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

L151
Sebring - WMPlan Sebring
Project Type Cooperative Funding
AOR(s)
Flood Protection, Water Quality
Basin(s) Peace River
Cooperator(s)
City of Sebring
Project Manager FRIES, GEORGE
Task Manager(s)
Status Ongoing
Description
This is a multi-year funded project to perform 1) Topographic Information, 2) Watershed Evaluation, and 3) Watershed
Management Plan elements of the District's Watershed Management Program (WMP) for the City of Sebring
Watershed. The watershed covers an area of approximately 51 square miles and is located in northwest Highlands
County. Issues in the watershed include rapid growth and potential water quality issues because runoff from the city
discharges to Lake Jackson. Since the project began in FY2004 the city has experienced considerable growth in the
form of annexation and the city's land area has more than doubled. With prior years funding the Topographic
Information, Watershed Evaluation and Watershed Management Plan for the then existing incorporated area of the
city were completed. With FY2007 funding the work on the Topographic Information, Watershed Evaluation and
Watershed Management Plan elements for the additional incorporated land began. With FY2008 funding the
remaining work on the Watershed Management Plan, including the BMP Alternative Analysis and the Surface Water
Resource Assessment will be completed.
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, and 2) provides a geodatabase and projected results from watershed model
simulations for floodplain management and water quality management.
Costs
The total budgeted amount for this project, including the completed FY2004 work, is $345,000 of which the District's
multi-year share is $258,750. Sebring, located in Highlands County, is a R.E.D.I. community and is seeking a
reduction of the standard 50% funding match to one where the Peace River Basin Board will fund 75% of the project
costs and the city will fund 25%. For FY2008, $25,000 is appropriated in the Basin Board's budget with revenue of
$6,250 from the City of Sebring. When each element is completed the project budget and scope may require
refinement based on the information gathered. The District funding amounts shown in the table include staff salaries.
Additional Information
The WMP includes five major elements: 1) Topographic Information, 2) Watershed Evaluation, 3) Watershed
Management Plan, 4) Implementation of BMPs, 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. A cooperative funding revenue agreement with
the City of Sebring has been developed. The District is managing the project and has entered into purchase orders
and agreements to accomplish project tasks. Future cooperative funding requests and agreements will be required for
the Implementation of BMPs and Maintenance of Watershed Parameters and Models.
Prior
Funding
Cumulative FY 2009 FY2010
Transfers Funding Funding
District Budgeted - Ad Valorem Based
Revenue
020 Peace River Basin 280,746 0 3,194 2,204
0 286,144
District Budgeted - Outside Revenue
Sebring - Water Mgmt Plan (L151) 86,250 0 0
0
0 86,250
020 - Peace River Basin 248
Total:
Future
Funding
Total
Funding
$372,394