43 projects in 12 counties to benefit from cost-share dollars

From the St. John's River Water Management District

Forty-three projects will share in approximately $21.3 million from the St. Johns River Water Management District for the construction of water supply and water conservation, water quality improvement, flood protection and natural systems restoration projects. The district’s Governing Board today approved the project ranking for the fiscal year 2017–2018 Districtwide Annual Cost-share Program. More than 55 people representing 22 entities attended the meeting to express appreciation for the partnership opportunity.

“By partnering with local governments and water suppliers, we are stretching taxpayer dollars further for construction projects that will produce real results in water resource protection,” said St. Johns River Water Management District Executive Director Dr. Ann Shortelle. “These cost-share funds will help develop more than 7 million gallons of alternative water supplies, reduce nutrient loading to our waterways and springs, protect thousands of acres from flooding and create additional aquifer recharge opportunities.”

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to partner with the district on construction projects that will benefit both taxpayers and our vital water resources,” said Sen. Debbie Mayfield, R-Vero Beach. “The Indian River Lagoon is a diverse estuary, truly one of a kind, and an economic driver in east-central Florida. I commend the district and local governments for continuing its longtime collaboration to restore the lagoon by removing septic tank discharges and reducing nutrient loads.”

“This funding means so much to us in St. Johns County,” said Rep. Cyndi Stevenson, R-St. Augustine. “In addition to the assistance that the district provided to us during Hurricane Matthew last October, this funding to retrofit stormwater outfalls in the Davis Shores area of St. Augustine will make a tremendous difference to property owners who experienced major flooding during the storm. We deeply appreciate this funding and our long partnership with the district.”

“I’m grateful for the leadership and support of the district’s Governing Board as Palatka works to provide superior service to the residents of Palatka,” said Rep. Bobby Payne, R-Palatka. “The upgrades implemented to the city’s wastewater treatment facility as a direct result of this cost-share funding will provide both water quality and quality of life benefits to the residents and natural resources in the area.”

Highlights of the approved project list include:

• Eighteen water quality improvement projects are estimated to reduce nutrient loading by 166,025 pounds per year of total nitrogen and 76,800 pounds per year of total phosphorus. These include:

o The removal of 261,000 cubic yards of muck from 121 acres of 13 residential canals in Brevard County, which will result in an estimated removal of 55,495 pounds per year of total nitrogen and 34,000 pounds per year of total phosphorus from the Indian River Lagoon.

o Installation of baffle boxes in Titusville, which will reduce nutrient loading to the Indian River Lagoon by approximately 720 pounds per year of total nitrogen and 125 pounds per year of total phosphorus.

• Nineteen water supply projects — 13 alternative water supply and six water conservation — are estimated to provide more than 12.4 million gallons per day (mgd) of alternative water supply and conserve 0.6 mgd.
• Four flood protection projects are estimated to protect 2,875 acres..
• Two natural systems restoration projects are estimated to provide 3–5 mgd of aquifer recharge.
• The approved list includes 15 springs restoration projects benefitting Outstanding Florida Springs, including three projects to benefit Silver Springs. These include:

o A Marion County wellfield optimization project that will move water withdrawals further away from Silver Springs, lessening impacts to the springs.

o An Ocala groundwater recharge wetland project that will benefit Silver Springs by providing 3–5 mgd of recharge to the Upper Floridan aquifer and reducing nutrient loads by 59,000 pounds per year of total nitrogen and 30,000 pounds per year of total phosphorus.

• Projects are located in Alachua, Brevard, Duval, Flagler, Lake, Marion, Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Seminole, St. Johns and Volusia counties.

Fifty-seven applications totaling $31.2 million in requested district funding were ranked and scored based on core mission benefits, cost effectiveness, the likelihood of successful and timely completion, and application quality and completeness.

Projects must begin during the fiscal year 2018 and be completed within two years.