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Resolution 252-2015RESOLUTION NO. 252 -2015 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA ADOPTING THE MONROE COUNTY RESTORE ACT MULTI -YEAR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the United States Congress passed the "Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012," known as the RESTORE Act, to establish a trust fund for deposits of 80% of administrative and civil penalties exacted from parties responsible for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill for distribution of the funds among the affected states, and WHEREAS, the RESTORE Act requires the U.S. Treasury, in consultation with other federal agencies, establish procedures for passing the fines levied (or the "funds ") to the recipients as so designated by the RESTORE Act; WHEREAS, the RESTORE Act specifically allocated 35% of the 80% of the fines collected to be made exclusively to the five Gulf Coast states of Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama and Florida, in equal shares; and WHEREAS, Florida's share of the 35% allocation is to be split between the Gulf Coast counties with 75% going to those 8 counties identified as being disproportionately impacted (i.e., , Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay, Gulf, Franklin, and Wakulla) divided based upon an agreed formula, and 25% of the fines to be allocated to those 15 counties that front on the Gulf Coast, but were non - disproportionately impacted) by the Deepwater Horizon event divided by an established formula; and WHEREAS, Monroe County is identified as one of the 15 non - disproportionately impacted counties and is therefore a recipient of RESTORE Act Direct Component (or "Local Pot ") funds; and WHEREAS, the RESTORE Act, section 1603 (3) further defines the use and eligible activities for which these funds may be used by the Gulf Coast states for ecological and economic restoration within the Gulf Coast regions, as follows: 1) Restoration and protection of the natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches, and coastal wetlands of the Gulf Coast region. 2) Mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife, and natural resources. 3) Implementation of a federally approved marine, coastal or comprehensive conservation management plan, including fisheries monitoring. 4) Workforce development and job creation. 5) Improvements to or on State parks located in coastal areas affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. 6) Infrastructure projects benefitting the economy of ecological resources, including port infrastructure. 7) Coastal flood protections and related infrastructure. 8) Planning assistance. 9) Administrative costs of complying with this section, which cannot exceed 3 %. WHEREAS, the RESTORE Act, section 1603 (3) additionally defines the use and eligible activities for which these funds may be used by the Gulf Coast states for promotion of tourism and seafood in the Gulf Coast region, as follows: 1) Promotion of tourism in the Gulf Coast Region, including recreational fishing. 2) Promotion of the consumption of seafood harvested from the Gulf Coast Region. WHEREAS, the RESTORE Act empowers the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners with the authority to distribute its Direct Component funds for various purposes and projects as designated by and consistent with the Act; and WHEREAS, Monroe County will receive $1,167,643.80 in Direct Component as of March 2015, with final amounts subject to new deposits into the Trust Fund, interest from investments being credited; and WHEREAS, as a condition of receiving amounts from the Trust Fund, the County must develop and submit a Multi -Year Implementation Plan for the use of its Direct Component funds; and whereas the MYIP must: • Describe each program, project and activity for which it seeks funding; • Include a description of the project's need, purpose, and objectives; • Identify the eligible activities the project will undertake; • Include the project location, budget, milestones and projected completion dates, and criteria to evaluate the success of each activity in helping to restore and protect the Gulf Coast region; • Include a map of location of projects to be funded; • Include documentation of formal adoption; • Include documentation of noticing and posting of MYIP for public review /comment; and WHEREAS, the Monroe County MYIP has been created pursuant to the Act and the U.S. Treasury Department's Interim Final Rule; and WHEREAS, the Monroe County MYIP includes three parts: a required "Narrative ", a required "Matrix" or spreadsheet, and an additional detailed Plan Document; and WHEREAS, the scope of this Monroe County MYIP tracks the funds available to Monroe County as of September 2015 (and does not include funds that may come available with future settlements or payments), and consists of three (3) projects as ranked by Monroe County's RESTORE Act Local Advisory Committee ( "Committee ") and approved by the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners (`BOCC "), and also includes administrative and planning assistance costs to comply with the Act, Guidance and regulations; and WHEREAS, the MYIP was developed via a public, participatory process that determined the projects ultimately selected for award from Monroe County's Direct Component funding which included the following components: • A representative committee of local stakeholders was convened and empowered to advise the BOCC on the selection and award of Direct Component (Local Pot) RESTORE Act funds (ie, developing the scoring criteria, overseeing the project application process, and scoring, ranking and recommending projects for award); • A broad public solicitation for project applications was conducted. The solicitation for projects was publicly noticed via email blasts, advertisements in local newspapers, posting on the County's website, announcements at BOCC meetings, press releases and independent media coverage; • All project applications were posted on the County's website for public review. The list of project submissions were presented to the BOCC and also covered extensively in the local media; • Meetings of the committee were open, public meetings that were publicly noticed via email blasts, postings on the County's website, advertisements in local newspapers, and announcements at BOCC meetings. All meeting agendas, materials and presentations, and minutes were and remain posted for public review; • The scoring and ranking of all projects took place in an open, public meeting that was publicly noticed via advertisements in the local newspapers, notice on the County's website, announcements at BOCC meeting, and independent media coverage; • The committee's scores and ranking of projects were posted on the County's website for public review; • At a regularly scheduled BOCC meeting, there was a public presentation and discussion of the Committee's ranking, after which the County Commission approved the ranking and awarded Local Pot funding to the Committee's top three (3) ranked projects; • Monroe County drafted a Multi -Year Implementation Plan setting forth its projects for Direct Component (Local Pot) Funding, and posted the plan for public review and input for a minimum of 45 days; and • After soliciting public input, at the September 16 2015 meeting of the BOCC, the MYIP was formally approved/adopted by the Board of County Commissioners; and WHEREAS, the U.S. Treasury Department will review Monroe County's MYIP for completeness and conformity with the Act and Treasury regulations and may request additional information after its review and, pending approval, will notify the County (in writing) that it may begin submitting grant applications for the three (3) projects and activities consistent with this MYIP. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that: Section 1. The Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County Florida hereby adopts and approves the Final Monroe County Multi -Year Implementation Plan dated September 16, 2015, a true copy of which is incorporated herein as Exhibit A to this Resolution. Section 2. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption. PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida, at a regular meeting of said Board held on the 16th day of September, 2015. Mayor Danny Kolhage Yes Mayor Pro Heather Carruthers y e s Commissioner George Neugent vpG Commissioner David Rice Yes Commissioner Sylvia Murphy Yes Monroe County Board of Commissioners By: Mayor Z O r- M O_ f7 X x -tr D OE C A R" ' 0 pp R Z II," : 1 N 0 rri . 0 N Ln ca ra r— M a) - n O EXHIBIT A MONROE COUNTY te''',°100it l k `s. ‘1/4tizaelo ilk,,r� b r Y 77.. • 'r NON • .. a+� }.4,. . i',,, ' .. .e1:1;.- . 0 ? lor . 1 t , MULTI-YEAR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN RESTORE Act Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund FINAL September 16, 2015 Contact: Lisa Tennyson, Director of Legislative Affairs Office of the County Administrator Tennyson-lisa@monroecounty-fl.gov (305) 292-4444 RESTORE ACT Direct Component Multiyear Plan Narrative OMB Approval No.15MS-0250 Eligible Applicant Name: Monroe County,Florida POC Name: Lisa Tennyson POC Title: Director of Legislative Affairs,Office of the County Administrator POC Email: Tennyson-lisa@monroecounty-fl.gov POC Phone: +1 (305)292-4444 B.PROVIDE A BRIEF NARRATIVE THAT DEMONSTRATES: Monroe County is submitting three projects in this application for Direct Component funding. PROJECT 1 -Coral Reef Restoration for Environmental and Economic Enhancement of the Florida Keys Description: The Coral Reef Restoration project will grow staghorn coral in undersea nurseries located throughout the Florida Keys and boulder coral in land-based nurseries. The coral will then be out-planted on reefs where they will kick start reproduction and reef recovery for the future. Approximately 20,000 staghorn corals of varying sizes will be planted on reefs between Key Largo and Key West. A subset of these will be part of value-added scientific research help increase the pace and efficiency of future restoration activities. An additional 10,000 small boulder corals will repair 1,000 dead coral heads using an innovative'reskinning'technology. Staghorn and boulder coral restoration efforts will be designed to encourage the restored corals to reproduce on their own and reseed both restored and adjacent reefs. The out-planted corals will begin to spawn and contribute to the reseeding of surrounding reefs. More prolific reefs enhance the restoration and protection of the Keys'natural resources,ecosystems,fisheries,marine and wildlife habitats,and coastal wetlands. Need: The reef system in the Florida Keys is the largest living coral reef in the Continental United States,and third largest barrier reef in the world. Coral reef areas provide critical nursery and feeding habitat for an abundance of ecologically and economically valuable sea life. Coral reefs buffer adjacent shorelines from wave action and prevent erosion,property damage and loss of life.Reefs also protect the highly productive wetlands along the coast. The reef system in the Florida Keys have been in decline for decades,and requires on- going preservation and restoration efforts to save it. Despite efforts to protect the reefs and decrease existing threats,no significant improvements in live coral cover or health have been observed. Active restoration is a proven technique to help jump-start recovery of the reefs. Purpose: The primary purpose of this project is to restore degraded reefs in the Florida Keys through the out-planting of nursery-reared corals. A healthy,vibrant reef is critical to the continuation of the unique ecosystem of the Florida Keys. Objectives:RESTORE objectives to be addressed by this project include environmental improvements and tourism promotion. Specifically: • Environmental: Increased live coral cover;restoration of important habitat for fish,invertebrates,sea turtles;long-term impacts as out-planted corals contribute to reproductive potential of the species. • Economic Development: Improved recreational and tourism value of Monroe County's reefs. • Community Resilience: Healthy reefs serve as a natural first line of defense for the shoreline by breaking waves offshore,which is particularly important during storms. • Education: The Nature Conservancy and its partners on this project do a significant amount of outreach within the community to help educate the public about the importance of this work. PROJECT 2-Canal Water Quality Improvements and Restoration for Canals in Unincorporated Monroe County Description:Canal water restoration projects will be constructed and implemented in canals throughout unincorporated Monroe County in order to improve the poor quality of canal waters and prevent the continued discharge of their poor quality water into the nearshore waters of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary which threatens the Sanctuary's unique and fragile coral reef and ecosystem.Restoration of impaired waters in the Florida Keys canal system will improve and protect the near shore water quality of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary,and the Keys'natural resources,ecosystem,fisheries,and marine and wildlife habitats.The health of the Florida Keys'ecosystem--and its local tourism-based economy--is reliant upon a pristine marine environment. Need: Many oft he canals throughout onroe County are listed as having impaired waters by the US EPA and the State of on a Department of Environmental Protection because they exhibit high levels of nutrients and low levels of dissolved oxygen — conditions that have been directly linked to extensive die -off in coral reefs in the coastal waters. These impaired canal waters discharge directly into the nearshore waters of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, one of the world's most unique marine ecosystems and home to the largest living coral reef in the continental United States, the largest sea grass bed in the western hemisphere and over 6,000 species -- all of which only thrive in clean, clear waters that are low in nutrients and high in dissolved oxygen levels. Monroe County will construct and implement restoration projects that will improve the environmental quality of the waters in its canal system pursuant to the Monroe County Canal Management Master Plan and the goals and objectives of the Sanctuary's Water Quality Protection Program. Purpose: The purpose of the canal water restoration projects is to remedy the high nutrient loading and low dissolved oxygen impairing the water by addressing the most significant causes of those conditions: accumulated organics, seaweed loading ( "weed wrack "), and poor flushing and tidal flow. The Monroe County County -wide Canal Management Master Plan (a plan developed in partnership with EPA, NPS, FWS, NOAA, DEP and the local governments) has identified 107 canals in unincorporated Monroe as having poor water quality and determined that each canal exhibits one or more of these contributing factors, and will require the implementation of one or a combination of restoration technologies. Objectives: RESTORE objectives addressed by this project include environmental improvements, economic development, and community resilience. Specifically: • Environmental: The project area, Monroe County ('The Florida Keys "), is surrounded by the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The health of the Sanctuary's coral reef and massive seagrass beds -- and all of the species that rely on these for habitat — are directly linked to near shore water quality. Both corals and seagrasses thrive in areas where water is clear (low turbidity), low in nutrients, and high in dissolved oxygen (DO). High levels of nutrients and low DO have been directly linked to extensive die -off in coral