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| Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #1481 |
| West Central Florida Water Restoration Action Plan |
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| Requester: |
David Rathke |
Organization: |
Southwest Florida Water Mgmt. District |
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| Project Title: |
West Central Florida Water Restoration Action Plan |
Date Submitted |
1/4/2008 10:34:49 AM |
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| Sponsors: |
Alexander |
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| Statewide Interest: |
| The Southern Water Use Caution Area encompasses 5,100 square miles, including all or part of eight counties in the west-central portion of the Southwest Florida Water Management District. Groundwater withdrawals that peaked in the mid-1970s resulted in declines in the aquifer levels throughout the region. This has contributed to saltwater intrusion along the coast, lowered lake levels in the Lake Wales Ridge area of Polk and Highlands counties and reduced river flow to the upper Peace River, which feeds into Charlotte Harbor. The Harbor is Florida's second largest open-water estuary and is designated an Estuary of National Significance by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. |
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| Recipient: |
Southwest Florida Water Mgmt. District |
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Contact: |
David Rathke |
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2379 Broad Street |
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Contact Phone: |
(352) 279-2834 |
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Brooksville 34604 |
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Contact email: |
david.rathke@watermatters.og |
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| Counties: |
Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Hillsborough, Manatee, Polk, Sarasota |
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| Gov't Entity: |
Yes |
Private Organization (Profit/Not for Profit): |
|
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| Project Description: |
| The West-Central Florida Water Restoration Action Plan (WRAP) implements the components of the SWUCA Recovery Strategy through four main projects. The Central West Coast Surface Water Enhancement Initiative will benefit surface water restoration including natural flow patterns, restoration of freshwater wetland communities and improvement in water quality with an added benefit of maximizing the use of surface water for public supply. Facilitating Agriculture and Resource Management Systems (FARMS) is a public/private agricultural best management practices program that provides water resource benefits including a reduction in Floridan aquifer withdrawals and water quality improvements and restoration. FARMS is intended to offset 40 million gallons per day of ground water within the SWUCA by 2025. The Ridge Lakes Restoration Initiative consists primarily of stormwater treatment systems to treat runoff that has caused water quality impacts. Long-term objectives include enhancing and restoring natural systems and furthering flood protection. The Upper Peace River Watershed Restoration Initiative includes the identification of alternative water supply opportunities for Polk County along with significant restoration efforts for Lake Hancock that include lake level modification to assist in meeting statutorily mandated minimum flow requirements and improvement in the water quality that discharges from Lake Hancock into the upper Peace River along with restoration of the Peace Creek Canal. |
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| Is this a project related to a federal or state declared disaster? |
No |
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| Measurable Outcome Anticipated: |
| The projects will restore minimum levels to lakes in the Lake Wales Ridge; restore minimum flows to the upper Peace River; reduce the rate of saltwater intrusion in our coastal counties; and assure that there are sufficient water supplies for all existing and projected reasonable-beneficial uses. |
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| Amount requested from the State for this project this year: |
$25,000,000 |
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| Total cost of the project: |
$1,700,000,000 |
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| Request has been made to fund: |
Construction |
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| What type of match exists for this project? |
Local, Federal |
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Cash Amount |
$25,000,000 |
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| Was this project previously funded by the state? |
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Yes |
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Fiscal Year: |
2007-2008 |
Amount: |
$1,800,000,000 |
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| Is future-year funding likely to be requested? |
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Yes |
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Amount: |
$25,000,000 |
To Fund: |
Construction |
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| Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request? |
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No |
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| Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget? |
Yes |
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| Is there a documented need for this project? |
Yes |
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Documentation: |
SWFWMD Southern Water Use Caution Area Recovery Plan, SWFWMD Regional Water Supply Plan, Peace River |
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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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Yes |
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Hearing Body: |
Sarasota County Legislative Delegation |
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| Is this a water project as described in Section 403.885, Laws of Florida? |
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Yes |
| Is the project eligible under section 403.885(2),F.S. to protect public health or the environment; and implement plans developed pursuant to the Surface Water Improvement and Management Act created in part IV of Chapter 373,F.S., other water restoration plans required by law, management plans prepared pursuant to 2.403.067,F.S., or other plans adopted by local government for water quality improvement and water restoration? |
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: |
| SWUCA Recovery Plan, Regional Water Supply Plan |
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| Are requesting funding for a stormwater, surface water restoration, or other water management project? |
Yes |
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| In which Water Management District is your project located? |
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Southwest Florida Water Managment District |
| Have you provided at least 50% match (that is, one-half the total project cost identified in this request? |
Yes |
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Match Amount: |
25000000 |
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Match Source: |
SWFWMD, Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority and Polk Cty |
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| Will this project reduce pollutant loadings to a water management district designated 'priority' surface water body? |
Yes |
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Name of water body: |
Charlotte Harbor, Sarasota Bay, Ridge Lakes |
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| Describe, specifically, 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: |
| Wetland and floodplain restoration projects along with stormwater BMPs will improve natural systems and water quality and thereby reduce pollutant loadings. |
| Is the project under construction? |
Yes |
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| Are you requesting funding for a wastewater project? |
No |
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| Are you requesting funding for a drinking water project? |
Yes |
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| Have you received or applied for funding for this project from DEP's State Revolving Fund (SRF) program under section 403.8532,F.S.? |
No |
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| Is the project under construction? |
Yes |
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| Have you provided a match? |
Yes |
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Amount: |
25000000 |
Source: |
SWFWMD, PR/MRWSA, Polk Cty |
