Subject:
Title
Cooperative Agreement with the City of Tarpon Springs for the development of a Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan for the Anclote River.
label
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval and execution by the County Administrator of the cooperative agreement with the City of Tarpon Springs for the development of a Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan (WMP).
This agreement provides funding from the City of Tarpon Springs in the amount of $152,000 over a three year period for anticipated annual reimbursements of $57,000 in year one, $57,000 in year two, and $38,000 in the third and final year.
Body
Strategic Plan:
Practice Superior Environmental Stewardship
3.3 Protect and improve the quality of our water, air, and other natural resources
Summary:
Approval of this agreement provides nineteen percent (19%) of the funding required for the following elements to be performed for the Anclote River Watershed:
1. Watershed Evaluation
2. WMP - Floodplain Analysis
3. WMP - Flood Protection Level of Service Determination
4. Surface Water Resource Assessment
5. Best Management Practices Alternative Analysis
Completion of the WMP will provide for a model update, floodplain delineation, and an alternative analysis of best management practices for the Anclote River Watershed.
Background/Explanation:
The Anclote River has a watershed area of 9,000 acres within the County and discharges into St. Joseph Sound. In recent years, the watershed and its associated natural resources have begun to exhibit signs of ecological stress. The watershed is presently listed on the state’s verified impaired waters list for dissolved oxygen and nutrients (historic Trophic State Index). There are also some flooding issues that need to be resolved.
This WMP will help identify improvements needed to better protect our natural resources and reduce the flooding within the watershed.
Currently, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) and Pasco County are working to update the WMP for Pasco’s portion of the watershed. While Pasco County is not a funding partner on the County’s portion of this watershed, County staff will work in cooperation with SWFWMD and Pasco County for completion of their respective areas of the Anclote River WMP.
This agreement remains in effect through March 31, 2019.
Previous actions related to this agreement are outlined below:
On January 1, 2017, the County and SWFWMD executed a Cooperative Funding Agreement directly related to this project, with SWFWMD providing $400,000 or fifty percent (50%) of project costs.
Fiscal Impact:
The cost of this project totals $800,000 over a three year funding cycle, with SWFWMD providing fifty percent (50%) of the funding, and the County and the City of Tarpon Springs providing the remaining amount. The County’s portion is available from the Surface Water Utility Operating Budget.
The funding breakdown is as follows:
Funding Source FY2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 Total
Budget Budget Budget Funding
County 93,000 93,000 62,000 248,000
City of Tarpon Springs 57,000 57,000 38,000 152,000
SWFWMD Grant 150,000 150,000 100,000 400,000
Total 300,000 300,000 200,000 800,000
Delegated Authority:
Authority for the County Administrator to sign this agreement is granted under (Code Section 2-62 (a)(1).
Staff Member Responsible:
Rahim Harji, P.E., Director, Public Works
Partners:
SWFWMD
City of Tarpon Springs
Attachments:
Cooperative Agreement - Tarpon Springs
Executed Cooperative Funding Agreement - SWFWMD