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

W624
Red Bug Slough Restoration
Project Type SWIM
AOR(s)
Flood Protection, Water Quality, Natural Systems
Basin(s) Manasota
Cooperator(s)
Sarasota County
Project Manager PRESTON, MATT
Task Manager(s)
Status Ongoing
Description
This project is in response to a cooperative funding request from Sarasota County. Sarasota County and SWFWMD
are jointly developing the Roberts Bay North Watershed Management Plan which has identified the Red Bug Slough
Restoration project to improve water quality and restore habitat in the watershed. This project was also identified in the
2002 Sarasota Bay SWIM Plan to improve the quality of stormwater runoff to Sarasota Bay. Red Bug Slough is a
tributary to Philippi Creek, which eventually discharges to Roberts Bay, and is part of the larger Sarasota Bay system.
The Red Bug Slough basin is 600 acres and includes a series of four interconnected lakes: West Clark Lake, East
Clark Lake, Mirror Lake and Red Bug Slough Lake. There are four proposed restoration components identified for
design that will partially restore a historical wetland, enhance native plant communities, and improve the quality of
water entering Phillippi Creek and ultimately Sarasota Bay.
Benefits
The project will create additional storage within the watershed and, thereby, provide an improved level of service for
flooding. The project will also provide improved water quality treatment by increasing residence times and providing
additional biological treatment through restoration of historical marshes and creation of new wetland systems within
Red Bug Sough. This will improve the quality of water entering Phillippi Creek and ultimately Sarasota Bay, and will
have a positive impact on waterbodies on the TMDL verified list for the Sarasota Bay Group 3 segments, including
Roberts Bay for nutrients and Chl (a); and Phillippi Creek for coliform bacteria.
Costs
The total project budget is $1,000,000, of which the County and the District are funding half ($500,000). Sarasota
County has budgeted $250,000 for FY2009 and $250,000 for FY2010. The District has budgeted $400,000 for FY2010
and $100,000 in future funding. The District's FY2010 share is split between the Manasota Basin Board ($200,000)
and State SWIM ($200,000). District funds shown in the table include staff salaries.
Additional Information
Since 1950, approximately 40 percent of Sarasota Bay's intertidal wetland habitat has been lost due to development
and reduction in water quality. This resulted in a decline in the aesthetic, recreational, and commercial value of the
bay, as well as a loss of habitat for native plants and animals. The SWIM Plans for Sarasota Bay outline goals to
restore habitat throughout the bay areas and reduce pollutant loads entering the bays. The objectives of this project
are consistent with these goals.
District Budgeted - Ad Valorem Based
Revenue
021 Manasota Basin 0 0 202,384 100,000 302,384
District Budgeted - Outside Revenue
Ecosystem Trust Fund - SWIM
Rebudget
Prior
FY 2009 FY2010
Funding Funding Funding
0 0 200,000
0
200,000
WMLTF (SWIM) - Prior Year Funds 0 0 2,383
0 2,383
Project Funds Not Budgeted by the
District
Sarasota County 0 250,000 250,000
0 500,000
021 - Manasota Basin 111
Total:
Future
Funding
Total
Funding
$1,004,767