Subject:
Title
Amendment No. 1 to the Joint Funding Agreement with the United States Geological Survey, Department of Interior for the Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center Water Resource Investigations.
label
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval and execution by the County Administrator of Amendment No. 1 to the Joint Funding Agreement (JFA) with the United States Geological Survey (USGS), Department of Interior for the Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center Water Resource Investigations.
• USGS has reduced services for the current Agreement period (May 1, 2025 - April 30, 2026) due to staffing reductions at the agency.
• Amendment No.1 reflects the USGS cost reduction and elimination of monitoring locations for remainder of Agreement period.
• USGS manages and performs the work for a total cost of $290,065, of which the County will contribute $218,339.00 and the USGS will still contribute $71,726.
• County’s contribution is reduced by $28,335.00 for a revised total amount of $218,339 instead of the $246,674 approved earlier this year.
• Funding for this agreement is included in the FY25 and FY26 budgets of Public Works in the General Fund and Surface Water Utility Fund. Specifically, the Environmental Management Division will contribute $199,752 and Operations & Watershed Planning will contribute $18,587 for a total County contribution amount of $218,339.
USGS Agreement No. 25MCJFA0029; County’s contribution is reduced by $28,335.00 for a revised amount of $218,339.00; Total project cost is $290,065.00; Agreement term ends April 30, 2026. Body
Strategic Priorities:
Resilient Infrastructure and Environment
1.5 Strengthen resilience and adaptation.
Healthy and Safe Communities
2.2 Enhance community safety
Summary:
USGS requested a 10 to 15% decrease in the program budget for the current Agreement period due to staffing reductions at the agency. Amendment No.1 reflects a cost reduction of $28,335.00 to the County and reduction in USGS services for the remainder of Agreement period. USGS will manage and perform the work for a total cost of $290,065.00, of which the County will contribute $218,339.00 and the USGS will contribute $71,726.00. Public Works is working with a private service provider to cover the impacted locations.
The purpose of this JFA is to continue funding the joint effort with the USGS to collect scientific data used to develop watershed management plans, design surface water management projects, and aid in compliance with the County’s NPDES stormwater permit. USGC will manage and perform the work.
Background/Explanation:
USGS constructed and installed data gathering stations at various locations throughout the County. These stations collect continuous monitoring data including flood stages, discharge, and rainfall. This information, combined with water quality data, allows the County to report pollutant loading information to meet federal and state water quality requirements; supports the planning and design of systems to address flooding and is used in the development of watershed models which aids in the understanding of our surface waters and the overall function of the stormwater system. Water Discipline Data Collection Program has been an ongoing program since 1999.
The USGS has constructed and installed data gathering stations at various locations throughout the County to collect continuous monitoring data, including flood stages, discharge, and rainfall. Data is utilized to meet the County’s National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater permit water quality requirements, watershed planning and stormwater modeling, and flood forecasting.
Fiscal Impact:
Amendment No. 1 reduces the County contribution by $28,335.00 for a revised total amount of $218,339.00. The USGS will contribute $71,726.00 for a project total of $290,065.00.
Funding for this agreement is included in the FY25 and FY26 budgets of Public Works in the General Fund and Surface Water Utility Fund. Specifically, the Environmental Management Division will contribute $199,752 and Operations & Watershed Planning will contribute $18,587 for a total County contribution amount of $218,339.
Delegated Authority:
Authority for the County Administrator to sign this Amendment is granted under Code Section 2-62 (a)(1).
Staff Member Responsible:
Kelli Hammer Levy, Director, Public Works
Partners:
USGS
Attachments:
Amendment No. 1
Agreement