Okaloosa County BOCC — December 15, 2015 — Okaloosa County NRDA Artificial Reef Construction 2015 FWC 15155 — agenda request

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA REQUEST DATE: December 15, 2015 TO: Honorable Chairman and Members of the Board FROM: Ed Schroeder SUBJECT: Okaloosa County NRDA Artificial Reef Construction 2015 FWC 15155 DEPARTMENT: Tourist Development Department BCC DISTRICT: 2,4,5 STATEMENT OF ISSUE: Request approval of the Okaloosa County NRDA Artificial Reef Construction 2015 grant in the amount of $1,699,370.59 (FWC Agreement No. 15155). BACKGROUND: The Deepwater Horizon oil spill event triggered the Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) process. NRDA is the procedure that federal agencies, together with the states and Indian tribes, use to evaluate the impacts of oil spills, hazardous waste sites, and ship groundings on natural resources both along the nation's coast and throughout its interior. Phase III early NRDA restoration projects include the Florida Artificial Reef Creation and Restoration project that will take place offshore of Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, and Bay counties. The County has determined that constructing artificial reefs will promote tourism by offering diving, snorkeling, and fishing activities. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has awarded Okaloosa County $1,699,370.59 for offshore fish/dive reefs (a variety of prefabricated modular designs located within nine nautical miles of shore in depths between 50-80 feet) and inshore snorkel reefs (piling-mounted design using disc-shaped concrete and limestone layers with spacers located within 1,300 feet of shore in depths about 25 feet) within the Gulf of Mexico at permitted artificial reef areas. No County match funds are required. OPTIONS: Approve or Disapprove RECOMMENDATION: Request approval of the Okaloosa County NRDA Artificial Reef Construction 2015 grant in the amount of $1,699,370.59 (FWC Agreement No. 15155) and authorize the Chairman to sign the agreement and other grant documents as may be required during the term of the grant. RECOMMENDED BY: APPROVED BY: John Hofstad, County Administrator