reefs in the coastal waters. • Economic Development: The socioeconomic importance of the reef to Monroe County was documented in study by the FKNMS which concluded that more than 33,000 jobs and $2.3 billion dollars in annual added revenue are directly attributed to Florida Reef Tract (Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuaries, 2013). Monroe County's marine -based tourism economy, and robust commercial and recreational fishing industries are all dependent on the health of the Sanctuary and good water quality. • Community Resilience: Restoration of canal water will lead to a healthier reef system, greater protection of natural resources, and a stronger economy all of which contribute to the community resilience of the Florida Keys. The reef contributes to resilience by serving as natural first line of defense for the shoreline by breaking waves offshore, which is particularly important during storms. Improved water quality also ensures a healthy natural environment, which in turn, ensures a healthy economy. Economic vibrancy is integral to community resilience. PROJECT 3 - Canal Water Quality Improvements and Restoration in Canals Across "All Entities" in Monroe County (Islamorada) Description: Canal water restoration projects will be constructed and implemented in canals within the municipality of Islamorada, Village of Islands, (centrally located in the Florida Keys) in order to improve the poor quality of canal waters and prevent the continued discharge of their poor quality water into the nearshore waters of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary which threatens the Sanctuary's unique and fragile coral reef and ecosystem. Restoration of impaired waters in the Florida Keys canal system will improve and protect the near shore water quality of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, and the Keys' natural resources, ecosystem, fisheries, and marine and wildlife habitats. The health of the Florida Keys' ecosystem -- and its local tourism -based economy -- is reliant upon a pristine marine environment. Need: Many canals in Islamorada are listed as having impaired waters by the US EPA and the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection because they exhibit high levels of nutrients and low levels of dissolved oxygen — conditions that have been directly linked to extensive die -off in coral reefs in the coastal waters. These impaired canal waters discharge directly into the nearshore waters of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, one of the world's most unique marine ecosystems and home to the largest living coral reef in the continental United States, the largest sea grass bed in the western hemisphere and over 6,000 species -- all of which only thrive in clean, clear waters that are low in nutrients and high in dissolved oxygen levels. Islamorada will construct and implement restoration projects that will improve the environmental quality of the waters in its canal system pursuant to the Monroe County Canal Management Master Plan and the goals and objectives of the Sanctuary's Water Quality Protection Program. Purpose: The purpose of the canal water restoration projects is to remedy the high nutrient loading and low dissolved oxygen impairing the water by addressing the most significant causes of those conditions: accumulated organics, seaweed loading ( "weed wrack "), and poor flushing and tidal flow. The Monroe County County -wide Canal Management Master Plan (a plan developed in partnership with EPA, NPS, FWS, NOAA, DEP and each of the local governments) has identified 10 canals in Islamorada as having poor water quality and determined that each canal exhibits one or more of these contributing factors, and will require the implementation of one or a combination of restoration technologies. The 10 canals considered "Poor Water Quality" were ranked based on criteria outlined in the Plan and The Village of Islamorada Selection of Demonstration Canals for Water Quality Improvements (SDC) document. Objectives: RESTORE objectives addressed by this project include environmental improvements, economic development, and community resilience. Specifically: • tnvironmental: The project area, s amora a, Village of s an s, is surrounded y t e orl a eys atlona arine anctuary. e health of the Sanctuary's coral reef and massive seagrass beds -- and all of the species that rely on these for habitat -- are directly linked to near shore water quality. Both corals and seagrasses thrive in areas where water is clear (low turbidity), low in nutrients, and high in dissolved oxygen (DO). High levels of nutrients and low DO have been directly linked to extensive die -off in coral reefs in the coastal waters. • Economic Development: The socioeconomic importance of the reef to Monroe County was documented in study by the FKNMS which concluded that more than 33,000 jobs and $2.3 billion dollars in annual added revenue are directly attributed to Florida Reef Tract (Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuaries, 2013). Islamorada is geographically centered in Monroe County and supports a large tourism and charter fishing industry which are dependent on the health of the Sanctuary and good water quality. Community Resilience: Restoration of canal water will lead to a healthier reef system, greater protection of natural resources, and a stronger economy all of which contribute to the community resilience of the all of the communities of the Florida Keys. The reef contributes to resilience by serving as natural first line of defense for the shoreline by breaking waves offshore, which is particularly important during storms. Improved water quality also ensures a healthy natural environment, which in turn, ensures a healthy =conomy. Economic vibrancy is integral to community resilience. ditional information and detail is included in the Monroe County MYIP Plan Document, attached. How the applicant mai the multiyear plan available for 45 days for public review and comment, in'a manner calculated to obtain broad -based articipation from individuals, businesses, Indian tribes, and non - profit organizations, such as through public meetings, presentations in languages other an English, and postings on the Internet. The applicant will need to submit documentation (e.g., a copy of public notices) to demonstrate that it made its ultiyear plan available to the public for at least 45 days. In addition, describe how each activity in the plan was adopted after consideration of all eaningful inpt om the public. monroe county ettectuated a broad public input process to determine the selection of projects included in this MYIP. The steps in this process are outlined in Question 5, and in further detail in the Plan Document, attached. The projects ultimately selected, and represented in the MYIP, were those highest ranked by the County's RESTORE Act Local Advisory Committee (a wide- ranging stakeholder group consisting of business - owners, environmentalist organizations, fishermen, and scientists appointed by the County Commission and the Commissions /Councils of each of the six municipalities within Monroe County.) The three highest ranked projects were then subsequently reviewed and approved by the Board of County Commissioners. There was a broad solicitation of applications, and all project applications received were posted on the County website for public review. The evaluation and ranking of all projects took place in open, public, and noticed meetings. All evaluation, project scores, and ranking information was (and remains) posted on the County's RESTORE Act webpage. The Local Advisory Committee met several times, and the County's RESTORE Act activities are regularly reported at County Commission meetings. The local media also regularly covers Monroe's on -going RESTORE Act activities. pecifically related to the requirement to ensure meaningful public comment on the MYIP, the County conducted the following ctivities: • July 8, 2015 through August 30, 2015: Posting of the Monroe County's MYIP and request for public comment on the official Monroe County government website, www.monroecounty- fl.gov. The County maintains a dedicated page for all of its RESTORE Act activities and various links, www. monroecounty- fl.gov /index.aspx ?NID =683. The actual MYIP was posted in its entirety on this page with an email address to submit comments to County staff. (Screenshots of the County's website illustrating the MYIP posting are included in Appendix D of the attached Plan). • July 8, 2015: Notification of the MYIP's availability for review and comment was given to the members of the Local Advisory Committee and a broad range of stakeholders, including business enterprises and not - for - profit organizations, via email blast. Notification was given to the general public of the MYIP's availability for review and comment via a press release on to all media outlets in Monroe County (a copy of the press release is included in Appendix D of the Plan Document, attached); and additional public notice was placed in each of three local newspapers (copies of the public notices are included in Appendix D). July 10/15, 2015: Notification to the general public of the posting of the MYIP for review and comment was also made via its placement on the published revised agenda for the Monroe County BOCC July 15, 2015 meeting, and included as part of the agenda for that meeting, which like all Commission meetings is a publicly noticed, televised, live- streamed, and recorded meeting. August 30, 2015: The last day of a 53 -day period posting period. Monroe County received 26 public comments, all in support of the projects selected in this plan. • September 16, 2015: The final MYIP was presented to the BOCC at its regularly scheduled, publicly noticed and televised monthly meeting. A resolution formally adopting the final MYIP after public comment period was approved by the BOCC (included in Appendix C of the Plan Do cument, attached). app cant's multiyA r plan matrix is eligible for funding and meets all requirements under the RESTORE Aq n this MYIP, three (3) activities are being submitted for funding. These activities are eligible activities under the RESTORE Act as follows: Project 1 - Coral Reef Restoration for Environmental and Economic Enhancement of the Florida Keys targets: (1) Restoration and protection of the natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches, and coastal wetlands of the Gulf Coast region. (II) Mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife, and natural resources. (III) Implementation of a Federally- approved marine, coastal, or comprehensive conservation management plan, including fisheries monitoring. (VII) Coastal flood protection and related infrastructure. (b)(II) Promotion of tourism in the Gulf Coast region, including recreational fishing. Project 2 - Canal Water Quality Improvements and Restoration for Canals in Unincorporated Areas targets: (1) Restoration and protection of the natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches, and coastal wetlands of the Gulf Coast region. (III) Implementation of a federally approved marine /coastal management plan, including fisheries monitoring. (IV) Workforce development and job creation. NO Infrastructure projects benefiting economy or ecological resources, including port infrastructure. Project 3 - Canal Water Quality Improvements and Restoration in Canals Across "All Entities" in Monroe County (Islamorada) targets: (1) Restoration and protection of the natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches, and coastal wetlands of the Gulf Coast region. (III) Implementation of a federal approved marine /coast management plan, including fisheries monitoring. (IV) Workforce development and job creation. Each project will be carefully tracked so that project success can be gauged at select intervals during the course of project implementation. Additional, more detailed information re: milestones is provided in the project information sheets included in Appendix A of attached Plan. General measures of milestones and success include the following: • Projects are completed within projected timeframes and within budgets. • Projects further the goals and objectives of the Florida Key National Marine Sanctuary's Water Quality Protection Program and its federal and state regulatory requirements and mandates. Specifically, for Project 1 -The Coral Restoration Project will result in additional coral plantings, strengthening and restoring the fragile reef system; improving habitat for important reef fish species; and preserving a marine -based local economy. Measure of success: Amount of new reef coral plantings. Specifically, for Project 2 and 3 - The Canal Water Quality Improvement Projects will result in reduced nutrient and pollutant loading to the nearshore waters, improving water quality in the Sanctuary; protecting the Sanctuary's fragile marine ecosystem; improving critical habitat; and preserving a marine -based local economy. Measure of success: Amount of nutrient loading and dissolved oxygen in canal waters. I Monroe County conducted a highly participatory process to determine the projects it ultimately selected for award from its Direct Component funding. Below are the various elements of the County's process. (Local Advisory Committee: To ensure public participation, a local advisory committee, The Monroe County RESTORE Act Local Advisory 'Committee, was created by the Monroe County BOCC on February 20, 2013 with its adoption of Resolution 094 -2013 (and later Resolution 129 -2013 for clarifications) . The Committee was and remains tasked with making recommendations to the BOCC for projects that are in the best interest of the County that will be funded through the Direct Component of the RESTORE Act. The BOCC gave careful consideration to the Committee's membership to ensure broad stakeholder representation, requiring that the eleven (11) members represent each of the Monroe County Commission districts and each of the municipalities within Monroe County. To date, the Committee has held seven (7) meetings that were all open and widely publicly noticed: May 16, 2013; June 12, 2013; June 28, 2013; November 8, 2013; September 26,2014; December 11, 2014; December 12, 2014. Agendas, meeting materials, and meeting recordings were made available on the County's RESTORE Act webpage. The BOCC empowered the Committee to: • Gain an understanding of the RESTORE project authorization and funds distribution process; • Develop specific project evaluation criteria for the ranking of projects based on direction and Guiding Principles from the BOCC; • Solicit projects for evaluation; • Score and rank submitted projects; and • Make recommendations to the BOCC for projects to be awarded with funding from the first distribution of RESTORE Act Direct Component funds. Guiding Principles: The BOCC developed Guiding Principles for Direct Component funded projects. The BOCC intended that the Committee consider the Guiding Principles as threshold eligibility criteria for project proposals. The Guiding Principles are: • Project must meet the eligible uses and funding conditions in the Act, and any Treasury requirements; • Projects provide positive direct environmental and /or economic benefit to Monroe County; • Projects are consistent with local government comprehensive plans and community priorities; • Projects incorporate other funding partners to fully leverage RESTORE funds; • No project can encumber all of the available funds in the local pot. Evaluation Criteria: The Local Advisory Committee, with guidance from the BOCC, developed the following set of Evaluation Criteria: 1. Feasibility (Financial, technical, administrative) /Probability of Success (Are there obstacles? Can they be reasonably overcome? Does it require permits? Will it be able to qualify for necessary permits ?) 