MANASOTA & PEACE RIVER BBDs Meeting Notebook 10-21-09.docx

W604
Phillippi Creek In-stream Restoration
Project Type SWIM
AOR(s)
Flood Protection, Water Quality, Natural Systems
Basin(s) Manasota
Cooperator(s)
Sarasota County
Project Manager LOPEZ, MANNY
Task Manager(s)
Status Ongoing
PECK, MICHAEL
Description
Sarasota County is developing the Roberts Bay North Watershed Management Plan (see L611), to protect and
improve water quality and restore natural systems throughout the watershed. This plan has identified several in-stream
restoration projects along Phillippi Creek (and nearby areas) to address unstable systems that are currently degrading
water quality and impacting natural systems. The goal of this project is to achieve measurable, improved water quality
and increase natural habitat along Phillippi Creek through the combined use of the following methods at five project
locations: (1) Stream bank resloping and removal of exotic vegetation and replanting appropriate native species of
vegetation; (2) Incorporating the low impact design technique of bioswales along the top of stream banks to reduce the
velocity of overland flow of stormwater and protect natural systems; (3) Creating wetland treatment systems to restore
habitat at the confluence of stream branches; (4) Constructing sediment sumps to reduce the amount of nutrient
transport associated with unstable systems; and (5) Installation of weirs in select locations to provide increased
residence time for wetland treatment processes. The County will begin design for several project locations in late
FY2009 and anticipates starting construction in FY2010. District funds are requested for construction. Current
estimated construction costs are around $1,800,000 but will be further refined during design. This request is for
construction costs beginning in FY 2010, but the County anticipates requesting additional funding to complete
construction.
Benefits
Upon implementation, this project will improve surface water quality by reducing sedimentation and erosion through
bank re-sloping and stabilization with appropriate native vegetation. The installation of weirs at several locations will
increase residence time and thereby provide additional in-stream water quality treatment.
Costs
The total project cost is $2,000,000. For FY2009 Sarasota County allocated $200,000 for the design and permitting of
the project. The FY2010 total project cost is $1,000,000 with Sarasota County contributing $400,000 and the
District was requested to contribute $600,000. Due to FY2010 budget constraints, the District budgeted $150,000 for
the project. The District's FY2010 share is split between the Manasota Basin Board ($75,000) and State
SWIM ($75,000). District funds shown in the table include staff salaries. If approved for future funding, the District's
total contribution would be spread over several fiscal years.
Additional Information
In 1987, the Florida Legislature established the Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) Act having
recognized that water quality and habitat in surface waters throughout the state have degraded or were in danger of
being degraded. The Act requires the five water management districts to maintain a priority list of water bodies of
regional or statewide significance within their boundaries, and develop plans and programs for the improvement of
those water bodies. To date, ten SWIM water bodies in the District have had plans developed and approved by the
state. Several plans have been updated one or more times as required by the Act. The Sarasota Bay SWIM Plan was
first approved in 1997 and last updated in 2002. Since the first plan, the District has initiated a number of restoration
and diagnostic assessment projects. Included within these are: 1) investigation of toxic loading sources to the Bay, 2)
seagrass mapping 3) habitat restoration, 4) development of stormawater master plans 5) various habitat restoration
projects, 6) construction of artificial reefs and oyster reefs and 7) involvement in numerous public outreach and
education activities.
021 - Manasota Basin 85