Subject:
Title
Cooperative Funding Prioritization Letter with the Southwest Florida Water Management District for Fiscal Year 2026 Projects.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval and execution by the County Administrator of the Cooperative Funding Prioritization Letter with the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Projects.
• Prioritization letter is an annual SWFWMD requirement for the County’s preference of receiving funding assistance.
• One current project and two new projects are included in the FY26 Prioritization letter, respectively:
1. Watershed Management Plan for Lake Seminole Watershed - $100,000
2. Baypointe Stormwater Conservation Area - $1,000,000
3. Phase 1- Real Time Flood Forecasting - $400,000
• In the letter, the first project listed is the highest ranked funding priority for the County.
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Strategic Plan:
Practice Superior Environmental Stewardship:
3.1 Implement green technologies and practices where possible
3.3 Protect and improve the quality of our water, air, and other natural resources
Foster Continual Economic Growth and Vitality
4.4 Invest in infrastructure to meet current and future needs
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:
Summary
The prioritization letter to the SWFWMD is an annual requirement for the County’s preference of receiving funding assistance for FY26 Projects. This letter must accompany each Cooperative Funding Initiative project application so that funding may be given to higher priority projects in the event of limited SWFWMD resources.
Priority number one (1) is the Watershed Management Plan for Lake Seminole Watershed. The grant funding amount request is $100,000.00 with a County match of $100,000.00. The second (2) priority request is for Baypointe Stormwater Conservation Area. The grant funding request is $1,000,000.00 with a County match of $1,000,000.00. The third (3) priority is for Phase 1- Real Time Flood Forecasting. The grant funding request is $400,000.00 with a County match of $400,000.00.
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Background Information:
This correspondence is an annual SWFWMD requirement and has no bearing on the agency’s ranking process. The project listed as one (1) is a request for continued funding. The first project listed is ranked in the higher order of funding priority for the County. Projects two (2) and three (3) are new project requests. For multi-year projects with future funding available, County staff will be submitting future grant applications.
Funding assistance from the SWFWMD is contingent upon concurrent project action and commitment of matching funds by the County to ensure project goals will be implemented. Each project request should address one (1) or more of the SWFWMD’s four (4) areas of responsibility including water supply, flood protection, water quality, and natural systems.
Fiscal Impact:
N/A
Staff Member Responsible:
Kelli Hammer-Levy, Director, Public Works
Partners:
SWFWMD
Attachments:
FY26 Project Prioritization Letter
CFI FY26 Project Maps
Lake Seminole WMP FY26 CFI Application
Baypointe FY26 CFI Application
Phase 1 Real Time Flood Forecasting FY26 CFI Application
OMB Intent to Apply