2. Readiness to Implement/Timeframe for Completion (Is it already permitted? How long before implementation? How long to complete ?) 3. Benefits are Direct and Measurable (Are the benefits clear, measurable? Are they Economic? Environmental? Both ?) 4. Benefits are Keys -wide (Do the benefits accrue Keys -wide or are they localized ?) 5. Cost - effective /Return on Investment (Is it worth it? What is the funding /leverage ratio ?) 6. Public Support (Can the project demonstrate support from the public? Is it part of an already approved Comprehensive plan? State plan? Federal plan ?) 7. Clear Ability to Demonstrate, Monitor and Report on both Results and Expenditure of Funds (Requirements for project compliance with monitoring, reporting, compliance, outcomes will be very rigorous, will the project /applicant be able to meet /manage these requirements ?) 8. Applicant is Able to Demonstrate Experience /Expertise Related to Project, Ability to Manage Project Type /Size, and Ability to Manage Government Grant /Contracts. Project Solicitation Process: The Committee then established a Project Funding Submittal Form (application) and application procedure. The Project Funding Submittal Form was designed to reflect both the Guiding Principles and Evaluation Criteria. Once approved by the BOCC, the Committee solicited and accepted applications for projects in compliance with RESTORE Act eligibility criteria. Monroe County's Project Funding Submittal Form was released on July 19, 2013, with applications due by December 20, 2013 (after one deadline extension). Notice of funding availability was made via BOCC meetings, press releases, website announcements and media coverage. Forty -six (46) applications were received in response. All project submissions were posted, in their entirety, on the County's website. The County also made numerous public announcements that project submissions were posted for public review. Project Evaluation: The Committee evaluated all project submissions during its December 11 and 12, 2014 meetings, within the course of one and a half days - one full day for presentations and another half day for Committee discussion, scoring, and compiling. The Committee's project evaluation meetings were publicly noticed with announcements on the County's website, announcements at County Commission meetings, email blasts, and notices in local newspapers. The meeting materials -- agenda, presentation schedule, and Committee members' scores and rankings, and video - recording of the meeting were (and remain) posted on the County's website. The Committee heard thirty -seven (37) presentations in total (not all 46 applicant chose to make a presentation to the Committee). The presentations enabled proposers to discuss projects with the Committee and provided an opportunity to Committee members to ask follow -up questions on the written submissions. After hearing all presentations, the Committee members finalized their individual scores. Project Scoring and Ranking: After evaluation of written applications and hearing presentations, the members' individually (and privately) scored each project. Individual scores were then compiled and tallied. Submissions with the highest total scores were ranked the highest. Individual scores, total project scores, and project rankings were all presented at the meeting. Members of the public, officials from the various municipalities, and the proposers were all in attendance and given opportunity for input. Project Award: The final ranking was a Committee recommendation forwarded to the BOCC for final approval of the projects. The Committee's recommended project ranking was presented to the BOCC for discussion and formal selection at their February 2015 monthly meeting. After presentation and discussion, the BOCC approved the three (3) top- ranked projects. Again, members of the public were in attendance and there were no objections or comments expressed regarding the BOCC's final awards. MYIP: The three highest ranked and Commission- approved projects are those that appear in this MYIP. The posting and availability of the draft MYIP for public review and comment was presented at the July 15, 2015 County Commission meeting; and the final MYIP with a resolution to formally adopt the MYIP was presented to and approved by the BOCC at its September 16, 2015. 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Primary Direct Componem o n ( S t e i c Further Described In Application (Static FIeIdI (S 4. atic Field) Number and AcUVity Title (Static FIeItl) 5. Location - Munlcipy ) (S[eNC Field, locations also shown on attached map) 6. Total Funding Resources far Activity Budge[ (refer to Instructions) T Pr M epos Start Date mm /yyyy S. Actual Start Date mm /yvyv (Static Field) 9. Pra posed End Date mm /yyyy 10. Actual End Date mm /Yvvv (Static Field) 11. Proposed High Level Milestones Further Described in Appiicatlan 6a. OIr— Component Contrlbutlon 66. Other RESTORE Act Contribution 6c. Other Third Party Contrlbutlon rsd. Total Pro)ect Budget Restoration and protection of the natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches, and coastal wetlands of the Gulf Coast Region 1. Coral Reef Restoration for Environmental and Economic Enhancement of the Florida Keys Throughout Florida Keys (Monroe County) (see attached map in Appendix A -1 of MYIP) $550,000 $0 $200,OoD $750,000 Jul -15 Dec 17 Permit Review and Updating, Nursery Maintenance, Site Selection, Outplanting, Monitoring, Reporting, Project Closeout Restoration and protection of the natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches, and coastal wetlands of the Gulf Coast Region 2. Canal Water Quality Improvements and Restoration for Canals in Unincorporated Monroe County Throughout Florida Keys, in unincorporated areas of Monroe County (see attached map in Appendix A -2 of MYIP) $450,000 $0 $5,000,000 $5,450,000 Jan -16 Apr 17 Design, Permitting Construction, Reporting, Project Closeout, Post - Project Water Quality Analysis Restoration and protection of the natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches, and coastal wetlands of the Gulf Coast Region 3. Canal Water Quality Improvements and Restoration for Canals Across "All Entities' in Monroe County ( Islamorada) Islamorada, Village of Islands including Plantation Key, Windley Key, Upper Matecumbe Key and Lower Matecumbe Key (see attached map in Appendix A -3 of MYIP) $100,000 $0 $100,000 $200,000 Jan 16 Feb-17 Design, Permitting, Construction, Reporting, Project Closeout, Post - Project Water Quality Analysis 12. TOTAL FUNDING FOR BUDGET (refer to Instructions) $1,100,000 $D $5,300,000 $6,400,000 According to the Paperwork Reduction Actof 2995, no persons ca equued to respond m a c H Iron of oformntmnanlessit displays o valid OMO control numher The vand OMB control number Ip this mfprmahon collection is 15050150. Con enrs concemmy the timer ulred to cornplare th,s information collection, lncludinq the time to review nstructions, search eilshng data resources, gnrnetmg and mointaiomy the data needed, and completing and revlrw , the cull,hoa pf infarmma,h, should be directed to the Department of the Treasury, RESTORE Act Program, 1500 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20220 . SUPPLEMENTARY PLAN DOCUMENT TABLE OF CONTENTS I. GENERAL BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION ..................................................... ..............................1 II. THREE ACTIVITIES IN THE MULTI -YEAR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN ........................ ..............................2 III. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND PROJECT PRIORITIZATION ...................................... ..............................2 A . Advisory Committee ....................................................................................... ..............................2 B. Public Information Sharing ...................................................................................... ..............................3 C. Guiding Principles for Project Selection ......................................................... ..............................4 D. Project Evaluation Criteria ............................................................................. ..............................4 E. Project Application and Solicitation .............................................................. ..............................5 F. Project Evaluation, Ranking and Award Process ........................................... ..............................5 G. All Public Activity (BOCC and Local Advisory Committee Meetings and Actions) ....................6 H. MYIP Availability for Public Review and Comment ...................................... ..............................7 IV. BEST AVAILABLE SCIENCE ....................................................................................... ..............................9 V. MEASURES OF MILESTONES AND SUCCESS .......................................................... .............................13 VI. OVERALL MYIP BUDGET AND JUSTIFICATION ...................................................... .............................14 VII. APPENDICES ........................................................................................................... .............................15 Appendix A -1: Project Information Sheet .......................................................... .............................16 Appendix A -2: Project Information Sheet ............................................................... ............................... 20 Appendix A -3: Project Information Sheet .......................................................... .............................25 Appendix B: Map of Location of All Projects .......................................................... ............................... 30 Appendix C: Documentation of Formal Adoption of MYIP ................................. ............................... 31 Appendix D: Noticing /Posting of MYIP for Public Review and Public Comments .......................... 32 Appendix E: General Press Coverage of local RESTORE Act Activities and Letters to Editor........ 33 REFERENCES................................................................................................................... .............................34 ENDNOTES...................................................................................................................... .............................35 I. GENERAL BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION On April 20, 2010, the largest offshore oil spill in the United States ( "U.S. ") occurred after the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. Before the well was capped, millions of barrels of crude oil were released, closing tens of thousands of square miles of federal, state and protected waters to fishing, and causing extensive damage to marine and wildlife habitats, and tourism across five (5) Gulf states, including Florida. In July 2012, Congress passed the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act ( "RESTORE Act" or "the Act ").' The Act established the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund ( "Trust Fund ") within the U.S. Department of the Treasury ( "Treasury "). The Act also requires that 80% of the civil penalties paid after July 6, 2012, under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, in connection with the spill, must be deposited into the Trust Fund and invested. Amounts in the Trust Fund will be available for programs, projects, and activities to restore and protect the environment and economy of the Gulf Coast region. Treasury is responsible for issuing compliance and auditing procedures for the entire Act and substantive procedures for two grant programs (Direct Component and Centers of Excellence Research Program) which it did on October 14, 2014 through its Interim Final Rule ( "IFR "). Treasury also published the RESTORE Act Direct Component Guidance and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance ( "Guidance ")' and a list of fund balances that provides further direction to recipients on the scope of their initial distributions. The only funds obligated to the Trust Fund to date are from the Transocean civil settlement for $1 billion, 80% (or $800 million) of which will go toward RESTORE Act implementation. The Direct Component sets aside 35% of penalties paid into the Trust Fund for eligible activities proposed by the States of Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, Louisiana and 20 Louisiana parishes, and 23 Florida counties. Monroe County will receive 8.297% of those funds which is $1,167,643.80 as of March 2015. Final amounts are subject to new deposits into the Trust Fund, interest from investments being credited, and amounts withdrawn by grant recipients for eligible programs, projects, and activities under the Act. Funds for each component are available through grants and will be subject to all applicable Federal and State law. A Multi -Year Implementation Plan ( "MYIP ") is required before funds can be distributed to any eligible entity. The MYIP must: • Describe each program, project and activity for which it seeks funding; • Include a description of the project's need, purpose, and objectives; • Identify the eligible activities' the project will undertake; and • Include the project location, budget, milestones and projected completion dates, and criteria to evaluate the success of each activity in helping to restore and protect the Gulf Coast region. 1 a.wRWACtF@nWw b mxm,n.oa l aauhrtawF.r 00% to tW car coat Rest n6WT Wt F.W 2 3 4 Dkette -pMmt U-0—r:.. s,wwa.a...P.t.. MIA ft [urt rsaf •, Treasury Adminlst *AC..t tewstlwa 00A Rraarre. - mow-c mom easury :Ya% .... n,drvid.dsmoK a. AdMkdglr Ad-M.W AA.Wr—d veered d - yNm+r.stm.d.�y.e.,.mlc drv.bpm..t,.,d t..d m nx.� 30*wded -Ow &».Mauch 5 3 a.n.Phw.Ttaw P..tadtcmwm" m da�ba lanwi ..ntlsww," RYka YMb.t h hom n N wtewwmws b aapwa/aSim twamna rtme,� • ya bP d%.PW& aatwywkn -h.., th. 7 ¢ y .ideltetNlaapp.tw whim rt mqi., b'Mtao -d twtn'DPW- 8 8 H z F D X The only funds obligated to the Trust Fund to date are from the Transocean civil settlement for $1 billion, 80% (or $800 million) of which will go toward RESTORE Act implementation. The Direct Component sets aside 35% of penalties paid into the Trust Fund for eligible activities proposed by the States of Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, Louisiana and 20 Louisiana parishes, and 23 Florida counties. Monroe County will receive 8.297% of those funds which is $1,167,643.80 as of March 2015. Final amounts are subject to new deposits into the Trust Fund, interest from investments being credited, and amounts withdrawn by grant recipients for eligible programs, projects, and activities under the Act. Funds for each component are available through grants and will be subject to all applicable Federal and State law. A Multi -Year Implementation Plan ( "MYIP ") is required before funds can be distributed to any eligible entity. The MYIP must: • Describe each program, project and activity for which it seeks funding; • Include a description of the project's need, purpose, and objectives; • Identify the eligible activities' the project will undertake; and • Include the project location, budget, milestones and projected completion dates, and criteria to evaluate the success of each activity in helping to restore and protect the Gulf Coast region. 