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CBIRS Request 534

Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #534

Tampa Bay Restoration

Requester:

Dave Moore, Executive Director

Organization:

Southwest Florida Water Management District

Project Title:

Tampa Bay Restoration

Date Submitted

1/5/2006 10:33:31 AM

Sponsors:

Jones

Statewide Interest:

Tampa Bay is Florida's largest open water estuary, more than 272 square miles. Its major tributary, the Hillsborough River, is the primary drinking water source for the City of Tampa. The contributing watershed for Tampa Bay is approximately 2,200 square miles in size, and includes portions of Hillsborough, Manatee and Pinellas Counties, as well as the cities of Clearwater, St. Petersburg, and Tampa. It also includes the Port of Tampa, the nation's third largest port, in terms of domestic tonnage. It is the highest ranked water body on the District's SWIM Priority List and has been declared an Estuary of National Significance by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The bay is home to more than one hundred bottlenose dolphins and as many as 100 manatees have been recorded in the bay at one time. The nation's first major desalination plant producing 25 million gallons of drinking water a day (10% of the three county area's needs) is located on Tampa Bay.

Recipient:

Southwest Florida Water Management District

Contact:

David Rathke, Director, Commun

2379 Broad St.

Contact Phone:

(352) 279-2834

Brooksville 34604

Contact email:

david.rathke@swfwmd.state.fl.us

Counties:

Hillsborough, Manatee, Pinellas

Gov't Entity:

Yes

Private Organization (Profit/Not for Profit):

Project Description:

Since 1950, approximately 50 percent of the bay's natural shoreline has been impacted due to development and reductions in water quality, and approximately 40 percent of the bay's sea grass acreage has been lost due to physical destruction and water quality impairment. Additionally, there have been adverse impacts to salt marsh and mangrove island habitats that provide nesting areas, and Nitrogen has been identified as a pollutant. There are more than fifty ongoing water quality improvement and habitat restoration projects in Tampa Bay. These projects are closely coordinated among the many local, state, and federal partners involved in the effort. Funds received from the state for this project will be used for implementation of stormwater retrofits, habitat restoration, and exotic plant removal in areas including but not limited to McKay Bay/Palm River, Mobbly Bay, Terra Ceia, McIntosh Park, the Reed Property, and the Kapok Wetland

Is this a project related to a federal or state declared disaster?

Measurable Outcome Anticipated:

: The desired result of this project is a return to a functioning native system with improved water quality and habitat. Specific outcomes include a reduction in the pollutant load, habitat restoration, and an increase in the preservation of sea grasses.

Amount requested from the State for this project this year:

$1,000,000

Total cost of the project:

$2,000,000

Request has been made to fund:

Construction

What type of match exists for this project?

Local

Cash Amount

$1,000,000

Was this project previously funded by the state?

Yes

Fiscal Year:

2005-2006

Amount:

$1,250,000

Is future-year funding likely to be requested?

Yes

Amount:

$1,000,000

To Fund:

Construction

Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request?

Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget?

Is there a documented need for this project?

Yes

Documentation:

Southwest Florida Water Management District Tampa Bay SWIM Plan

Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)?

Yes

Hearing Body:

Pinellas County Legislative Delegation

Hearing Meeting Date:

12/01/2005

Is this a water project as described in Section 403.885, Laws of Florida?

Yes

Has the project been submitted to the Department of Environmental Protection?

Yes

DEP identifying number:

SWR20022

Is this project eligible under section 403.885(5) F.S.?

Yes

Is your project addressed in a state, regional or local plan (such as a SWIM plan, Comprehensive Plan, local master plan, etc.)?

Yes

Name the plan and cite the pages on which the project is described:

Tampa Bay SWIM Plan

If you are requesting funding for a stormwater or surface water restoration project:

Which Water Management District has the jurisdiction of your project?

Southwest FL Water Management District

Have you provided at least 50% match?

Yes

Match Amount:

1000000

Match Source:

SWFWMD

Will this project reduce pollutant loadings to a water management district designated 'priority' surface water body?

Yes

Name of water body:

Tampa Bay

Describe how it will reduce loadings, identify anticipated load reductions for total suspended solids, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and other contaminants, and specify the practices that will be used to reduce loadings:

If you are requesting funding for a wastewater project:

Does your project qualify for funding from DEP's 'Small Community Wastewater Treatment Grant Program' under section 403.1838 F.S.?

Other wastewater projects:

Have you received previous legislative funding for this project?

Is the project under construction?

Have you provided at least a 25% local match?