FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 20, 2017
DEP AWARDS MORE THAN $1.8 MILLION FOR
WATER-QUALITY RESTORATION GRANTS
~Grants assist Florida communities with
water-quality improvements~
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Department
of Environmental Protection recently awarded more than $1.8 million for stormwater projects in seven communities. Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) water-quality restoration
grants are awarded to local
communities and water management districts to implement and construct projects
designed to reduce pollutant loads to impaired waters from stormwater
discharges.
"The
department is proud to partner with local communities to make vital investments in stormwater projects that improve
water quality and protect the state’s important natural resources," said DEP Interim Secretary Ryan Matthews.
Funded through annual appropriations from the Florida Legislature, TMDL grants focus on projects designed to restore impaired springs, rivers, lakes and estuaries, which need help meeting Florida's stringent water-quality standards.
Specifically, the TMDL grant program provides funding assistance for communities to implement projects to better manage or treat stormwater. Stormwater runoff is generated when rain flows over land or impervious surfaces and does not seep into the ground. As the runoff flows over paved streets, parking lots and building rooftops, it accumulates debris, nutrients, sediment or other pollutants that could adversely affect water quality if the runoff is left untreated and runs into nearby surface waters.
Projects recently awarded TMDL grants from the November 2016 cycle include:
Cape Coral: Awarded $600,000 to upgrade
approximately 300 stormwater catch basins and install enhanced swales in a 725-acre
area west of Store Road. The new catch basins will enable more stormwater runoff
to filter into the ground instead of freely flowing through storm drains
into the canal system, and ultimately into Charlotte Harbor,
a natural estuary and the state’s second largest bay. This project provides
significant nutrient reduction to the estuary and harbor.
Cutler Bay: Awarded $274,000 to reduce nutrients by increasing settling time prior to
discharge into Biscayne Bay. The project involves modifications of catch basins
and other control structures and adds additional catch basins and
drains.
Haines City: Awarded $197,000
to remove
excess phosphorus accumulating in Lake Eva by constructing a chemical treatment
system. This system is anticipated to remove approximately 108 pounds of
phosphorus per year. This would result in an approximately 64-percent reduction
of phosphorus in the lake, helping to resolve the lake’s current impairment
status.
Jacksonville: Awarded $225,000 for part of the city's Drainage System Rehabilitation program. As part of this project,
nutrients will be reduced in the St. Johns River by rehabilitating existing storm sewers, constructing
new drainage infrastructure and upgrading baffle boxes.
North Bay Village: Awarded $150,000
to improve the stormwater system and reduce pollutant load to Biscayne Bay by
repairing, refurbishing, replacing and/or reconnecting Village catch basins. In
addition, the project will help reduce localized flooding issues.
Oakland: Awarded $301,222
to reduce phosphorous and nitrogen being discharged to Lake Apopka by constructing
dry stormwater ponds and pollutant removal systems, as well as a stormwater collection
system including storm inlets, pipes, swales and control structures to
detain runoff for treatment.
Tavares: Awarded $115,000 to add a pervious parking area within 300 feet of the shoreline of Lake Dora, helping to eliminate approximately 1 acre of surface runoff from entering the lake. This parking area will serve a larger stormwater treatment project already being funded in part by previous TMDL and Section 319 grants.
Since 2002, the department has awarded more than $117
million in TMDL grants, including $3.2 million to date in fiscal year 2016-17.
Visit the TMDL Water Quality Restoration Grant Program webpage for
more information on the application process and qualification requirements.
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