DEP LAUNCHES GULF BREEZE WATER QUALITY PROJECT FOR SANTA ROSA COUNTY

Florida DEP Banner

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 25, 2014

CONTACT: DEP Press Office, 850.245.2112, DEPNews@dep.state.fl.us

DEP LAUNCHES GULF BREEZE WATER QUALITY PROJECT FOR SANTA ROSA COUNTY

Gulf Breeze Groundbreaking

$1.8-million project will improve stormwater infrastructure in Gulf Breeze.

GULF BREEZE – Officials from the City of Gulf Breeze and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection celebrated a groundbreaking event for the Gulf Breeze stormwater project today. The event took place at Williamsburg Park in Gulf Breeze.

“Funding of this project indicates the continuing support of water-quality improvement projects by Governor Scott and Secretary Vinyard,” said Mimi A. Drew, a special advisor working for DEP. “This project improves the lives of many Panhandle families and visitors by protecting the natural resources they value and enjoy.”   

The Gulf Breeze stormwater project will improve water quality for the Santa Rosa County area. The restoration funds flow from the June 18, 2012, Consent Decree with a 10-percent non-operating investor in the lease on the Macondo well at the time of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

“Effective water quality management has always been a paramount concern to the City of Gulf Breeze,” said Gulf Breeze Mayor Beverly Zimmern. “We are nearly surrounded by water. Our area is subject to major storm damage such as the flooding that occurred during the late April storms this year. Today we are breaking ground on a project that will add $1.8 million in stormwater infrastructure to Gulf Breeze. We thank the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for partnering with the City of Gulf Breeze on this project.”

Urban stormwater runoff and nonpoint source pollution present the most significant continuing source of water and sediment quality degradation in the affected areas of the Panhandle, whose coastal waters received oiling from the Deepwater Horizon spill. Stormwater retrofit projects play a key role in protecting water quality and managing flows. 

For information directly related to Florida’s response and restoration activities relating to the Deepwater Horizon spill visit www.deepwaterhorizonflorida.com.