SUBJECT
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Heartland Headwaters Protection & Sustainability Act Fund Allocation and Project Applications - FY 2025/2026 (Action)
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DESCRIPTION
The Florida Legislature passed HB 573, known as the Heartland Headwaters Protection and Sustainability Act, which recognizes the importance of the water resources in and around Polk County. The Act declared that fostering partnerships between Regional Water Supply Authority and local governments is in the state interest, and in doing so requires that the Polk Regional Water Cooperative (PRWC) prepare an annual comprehensive report listing projects that are needed to protect and restore the region’s water resources so that these may be considered for state funding support.
The FY 2025-2026 Annual Report summarized 29 projects submitted by the PRWC and its membership, totaling over $930 million. The projects were ranked to prioritize the Southeast Wellfield, the Demand Management Plan, and Southeast member receiving facilities. The Annual Report requested approximately $37 million in state funding support for their implementation in FY 2024-2025 (attached) and the 2025 Legislature has appropriated $1,560,167 to the PRWC.
This agenda item includes a request for authorization for staff to execute an agreement with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for these new funds to be distributed as follows:
• Southeast Wellfield - $1,485,167
• Demand Management Plan (i.e. Conservation Program) - $75,000
This agenda item also includes an update on the FY 2026 Annual Report Process. Staff will work through the Technical Advisory Committee to obtain applications for member projects over the summer. These projects will be included in the annual Water Resources Report that will be presented to this board in November.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the board approve the distribution of Heartland Funds as presented. This action would also allow staff to execute an amendment with FDEP for the increase of grant funds under agreement LPA0212.
FISCAL IMPACT
This action will reduce the PRWC’s portion of the Southeast Wellfield project by $1,485,167 and would increase the total Conservation budget by $75,000.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Mary Thomas