Nov. 18, 2016

Escambia County staff plans to submit six project proposals to the NRDA call for projects. The following projects are in development:

1. Bronson Field Habitat Restoration, Stream Restoration and Recreational Improvements
2. Swamp House Marina
3. Carpenter Creek Restoration
4. NAS Pensacola Living Shoreline
5. Perdido Paddling Trail & Boat Ramp Improvements
6. Bayou Grande Water Quality Improvements

Submitting a project for NRDA funding does not guarantee any of these projects will be funded. Project list is subject to change.

Nov. 4, 2016

The Florida Trustee Implementation Group is inviting the public to submit project ideas for restoration in Florida.

They are accepting ideas for the following restoration types:

• Habitat Projects on Federally Managed Lands (Programmatic Restoration Plan Sections 5.5.3, 5.D.1): focuses on the many habitats that were injured on lands managed by federal agencies, which could include restoration of wetlands, dunes and beaches, oyster reefs, Submerged Aquatic Vegetations and barrier islands. This Restoration Type will be accomplished through restoration of the priority habitats of a federal property as prescribed by existing land management plans.

• Nutrient Reduction (Programmatic Restoration Plan Sections 5.5.4, 5.D.1.1, 5.D.1.7, 5.D.2): a variety of conservation practices could be implemented to reduce nutrient loadings and sediments from agricultural lands along the Gulf Coast. Additional restoration techniques, such as stormwater management practices, forestry management practices, creation and enhancement of wetlands, hydrologic restoration, and coastal and riparian conservation, could also be used to mitigate nutrient pollution.

• Water Quality (Programmatic Restoration Plan Sections 5.5.5, 5.D.1.1, 5.D.1.7, 5.D.2): uses a range of approaches to reduce pollutants, nutrients, and pathogens being discharged to coastal watersheds and improve hydrology to enhance ecosystem services and recreational use along the Florida coast. Restoration approaches to reduce pollution and hydrologic degradation; reduce nutrient loads; create, restore, and enhance coastal wetlands; and protect and conserve marine, coastal, estuarine, and riparian habitats could be used to restore water quality in coastal watersheds.

• Provide and Enhance Recreational Opportunities (Programmatic Restoration Plan Sections 5.5.14, 5.D.8): provides recreational opportunities through infrastructure, access and education. Given the important link between healthy natural resources and recreation, restoring habitats and improving water quality will also provide human use benefits.

Additional information about these restoration types is available in Chapter 5 of the programmatic restoration plan. In particular, please refer to Chapter 5 sections 5.5.3 – 5.5.5, and 5.5.14 and Appendix D sections 5.D.1, 5.D.2, and 5.D.8 for guidance on our goals, restoration strategies, and implementation considerations for each of these restoration types.

Project ideas will be evaluated for their ability to meet the goals of the programmatic restoration plan and the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. They may choose to focus on a subset of these restoration types as planning progresses. In addition, they may apply the following additional criteria to evaluate proposed ideas:

• Restoration projects will seek to leverage other restoration projects and activities, including, but not limited to, Deepwater Horizon early restoration, RESTORE Act and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund.

• Projects for the Habitat on Federally Managed Lands restoration type will seek to address habitat injuries at Gulf Islands National Seashore and St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge.

You may submit a new project idea or a revision of a previously submitted project idea through the Gulf Spill Restoration portal or the Deepwater Horizon Florida portal. They will also consider projects that pertain to multiple restoration types or that will be implemented in phases — these submittals should include information about all project phases. The Florida TIG may also develop restoration projects for consideration.

Project ideas submitted by Dec. 5, 2016 will be considered in development of our initial restoration plan. They will also consider previously submitted project ideas. Project ideas submitted after the deadline will be considered in future planning. The initial planning period is anticipated to cover the first two to three years of settlement funding for the specified restoration types.

This notice is issued on behalf of the Florida TIG. They look forward to receiving and considering your ideas.

If you have any questions or need further assistance, please contact us at Heather Thomas.

Click here for more information on damage assessments. 

Nov. 15, 2016
NFWF Approves Nearly $370 Million for New Restoration Projects on the Gulf Coast

FLORIDA

The NFWF Board of Directors approved the award of more than $32 million for four projects in the state of Florida. The Florida projects address high-priority restoration and conservation needs, including the continuation of fisheries monitoring, an expansion of shorebird restoration activities, enhancement to sea turtle stranding response capacity and oyster reef restoration in the Big Bend. For additional information on GEBF projects in Florida, please click here.

The number of projects approved for funding from the GEBF in the state of Florida now stands at 25, with a total value of more than $100 million. All projects were selected for funding following extensive consultation with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, FWS and NOAA.

Click here for more information on NFWF.