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

B301
Charlotte - Maintenance of Watershed Parameters and Models
Project Type Basin Initiatives
AOR(s)
Flood Protection, Water Quality, Natural Systems
Basin(s) Peace River
Cooperator(s)
Project Manager FRIES, GEORGE
Task Manager(s)
Status Ongoing
Description
This is a basin initiative to fund the Maintenance of Watershed Parameters and Models element of the District's
Watershed Management Program (WMP) in Charlotte County. This process will be applied to watersheds where the
parameters and model(s) were developed or updated based on the District's Guidelines and Specifications (G&S) and
where parameters from Environmental Resource Permitting (ERP) submittals can be converted to the District's GIS
system until a model is developed. Funding will be required each year to continue maintenance. With proposed
funding the work of capturing watershed parameter changes resulting from approved ERPs, and updates to
topographic, soils and land use information will continue throughout the District. The funding will also support the peer
review and public outreach process on the preliminary floodplain results, and presenting the results to the Governing
Board for approval.
Benefits
A 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 assists local governments with their land
management responsibilities by establishing a level of service and developing Best Management Practices (BMPs) to
address level of service deficiencies. In addition, the information provides the District with the best available
information to evaluate adverse impacts and mitigation of floodplain impacts for proposed ERPs. The most up-to-date
information about the watershed will be available through the continuous maintenance of watershed parameters in the
GIS database: as ERP permits are approved, new information is provided to the District through aerial topographic
mapping and the public review and comment period. If a watershed model has not been developed, the maintenance
of parameters in the GIS processes the information in a format the will save time and funding when the watershed is
modeled.
Costs
For FY2010 the funding distribution for Charlotte County is as follows: Governing Board $42,705; Peace River Basin
Board $42,705. The budget is based on the number of approved ERP permits and the average development area
within each basin. The Governing Board is also providing funds specifically to address public meetings and
unforeseen issues with projecting the floodplains to be used in the FEMA mapping process. 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, 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 District's Strategic Priorities.
After the Topographic Information, Watershed Evaluation and Watershed Management Plan elements are completed,
the watershed parameters and models require continuous maintenance to simulate the watershed's characteristics as
the land form changes. The watershed's parameters change with the continued growth experienced in the District. If
continued maintenance of the models is not performed, the watershed parameters and models will no longer
represent the system. This limits their value in the areas of ERP and flood protection programs.
A revenue agreement will be developed with each community contributing funds towards maintenance. The District
will manage the project and enter into purchase orders and agreements to accomplish project tasks. Future funding
will be required each fiscal year to continue maintenance of watershed parameters and models. In the future those
local governments with the technical abilities to perform the maintenance activities will be encouraged to manage this
effort. The District will provide funding assistance to communities that can and those that cannot provide matching
funds. Matching funds will be requested from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for this basin
initiative. Failure to provide ongoing maintenance will diminish the return on the investment the District has made in
their respective Watershed Management Plans.
020 - Peace River Basin 150