1 Prior to receiving Direct Component funds, Treasury requires submission of an Operational Self - Assessment ( "OSA ") as part of its compliance process. The County submitted its OSA to Treasury in October 2014; and an updated OSA in July 2015. This MYIP has been created pursuant to the Act and Treasury's IFR. The scope of this MYIP tracks the funds available to Monroe County and consists of three (3) projects as ranked by Monroe County's RESTORE Act Local Advisory Committee ( "Committee ") and approved by the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners ( "BOCC "). This MYIP also includes administrative and planning assistance costs to comply with the Act, Guidance and regulations. Treasury will review Monroe County's MYIP for completeness and conformity with the Act and Treasury regulations. Treasury may request additional information after its review and, pending approval, will notify the County (in writing) that it may begin submitting grant applications for the three (3) projects and activities consistent with this MYIP. II. THREE ACTIVITIES IN THE MULTI -YEAR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN After a thorough public review and selection process, the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners ( "BOCC ") formally approved Direct Component funding for the three (3) projects included in this MYIP, as follows: PROJECTS SELECTED FOR FUNDING Project Name Coral Reef Restoration for Environmental and Economic Enhancement of the Florida Keys Proposer The Nature Conservancy Canal Water Quality Improvements and Restoration for Canals in Unincorporated Monroe County Proposer Monroe County Canal Water Quality Improvements and Restoration for Canals across "Ail Entities" in Monroe County (Funding Awarded Specifically for Islamorada) f Proposer : Monroe County III. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND PROJECT PRIORITIZATION BOCC Approved Funds $550,000 $450,000 $100,000 Monroe County conducted a highly transparent and participatory process to determine the projects it ultimately selected for award from its Direct Component funding. Below are the various elements of the County's process. A. Local Committee To ensure public participation, a local advisory committee, The Monroe County RESTORE Act Local Advisory Committee, was created by the Monroe County BOCC on February 20, 2013 with its adoption of Resolution 094 -2013 (and later Resolution 129 -2013 for clarifications)'. The Committee was and remains tasked with making recommendations to the BOCC for projects that 2 are in the best interest of the County that will be funded through the Direct Component of the RESTORE Act. The BOCC gave careful consideration to the Committee's membership to ensure broad stakeholder representation, requiring that the eleven (11) members represent each of the Monroe County Commission districts and each of the municipalities within Monroe County. The BOCC empowered the Committee to: • Gain an understanding of the RESTORE project authorization and funds distribution process; • Develop specific project evaluation criteria for the ranking of projects based on direction and Guiding Principles from the BOCC; • Solicit projects for evaluation; • Score and rank submitted projects; and • Make recommendations to the BOCC for projects to be awarded with funding from the first distribution of RESTORE Act Direct Component funds. To date, the Committee has held seven (7) meetings that were all publicly noticed: May 16, 2013; June 12, 2013; June 28, 2013; November 8, 2013; September 26, 2014; December 11, 2014; December 12, 2014. Monroe County RESTORE Act Local Advisory Committee Members: ✓ Patrick H. Rice, PhD. - Monroe County, District 1 Appointee, Marine Scientist ✓ Capt. Bill Kelly - Monroe County, District 2 Appointee, Executive Director of the Florida Keys Commercial Fishermen's Association ✓ Todd German - Monroe County, District 3 Appointee, Local businessperson ✓ David Makepeace - Monroe County, District 4 Appointee, Marine Biology Educator ✓ John Halas - Monroe County, District 5 Appointee, Marine Biologist ✓ Edwin Swift III - Monroe County Gulf Consortium Director Appointee, Local businessperson ✓ Sarah Spurlock - Representative for the City of Key West, Assistant City Manager ✓ Mayor Chris Bull - Elected official of the City of Marathon ✓ Councilman Mike Forster - Elected official of Islamorada, Village of Islands ✓ Councilman William Murchie - Elected official of the City of Layton ✓ Commissioner Ryan Schraffenberger - Elected official of the City of Key Colony Beach B. Public Notice and Information Sharing To ensure broad public notice and information sharing, the County developed an informational webpage dedicated to the RESTORE Act, on its official website: www.monroecounty - fl.gov. The RESTORE Act page on the County website was developed on February 5, 2013, and has been actively maintained and updated continually since. From the start and throughout the entire process, the Committee's by -laws, membership, meeting dates, and meeting agendas and minutes were (and remain) posted on the County's website. 8 The page contains information related to the various "pots" of funding, detailed information on the Direct Component funding pot, the Local Committee, Committee meeting information, video recordings of Committee meetings, project submission forms and deadlines, completed project 3 submissions, project scores and rankings, Treasury rules and information, BOCC actions, informational links, contact information, etc. In addition to the County's RESTORE webpage, this information was regularly discussed at BOCC meetings, which are public and televised. Notifications of Committee meetings were advertised in local newspapers and announced on the County's website. Availability of Direct Component funding and deadlines were also advertised in local papers and announced on the County's website. We also coordinated closely with the local media to keep the public informed. As a result, there was �"`� w" �• also a great deal of press and radio coverage related :•':��" w ��: to the County's RESTORE Act activities, the Committee's activities, the availability of Direct Component funding, the various submissions for funding, scores and rankings, and the BOCC's project selection. C. Guiding Principles for Protect Selection In May 2013, the BOCC developed Guiding Principles for Direct Component fund allocations to be used by the Committee in selecting projects to receive Direct Component funds. The BOCC intended that the Committee consider the Guiding Principles as threshold eligibility criteria for project proposals. Guiding Principles: ✓ Project must meet the eligible uses and funding conditions in the Act, and any Treasury requirements ✓ Projects provide positive direct environmental and /or economic benefit to Monroe County ✓ Projects are consistent with local government comprehensive plans and community priorities ✓ Projects incorporate other funding partners to fully leverage RESTORE funds ✓ No project can encumber all of the available funds in the local pot D. Protect Evaluation Criteria The Committee with guidance from the BOCC developed a set of Evaluation Criteria with a point system to be used for the project evaluation process. The Evaluation Criteria included: 1. Feasibility (Financial, technical, administrative) /Probability of Success (Are there obstacles? Can they be reasonably overcome? Does it require permits? Will it be able to qualify for necessary permits ?) 2. Readiness to Implement / Timeframe for Completion (Is it designed /already permitted? How long before implementation? How long to complete ?) 3. Benefits are Direct and Measurable (Are the benefits clear, measurable? Are they Economical? Environmental? Both ?) 2 4. Benefits are Keys -wide (Do the benefits accrue Keys -wide or are they localized ?) 5. Cost - effective / Return on Investment (Is it worth it? What is the funding /leverage ratio ?) 6, Public Support (Can the project demonstrate support from the public? Is it part of an already approved Master plan, Comprehensive plan? State plan? Federal plan ?) 7. Demonstrated Ability / Experience /Expertise Related to Project: Ability to Manage Project Type /Size, Government Grant /Contracts, monitor and report on both results and expenditure of funds. Application Sections and Point Allocations: ✓ Project Description (Need, Feasibility, Probability of Success): 20 points ✓ Project Budget (Match, Financial Feasibility, Cost - effectiveness): 15 points ✓ Technical Feasibility: 5 points ✓ Readiness for Implementation (Permitting, Obstacles): 10 points ✓ Completion Timetable: 10 points ✓ Environmental Benefits (Clear, measurable): 10 points ✓ Economic Benefits (Clear, measurable): 10 points ✓ Community Resilience: 5 points ✓ Complements Existing Effort and Plans /Public Support: 5 points ✓ Compliance with Federal, State and Local Regulations: No points (required for all projects) ✓ Project Management Capacity: 10 points E. Project Application and Solicitation The Committee then established a Project Funding Submittal Form (application) and application procedure. The Project Funding Submittal Form was designed to reflect both the Guiding Principles and Evaluation Criteria. Once approved by the BOCC, the Committee solicited and accepted applications for projects in compliance with RESTORE Act eligibility criteria. Monroe County's Project Funding Submittal Form was released on July 19, 2013, with applications due by December 20, 2013 (after one deadline extension). Forty -six (46) applications were received in response. All project submissions were posted, in their entirety, on the County's website. The County also made numerous public announcements that project submissions were posted for public review. F. Project Evaluation, Rankine and Award Process The Committee evaluated, scored and ranked all project submissions during its December 11 and 12, 2014 meetings, over the course of one and a half days — one full day for presentations and another half day for Committee discussion, scoring, and compiling. The Committee's project evaluation meetings were publicly noticed with announcements on the County's website, announcements at County Commission meetings, email blasts, and notices in local newspapers. The meeting materials -- agenda, presentation schedule, and Committee members' scores and rankings, and video - recording of the meeting were (and remain) posted on the County's 1AWAL RUS 1 MP::u r Adri'Iti/►Itl' Ct ►SIMI'1'I'FJ: %xir c Cmoay w01 mmrc funfmg mak'r ft REb W. Act pn nirn fm cigbk cmirooncntal and aonaaic dcrck pwm aso. Thc Knrm Cumty REWORE Act Lmal A&iwry Committee w91 meet m D=nba 11, 2014 at 9AM and Dcrxmbcr 12.3)14 a 9AM at dr Maratha Gmsrnmta Cana m Marahn lu mim. rank, and make wwanvtatimis in the Canty Canmissinn, fir the use of denc fmskOnc or mmc Couny Cirnni%umers may be in atmWanw. Wr naw in iamadm, pka c caaa't lisp TennrAw L%isWire Affaks Dircaa. 1 110 .Y $net, Kcy Wet, Roan 2 -210, Firida 3.1"k X6 2924444; tmy tlgm. ALMAWSTNC'p_ - If— a.0 pn.,. A diditin W., are6 rp.W r..wuu 0*- i ,rdrr w, 1-1k ymr w Au pna.eAV **an A,(,WW Admiwu — '.IfIrr, .6q; Irwr, {N: f /.11. • 7;la/p..., ti, kw, ft.1h1131 d,. &,d— rM .vMNrl d„ven�: Qirym I..r R . avaWA.af 5 website. The Committee heard thirty -seven (37) verbal presentations in total. (Not all applicants chose to make a presentation to the Committee.) The presentations enabled proposers to discuss projects with the Committee and provided an opportunity to Committee members to ask follow -up questions on the written submissions. After hearing all presentations, the Committee members independently finalized their individual scores. The members' individual scores were then collected and tallied. Submissions with the highest total scores were ranked the highest. Individual committee member scores, total project scores, and project rankings were all presented at the meeting. Members of the public, officials from the various municipalities, and the proposers were all in attendance and given opportunity for input. The final ranking was a Committee recommendation forwarded to the BOCC for final approval of the projects. The Committee's recommended project ranking was presented to the BOCC for discussion and formal selection at its regularly scheduled February 2015 monthly meeting. Below is a snapshot of the Committee's scores and ranking for the top ranked projects: After presentation and discussion, the BOCC approved the three (3) top- ranked projects (as listed in the chart on page 2 of this document) and decided upon funding amounts for each. Again, members of the public were in attendance and there were no objections or comments expressed regarding the BOCC's final awards. The thoroughness and outcomes the County's evaluation and ranking process were commended in various Letters the Editor by environmental organizations such as the National Wildlife Federation and The Nature Conservancy. (Copies of these are included in Appendix E.) G. Multi -Year Implementation Plan (MYIP) Posting for Public Review and Comment Process Treasury requires the following: The County must develop an MYIP; the County's MYIP must include a Narrative and Matrix that reflect the three projects ranked and approved for Direct Component Funding; and the MYIP must be made available for public review and comment for a minimum of forty -five (45) days in a manner that will obtain broad, meaningful participation from individuals, businesses, non - profit organizations and others. Monroe County's MYIP Narrative and Matrix reflect the selected projects. This supplementary Plan Document is also included to provide more information on our local RESTORE Act program, project selection process, public input process, and detailed project information, maps, etc. I. Commbe Members BOCC BOCC BOCC BOCC M M KW Mar KI Q by Nil VaNi A6serd A6serd Appliamf pmjed ibce Mpeice Swift Kelly Getman H 188 SpAd Bull Forger WAPkTo llumhi TOTAL TOTAL AVG HANK Ai;eefaemtonforWlonme^dasd foramic6haroementof Horida0e R A A 1W 91 81 I 99 gT 143 921 ' frumterM�roe anal W1KW1iry1mpMSemer1 ard heitonton• lust UnincMonroe 9 A A 1 8S T 86 Si 6 91 �0 88,89 �� fartyorlbnae analWaV,ua'.irylmpmsemen8nd 81 88 A A 96 91 86 91 80 93 l89 81,61 After presentation and discussion, the BOCC approved the three (3) top- ranked projects (as listed in the chart on page 2 of this document) and decided upon funding amounts for each. Again, members of the public were in attendance and there were no objections or comments expressed regarding the BOCC's final awards. The thoroughness and outcomes the County's evaluation and ranking process were commended in various Letters the Editor by environmental organizations such as the National Wildlife Federation and The Nature Conservancy. (Copies of these are included in Appendix E.) G. Multi -Year Implementation Plan (MYIP) Posting for Public Review and Comment Process Treasury requires the following: The County must develop an MYIP; the County's MYIP must include a Narrative and Matrix that reflect the three projects ranked and approved for Direct Component Funding; and the MYIP must be made available for public review and comment for a minimum of forty -five (45) days in a manner that will obtain broad, meaningful participation from individuals, businesses, non - profit organizations and others. Monroe County's MYIP Narrative and Matrix reflect the selected projects. This supplementary Plan Document is also included to provide more information on our local RESTORE Act program, project selection process, public input process, and detailed project information, maps, etc. I. The County's MYIP was posted for public review and comment for a total of 53 days. Consistent with the broad public input process facilitated by the County to date on all things RESTORE Act, and to specifically satisfy the requirement to ensure meaningful public comment on the MYIP, the County conducted the following activities: • July 8, 2015: Monroe County's draft MYIP was publicly noticed and posted on the County's website. The County maintains a dedicated web page for its RESTORE Act program and activities. The MYIP was posted in its entirety on the County's RESTORE Act page, along with a link to a dedicated email address to use for comments. Additionally, notification