June 2017 Update

Natural Resources Management

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Direct Component

Recent Activity

At the May 25, 2017 regular board meeting, the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners approved the draft Multi-Year Implementation Plan and authorized staff to conduct the required 45-day public comment period. The public comment period will open June 5, 2017 and close July 19, 2017. On Monday, June 5, RESTORE staff will host a public comment kickoff meeting at 5:30 p.m. at the Central Office Complex (3363 West Park Place), Room 104.

Public comments can be submitted in the following ways:

In person: MYIP kickoff meeting, Monday, June 5 at 5:30 p.m., Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place, Room 104
Email: restore@myescambia.com
Mail: Attention - Escambia County Natural Resources Management - RESTORE, 221 Palafox Place, Pensacola, FL 32502
Phone: 850-595-0820

Once the comment period closes, RESTORE staff will review comments and incorporate meaningful comments into the MYIP.

Next, Escambia County will submit the MYIP to the U.S. Treasury Department for a 30-60 day review and approval process. The BCC anticipates voting to accept the approved MYIP in early September.

Approval of the MYIP allows Escambia County to begin individual grant applications for the projects included in the MYIP. It is anticipated that final adoption of grant awards will occur in January 2018, with projects beginning shortly thereafter.

To learn more about Escambia County's Multi-Year Implementation Plan or submit a comment about the plan, please click here.

Click here for more information about the Direct Component.

Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council

Recent Activity

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued a request for proposals regarding the establishment of an estuary program in one Northwest Florida estuary. Funded by a $2 million grant from the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council, an estuary program will be established in one or more of the following bays: Perdido Bay, Pensacola Bay, Escambia Bay, Choctawhatchee Bay, St. Andrews Bay or Apalachicola Bay. The Bay Area Resource Council will be responding to the RFP for the two estuaries encompassing Escambia County, the Perdido Watershed and the Pensacola Bay System. If awarded, funding will be used to stand up a place-based estuary program and develop a Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan.

Estuary programs are non-regulatory, community-based, and consensus-driven programs used to develop a healthy and sustainable estuary. To read the RFP, click here.

For more information on the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council, click here.

Gulf Consortium

Recent Activity

May 11, 2017 - The Gulf Consortium moved on several items regarding submission of Florida’s State Expenditure Plan for RESTORE Pot 3 funding. ESA, the board’s consultant, briefed the board on a meeting held between ESA, Consortium Chairman Grover Robinson, and staff from the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council. The council provided clarification and guidance on several matters regarding SEP development. As a result, the board voted to expedite submittal of the SEP by pushing back conceptual design and feasibility work until after the SEP is approved by the council. A draft SEP will be presented to the Consortium in September followed by a public comment period from November-December and final submittal in January 2018. It is anticipated the SEP will be approved in March 2018.

The board also moved forward with sequencing projects in the SEP and using a single pot method of distributing funds to each county. This means that projects identified as shovel-ready and able to move forward will be able to receive funding first. This does not impact the amount of funding each county will receive from the Consortium. The Consortium will discuss project sequencing at the June 28 meeting in West Palm Beach.

Upcoming

Board Meeting
Wednesday, June 28, 2017 at 2 p.m. ET
Palm Beach County Convention Center
650 Okeechobee Blvd
West Palm Beach, Florida 33401

Click here for more information about Gulf Consortium.

Natural Resources Damage Assessment

Recent Activity

The Florida Trustee Implementation Group met in May to shortlist projects to be included in the initial Florida restoration plan. Projects must meet criteria established in the NRDA Programmatic Restoration Plan. Projects included in the Florida restoration plan will be presented to the NRDA Board of Trustees later this summer for approval.

Click here for more information on damage assessments.

National Fish & Wildlife Foundation

Recent Activity

Bill Gregory Park Stormwater Project - Construction of the stormwater pond is underway.

R Street Stormwater Project - Design and permitting is complete, and Williams Industrial and Marine has been selected as the project contractor.

Beach Haven Stormwater Project - Construction and land clearing has begun.

Jones Creek Stream Restoration - The Corrydale floodplain restoration is complete. Floodplain restoration at the Pensacola State College clearway is in design and permitting.

Jackson Creek Stream Restoration - Selection of a design firm is in progress.

FWC and DEP continue to prepare the final Restoration Strategy. Interested parties are encouraged to stay involved with Restoration Strategy development and the water management district Surface Water Improvement and Management planning updates, as appropriate:

Click here for more information on the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation.

Triumph Gulf Coast

Recent Activity

Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc. met May 22, 2017 for the first time since the passage of HB 7077 and HB 7079 in early May. The board approved filing articles of incorporation, passed an incorporation resolution, moved forward with establishing a website, and gave approval of identifying local banking institutions to establish financial accounts. Until Gov. Rick Scott signs the Triumph bills into law, the board is limited on moving forward. The board also agreed to hold off on discussions concerning policies and procedures until two new board members are appointed by the Florida Speaker of the House and the Florida Senate President. To read the Triumph legislation passed by the House and Senate, please view the May 2017 Update.

The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners will discuss Triumph legislation and begin project discussions at the June 15, 2017 Committee of the Whole at 9 a.m. in the Board Chambers (221 S. Palafox Place).

Click here for more information on Triumph Gulf Coast.

While the exact benefits of the RESTORE research projects to Escambia County can be difficult to quantify, most programs are Gulf-wide and provide an overall benefit to the county.

NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program

Recent Activity

As a way to keep stakeholders aware of new funding opportunities, the NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program has coordinated with several of the other Gulf of Mexico science and restoration initiatives established following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill to update a two year funding opportunities calendar. The calendar will enable stakeholders to remain informed about opportunities and assist grant applicants in planning ahead and submitting their high-quality applications to the appropriate funding opportunity. Click here for a link to the printable calendar.

Click here for more information on the NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program.