Okaloosa County BOCC — November 4, 2014 — Estuary Proposal Overview and Strategy — reading text

Northwest Florida Estuaries Restoration Program Proposal $160M Pot 2 Funding Opportuntity $17.6M Panhandle Estuary Program Proposal 8 estuaries DEP receives Funds and distributes using CBIR model (~ $2M per estuary) Priorities Identified via TNC watershed planning process $ Key Points of the Proposal: • Money distributed via a CBIR type process • Priority projects identified using a TNC facilitated science-based stakeholder decision process using the watershed groups currently in place. • State receives grant and funds TNC to continue watershed planning to develop a science-based projct prioritization prcoess. • Projects identified in each estuary (approx. $2M per estuary). Goal 1: DEP recommends and the Governor submits the TNC propsal to the Gulf Coast Restoration Council for funding from the budget 2 RESTORE Act funds. Success strategy: • Letter of support to the Governor from each of the eight counties for the TNC to develop and submit the Proposal to DEP and for the Governor to include as one of FL’s five proposals to the Gulf Coast Restoration Council. • Educate and inform state and local officials and organizations of the proposal’s importance to improving the economic and environmental quality of Panhandle ecosystems. Goal 2: Gulf Coast Restoration Council selects TNC proposal for funding. Success strategy: • Educate and inform all members of the Council, key Senators and Representatives and other interested parties about the importance of funding this program proposal in Florida. • Eight County Resolution supporting the proposal Key Messages: • Panhandle counties have organized around five watersheds to identify priority issues, root causes and major actions to improve the economic and enivronmental health of their communities. • Watershed groups include representatives from Federal, State and local agencies (including AL representatives), NGOs, universities, business groups, and local stakeholders • This proposal continues that work by funding the science-based prioritization of projects and providing ~ $2M for each estuary to begin project implementation  • Ultimate goal is to identify the an initial suite of projects necessary to help improve the environmental and economic health of each watershed, regardless of funding source, then pursue funding including RESTORE, Grants, Public Private Partnerships and any other available relevant funding opportunty. Key Targets to Brief: County Commissioners, State and Federal Legislators and staff, DEP, NWFWMD, EPA, ACOE, USDA, USFWS Process Overview: DEP reviews and makes TNC Makes Application to recommendations to DEP on Behalf of 8 Govenor for Florida's 5 Counties for Block Grant Projects Federal Council Reviews all Projects submitted DEP Submits Florida's 5 from all Council Project to Federal Council Members and Selects Projects for Funding Federal Council Reviews all Projects submitted IF TNC Proposal is Selcted from all Council for Funding Members and Selects Projects for Funding 1. Funds would flow to DEP via grant 2. TNC would select project based on terms of Agreement. 3. Funds would then be allocated to Counties for projects.