of the Plan's availability for public review and comment, including a direct link to the Plan, was placed prominently on the County's main homepage. The draft MYIP remained posted on the County's website through August 30` for a total of 53 days. (Various screen shots of the County's website Illustrating the MYIP posting are included in Appendix D). • July 8, 2015: Broad notification of the MYIP's availability for review and comment was made to public via email blast, press release on to all media outlets in Monroe County, and public notices placed with each of the community's three local newspapers. (A copy of the press release and copies of the public notices are included in Appendix D). • July 10, 2015: For additional public notice, the draft MYIP was placed on the published revised agenda for the July 2015 meeting of the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners. • July 15, 2015: At the July 15 BOCC meeting, announcement and public notice was given that the Monroe County MYIP was available for public review and comment on the Monroe County website, and included the website address and an email address for comments. • August 30, 2015: During the 53 -day period, Monroe County received 26 public comments, all in support of projects in plan. • September 16, 2015: After the required public review and comment period, the final MYIP was then again presented to the BOCC at its regularly scheduled, publicly noticed and televised monthly meeting in September; the BOCC approved a resolution formally adopting the final MYIP. (This resolution is included in Appendix C.) H. All Public Activity (BOCC and Local Advisory Committee Meetings and Actions) A complete list of RESTORE Act program - related activities, public meetings, discussions, Committee meetings, and formal BOCC actions is provided below. All activities were broadly noticed to the public via emails, meeting and funding availability notices in local print newspapers, postings on the County website, press release and ample media coverage (examples of these are included in Appendix E). • July 8- September 16, 2015: After a 53 -day public review and comment period for the Monroe County MYIP, the BOCC approved a resolution formally adopting it at the regularly scheduled September County Commission meeting. • February 18, 2015: BOCC reviewed and approved three (3) projects (and funding amounts) for RESTORE Act Direct Component ( "Local Pot ") funding: Coral Reef Restoration Program (ranked #1) for $550,000, Monroe County (Unincorporated) Canal Restoration Program (ranked #2) for $450,000 and part of Monroe County (All Entities) Canal Restoration Program (ranked #3) - for Islamorada's Canal Restoration Projects for $100,000. • December 11 & 12, 2014: Committee meetings to hear final presentations, score and rank applications. (All meetings of the Committee were publicly noticed with date, time and place in the local paper and on the County's website. Agendas, meeting materials, minutes and video- recordings of each meeting are posted on the County's website.) • October 17, 2014: BOCC presentation and discussion on RESTORE Act and Final Treasury Rule, including discussion of County's requirement to develop a MYIP, gravity of federal grant requirements and grant management costs and risks to County related to sub - awards; BOCC gave direction to staff to draft MYIP in -house with outside technical support. • September 26, 2014: Committee Meeting with update on the Final Treasury Rule, federal grant requirements, importance of project management capacity. • February 2014: BOCC ratified submission (in December 2013) of an additional County request to Local Pot application process for a multi - jurisdictional Canal project. • January 16, 2014: BOCC approved Commissioner Neugent's nomination of appointment to Gulf Consortium Executive Committee. • December 27, 2013: All new /additional project application submissions posted to County's website. 7 • December 20, 2013: Extended closing date for Local Pot application cycle (extension was publicly noticed in local papers, on County's website and via press release). • November 20, 1013: BOCC approved recommendation of the Committee to extend the deadline for submitting project proposals for the RESTORE Act Local Pot funding until December 20, 2013. • November 20, 2013: BOCC ratified County's comments on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Department of Treasury, concerning the RESTORE Act program, which were submitted to U.S. Treasury on November 5, 2013. • November 8, 2013: Committee Meeting included discussion and approval of re- opening cycle and extensio9n through December 20, 2013. Also heard presentation on U.S. Treasury regulations regarding RESTORE Act funding. • September 6, 2013: All project submittal applications posted on the County's website and public notified of the via posting email, announcements, and media. • August 30, 2013: Original closing date for Local Pot funding application cycle. • July 18, 2013: Opening date for Local Pot funding application cycle (opening was publicly noticed in local newspapers, on County's website, and via a press release; opening was also covered by media). • July 17, 2013: BOCC approved Committee recommendations for the Local Pot funding application including a Project process Funding Submittal Form (project evaluation criteria and points), submission process, and application opening and closing dates for RESTORE Act Local Pot funding. • June 28, 2013: Committee Meeting to discussed draft project submittal form, application of points to reflect Evaluation Criteria, ranking list of allowable uses, and development of application process timetable. • June 12, 2013: Committee Meeting with update on RESTORE Act, initial discussion of project selection process, the BOCC's Guiding Principles and Evaluation Criteria, and direction to staff to develop draft application. • May 16, 2013: First Committee Meeting with introductions, overview of RESTORE Act, overview of Local Pot and role of Committee in devising a process for selecting projects for award, and election of officers. • May 15, 2013: BOCC discussed and determined Guiding Principles and Evaluation Criteria for project award for Local Pot process funding for the Committee. BOCC directed Committee to review /consider these criteria and bring back recommended Evaluation Criteria to Board. (Committee reflected this in project application questions /point system.) • April 17, 1013: BOCC approved clarifications to voting requirements for Committee members, adopted Resolution 129 -2013 amending Resolution 094 -2013 to prohibit all Committee members, including government agency members, from voting on projects that benefit their agencies. • March 20, 2013: BOCC approved its six (6) appointees to the Committee; the five (5) municipalities also appointed their representatives to the Committee. BOCC ratified two (2) project submissions for Federal Council funding. • February 20, 1013: BOCC approved creation of the Committee, adopting Resolution 094 -2013 creating the Committee and its purpose, membership, and responsibilities. • January 16, 2013: BOCC approved Committee membership model consisting of appointments by each municipality and six (6) BOCC appointments (one (1) by each Commissioner and an additional appointment by Commissioner also serving as the Director to Gulf Consortium). • December 11, 2012: BOCC held a Special Meeting to discuss RESTORE Act, creation and membership makeup of a local RESTORE Act committee and an application process. BOCC adopted Resolution 364 -2012 supporting candidacy of Commissioner Neugent's nomination of appointment to the RESTORE Act Gulf Consortium Executive Committee. • September 21, 2012: BOCC adopted Resolution 250A -2012 appointing Mayor Neugent to serve as representative, and Commissioner Rice as the alternate representative, to the RESTORE Act Gulf Consortium. BOCC approves Monroe County's joining of the Gulf Consortium, adopting Resolution 246 -2012 approving an Inter -local agreement to join the RESTORE Act Gulf Consortium. IV. BEST AVAILABLE SCIENCE A. Background and Context for Proiects Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary ( "Sanctuary"), one of the largest marine protected areas in the U.S., one of two in the Gulf Region, encompassing 2,896 square nautical miles. It was designated by Congress pursuant to federal law, and became effective in state waters with the consent of the State of Florida. FLORIDA Home to one of the rarest and most unique marine ecosystems in the world, the Sanctuary was designated to protect the continental U.S.'s largest living coral reef (and third largest barrier reef in the world), one of the largest seagrass communities in this hemisphere, and the more than 6,000 species of marine life that rely on the reef and seagrass environment. Per direction from Congress, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) developed a comprehensive Water Quality Protection Plan (WQPP) that focuses extensively on restoring /protecting the Sanctuary's water quality, recommending corrective actions, and monitoring water quality and coral reef health. Completely surrounded by these waters, Monroe County bears the responsibility as the local stewards of this national marine treasure. Per the WQPP, Monroe is mandated by state and federal law to ensure the highest possible quality of our nearshore waters, at significant local cost. For example, Monroe County was mandated to implement a centralized advanced wastewater treatment system through the entire 100 mile -long archipelago, that, after many years and at a cost of almost $16 (most of that borne by the small, local population) is almost complete. Wastewater is but one "leg" in the WQPP's "three - legged stool" for water quality restoration and protection; the other two "legs" are management of storm water and restoration of impaired canal waters. Each of the projects in the MYIP is rooted in these federal /state /local science -based plans and programs: ➢ US EPA's Water Quality Protection Plan for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (1994 )12 • Water Quality Monitoring Program (1995) • Coral Reef Evaluation and Monitoring Program (CREMP) (1996 )14 US Department of Commerce and NOAA's National Marine Sanctuary Management Plan (1997, Revised 2007) ➢ US Army Corps of Engineers' Florida Keys Water Quality Improvement Program (2006 )16 ➢ DEP's Outstanding Florida Waters (OFW) Program ➢ DEP's Florida Keys Reasonable Assurance Document (2008, 201 1)18 ➢ Monroe County's Canal Management Master Plan (2012) The environmental value of the Sanctuary's unique marine ecosystem is matched by its economic value. Eco- tourism and commercial and recreational fishing are the main sources of income to the Florida Keys, evidence that a healthy economy is linked to a healthy marine ecosystem. Marine -based activities provide more than $16 to Monroe County's economy and provide 58% of all jobs . 20 9 w Mi �n�11MM 4 � _.` I 6Yety M1fINW � � rwN MaRr wtrt RMy.� /ytt wDw0 M i 1CAV•,.MNWty 4t11M Mti. ti. Ct�t• C..IMW 4.w.w..n. •. - i.r. �..- ...+... �.... ewow. L.W Gulf of Mexico' X" V40 R ,. W . 11tl nr VHRrt Rt *ryK � � �.aYF f.u+iGNi I Y�...a:N lM. ✓M M.rr. � Lnl x., tY11.. .V �4 M[• Florida Straits is W.. OIL ww r Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) developed a comprehensive Water Quality Protection Plan (WQPP) that focuses extensively on restoring /protecting the Sanctuary's water quality, recommending corrective actions, and monitoring water quality and coral reef health. Completely surrounded by these waters, Monroe County bears the responsibility as the local stewards of this national marine treasure. Per the WQPP, Monroe is mandated by state and federal law to ensure the highest possible quality of our nearshore waters, at significant local cost. For example, Monroe County was mandated to implement a centralized advanced wastewater treatment system through the entire 100 mile -long archipelago, that, after many years and at a cost of almost $16 (most of that borne by the small, local population) is almost complete. Wastewater is but one "leg" in the WQPP's "three - legged stool" for water quality restoration and protection; the other two "legs" are management of storm water and restoration of impaired canal waters. Each of the projects in the MYIP is rooted in these federal /state /local science -based plans and programs: ➢ US EPA's Water Quality Protection Plan for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (1994 )12 • Water Quality Monitoring Program (1995) • Coral Reef Evaluation and Monitoring Program (CREMP) (1996 )14 US Department of Commerce and NOAA's National Marine Sanctuary Management Plan (1997, Revised 2007) ➢ US Army Corps of Engineers' Florida Keys Water Quality Improvement Program (2006 )16 ➢ DEP's Outstanding Florida Waters (OFW) Program ➢ DEP's Florida Keys Reasonable Assurance Document (2008, 201 1)18 ➢ Monroe County's Canal Management Master Plan (2012) The environmental value of the Sanctuary's unique marine ecosystem is matched by its economic value. Eco- tourism and commercial and recreational fishing are the main sources of income to the Florida Keys, evidence that a healthy economy is linked to a healthy marine ecosystem. Marine -based activities provide more than $16 to Monroe County's economy and provide 58% of all jobs . 20 9 Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary: ✓ Congressionally designated on Nov. 16, 1990 as a national marine sanctuary. ✓ 2,896 square nautical miles (9,933 square kilometers). ✓ Shares boundaries with three national parks (Everglades, Biscayne, and Dry Tortugas). ✓ Overlaps four national wildlife refuges, six state parks and three state aquatic preserves. ✓ Includes mangrove, seagrass, hardbottom, and coral reef habitats in coastal and oceanic waters (largest living coral reef in the continental U.S. and largest seagrass bed in the hemisphere). ✓ Home to more than 6,000 species of marine life. ✓ Approximately 1,700 islands with a combined shoreline length of 1,815 miles (2,920 kilometers). ✓ Approximately 60% of the Sanctuary is State of Florida waters and 40% is Federal waters. ✓ Administered by NOAA, in partnership with FDEP and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. ✓ The Sanctuary's Water Quality Protection Program was created in 1994 by the US EPA to track the status of the natural resources in the Sanctuary and to provide recommendations for restoring and preserving water quality necessary for a thriving reef ecosystem. ✓ The focus of extensive scientific research; since 1995 the Sanctuary's Water Quality Protection Program has included Water Quality and Coral Reef Monitoring Programs to track and analyze water quality and reef ecology and health. (http: //floridake ys. n000. gov) B. Coral Reef Restoration Project A healthy, vibrant reef is critical to the continuation of the ecosystem. The MYIP's Coral Reef Restoration Project's goal is to help re -build a threatened, fragile reef. Monitoring of the coral reef over the past twenty (20) years in the Sanctuary shows a documented and quantified decline of stony coral cover and species diversity within the Sanctuary. From 1996 to 2011, CREMP recorded a 47% decline in stony cora1. Coral reef areas provide critical nursery and feeding habitat for an abundance of ecologically and economically valuable sea life. Coral reefs buffer adjacent shorelines from wave action and prevent erosion, property damage and loss of life. Reefs also protect the highly productive wetlands along the coast. The Coral Reef Restoration project will grow staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis) in undersea nurseries located throughout the Keys and star corals (a type of boulder coral) in land -based nurseries on Summerland Key. The coral will then be planted on reefs where they will kick start reproduction and reef recovery for the future. The approach entails taking small fragments of live tissue from healthy coral colonies of known genetic stock, growing them out in nurseries over time to create multiple colonies of each genetic type, and then outplanting genetically distinct individuals in proximity to one another so they spawn and help reseed surrounding reefs. Staghorn coral and boulder corals from the genus Montastrea (star corals) were chosen as they are very important to the reef system. Staghorn coral was listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 2006, and several species of boulder coral, including star coral, were added in 2014. 