Subject:
Title
National Resources Conservation Service Emergency Watershed Protection Program Grant Agreement for tree debris removal from various channels throughout unincorporated County.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval of the National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) grant agreement for tree debris removal from various channels throughout unincorporated County.
• EWP is a federal emergency recovery program assisting communities recovering from natural disasters.
• Application to NRCS for EWP was submitted on November 14, 2024, as part of Legistar item No. 25-0829A.
• Funding is provided to assist with recovery from the impacts of Hurricane Milton to clear storm related debris from various channels throughout unincorporated County.
• Due to the nature of this request being related to an emergency event, this is not budgeted for in the Fiscal Year 2025 Operating Budget for Public Works or the General Fund. Expenses will be reimbursed by the grant.
PID 90019B4 Task 14; Grant funding amount is $5,968,649.50; No match is required; Authorize the Chairman to sign and the Clerk of the Circuit Court to attest.
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Strategic Priorities:
Resilient Infrastructure and Environment
1.2 Maintain and enhance County infrastructure
1.4 Improve Environmental Quality
Healthy and Safe Communities
2.2 Enhance community safety
Summary:
Summary
Federal requirements for debris management require that entities submit a request to NRCS for assistance with channel related debris and restoration work. If NRCS is unable to fund the work, then an entity can perform the work and request reimbursement from FEMA. The County applied to NRCS on November 14, 2024. The Grant Application submittal was approved as part of Legistar item No. 25-0829A. The request was for assistance in recovery efforts associated with local watersheds impacted by Hurricane Milton on October 9, 2024. NRCS has approved the County for an amount of $5,968,649.50 which covers 100% of construction costs, not to exceed $5,426,045.00, and 10% of construction-related technical services, not to exceed $542,604.50. Areas to be addressed include Curlew Creek, Joe’s Creek, Smith Bayou, and South Creek.
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Background Information:
As a result of the Presidential Disaster Declaration for Hurricane Milton, the County realized an influx of channel debris into Curlew Creek, Joe’s Creek, Smith Bayou, and South Creek. If left unresolved channel tree debris can cause upstream flooding.
NRCS’s EWP Program authority is specifically addresses prevention of runoff retardation and soil-erosion protection associated with sudden impairment of a watershed and where NRCS has deemed the proposed measures necessary to safeguard lives and property from floods and the products of erosion.
Fiscal Impact:
Total Grant Agreement funding amount is $5,968,649.50. NRCS has approved the County for an amount of $5,968,649.50 which covers 100% of construction costs, not to exceed $5,426,045.00, and 10% of construction-related technical services, not to exceed $542,604.50. There is no match requirement.
Due to the nature of this request being related to an emergency event, this is not budgeted for in the FY25 Operating Budget for Public Works or the General Fund. Expenses will be reimbursed by the grant.
Staff Member Responsible:
Kelli Hammer Levy, Director, Public Works
Partners:
National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
Attachments:
Agreement
USDA General Terms and Conditions