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| Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #2392 |
| Butler Chain Preservation Project -Shoreline Vegetation & Environmental Berm & Swale Program |
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| Requester: |
Lori Bradford |
Organization: |
Butler Chain Concerned Citizens |
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| Project Title: |
Butler Chain Preservation Project -Shoreline Vegetation & Environmental Berm & Swale Program |
Date Submitted |
1/16/2004 3:13:19 PM |
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| Sponsors: |
Webster |
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| Statewide Interest: |
| The Butler Chain of Lakes boasts the designation of Outstanding Water by the State of Florida. |
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| Recipient: |
Butler Chain Concerned Citizens |
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Contact: |
Lori Bradford, President |
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P.O. Box 848 |
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Contact Phone: |
(321) 287-3693 |
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Windermere 34786 |
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Contact email: |
BCCCInc@att.net |
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| Counties: |
Orange |
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| Gov't Entity: |
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Private Organization (Profit/Not for Profit): |
Yes |
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| Project Description: |
| The Butler Chain of Lakes, located in Central Florida, is an Outstanding Florida Water and received the designation in 1984 because of its pristine water quality and exceptional ecological and recreational significance. There are currently over 1700 lakefront residents and thousands of other Florida residents that utilize the Butler Chain annually for various recreation activities. Also, the Butler Chain has supported an ecosystem of unusual value. Recently however, the Chain has suffered a severe decline in the water quality on Lake Butler and a subsequent decline in the other nine lakes to the south. A non-profit group, the Butler Chain Concerned Citizens, was formed in March 03 in an effort to restore, preserve and protect the water quality and wildlife of the Butler Chain of Lakes. To date the membership is approaching 500 citizens.
Five years ago, in 1998, the Orange County Environmental Protection Department, in conjunction with the South Florida Water Management District, conducted a $160,000 study in which the main objective was to characterize water quality conditions and identify potential management options to protect the area's natural resources due to the expected significant development that would occur in the environmentally sensitive lands that surround the Butler Chain. The main lake degradation factor was determined to be the long-term increase of internal nutrient loading due to sediment degradation. The continued discharge of nutrient-rich suspended solids in the runoff from heavily fertilized lawns was implicated as a likely important cause of the sediment enrichment. Unfortunately, in the years that followed, nothing was implemented to prevent any degradation from the conclusions derived in this study and as a result of this and other factors, the Butler Chain has become severely degraded.
The proposed Butler Chain preservation project would be the first pilot project that would provide both a shoreline revegetation program and an environmental swale program for the lakefront owners throughout the entire Butler Chain. The BCCC conservation committee would act as administrator of the preservation fund. Applicants for both programs would submit plans, estimated costs and copies of any required regulatory permits to the administrator prior to the onset of either program. Applicants would receive written authorization and a reimbursement estimate. Upon completion of the project, submittal of required final inspection required by any regulatory agency, project receipts as well as an inspection by a member of the conservation committee will be completed prior to dispersing of any preservation reimbursement funds. Additional incentives could be rewarded for a monthly showcase project etc. The BCCC would maintain an accounting of all projects funded and dispersed funds to provide a record of the instrumental nature and effectiveness of the program. In addition, the preservation project will be widely publicized through local media to raise the awareness of the program with the lakefront owners.
The shoreline revegetation program would promote the installation and maintenance of a healthy littoral zone. A littoral zone is made up of native species vegetation that has many attributes. This vegetation provides a buffer from upland runoff, reduces erosion, removes excess harmful nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen and provides a good habitat for many birds, fish and other wildlife. Lakefront owners would be provided with a list of beneficial shoreline native species that would be compiled from both State and County environmental agency recommendations. The preservation project would reimburse a portion of the expenses that lakefront residents would incur from the purchase and installation of native vegetation. Each lakefront property owner would be reimbursed up to $200 for each 100 linear feet of shoreline towards qualifying projects.
The environmental swale program would help with the treatment of both stormwater runoff and prevent sediment, debris, fertilizer and petroleum related products like oil and grease from entering the lake. The Butler Chain preservation project would provide a reimbursement of up to 50% of the cost incurred for the berm and swale system for projects that are not required by any regulatory agency. The reimbursed costs would include both the grading and sodding of the berm and swale system.
The Butler Chain preservation project will be an essential very beneficial program that would provide immediate benefits towards pollution control of stormwater runoff, the main lake management factor for the Butler Chain of lakes. This preservation project will provide not only protection, but will help preserve the lakes ambient water quality for future generations. In addition, the Butler Chain preservation project would provide lakefront homeowners both the incentive and opportunity to take part in a program that will promote stewardship of the lakes. Please help us as we seek to prevent any further degradation to the Butler Chain and work towards the implementation of programs that will insure the preservation of this State treasure!
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| Is this a water project as described in Chapter 2002-291, Laws of Florida? |
No |
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| Measurable Outcome Anticipated: |
| A marked increase in water quality in and around the Butler Chain of Lakes. |
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| Amount requested from the State for this project this year: |
$500,000 |
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| Total cost of the project: |
$500,000 |
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| Request has been made to fund: |
Construction |
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| What type of match exists for this project? |
None |
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Cash Amount |
$ |
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| Was this project previously funded by the state? |
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No |
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| Is future-year funding likely to be requested? |
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Unknown |
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| Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request? |
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Unknown |
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| Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget? |
Unknown |
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| Is there a documented need for this project? |
Yes |
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Documentation: |
1998 Parson Study, Orange Cty EPD, S FL Water Man. District, & FDEP |
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| Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)? |
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No |