10 This project has been through an extensive "feasibility study" period beginning in 2004. NOAA funded scientists with The Nature Conservancy and partner organizations including Mote Marine Laboratory, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and Coral Restoration Foundation to begin growing staghorn corals at eight (8) underwater nurseries located in the South Florida reef track through the Keys. Over the past 6 years, scientists at Mote have been developing techniques for propagating and outplanting boulder corals. The most recent development is to create I microfragments' to be used to reskin dead coral heads. This proposed project has demonstrated success. Over the past ten (10) years, this program has scaled up from one (1) nursery with a few hundred corals to forty -six (46) individual restoration sites, with the nurseries housing over 30,000 corals, many of which are large enough to be split into multiple outplant -sized colonies. Mote is now able to create upwards of 10,000 microfragments each year. Additionally, an over 70% survivorship rate has been achieved at all sites, with many sites showing much higher survival rates. The propagation of Acropora cervicornis via a coral gardening approach implemented within in -water nurseries using low - cost materials can provide an effective method to expand declining stocks of the threatened staghorn coral in Florida and elsewhere in the region, according to the University of Miami's Rosentiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. The expertise and knowledge gained to date has been formalized into a "Practitioner's Guide to Acropora Restoration" (Johnson et al., 2011) that provides science -based guidelines for the activities to be undertaken as part of this expansion project. C. Canal Restoration Proiects: The coral reef is, in turn, directly linked to nearshore water quality. The goal of the two (2) MYIP Canal Water Restoration projects is to improve the poor quality of canal waters that are discharged into the nearshore waters of the Sanctuary and threaten the reef and ecosystem. The County's canal waters have been found to be high in nutrients and low in dissolved oxygen ( "DO "). A healthy coral reef and marine ecosystem requires clear water that is low in nutrients and high in DO . 24 Since the canals discharge their poor quality waters directly into nearshore Federally- designated Sanctuary waters and State - designated Outstanding Florida Waters, addressing on -going canal water quality impairment is of utmost importance. The Sanctuary's WQPP's Action Plan 25 which identifies priorities and corrective actions to restore healthy water quality in Sanctuary waters, specifically identifies the need to implement technologies designed to improve canal water quality (Strategy W.10, Activities 1 -7), and states "the sources of the 11 loadings in canals and nearshore waters are known, and these problems should be addressed as soon as possible using best available technology." As part of the 2003 Monroe County Residential Canal Inventory and Assessment, water quality conditions in canals were evaluated and found to be significantly poorer than the baseline reference for total nitrogen and total phosphorus for all canal types. In 2008, in response to documented water quality issues in the Keys' residential canals, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) developed the Florida Keys Reasonable Assurance Document ( FKRAD) for the purpose of addressing the impaired waters in the canals. In a 2011 FKRAD update, DEP stated that canals will likely not achieve the State's Class III Marine Surface Water DO standards, required for waters that discharge into nearshore Outstanding Florida Waters and Sanctuary waters without addressing poor circulation, weed wrack, organic sediments, and DO concentrations. The Sanctuary's Water Quality Protection Program's most recent Biennial Report to Congress in 2013 states: "Addressing the complexities of canal restoration is a high Priority future activity Planning has been initiated to develop a Canal Management Master Plan (CMMP) that will provide an ecologically sound and economically feasible implementation strategy for improving and managing the environmental quality of canal systems in the Florida Keys. Once completed, funding for a pilot canal restoration project will be sought to demonstrate methods to improve canal water quality by remedying canal depth, geometry, seagrass wrack, and flushing characteristics." 26 The CMMP 27 was subsequently completed, prioritizing the need for water quality improvement, and identifying appropriate restoration options for each canal. A Phase I CMMP completed in June 2012 initiated the canal restoration process. The final CMMP was finished in August 2013. The CMMP's development and on -going implementation is charged to members of the WQPP Steering Committee and its Canal Restoration Advisory Subcommittee, which include the following partners: • US EPA • US National Park Service • US Fish and Wildlife Service • US Army Corps of Engineers • NOAA • Florida Department of Environmental Protection • South Florida Water Management District • Monroe County • Every municipality in Monroe County (Key West, Marathon, Key Colony Beach, Layton and Islamorada) 12 The CMMP identifies three (3) significant contributors of impaired canal water: accumulated organics, seaweed loading, and poor flushing and circulation. The canal restoration technologies to be implemented are those identified in the CMMP that address these specific causes of impaired waters. Depending upon the specific canal(s) selected, one or a combination of these restoration technologies will be applied: 1. Installation of weed barriers /air bubble curtains to minimize additional organic accumulation in the canals; 2. Removal of accumulated organics from canal bottoms; 3. Culvert installation to facilitate flushing and enhance natural tidal flow; and 4. Pumping systems to enhance circulation; and 5. Backfilling of too -deep canals to achieve a depth that enables natural tidal flow /flushing. The technologies selected have been shown to be effective at other canal locations for improving these identified water quality issues. Some example restoration projects include organic removal at Lake Griffin, Florida 29 and the Eau Gallie River, Florida 30 ; flushing culverts at Jolly Rogers Estates, Little Torch, Florida Key; Gowanus New York canal flushing tunnel 31 and South Bethany, Delaware tidal pumping. sz Air bubble curtains are commercially available and used for these types of projects quite commonly. V. MEASURES OF MILESTONES AND SUCCESS Each project will be carefully tracked so that project success can be gauged at select intervals during the course of project implementation. General measures of milestones and success include the following: ✓ Projects are completed within projected timeframes and within budgets. ✓ Projects further the goals and objectives of the Sanctuary's Water Quality Protection Program and its federal and state regulatory requirements and mandates. ✓ The Coral Restoration Project will result in additional coral plantings /nurseries, strengthening and restoring the fragile reef system; improving habitat for important reef fish species; and preserving a marine -based local economy. ✓ The Canal Water Quality Improvement Projects will result in reduced nutrient and pollutant loading to the nearshore waters, improving water quality in the Sanctuary; protecting the Sanctuary's fragile marine ecosystem; and preserving a marine -based local economy. ✓ Additional information regarding milestones is provided in the project information sheets included in Appendix A. 13 VI. OVERALL MYIP BUDGET AND JUSTIFICATION The project budget includes the three (3) projects at the funding levels approved by the BOCC. Project Name Coral Reef Restoration for Environmental and Economic Enhancement of the Florida Keys Proposer The Nature Conservancy Canal Water Quality Restoration In Monroe County for Canals in Unincorporated Areas) Proposer Monroe County Canal Water Quality Restoration In Monroe County for Canals Across All Entities in Monroe County. (Funding awarded to Islamorada's Canals.) Proposer Monroe County Administrative Cost Planning Assistance i Total: BOCCApproved I EligibleActivity" Funds $550,000 (1) Restoration and protection of the natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches, and coastal wetlands of the Gulf Coast region. (II) Mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife, and natural j resources. (III) Implementation of a Federally- approved marine, coastal, or comprehensive conservation management plan, including fisheries monitoring. (VII) Coastal flood protection and related infrastructure. (b)(II) Promotion of tourism in the Gulf Coast region, including recreational fishing. $450,000 (1) Restoration and protection of the natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches, and coastal wetlands of the Gulf Coast region. (III) Implementation of a federally approved marine /coastal management plan, including fisheries monitoring. (IV) Workforce development and job creation. (VI) Infrastructure projects benefitting economy or ecological resources, including port infrastructure. $100,000 (1) Restoration and protection of the natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches, and coastal wetlands of the Gulf Coast region. (III) Implementation of a federal approved marine /coast management plan, including fisheries monitoring. (IV) Workforce development and job creation. $35,029.31 (IX) Administrative costs of complying with this subsection. t $32,614.49 , (VIII) Planning assistance. $1,167,643.80 The County is authorized to utilize up to 3% of the award amount for administrative costs. To date, the County has spent approximately $100,000 for its RESTORE Act efforts but has chosen to not seek reimbursement for costs to date. From this point forward, the County will utilize administrative and planning assistance funds in order to develop project grant applications and administer its RESTORE program. 14 VII. APPENDICES • Appendix A: Project Information Sheets for three (3) Activities A -1: Coral Reef Restoration Project A -2: Canal Water Quality Restoration in Unincorporated Monroe County r A -3: Canal Water Quality Restoration in All Entities in Monroe County (Islamorada) • Appendix B: Map of Project Locations (where all work will be performed) • Appendix C: Documentation of Formal Adoption of MYIP • Appendix D: Demonstration of Noticing and Posting of MYIP for Public Review and Comment • Appendix E: General Press Coverage of Local RESTORE Act Activities and Letters to Editor 15 Appendix A -1: Project Information Sheet 1) PROJECT TITLE: CORAL REEF RESTORATION SUMMARY Coral reefs in the Keys have been in declining health since the 1970s due to coral bleaching, disease outbreaks, hurricanes, cold snaps, acute damage such as ship groundings, and nearshore water quality issues. Reefs are vital habitat for rare species as well as commercially and recreationally important fish and invertebrates. They buffer our islands from the impacts of storms and attract divers and snorkelers from around the world. Prior to coral reef decline, many reefs were dominated by two (2) types of hard corals: staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis) and several massive boulder corals of the genus Montastrea. This project focuses on ramping up restoration efforts for these important corals. Staghorn coral will be grown in undersea nurseries located throughout the Keys, while boulder star corals are produced in land -based facilities. These corals will then be planted on reefs where they will create habitat for marine life, improve the aesthetics of degraded reefs and most importantly, kick start coral reproduction and reef recovery for the future. Approximately 20,000 staghorn corals of varying sizes will be planted on reefs between Key Largo and Key West. A subset of these will be part of value -added scientific research to help increase the pace and efficiency of future restoration activities. An additional 10,000 small boulder corals will repair 1,000 dead coral heads using an innovative 'reskinning' technology. Staghorn and star coral restoration efforts will be designed to encourage the restored corals to reproduce on their own and reseed both restored and adjacent reefs. BACKGROUND The Florida Keys Coral Reef Evaluation and Monitoring Project (CREMP), started in 1995, has recorded a decline in both species richness and coral cover, and no significant recruitment of juvenile corals since 1996 (Ruzicka et al., 2010). Populations of elkhorn and staghorn coral underwent a region -wide decline starting in the 1980s, with losses of up to 97% in some areas, due mainly to increased prevalence of bleaching and disease. These two (2) species were listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 2006. A more recent decline in the massive star corals has also led to a decline in live coral cover in the Florida Keys (Ruzicka, 2010). As a result, the boulder star coral (Montastrea annularis), mountainous star coral (Montastrea faveolota), and star coral (Montastrea franksi) were added to the ESA threatened species list in 2014. The loss of reproductively active coral colonies, increased distance between these colonies and low rates of juvenile coral colonies surviving to sexual maturity have combined to create a situation in which it is unlikely that corals in the Florida Keys will repopulate the reefs naturally. This contributes to decreased resilience of our reef system and depresses natural restorative processes. Habitat protection and threat abatement may not be enough to stop the decline of reefs and active restoration of coral populations is a proven and cost - effective way to reestablish live corals to reefs. The first staghorn nursery was established in 2004 as part of a partnership between The Nature Conservancy and Coral Restoration Foundation (CRF) and funded by the TNC -NOAA Community -Based Restoration Program (CRP). In 2006, under the same funding source, the concept was replicated in Broward County, Biscayne National Park, and the Lower Keys. Each nursery and outplanting operation 16 was managed by a new partner; Nova Southeastern University, University of Miami, and Mote Marine Laboratory. In 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act scaled the project up from proof -of- concept to production level. New nurseries were established in the Middle Keys (managed by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Fish and Wildlife Research Institute's Florida Keys Lab), Dry Tortugas National Park (managed by The Nature Conservancy's Florida Keys office) and St. Thomas and St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands (managed by The Nature Conservancy's U.S. Virgin Island's office). The project is currently being supported by another TNC -NOAA CRP grant. Over 15,000 corals have been outplanted to reefs throughout Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands, with average survival rates within the first six (6) months after outplanting of over 75 %. Over the past six (6) years, Mote Marine Lab scientists have been developing techniques for propagating and outplanting boulder corals. Outplanting in 2010 and 2011 of large boulder coral fragments showed close to 90% survivorship after three (3) years. The most recent development, which has been honed over the past four (4) years, is to create 'microfragments' to be used to reskin dead coral heads. A proof of concept outplanting was performed in May 2013. A total of 192 microfragments were outplanted at two reefs. Within one (1) month, many of the corals had already begun sheeting over the nearby available substrate. After eight (8) months, survivorship remained above 75 %. LOCATION The project, coral restoration outplantings, will occur in various locations on the reef track along the Florida Keys. The map below indicates sites for restoration outplantings. 