Escambia County Receives Grant Awards for Three RESTORE Projects from U.S. Treasury

On March 1, Escambia County received grant awards for three RESTORE Direct Component Pot 1 projects from the U.S. Department of Treasury as part of the county’s RESTORE Multi-Year Implementation Plan. These planning projects include the Carpenter Creek and Bayou Texar Revitalization Plan, the Universal Public Access Plan and the Eleven Mile Creek Basin Stormwater Ponds Plan. All three projects are expected to begin in the spring. 

• The Carpenter Creek and Bayou Texar Revitalization Plan will develop a master plan to enhance the environmental and economic resilience of the watershed. An environmental assessment will identify the causes of legacy environmental impairments to Carpenter Creek and Bayou Texar. A master plan will be developed, based on stakeholder input, to identify comprehensive restoration and recreational opportunities within the watershed. Approximately $1,308,000 has been contributed from the RESTORE Pot 1 allocation. 

• The Universal Public Access Plan will evaluate public infrastructure, including facilities, in Escambia County for compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act Standards to identify enhancement opportunities to meet the needs and desires of citizens with disabilities by upgrading existing infrastructure and facilities. Citizens, specifically disabled citizens, will provide input to identify amenities and priorities for future implementation by Escambia County and partner community organizations. A total of $360,000 has been contributed from the RESTORE Pot 1 allocation.

• The Eleven Mile Creek Basin Stormwater Ponds project will plan and design two new stormwater ponds in the Eleven Mile Creek basin that will provide flood attenuation, improve water quality, expand and/or improve adjoining floodplains/wetlands, and positively impact coastal areas of Escambia County that border Perdido Bay. These pond and stream restoration sites in the Eleven Mile Creek basin have been evaluated in a recently completed due diligence report performed by the county. This application will design and permit two stormwater ponds out of 14, along with an associated drainage conveyance system. A total of $268,800 has been contributed from the RESTORE Pot 1 allocation. 

The Natural Resources Management Department will provide a status update for all RESTORE projects during the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners meeting on March 8. 

About the Multi-Year Implementation Project

The MYIP prioritizes eligible activities for Direct Component Pot 1 funds awarded to the county through the Deepwater Horizon Settlement and RESTORE Act, or the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012. The MYIP also seeks to obtain broad-based participation from individuals, businesses, Indian tribes and nonprofit organizations.

The county's MYIP includes 10 projects selected by the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners for a total of $8,638,650 of the funds available in Escambia County's allocation in the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund. The approval comes after a three-year process that included diligent efforts from the RESTORE Advisory Committee, along with a 45-day public comment period for citizens to give input on the projects. 

For more information and to view Escambia County's MYIP, click here. To stay up to date on all RESTORE projects, visit myescambia.com/RESTORE.