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CBIRS Request 104

Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #104

Naples Bay Watershed Initiative

Requester:

Henry Dean, Executive Director

Organization:

South Florida Management District

Project Title:

Naples Bay Watershed Initiative

Date Submitted

12/22/2004 10:55:22 AM

Sponsors:

Saunders

Statewide Interest:

The Naples Bay Watershed Initiative is a series of regional water projects that will have a significant impact on water quality in the Naples Bay, Rookery Bay, Gordon River, and Marco, while providing environmental enhancement in the estuaries. All of these waterbodies are identified as priorities within the South Florida Water Management District.

Recipient:

South Florida Water Management District

Contact:

Frank Bernardino, Legislative Affairs Representative

3301 Gun Club Road

Contact Phone:

(561) 718-2345

West Palm Beach 33406

Contact email:

fbernar@sfwmd.gov

Counties:

Collier

Gov't Entity:

Yes

Private Organization (Profit/Not for Profit):

Project Description:

) Naples Bay is a perfect example of a pristine estuary undergoing ecologic deterioration due to rapid urbanization in its primary watershed. It is a relatively narrow and shallow estuarine water body ranging in width from 100 to 1500 feet, and in depth from one to 23 feet. Both the primary water inlets like Gordon River, Rock Creek and Haldeman Creek, and the historic flow-ways to the Bay have been altered by road and urban development over the last forty years. Large fresh water discharges through a large network of man-made canals and storm water outlets cause fluctuations in the salinity levels and current flow patterns. This creates enormous shocks to the aquatic biota of the Bay, and often results in too little freshwater input to the surrounding saline areas. The rapid decline in salinity to near freshwater levels has caused prolonged salinity stresses and eliminated or displaced a high proportion of the benthic, midwater and fish plankton communities in the Bay. Suppressed plankton development has resulted in very low relative abundance of midwater fish and caused a considerable drop in shellfish harvest levels. Seagrass meadows are no longer prevalent in the Bay. Instead, bare sandy mud and algal areas predominate. The impact on commercial and recreational fisheries has been significant. Uncontrolled storm water runoff has also degraded water quality and aquatic biota. Key Efforts � Storm water management improvements for the Gordon River, Haldeman Creek, Gateway Triangle, and Lely areas. � Hydrodynamic and Water Quality modeling of Naples Bay. � Land Acquisition of Fleischmann Retention Area. � Modification of Golden Gate Canal weirs. Naples Bay Partners The District has formed cooperative partnerships with Federal, State, County and City governments, developers, citizen support groups, environmental organizations, and other nonprofit institutes. The list of partners includes: � U.S. Department of Interior � U.S. Army Corps of Engineers � U.S. Environmental Protection Agency � Florida Department of Environmental Protection � Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission � Collier County � City of Naples � Conservancy of SW Florida � The National Audubon Society

Is this a project related to 2004 hurricane damage?

Measurable Outcome Anticipated:

Improved water quality, flood protection, and environmewntal enhancement

Amount requested from the State for this project this year:

$1,000,000

Total cost of the project:

$2,000,000

Request has been made to fund:

Construction

What type of match exists for this project?

Local, Federal

Cash Amount

$1,000,000

Was this project previously funded by the state?

Yes

Fiscal Year:

2004-2005

Amount:

$2,090,000

Is future-year funding likely to be requested?

Yes

Amount:

$4,000,000

To Fund:

Construction

Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request?

Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget?

Is there a documented need for this project?

Yes

Documentation:

SFWMD's 10-year Strategic Plan and Southwest FL Feasibility Study

Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)?

Yes

Hearing Body:

Collier County State Legislative Delegation

Hearing Meeting Date:

11/23/2004

Is this a water project as described in Section 403.885, Laws of Florida?

Yes

Has the project been submitted to the Department of Environmental Protection?

Yes

DEP identifying number:

SWR20022143

Is this project eligible under section 403.885(5) F.S.?

Yes

Is your project addressed in a state, regional or local plan (such as a SWIM plan, Comprehensive Plan, local master plan, etc.)?

Yes

Name the plan and cite the pages on which the project is described:

Naples Bay SWIM Plan being developed; Big Cypress Basin 5-year Plan (page5); SW FL Feasibility Stud;

If you are requesting funding for a stormwater or surface water restoration project:

Which Water Management District has the jurisdiction of your project?

South Florida Water Management District

Have you provided at least 50% match?

Yes

Match Amount:

1000000

Match Source:

County, state, and federal governments, as well as multi-agencies

Will this project reduce pollutant loadings to a water management district designated 'priority' surface water body?

Yes

Name of water body:

Naples Bay/Gordon River, Rookery Bay/Marco

Describe how it will reduce loadings, identify anticipated load reductions for total suspended solids, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and other contaminants, and specify the practices that will be used to reduce loadings:

Each project within the Naples Bay Watershed Initiative has a water quality component that will significantly reduce loadings and pollutants reaching South Florida Water Management District priority water bodies.

If you are requesting funding for a wastewater project:

Does your project qualify for funding from DEP's 'Small Community Wastewater Treatment Grant Program' under section 403.1838 F.S.?

Other wastewater projects:

Have you received previous legislative funding for this project?

Is the project under construction?

Have you provided at least a 25% local match?