17 PROJECT OBJECTIVES • Increase live coral cover at outplanting sites • Increase the chances of successful sexual reproduction, thereby helping to reseed Keys reefs • Improve habitat for important reef fish species • Provide important tourism benefits by helping to combat the decline of Monroe County reefs PROJECT NEED, PURPOSE, BENEFITS, AND RESTORE APPLICABILITY NEED Reefs in the Keys have been in decline for decades. Despite efforts to protect the reefs and decrease existing threats, no significant improvements in live coral cover or health have been observed. Active restoration is a proven technique to help jump -start recovery of the reefs. PURPOSE The primary purpose of this project is to restore degraded reefs in Monroe County through the outplanting of nursery- reared corals. Within a few years, the outplanted corals will begin to spawn and contribute to the reseeding of surrounding reefs. BENEFITS Reefs provide essential habitat to commercially and recreationally important fish and invertebrate species as well as thousands of other species. They also are frequented by larger marine predators such as sharks, sea turtles and dolphins. Because of their high diversity and abundance of marine life, as well as their beauty, reefs attract people for fishing, snorkeling and diving. More than 33,000 jobs in the Keys are supported by ocean recreation and tourism, accounting for more than half of the local economy. Intact reefs also provide a barrier against ocean waves, causing them to break offshore rather than on our shoreline. Without active restoration efforts Florida Keys reefs are likely to continue to lose live coral cover, and reefs without live coral eventually erode away. The benefits that our reefs are currently providing will be degraded if actions are not taken now to reverse this downward trend. RESTORE OBJECTIVES RESTORE objectives to be addressed by this project include environmental improvements and tourism promotion. Environmental Increased live coral cover; restoration of important habitat for fish, invertebrates, sea turtles; long -term impacts as outplanted corals contribute to reproductive potential of the species Economic Development Improved recreational and tourism value of Monroe County's reefs Community Resilience : Healthy reefs serve as a natural first line of defense for the shoreline by breaking waves offshore, which is particularly important during storms Education The Nature Conservancy and our partners on this project do a significant amount of outreach within the community to help educate the public about the importance of this work. 18 PLAN OF ACTION AND MILESTONES ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROJECT Staghorn Coral Restoration Proposed Action Proposed Timeline Updating and renewing existing permits 7/1/15, annually Nursery Maintenance 1/1/16- 12/31/17 Site Selection (from large list of permitted sites) 11/1/15 Outplanting Annually, excluding summer months Monitoring 4/1/16- 12/31/17 Grant Reporting 1/1/16- 12/31/17 Permit Reporting Annually, based on permit issue date Star Coral Restoration Proposed Action Proposed Timeline Updating and renewing existing permits 7/1/15, annually Raceway and Nursery Maintenance 1/1/16- 12/31/17 Site Selection 11/1/15 Outplanting Annually, excluding summer months Monitoring 4/1/16- 12/31/17 Grant Reporting 1/1/16- 12/31/17 Permit Reporting Annually, based on permit issue date PROJECT SUCCESS CRITERIA Outplanted corals will be assessed within six (6) months of outplanting for survivorship. Some minor maintenance may be performed after outplanting to ensure success of the corals. This may include removal of predatory snails and worms, reattachment of corals or broken fragments, and /or cleaning of the surrounding substrate to prevent algal overgrowth. FUNDING Funding for this project will be provided as follows: RESTORE Funding: $550,000 The Nature Conservancy and Partners: $200,000 Total: $750,000 The Nature Conservancy and partners anticipate contributing up to $200,000 in project costs. 19 Appendix A -2: PROJECT INFORMATION SHEET 2) PROJECT TITLE: CANAL WATER RESTORATION (UNINCORPORATED MONROE COUNTY) SUMMARY Unincorporated Monroe County is comprised of a 100 mile string of islands, from the northernmost Key Largo to the southernmost island of Key West. As an integral part of the island chain, the County, along with the other governmental agencies in the region, recognizes the necessity (and the requirements) for water quality improvements. It has long been recognized that water quality in the Florida Keys has been deteriorating, particularly as it is relates to our canal systems. Today most of our canals are listed as "impaired water bodies" by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and are in need of restoration. In 1999 the Florida Watershed Restoration Act (Section 403.067 F.S.) was established to implement Florida's water body restoration program and thereby set forth a requirement for a Total Maximum Daily Loads (TDML's) to be established for all impaired water bodies. To comply with these federal and state mandates to improve our water quality, the County, in cooperation with local governments, state agencies, and federal agencies within the Florida Keys, pursuant to the DEP Florida Keys Reasonable Assurance Plan ( FKRAD), agreed to accelerate and implement projects that were already planned in order to work towards a water quality standard that will help restore water quality. Specifically, the FKRAD addresses the need to return our nearshore water quality to "targets" set for total nitrogen, total phosphorous, and in some impaired systems, dissolved oxygen. Dissolved oxygen is one of the primary concerns within our impaired canal systems and is of utmost importance to water quality restoration since canals discharge directly into our near shore waters. Monroe County has begun canal restoration efforts and continues to be an active member of the Canal Restoration Advisory Subcommittee, which is under the Water Quality Protection Program of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. As a member of and in cooperation with that Subcommittee, the County developed the Canal Management Master Plan (CMMP) 34 , which is a comprehensive County- wide assessment of our residential canal systems. The CMMP has identified 333 residential canals within unincorporated Monroe County, 107 of which are considered "Poor Water Quality" and are the highest priority for implementing water quality improvements. Based on this assessment, the County has begun preliminary work on restoring the canals with the poorest water quality first. The CMMP identifies three (3) significant contributors of impaired canal water: accumulated organics, seaweed loading, and poor flushing and circulation. The canal restoration technologies to be implemented are those identified in the CMMP that address these specific causes of impaired waters. Depending upon the specific canal(s) selected, one or a combination of these restoration techniques will be applied in this project: 1. Installation of weed barriers /air bubble curtains to minimize additional organic accumulation in the canals; 2. Removal of accumulated organics from canal bottoms; 3. Culvert installation to facilitate flushing and enhance tidal flow; and 4. Pumping systems to enhance circulation. 20 The following table outlines the number of Poor Water Quality canals in unincorporated Monroe County and the recommended technologies as outlined in the CMMP. The technologies selected have been shown to be effective at other locations for improving these identified water quality issues. A more detailed description of the restoration techniques can be found in the CMMP. CMMP ESTIMATED NUMBER OF CANAL RESTORATIONS BY SELECTED TECHNOLOGY Technology Weed Barriers/ Organics Removal Pumping Culverts Air Curtains in combination with Weed Barriers and Air Curtains No. of Poor Water Canals 31 47 10 19 Monroe County will utilize RESTORE Act funds to construct and implement Federal and State - mandated canal restoration projects in the Florida Keys, as specified in the Monroe County CMMP. The County has already initiated a $5 million demonstration program that is implementing various canal restoration technologies and evaluating the permitting issues, costs and water quality effectiveness to assist in future restorations. LOCATION The Poor Water Quality canals identified for restoration in the unincorporated portions of Monroe County are located throughout the Florida Keys. The CMMP contains the specific information concerning the canal locations and the water quality rankings. The map below also indicates the 107 poor water quality canal locations, a subset of which will be the recipient of the awarded funding. (Precisely which and how many will depend on the timing of the grant funds and the types /costs of the applicable technologies, however, they will be specifically identified in subsequent grant applications.) 21 PROJECT OBJECTIVES The objectives of the project include: • Improve the overall canal water quality conditions in the canals and thereby reduce the nutrient and pollutant loading to nearshore waters caused by excessive amounts of weed wrack (floating seaweed) that enter canals, stagnant water caused by non - circulating water, and decay of nutrient rich sediments. • Eliminate the DEP- identified impairments for dissolved oxygen in the selected canals. • Improve the benthic habitat and native flora and fauna in the canals. • Protect the habitat and marine environment of our near shore waters and National Marine Sanctuary. • Protect the local economy that is dependent on a healthy and robust marine environment. • Support of the goals and objectives of the Sanctuary Water Quality Protection Program and comply with relevant federal and state regulatory requirements and mandates. PROJECT NEED, PURPOSE, BENEFITS AND RESTORE APPLICABILITY NEED Many of the canals throughout Monroe County are listed as having impaired waters by the US EPA and the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection because they exhibit high levels of nutrients and low levels of dissolved oxygen — conditions that have been directly linked to extensive die - off in coral reefs in the coastal waters. These impaired canal waters discharge directly into the nearshore waters of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, one of the world's most unique marine ecosystems and home to the largest living coral reef in the continental United States, the largest sea grass bed in the western hemisphere and over 6,000 species -- all of which only thrive in clean, clear waters that are low in nutrients and high in dissolved oxygen levels. Monroe County has identified 107 canals in unincorporated Monroe County with "Poor Water Quality." The 107 canals considered "Poor Water Quality" were ranked based on criteria outlined in the CMMP. Monroe County will construct and implement restoration projects that will improve the environmental quality of the waters in its canal system pursuant to the Monroe County Canal Management Master Plan and the goals and objectives of the Sanctuary's Water Quality Protection Program. PURPOSE The purpose of the canal water restoration projects is to remedy the high nutrient loading and low dissolved oxygen impairing the water by addressing the most significant causes of those conditions: accumulated organics, seaweed loading ( "weed wrack "), and poor flushing and tidal flow. The Monroe County County -wide Canal Management Master Plan (a plan developed in partnership with EPA, NPS, FWS, NOAA, DEP and the local governments) has identified 107 canals in unincorporated Monroe as having poor water quality and determined that each canal exhibits one or more of these contributing factors, and will require the implementation of one or a combination of restoration technologies. BENEFITS Canal restoration projects will improve water quality, aquatic and benthic habits within the canals and also improve water quality in the surrounding nearshore Sanctuary waters, benefitting the fragile and unique marine ecosystem of the Sanctuary. Water quality is also directly related to all aspects of our local economy. Monroe County supports a large tourism and fishing industry, which are both dependent 22 on the Sanctuary and good water quality. The restoration of our canal systems is crucial to ensuring the sustainability of both our environmental and economic resources. Improvements in our water quality also mitigate negative impacts from storm events as storm events can "remove" the water from within a canal system and directly deposit it into our near shore waters. RESTORE OBJECTIVES RESTORE objectives addressed by this project include environmental improvements, economic development, and community resilience. Environmental The project area -- Monroe County ( "The Florida Keys ") —is surrounded by the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The coral reef tract in the Florida Keys is the third largest barrier reef in the world, and the only living barrier reef in the continental US. Water quality is of utmost importance to the Florida Keys' ecosystem. Its protection and restoration is set in both federal and state law. The coral reef, as well as seagrass bed health, is directly linked to near shore marine water quality. Corals and seagrasses thrive in areas where water is clear (low turbidity), low in nutrients, and high in dissolved oxygen. High levels of nutrients and low DO have been directly linked to extensive die -off in coral reefs in the coastal waters. Canal water restoration will improve water quality in the National Marine Sanctuary, in support of the goals and objectives of the Sanctuary's Water Quality Protection Program (WQPP), Florida Keys Water Quality Improvements Act and the Florida Keys Water Quality Improvements Program, and in compliance with relevant federal and state regulatory requirements and mandates. Improved water quality will also benefit seagrass beds and hardbottom communities in our near shore waters which provide critical nursery habitat for finfish and shellfish stocks including snapper, grouper, pink shrimp, and spiny lobster. Recreationally targeted species such as bonefish, permit, and tarpon will also benefit. The project will help federally listed species including sea turtles, smalltooth sawfish, staghorn coral, and other protected species including manatee, brown pelican and many other bird species. Economic Development The economic value of the coral reef to Monroe County was documented in a 2007 -2008 socioeconomic study performed by the FKNMS which concluded that more than 33,000 jobs and $2.3 billion dollars in revenue are directly attributed to Florida Reef Tract (Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuaries, 2013). In another study, published in 2005 by the University of Miami, the reef environment generates more than 70,000 jobs and $6 billion dollars in economic activity annually. 