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

K883
North Port WMPlan Big Slough
Project Type Cooperative Funding
AOR(s)
Flood Protection, Water Quality
Basin(s) Peace River, Manasota
Cooperator(s)
City of North Port
Project Manager ARNOLD, DAVE
Task Manager(s)
Status Ongoing
Description
This is a multi-year funded cooperative project with the City of North Port to perform 1) Topographic Information, 2)
Watershed Evaluation, and 3) Watershed Management Plan elements of the District's Watershed Management
Program (WMP) for the portion of the Big Slough watershed area lying within the City of North Port. The project
includes detailed study of 60 square miles within the City, and approximate study of the 135 square mile remainder of
the Big Slough watershed to obtain its influence on conveyance of runoff through the City. Issues in the watershed
include rapid growth, flood protection, natural systems preservation, water quality preservation, protection and
enhancement of the City's surface water reservoir, and protection of the downstream Charlotte Harbor estuary.
FY2003-2006 funding is budgeted to complete the Topographic Information, Watershed Evaluation, Watershed
Management Plan elements. Topographic information includes the acquisition of data and development of the terrain
features in the Geodatabase to be used in the Watershed Evaluation. The Watershed Evaluation includes collection of
existing data, GIS processing of the terrain features to establish catchments and connectivity, field reconnaissance,
refinement of the terrain features and development of the hydraulic element point features. The Watershed
Management Plan element includes: development of watershed parameters for a specific use, GIS processing,
computer modeling, floodplain and water quality analysis, surface water resource assessment, establishment of LOS,
and BMP alternative analysis.
Benefits
The WMP provides a method to evaluate the capacity of a watershed to protect, enhance, and restore water quality
and natural systems, while achieving flood protection. The information developed provides the science for the District's
Resource Management and Environmental Resource Permitting (ERP). It assists local governments: 1) With their land
management responsibilities by establishing a level of service and developing Best Management Practices (BMPs) to
address level of service deficiencies. 2) Provides a Geodatabase and projected results from watershed model
simulations for floodplain and water quality management.
Costs
The total budgeted amount for this project is $1,280,000, of which the District's share is $640,000 provided by the
Manasota Basin. The City is contributing $640,000. Multi-year funding is over FY2003-2006 is budgeted to complete
the project. When each element is completed the project budget may require refinement based on the information
gathered.
Additional Information
The WMP includes five major elements: 1) Topographic Information, 2) Watershed Evaluation, 3) Watershed
Management Plan, 4) Implementation of Best Management Practices, and 5) Maintenance of Watershed Parameters
and Models. Implementing elements of the WMP with local governments is one of the Comprehensive Watershed
Management (CWM) initiative strategies and one of the District's Strategic Priorities. In accordance with Board
approval, a cooperative funding revenue agreement with the City of North Port was developed as a multi-year funded
project contingent on the approval of future funding to complete WMP elements through the Watershed Management
Plan. This required cooperative funding requests each year in FY2003-2006 to accumulate the project budget. The
District is managing the project and entering into purchase orders and agreements to accomplish project tasks. Future
cooperative funding requests and agreements will be required for Implementation of BMPs, and the Maintenance of
Watershed Parameters and Models. The District is cooperating with FEMA to modernize the flood insurance rate
maps (FIRMs) in Sarasota County. Information developed with this project will be used to update the FIRMs
representing this watershed.
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