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

L019
Sarasota - Update W. Para. & Models
Project Type Cooperative Funding
AOR(s)
Flood Protection, Water Quality, Natural Systems
Basin(s) Manasota
Cooperator(s)
Sarasota County
Project Manager TURNER, DAWN
Task Manager(s)
Status Ongoing
Description
This is a multi-year funded project to perform Digital Topographic Information, Watershed Evaluation, Watershed
Management Plan, and Maintenance of Watershed Parameters and Models elements of the District's Watershed
Management Program (WMP) for multiple watersheds within Sarasota County. The county's area is approximately 570
square miles and includes 28 watersheds. The Topographic Information, Watershed Evaluation and Management
Plan elements were completed by the cooperator for 18 watersheds before implementation of the District's Watershed
Management Program Guidelines and Specifications (G&S). This project involves the Maintenance of Watershed
Parameters and Models to the District's G&S where the Topographic Information, Watershed Evaluation and Plan will
reflect the changes in the watershed due to land alterations approved through County and District permitting. Tthe
County wishes to perform maintenance of the watershed parameters and model(s) to reflect approved County capital
improvement projects (CIPs) and developments 35 acres or greater in size or with 8 acres or more of proposed
impervious cover. $400,000 ($200,00 District's share) was approved for FY2009 to continue annual model and
parameter maintenance. In November 2008, the County notified District staff they will not accept the FY2009 funds.
Instead, they will continue the project with funds remaining from previous years, and request funding in FY2010.
FY2010 funding will be used to continue annual model and parameter maintenance to include new information on land
alterations from County CIPs and private land developments, and new topographic information.
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 management and water quality management. The continuous maintenance of watershed
parameters in the GIS database as land alterations are approved will provide the most up to date information about the
watershed.
Costs
The total budget amount for this project varies by year depending on the County's anticipated need for maintenance of
the watershed parameters and models. For FY2005, the District and County each funded $356,666 to perform
updates to the Little Sarasota Bay watershed and Dona Bay watershed models and perform maintenance. For
FY2007, the District share is $356,666 and will be funded entirely by the Manasota Basin. The County will contribute
$766,667. For FY2008, the total maintenance budget is $400,000 with the Manasota Basin and County each
contributing $200,000. $400,000 ($200,00 District's share) was also approved for FY2009. However, in November
2008, the County notified District staff they will not accept the FY2009 funds. Instead, they will continue the project with
funds remaining from previous years, and request funding in FY2010. FY2010 funding will be used to continue annual
model and parameter maintenance to include new information on land alterations from County CIPs and private land
developments, and new topographic information. For FY2010, the total maintenance budget is $400,000 with the
Manasota Basin and County each contributing $200,000. Future funding requests will be required to continue
maintenance of watershed parameters and the models. The District funding amounts shown in the table include staff
salaries.
Additional Information
A WMP includes five major elements: 1) Topographic Information, 2) Watershed Evaluation, 3) Watershed
Management Plan (develop and update), 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. The
County completed Watershed Management Plans for 18 watersheds throughout 1999-2002. The update process
began in FY2003 with the update of the Whitaker Bayou Watershed Management Plan (see K872). Approved funds
for both the Whitaker Bayou Watershed Management Plan and the Myakka River Watershed Management Plan
(K487) are reflected in the prior funding below. The FY2004 funding amount includes the costs to develop digital
topographic information for the entire county using LiDAR technology, to update portions of the existing models to the
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