximize partner relationships and public outreach
5.2 Be responsible stewards of the public’s resources
Summary:
This agreement provides funding from the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) to the County for the development and completion of a WMP for the Curlew Creek and Smith Bayou Watersheds, through and including: floodplain analysis, level of service determination, surface water resource assessment, and best management practices (BMPs) alternative analysis.
Additionally, staff and the County Attorney have reviewed the indemnification language contained in Section 9 of the Agreement and agree that it does not increase the liability to the County beyond an acceptable level of risk. Furthermore, SWFWMD will not modify their indemnification language as it is a standard requirement in their agreements.
Background Information:
The Curlew Creek and Smith Bayou Watersheds are a combined 8,546-acre drainage basin located in the unincorporated northern portions of the County, as well as in the cities of Dunedin and Clearwater. The Curlew Creek and Smith Bayou system includes multiple tributaries with dominant land use categories in residential, commercial, and recreational open space. The main channels of Curlew Creek and Smith Bayou flow from east to west, ultimately discharging into St. Joseph Sound. The primary tributaries to Curlew Creek and Smith Bayou have existing poor water quality and are known to contribute significant sediment loadings into St. Joseph Sound. This project involves the development of a comprehensive WMP that will result in recommendations for water quality, drainage, and natural system improvement projects.
The overall watershed program includes five major elements: (1) digital topographic information, (2) watershed evaluation, (3) WMP, (4) implementation of BMPs, and (5) WMP database maintenance and watershed model updates. Implementing elements of the watershed management program with local governments is one of the WMP initiative strategies. The watershed management program provides a method of evaluating the capacity of a watershed to protect, enhance, and restore water quality and natural systems while achieving flood protection. The program also provides a method of measuring the effectiveness of the strategies and goals of the WMP initiative through data analysis, modeling, projection, and evaluation in order to reach the desired watershed condition.
Fiscal Impact:
The estimated cost of the project is $850,000, with the County and the cities of Dunedin and Clearwater funding fifty percent (50%), or $425,000. The County’s portion ($262,943.91) is funded through the Surface Water Utility Fee, and the remaining fifty percent (50%), or $425,000 is funded by SWFWMD.
Staff Member Responsible:
Kelli Levy, Natural Resources Division Manager, Public Works
Partners:
SWFWMD
City of Clearwater (8%)
City of Dunedin (11%)
Attachments:
Cooperative Funding Agreement
Location Map
Email from SWFWMD regarding indemnification