SUBJECT
title
Approve Standard Grant Agreement #22FRP12 with the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to provide funding for the project: "Polk County Peace Creek Canal Basin Wetland Restoration" ($7,050,000 one-time revenue).
body
DESCRIPTION
The Peace Creek Basin is entirely within Polk County and along with the Saddle Creek Watershed form the headwaters of the Peace River. The wetlands within the Peace Creek basin have been extensively ditched and canaled resulting in a lack of water storage and loss of historic aquatic habitat. Additionally, the changes within the Peace Creek basin have contributed to downstream water quality nutrient impairments in the Peace River. Polk County is currently evaluating the Peace Creek Canal Basin and has identified priority areas to restore historic wetlands that will minimize flood risk, increase wetland function, increase water storage, and improve water quality.
In response to that evaluation, Polk County submitted an application called "Restoring Historic Wetland to provide Resiliency and Minimize Flood Risk in the Peace Creek Canal" to the State's Resiliency Implementation Grant cycle in 2022. As part of implementing resiliency efforts, the state awarded Polk County funding for property acquisition and restoration within the Peace Creek Basin.
Through this agreement, FDEP awarded Polk County with $7,050,000 towards acquisition and restoration. Matching funds are being provided through American Rescue Plan funds from prior, current, and future year budgets, in the form of project design, permitting, and acquisition ($7,950,000).
Approval of this grant agreement is the next step towards moving this resiliency project forward to protect and restore critical wetlands as approved by FDEP.
The project has been approved by the Stormwater Technical Advisory Committee (STAC).
RECOMMENDATION
Approve Standard Grant Agreement #22FRP12 with the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection (F...
Click here for full text