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

W615
(Completed) Sarasota County Tidal Creek Biological Index
Project Type SWIM
AOR(s)
Water Quality, Natural Systems
Basin(s) Manasota
Cooperator(s)
Sarasota County
Project Manager LOPEZ, MANNY
Task Manager(s)
GARCIA, LIZANNE
Status Completed
Description
The intent of this study is to provide the tools, in this case the development of biological criteria (macroinvertebrates
and seagrasses/shoreline vegetation), that may be used to quantify, characterize, rank, and define biological function
and ecosystem integrity of sixteen tidal systems in Sarasota County including Sarasota Bay and Charlotte Harbor. In
FY2008, the project will complete the development of the Tidal Creek Biological Index for the County, develop and
implement the sampling design, and develop the water atlas database and displays of the index data.
Benefits
The Index will be used to evaluate and monitor the overall ecological condition of tidal streams, and to justify listing and
delisting waterbodies for their Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) requirements. The Index will also be used in
conjunction with the Sarasota County Pollutant Load Model (W552) to confirm that the established water quality level
of service is adequately protecting downstream ecosystems.
Costs
The total project cost is $400,000. The District's share is $200,000, and the County's share is $200,000. For FY2007
the Manasota Basin Board budgeted $100,000 along with $100,000 from State SWIM. For FY2007 the County's
share was to be $200,000, however, on January 16, 2007 County staff indicated the County would only be able to
provide $60,000 in matching funds. The County's match was revised to $67,770 in March 2007. The revised
total project budget is $135,540 (as of March 29, 2007) with the District's share of $67,770 ($33,885 from the Basin
Board and $33,885 from State SWIM) to match the County's $67,770. The project's scope was modified accordingly to
reflect available funding. The County's prior expenditures on the project's early phases include a total of $255,573.
The District funding amounts shown in the table include staff salaries, travel and central garage charges.
Additional Information
In 2005, Sarasota County funded work by Mote Marine Laboratory to determine the steps needed to define and apply
an ecologically-based index of tidal creek condition, by which the maintenance of high-quality creeks and/or the
restoration of impaired creeks can be documented. As stream restorations proceed, the Index will be used to monitor
resulting changes in biological condition, and thus, the effectiveness of the restoration. The design and effectiveness
of best management practices (BMPs) in urban areas (stormwater detention ponds, stream bank stabilization, riparian
vegetation or grassy swales) will also be judged using the Index. This process requires comparisons of a target creek
to a "reference" creek. Reference waterbodies should be unimpaired or minimally impaired by human activities.
Preliminary work indicates that Gottfried Creek is the most appropriate reference system.
District Budgeted - Ad Valorem Based
Revenue
021 Manasota Basin 103,843 1,187
0
0 105,030
District Budgeted - Outside Revenue
Ecosystem Trust Fund - Sarasota Tidal
(SWIM)
Prior
FY 2009 FY2010
Funding Funding Funding
100,000 0
0
0
100,000
State Trust Funds (SWIM) 3,841 1,186
0
0 5,027
Project Funds Not Budgeted by the
District
Sarasota County 323,343 0
0
0 323,343
021 - Manasota Basin 93
Total:
Future
Funding
Total
Funding
$533,400