FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 19, 2015
WATER-QUALITY
RESTORATION GRANT
RECIPIENTS SELECTED
~$3 million in state
funding awarded to 10 projects benefiting Indian River Lagoon,
Boca Ciega Bay and Taylor Creek~
TALLAHASEE, Fla. – The Department of
Environmental Protection has selected 10 projects to receive $3 million in
water-quality restoration state grant funding. This funding will support projects that
improve urban stormwater systems and reduce
polluted runoff to impaired waters.
In addition to the state funding, these 10
selected projects will receive an anticipated match of
approximately $5.7 million, for a total $8.7 million investment. On average, these projects will reduce the amount of
nitrogen and phosphorus going into state water bodies by 34 percent and 39 percent,
respectively. Eight of the 10 projects selected directly
benefit Indian River Lagoon and the other two benefit Boca Ciega Bay in Pinellas
County and Taylor Creek in Okeechobee County.
“Supporting projects that directly benefit our environment by improving water quality is a
priority for DEP, and we are proud to support municipalities that are proactive
about restoring their local water bodies,” said DEP Secretary Jon Steverson. “This grant program assists these
local governments in making substantial contributions to water
restoration.”
Stormwater runoff is water that flows into creeks, streams or
rivers after rain; it usually contains a number of pollutants,
including fertilizers, pesticides, oil and grease. Once this runoff reaches a
body of water, the pollutants can cause rapid algal growth, algal blooms and
other water-quality complications. The proper management of stormwater runoff is key to
improving the water quality of receiving water bodies and achieving
restoration.
This program's success is driven by
partnerships that will actively engage local communities in the restoration and
protection of waters impacted by nonpoint source pollution. One of the primary ways the department promotes partnerships is
to offer funding opportunities to address nonpoint source pollution. The
department administers the water-quality restoration grant program with
annual appropriations from the Florida Legislature. For FY
2015-16, $5 million was appropriated specifically for this grant program.
Applications for funding are
accepted year-round, but funding is awarded three times annually. The department ranks projects for funding based
on the impaired status of the associated water body, the estimated pollutant
load reductions the project is designed to achieve, the cost-effectiveness of
the project, readiness to proceed and the percentage of local matching funds.
Another important consideration is whether the applicant has a stormwater
utility fee or other dedicated revenue source to continue effective stormwater
management once the proposed project is complete. Applicants are also
encouraged to include public education elements in their requests, which help inform the public on best management practices to keep pollutants out
of the stormwater system, which is critical to success. Projects are selected for grant
funding based on these rankings and the availability of funding.
For more information
on the grant program and the application process, click here.
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