May 2017 Update

Natural Resources Management

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Direct Component

Recent Activity

Staff continues to address questions from the U.S. Treasury Department regarding the preliminary unofficial review of the Multi-Year Implementation Plan. It is anticipated the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners will vote on approving the Draft MYIP at the May 25 board meeting. Approval of the Draft MYIP from the BCC will initiate a 45-day public comment period. Public input will be reviewed and necessary updates will be made before the BCC approves the final MYIP, which will then be submitted to the U.S. Treasury Department for final review and acceptance.

For more information on projects selected by the BCC, please view the March 2017 Update.

Click here for more information about the Direct Component.

Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council

Recent Activity

DEP Awards More Than $217,000 for Escambia County Pensacola Bay Living Shoreline Project

April 25, 2017 - The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has awarded more than $217,000 in RESTORE grant funding for the Pensacola Bay Living Shoreline Project. Funding will support the first phase of planning, engineering, design and permitting of the environmental restoration project.

Living shorelines address erosion by providing long-term protection, reducing wave energy and restoring vegetated shoreline habitats through strategic placement of plants, rock and oyster reefs. Living shorelines also stabilize sediment, improve water quality and enhance habitats for oysters, fish, shrimp, crabs, birds, sea turtles and other estuarine species.

Pensacola Bay Living Shoreline for RESTORE Update

"Investing in projects like this are important to our coastal estuaries," said Drew Bartlett, DEP deputy secretary for ecosystem restoration. "In addition to providing natural shoreline protection, it also creates habitats necessary for the variety of wildlife in Pensacola Bay, and subsequently the industries that depend on them."

The project includes placing 24,800 linear feet of rock and oyster reef breakwater and planting 205 acres of emergent marsh and submerged aquatic vegetation habitat at three sites: one adjacent to White Island in northwestern Pensacola Bay, and the other two on the eastern and southern shores of Pensacola Naval Air Station. Funding for the first phase of this project was received through the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council’s Funded Priorities List.

For more information, contact the DEP Press Office at 850-245-2112 or DEPNews@dep.state.fl.us.

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

Gulf Consortium

Recent Activity

April 6, 2017 - The full board of the Gulf Consortium continued discussion on Florida’s State Expenditure Plan for RESTORE Pot 3 funding. ESA, the board’s consultants, developed a list of all of the nominated projects by county. This list included the type of project, the project stage and funding needs for both implementation and planning. The list can be found here. The Gulf Consortium board intends to go after planning dollars for counties that need the funding to progress their project nominations, which can be accessed before the SEP is approved. Counties must wait until after the plan is approved before the board can apply for implementation costs.

Upcoming

Executive Committee Meeting
Thursday, May 11, 2017 at 3 p.m.
Florida Association of Counties
Dial-In Number: 1-888-670-3525
Participant Passcode: 998 449 5298#

Board Meeting
Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at 1 p.m.
Emerald Coast Convention Center
1250 Miracle Strip Parkway SE
Ft. Walton Beach, Florida

Click here for more information about Gulf Consortium.

Natural Resources Damage Assessment

Recent Activity

April 2017 - The Gulf Islands National Seashore Ferries arrived Saturday, April 22. Funded by $4 million from NRDA Phase III early restoration, the two, 150 passenger ferries will travel between downtown Pensacola at Commendencia Slip, Pensacola Beach at Quitewater Boardwalk and Fort Pickens. Ferry service is anticipated to begin operating in spring 2018 once facilities are completed and a vendor is selected. The “Turtle Runner” and “Pelican Perch”, named by local fourth graders, will feature a National Park Service Ranger explaining the historic, cultural and environmental significance of Pensacola Bay.

The Florida Trustee Implementation Group will meet in May to select projects to be included in the initial Florida restoration plan. Projects must meet criteria established in the NRDA Programmatic Restoration Plan. Projects included in 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

The Beach Haven Northeast Drainage & Sanitary Sewer Project (Phase I) began construction in April. This project will provide sanitary sewer and stormwater upgrades to the Beach Haven neighborhood, reducing sediment and nutrient inputs to Jones Creek. For more information on this project and other Bayou Chico projects funded by NFWF GEBF, click here.

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

May 2, 2017 - The Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate have reached a consensus on Triumph legislation. The Florida Senate passed Triumph legislation by substituting Senate Bill 364 with House Bill 7077 and amending the bill to better reflect the desires of the House and Senate. The House also passed the amended HB 7077 and it now must be approved by the governor before taking effect. The latest version of HB 7077 can be found here.

The amended version of HB 7077 directs 40 percent of the current $300 million available to Triumph be allocated equally among the eight disproportionately affected counties based on a minimum allocation of five percent. Additionally, 32 percent of future payments to Triumph must be allocated equally among the eight disproportionately affected counties based on a minimum allocation of 4 percent. Each board of county commissioners is to provide Triumph a list of proposed projects and programs, including those of other elected governing boards within each county for consideration of funds directed to each county. Other major changes to the bill include removal of impact fees as an eligible activity and the addition of tourism, workforce, and infrastructure promotion as an eligible activity.

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.