IRLNews:2021/01/13/SJRWMD Approves $10m for Indian River Lagoon Septic to Sewer Projects
There were three Indian River Lagoon related items on the meeting agenda:
Item 8 - Approval of the ranking of consultants responding to Request for Qualifications – Indian River Lagoon Seagrass Mapping
Dr. Erich Marzolf, SJRWMD Director of Water and Land Resources, presented on the use of seagrass as an indicator species and why mapping IRL seagrass growth is helpful in determining the lagoon's water quality. Dr. Marzolf's presentation included a disheartening time lapse animation of seagrass growth and decline in the Banana River lagoon.
The SJRWMD Governing Board unanimously approved the $270,000 IRL seagrass mapping expenditure with the mapping project scheduled to be completed by September, 2022.
Consideration:
Seagrass represents a key primary producer and structural habitat in the Indian River Lagoon, and as such, continuing assessments of the distribution of seagrass underpin efforts to manage the lagoon sustainably. For example, a primary objective of the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) Plan is to protect and restore seagrasses. The IRL SWIM Plan directs the South Florida and St. Johns River Water Management Districts to map seagrasses in the IRL at 2-year to 3-year intervals. Accordingly, maps have been prepared for: 1943, 1986, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2019. In addition, the Basin Management Action Plans for the Indian River Lagoon and St. Lucie River and Estuary incorporate the aerial extent of seagrass as an indicator showing that reductions in the loads of nitrogen and phosphorus are successfully restoring the IRL. In these cases, maps represent a valuable tool guiding adaptive management of uncertainty associated with the total maximum daily load process.
The lagoon-wide maps, derived from aerial photographs, provide an overall picture of seagrass in the IRL. These important management tools provide an inventory of this valuable resource, identify “healthy” areas that may deserve special protection, and identify potential “problem” areas that require further investigation. Through time, these large-scale maps also document trends in the status of this resource.
The overall objectives of this contract are for the contractor to: a) acquire aerial imagery of the entire IRL in digital format at an appropriate time in 2021; b) use the imagery to produce a complete map of the aerial extent of seagrass that meets the specifications required by the District and supports valid comparisons with past map products; and c) deliver the map, processed 2021 aerial imagery, and all files used in establishing orthorectification and performing other key processes described in the Scope of Work.
The total budget for the project is not to exceed $270,000, with the costs being shared by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD). To support a central element in evaluating implementation of Basin Management Action Plans, DEP will contribute $110,000 for the map produced in fiscal year (FY) 20-21 and FY 21-22. Allocation of the remaining costs was guided by the estimates of the area mapped in the SFWMD (~20% of the total) and SJRWMD (~80% of the total). Thus, SFWMD will contribute $26,000 and SJRWMD will contribute $134,000 for the map produced in FY 20-21 and FY 21-22.
Item 9 - Information Presentation regarding the regulation of septic systems
During the December 8, 2020 Governing Board meeting, the Board expressed interest regarding the regulation of septic systems and authority to require or enforce connection to available sewer service.
Mary Ellen Winkler, SJRWMD General Counsel, made an informative presentation regarding the regulation of septic systems.
Item 10 - Approval of septic to sewer conversion projects for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020-21 Indian River Lagoon Water Quality Improvement Grant
Consideration:
Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature appropriated $25 million to the St. Johns River Water Management District (District) under line item 1641A, General Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2020-2021 for the Indian River Lagoon Water Quality (IRL WQ) Improvement Grant.
The District worked collaboratively with the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to make this grant program available to applicants within the IRL watershed. The districts agreed upon a $2.5 million cap per project or per entity in order to seek an equitable distribution of grant funding along the IRL in both districts. The districts accepted grant applications until August 21, 2020 and then reviewed and scored the projects within their respective jurisdictional boundaries. Both districts and FDEP then collaborated to develop the mutually agreed upon project list.
At the December 8, 2020 Governing Board meeting, staff recommended the Governing Board consider funding the IRL WQ projects at a cumulative dollar total not to exceed $25 million. The Board approved all projects with the exception of septic to sewer conversion projects and asked staff to gather more information regarding commitment on the part of the potential grant recipients to hookup to sewer and abandon their septic systems.
At the January, 2021 meeting, Louis Donnangelo, Bureau Chief, Bureau of Project Management, presented the staff's recommended 2020-2021 IRL Water Quality Improvement Projects and requested Board approval for numerous septic to sewer projects.
- Indian River County - North Sebastian Ph. 2, Septic-to-Sewer
- City of Sebastian- Roseland Road, Septic-to-Sewer
- Brevard County - South Central Zone C, Septic-to-Sewer
- City of Oak Hill - Indian Harbor Estates, Septic-to-Sewer
- Volusia County - Smyrna Dunes Park, Septi-to-Sewer
- Indian River County - West Wabasso Ph. 3, Septic-to-Sewer
- Town of Ponce Inlet - Septic-to-Sewer
- Brevard County - Oak Point Park, Package Plant Removal
- Martin County - Old Palm City Septic-to-Sewer
- St. Lucie County Water and Sewer District - N. Hutchinson Island Septic-to-Sewer
On January 12, 2021 the St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board unanimously approved over $10 million in funding for Indian River Lagoon septic to sewer conversion projects.
