Event:Saint Johns River Water Management District Governing Board Meeting 2021-08-10
SJRWMD Governing Board Meeting Agenda
The SJRWMD Board meeting agenda for August 10, 2021 includes one item concerning the Indian River Lagoon. Agenda Item 7 is an update to the 2020-2021 IRL Water Quality Grant Program that requests the approval of $223,210 in funding for two IRL improvement projects.
Document: SJRWMD August 2021 Meeting Agenda and Information Packet (PDF 105pp)
Agenda Item 7 - Indian River Lagoon Water Quality Improvement Grant Program Update
BACKGROUND - Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature appropriated $25 million to the St. Johns River Water Management District (District) for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020-2021 Indian River Lagoon Water Quality (IRLWQ) Improvement Grant.
In December of 2020 the Governing Board authorized the Executive Director to execute the expenditure and state revenue agreements for a cumulative dollar total not to exceed $25 million. To date, $24,776,790 has been awarded, leaving $223,210 available to fund one or more projects that were part of the FY 2020-2021 IRLWQ Improvement Grant application process.
DISCUSSION - Two additional projects have been selected by staff and are proposed as the final recipients of funding from the $25 million IRLWQ Improvement legislative appropriation. The total funding amount for these two projects is $223,210. These projects were the highest-ranked unfunded projects remaining from the FY 2020-2021 grant application process. The following are descriptions of each project, including estimated water quality improvement benefits to the IRL.
Convair Cove Low Impact Development (LID) and Living Shoreline
Project Applicant: City of Cocoa Beach.
Water quality improvement project type(s): Stormwater treatment, in-lagoon project, and low-impact development (LID).
Project description: Project includes the construction of LID elements and living shoreline. Work includes the installation of permeable pavers, underground rain tanks, bio-activated media bioswales, mangrove and emergent grass plantings as well as oyster beds in Banana River between State Road 520 and Pineda Causeway.
Estimated nutrient load reductions to the IRL: approximately 170 lbs./yr. total nitrogen (TN) and 20 lbs./yr. total phosphorous (TP).
Environmental Learning Center (ELC) Septic to Sewer (non-profit organization)
Project Applicant: Environmental Learning Center, Inc. (ELC).
Water quality improvement project type(s): Septic to sewer conversion.
Project description: Abandonment and replacement of existing ELC septic tank with connection to Indian River County’s (IRC’s) Central Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility. The ELC expects to add additional facilities to the campus that would need wastewater service, and this project includes providing wastewater infrastructure on campus so future facilities can be added to IRC’s wastewater system. The ELC is located on Wabasso Island in the IRL at the Wabasso Causeway.
Estimated nutrient load reduction to the IRL: 24 lbs./yr. TN (current septic system proposed for abandonment – no available information at this time regarding potential build-out TN load reduction [i.e., sewer instead of septic for future facilities]).
To date, the District has fully executed contracts for 23 projects. The Convair Cove and ELC projects will be added for a total of 25 projects in the District’s portion of the IRL. Currently, 14 projects are under construction (including Convair Cove and ELC) and one project has been completed.
Source: Agenda Item 7 Memo (PDF 2pp)
The St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board holds its regular monthly meeting both electronically and in-person for the benefit of the public wishing to participate. The Governing Board room will be open at a reduced capacity to provide an in-person option. The public also can watch the meeting online and offer comment by phone.
Live Broadcast: SJRWMD Governing Board Streaming Broadcast
Video Archive: SJRWMD Governing Board YouTube Channel
SJRWMD Governing Board Calendar and Agendas
