Okaloosa County BOCC — January 19, 2016 — NFWF Grant — reading text

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation – Gulf Coast Conservation Grants Program 2016, Full Proposal Title: Upland Restoration within Veterans Park, Okaloosa Island, FL. Organization: Okaloosa County 3. Equipment Equipment - 4. Materials and Supplies Materials and Supplies - Benches, gloves, herbicides, new native plants. 5. Contractual Services Subcontract/Contract - Per Agreement - Subgrant - Per Agreement - 6. Other Direct Costs Other Direct Costs - Staff time for CBA: organizing volunteers, consulting on restoraiton, planning. 7. Indirect Costs 1133 15th Street, NW Version 1.1 Suite 1100 Washington, DC 20005 Page 11 of 15  EasyGrantsID: 52209 National Fish and Wildlife Foundation – Gulf Coast Conservation Grants Program 2016, Full Proposal Title: Upland Restoration within Veterans Park, Okaloosa Island, FL. Organization: Okaloosa County Indirect Costs - 1133 15th Street, NW Version 1.1 Suite 1100 Washington, DC 20005 Page 12 of 15  EasyGrantsID: 52209 National Fish and Wildlife Foundation – Gulf Coast Conservation Grants Program 2016, Full Proposal Title: Upland Restoration within Veterans Park, Okaloosa Island, FL. Organization: Okaloosa County Matching Contributions Matching Contribution $11,000.00 Amount: Type: In-kind Status: Pledged Source: Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance Source Type: Non-Federal Description: Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance, a local nonprofit group, has a dedicated and trained volunteer corps. Work-hours performed by volunteer corps estimated at $11,000. Matching Contribution $59,000.00 Amount: Type: In-kind Status: Pledged Source: Okaloosa County Source Type: Non-Federal Description: Okaloosa County has tasked Taylor Engineering with creating a habitat management plan, conducting vegetative surveys, applying for permits, construction supervision, and more. Total Amount of Matching $70,000.00 Contributions 1133 15th Street, NW Version 1.1 Suite 1100 Washington, DC 20005 Page 13 of 15  EasyGrantsID: 52209 National Fish and Wildlife Foundation – Gulf Coast Conservation Grants Program 2016, Full Proposal Title: Upland Restoration within Veterans Park, Okaloosa Island, FL. Organization: Okaloosa County Show Map Below 1133 15th Street, NW Version 1.1 Suite 1100 Washington, DC 20005 Page 14 of 15  EasyGrantsID: 52209 National Fish and Wildlife Foundation – Gulf Coast Conservation Grants Program 2016, Full Proposal Title: Upland Restoration within Veterans Park, Okaloosa Island, FL. Organization: Okaloosa County The following pages contain the uploaded documents, in the order shown below, as provided by the applicant: Upload Type File Name Uploaded By Uploaded Date , The following uploads do not have the same headers and footers as the previous sections of this document in order to preserve the integrity of the actual files uploaded. 1133 15th Street, NW Version 1.1 Suite 1100 Washington, DC 20005 Page 15 of 15  Full Proposal Project Narrative Instructions: Save this document on your computer and complete the narrative in the format provided. The final narrative should not exceed six (6) pages; do not delete the text provided below. Once complete, upload this document into the on-line application as instructed. 1. Activities: Elaborate on the primary activities that will be employed through the grant. Explain how these activities are expected to lead to the outcome(s). Describe how these activities relate to established plans (management, conservation, recovery, etc.) and priority conservation needs in the specific project location. Okaloosa County and Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance propose a unique project that integrates natural habitat restoration with recreational and educational features for the benefit of residents, tourists, and the environment. Okaloosa County views Veterans Park as a potential flagship project that will showcase the benefits and value associated with habitat restoration while providing a distinctive amenity for the public to enjoy. This narrative describes the first recommended phase of the Veterans Park restoration initiative and focuses on this county- owned Okaloosa Island property. Upland habitat restoration will include transforming the former golf course property into a diverse coastal habitat to benefit a variety of plants and wildlife including threatened and endangered species. Target communities include coastal dune, coastal strand, and hardwood and coniferous hammocks. Existing topographic conditions include a mix of sandy mounds, hills, flatlands, and water features that will provide an excellent canvas for creating, restoring and enhancing natural habitat. Many desirable species of trees, shrubs, and groundcover currently occupy the site and will be used, where appropriate, to the maximum extent practicable to support the restoration. Site observations confirm that wading birds such as the great blue heron nest in the tall pine trees located on the property, in addition to at least one pair of nesting osprey. The project will include preservation and enhancement of these areas to continue attracting nesting birds and provide a viewing opportunity for the public to enjoy. The project site may also present suitable conditions for installation of osprey bird nesting platforms in some locations. Proposed recreational elements include a timber boardwalk along the shoreline and a network of trails with educational components within the upland site interior. Suitable locations along the boardwalk and trails may include features such as a magnified scope to observe wildlife (e.g., nesting birds). Educational features may include signage and kiosks that provide information about the local ecosystem and the importance of habitat protection and restoration to provide a more fulfilling recreational experience. In addition to the upland restoration, the site plans to restore a living shoreline as well as seagrass and oyster reefs. While the boardwalk, trails, and shoreline restoration are out of the scope of this grant, they are an integral part of the overall conceptual plan for Veterans Park. This project has the potential of becoming a keystone amenity and economic draw for the county by appealing to a wide range of visitors including bird enthusiasts and naturalists looking to observe wildlife along the nature trails or families simply interested in a bay-front picnic or stroll along the boardwalk. The Veterans Park property also has the potential for attracting larger group functions such as school programs, day camps, eco- tours, weddings, outdoor festivals, and many others. Successful completion of the upland restoration portion will result in a wide variety of environmental benefits. Upland habitat restoration will include removing invasive species, such as alligator weed and popcorn trees, as well as limited site grading and planting a variety of woody and herbaceous native coastal dune and coastal strand species that will enhance the property for the benefit of wildlife including reptiles, birds, and small mammals. The project will also include enhancements targeted toward protected plants and listed species such as the state-listed threatened gopher tortoise. The project design may include expanding and/or enhancing the existing interior water features by removing invasive or nuisance vegetation and regrading to create littoral shelf habitat that would host a variety of native wetland and aquatic vegetation species. Veterans Park will also serve as a resource for public recreation and environmental education. The educational components will focus on natural resources including the differences between various natural communities and the importance of each, threatened and endangered fish and wildlife species, and the importance of ecosystem restoration and resource protection in Choctawhatchee Bay and Okaloosa County. Activities: Phase One: Removal of terrestrial invasive species Phase Two: Removal of aquatic invasive species Phase Three: Planting of native species 2. Outcome(s): Elaborate on the outcome(s) summarized previously in the application; discuss what makes this outcome(s) achievable and important. There are both ecological and social benefits for successfully restoring the upland portion of Veterans Park. First, by removing invasive species and planting native species, we hope to increase both the diversity of species using the property as well as the overall number. Rare habitat such as coastal dune forest as well as wetlands are critical for migrating bird species, butterflies, and rare reptiles such as the gopher tortoise. Second, Veterans Park will serve as a resource for public recreation and environmental education. The educational components will focus on natural resources including the differences between various natural communities and the importance of each, threatened and endangered fish and wildlife species, and the importance of ecosystem restoration and resource protection in Choctawhatchee Bay and Okaloosa County. We hope to use this project as an example of restoration activities that can be undertaken across the Panhandle. 3. Tracking Metrics: Indicate how the project will monitor/assess progress on the metrics selected previously in the application. Please note any challenges or limitations anticipated with tracking