35 Community Resilience Restoration of canal water will lead to a healthier reef system, greater protection of natural resources, and a stronger economy all of which contribute to the community resilience of the Florida Keys. The reef contributes to resilience by serving as natural first line of defense for the shoreline by breaking waves offshore, which is particularly important during storms. Improved water quality also ensures a healthy natural environment, which in turn, ensures a healthy economy. Economic vibrancy is integral to community resilience. 23 PLAN OF ACTION AND MILESTONES ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROJECT Task Proposed Date Consultant Notice to Proceed 1/25/16 Final Design 4/25/16 Permitting 7/25/16 Proposal Advertisement and Award 9/26/16 Contractor Notice to Proceed 10/28/16 Start Construction 11/14/16 Complete Construction 2/14/17 As -Built Survey 2/17/17 Final Report 3/17/17 Project Close Out and Contract Termination 4/3/17 PROJECT SUCCESS CRITERIA The primary goal of this restoration project is water quality improvement of the selected canals and the adjacent near shore waters. Project success will be measured over time by scientific analysis of water quality samples primarily of dissolved oxygen and turbidity, but may also include salinity, pH, nutrients and other factors. FUNDING Funding for this project will be provided as follows: RESTORE Funding $450,000 To date the County has matched /expended approximately $4 million for canal restoration projects and is anticipated to expend an additional $1 million by December 31, 2015. 24 Appendix A -3: PROJECT INFORMATION SHEET PROJECT TITLE: CANAL WATER RESTORATION (ISLAMORADA) SUMMARY Islamorada, Village of Islands (the "Village ") is a small municipality that comprises four islands in the Upper Keys: Plantation Key, Windley Key, Upper Matecumbe Key & Lower Matecumbe Key. As an integral part of the island chain, the Village, along with the other governmental agencies in the region, recognizes the necessity (and the requirements) for water quality improvements. It has long been recognized that water quality in the Florida Keys has been deteriorating, particularly as it is relates to our canal systems. Today most of our canals are listed as "impaired water bodies" by the EPA and are in need of restoration. In 1999 the Florida Watershed Restoration Act (Section 403.067 F.S.) was established to implement Florida's water body restoration program and thereby set forth a requirement for a Total Maximum Daily Loads (TDML's) to be established for all impaired water bodies. The Village, in cooperation with local governments, state agencies, and federal agencies within the Florida Keys, pursuant to the DEP Florida Keys Reasonable Assurance Plan ( FKRAD), agreed to accelerate and implement projects that were already planned in order to work towards a water quality standard that will help restore water quality. Specifically, the FKRAD addresses the need to return our near shore water quality to "targets" set for total nitrogen, total phosphorous, and in some impaired systems, dissolved oxygen. Dissolved oxygen is one of the primary concerns within our impaired canal systems and is of utmost importance to water quality restoration since canals discharge directly into our near shore waters. Along with other local entities, Islamorada, Village of Islands has begun canal restoration efforts and continues to be an active member of the Canal Restoration Subcommittee, which is under the Water Quality Protection Program of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. As a member of that Subcommittee, the Village has been involved with the development of the Canal Management Master Plan (CMMP), which is a County -wide assessment of our residential canal systems. The CMMP has identified sixty -two (62) residential canals with the Village of Islamorada, ten (10) of which are considered "Poor Water Quality" and are the highest priority for implementing water quality improvements. Based on this assessment, the Village has begun preliminary work on restoring the canals with the poorest water quality first. A more detailed description of the restoration techniques can be found in the CMMP and the Village of Islamorada Selection of Demonstration Canals for Water Quality Improvements (SDC) document (Village Resolution 13- 11 -85). The restoration technologies presently under consideration as identified in the CMMP focus on improving the canal water quality. They include: • Removal of accumulated organics from within canals; • Weed gates, air curtains or other physical barriers to minimize additional organic accumulation in the canals; • Culvert connections to facilitate flushing; • Pumping systems to facilitate flushing; and • Backfilling to prevent occurrence of deep stagnant zones. 25 Canal water restoration projects will be constructed and implemented in canals within the municipality of Islamorada, Village of Islands, (centrally located in the Florida Keys) as specified in the Monroe County CMMP. The Village has already initiated a $100,000 demonstration program that has evaluated the permitting issues, costs and water quality effectiveness to assist in future restorations of the top 10 "Poor Water Quality" residential canals. In addition, in 2014 the Village completed installation of the first canal restoration project within its boundaries by installing a weed barrier system, leaving nine (9) canals on the top priority list for restoration. LOCATION The location of the remaining 9 canals considered "Poor Water Quality" and ready for remediation are outlined in the Village of Islamorada Selection of Demonstration Canals for Water Quality Improvements (SDC) document. The canals are found within four islands of the Upper Keys: Plantation Key, Windley Key, Upper Matecumbe Key & Lower Matecumbe Key. PROJECT OBJECTIVES • Improve the overall canal water quality conditions in the canals. • Eliminate the DEP- identified impairments for dissolved oxygen in the selected canals. • Improve the benthic habitat and native flora and fauna in the canals. • Reduce nutrient and pollutant loading to nearshore waters caused by excessive amounts of weed wrack (floating seaweed) that enter canals, stagnant water caused by non - circulating water, and decay of nutrient rich sediments. • Improve nearshore water quality to protect the habitat and marine environment of our near shore waters. W . • Improve nearshore water quality to reduce threats to the quality of the waters and habitat and marine environment of the National Marine Sanctuary. • Restore water quality and improve near shore water quality to protect our local tourism economy that is dependent on a healthy and robust marine environment. • Support of the goals and objectives of the Sanctuary Water Quality Protection Program and comply with relevant federal and state regulatory requirements and mandates. PROJECT NEED, PURPOSE, BENEFITS, AND RESTORE APPLICABILITY NEED Many canals in Islamorada are listed as having impaired waters by the US EPA and the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection because they exhibit high levels of nutrients and low levels of dissolved oxygen — conditions that have been directly linked to extensive die -off in coral reefs in the coastal waters. These impaired canal waters discharge directly into the nearshore waters of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, one of the world's most unique marine ecosystems and home to the largest living coral reef in the continental United States, the largest sea grass bed in the western hemisphere and over 6,000 species -- all of which only thrive in clean, clear waters that are low in nutrients and high in dissolved oxygen levels. Islamorada will construct and implement restoration projects that will improve the environmental quality of the waters in its canal system pursuant to the Monroe County Canal Management Master Plan and the goals and objectives of the Sanctuary's Water Quality Protection Program. Islamorada, Village of Islands, has identified the ten worst water quality residential canals within the municipality's boundary. The 10 canals considered "Poor Water Quality" were ranked based on criteria outlined in the CMMP and The Village of Islamorada Selection of Demonstration Canals for Water Quality Improvements (SDC) document. Restoring water quality is necessary to ensure the health and welfare of our natural resources, our economy and our quality of life. Canal restoration is an important "piece of the puzzle" that will require a long -term effort and commitment from many sources, not just the Village. PURPOSE The purpose of the canal water restoration projects is to remedy the high nutrient loading and low dissolved oxygen impairing the water by addressing the most significant causes of those conditions: accumulated organics, seaweed loading ( "weed wrack "), and poor flushing and tidal flow. The Monroe County County -wide Canal Management Master Plan (a plan developed in partnership with EPA, NIPS, FWS, NOAA, DEP and each of the local governments) has identified 10 canals in Islamorada as having poor water quality and determined that each canal exhibits one or more of these contributing factors, and will require the implementation of one or a combination of restoration technologies. The 10 canals considered "Poor Water Quality" were ranked based on criteria outlined in the Plan and The Village of Islamorada Selection of Demonstration Canals for Water Quality Improvements (SDC) document. The Village will construct a weed barrier(s) (weed wrack gate) to stop excessive amounts of weed wrack (floating seaweed) entering the canals. BENEFITS Canal restoration projects will improve water quality, aquatic and benthic habits within the canals and also improve water quality in the surrounding nearshore Sanctuary waters, benefitting the fragile and unique marine ecosystem of the Sanctuary. Water quality is also directly related to all aspects of our 27 local economy. Islamorada, Village of Islands is in the center of Monroe County and supports a large tourism and charter boat fishing industry which are both dependent on the FKNMS and good water quality. Improvements in the canal water quality will ensure continued dollars from these industries. The restoration of our canal systems is crucial to ensuring the sustainability of both our environmental and economic resources. Improvements in our water quality also mitigate negative impacts from storm events as storm events can "remove" the water from within a canal system and directly deposit it into our near shore waters. RESTORE OBJECTIVES RESTORE objectives addressed by this project include environmental improvements, economic development, and community resilience. Environmental The project area is located in the only state in the continental United States to have extensive shallow coral reef formations near its coasts. Coral reef, as well as seagrass bed health, is directly linked to near shore marine water quality. Both corals and seagrasses thrive in areas where water is clear (low turbidity), low in nutrients, and high in dissolved oxygen (DO). High levels of nutrients and low DO have been directly linked to extensive die -off in coral reefs in the coastal waters. Economic Development The socioeconomic importance of the reef to Monroe County was documented in a 2007 -2008 socioeconomic study performed by the FKNMS which concluded that more than 33,000 jobs and $2.3 billion dollars in annual added revenue are directly attributed to Florida Reef Tract (Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuaries, 2013). Islamorada is geographically centered in Monroe County and supports a large tourism and charter boat fishing industry which are dependent on the FKNMS and good water quality. Tourism relies on clean beaches, thriving fisheries and healthy natural resources. The need to restore and sustain our marine environment is critical in maintaining our livelihood. Community Resilience Restoration of canal water will lead to a healthier reef system, greater protection of natural resources, and a stronger economy all of which contribute to the community resilience of the all of the communities of the Florida Keys. The reef contributes to resilience by serving as natural first line of defense for the shoreline by breaking waves offshore, which is particularly important during storms. Improved water quality also ensures a healthy natural environment, which in turn, ensures a healthy economy. Economic vibrancy is integral to community resilience. Water quality is directly related to all aspects of our local economy. PLAN OF ACTION AND MILESTONES ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROJECT Task Proposed Date Consultant Notice to Proceed 1/11/16 Final Design 3/11/16 Permitting 6/10/16 Proposal Advertisement and Award 10/10/16 Contractor Notice to Proceed 10/17/16 Start Construction 11/7/16 Complete Construction 12/16/16 As -Built Survey 12/20/16 Final Report 1/20/17 Project Close Out and Contract Termination 2/17/17 28 PROJECT SUCCESS CRITERIA The primary goal of this restoration project is water quality improvement of the selected canals and the adjacent near shore waters. Project success will be measured over time by scientific analysis of water quality samples primarily of dissolved oxygen and turbidity, but may also include salinity, pH, nutrients and other factors. FUNDING Funding from this project will be provided as follows: RESTORE Funding $ 100,000 Islamorada, Village of Islands has committed $100,000 in its FY 2013 -2014 General Fund Budget for a canal restoration project located within the boundaries of the Village. 29 can Reel KeAaroo % b Pore Key SUP& I � Key 'Nest 0 LIM e r Marathon Appendix C: Documentation of Formal Adoption of MYIP Attached: • Resolution of the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners approving /adopting the Monroe County Multi -Year Implementation Plan. 31 Appendix D: Demonstration of Noticing of MYIP for Public Review and Public Comments Attached: • Screenshots of Notice of MYIP posting for public review and comment on Monroe County Website • Copy of Press Release • Proof of Notice in Local Newspapers • Public Comments 32 Screenshots of Announcement and Posting Of MYIP for Public Review and Comment On the Monroe County Government Website Monroe County MYIP Posted July 8, 201 Screen Shots 1) Front/Main Webpage This is a screenshot of the back end of the website showing The creation of the MYIP link on the home page. The MYIP link was created "Last Updated" 7/8/2015 12:23:02 p.m. Cancel S. i; & Save and Preview Save- as Copy Version Name LRESTORE Act Implementation Plan P� I RESTORE Act Implementation Plan Descnpbm- I You have 169 characters left. Content Type: Link ► Show Addbwal Detaft W age - Type Lu Link: clink's Behavior. Open in new window • Find Page link Use Link's Menu No • This is a screenshot of the back end of the website showing The End Date of news Items. The MYIP Item will end 8/31/15, and is currently active. Home TIUe End Date Status Achons UnPrtrlished News Flashes Check out our nexwebsitefeature_ '2,3 Draft Choose an Action Cheek out our nevr website fe.kwes 2 " 1 ,2'200 Draft Choose an Action Published News Flashes RESTORE Act Multi 'fear Implementation Plan �Ors,20 Active Choose an Action t j StorF Island Fire Station X 07 " 2 4ct :e Choose an Action f j Fres _Release - Financial.Assistance 06101/20 1 5 Active Choose an Action t FDOTProiectUodates 10120/2096 Active Choose an Action Monroe County MYIP Posted July 8, 201 Screen Shots 2) Link to County News Webpage Screenshot of the news item created online. Posted July 8, 2015 Home Posted on July 3 2015 RESTORE Act Multi-Year Implementation Plan Before we can access these funds. the RESTORE Act regulations requires: 1) The County develop a Multi -Year Implementation Plan (AMP before funds can be distributed to any eligible entity. 2s The County's MYIP must include the following components: • The required Matrix. a Treasury Department spreadsheet outlining projects, budgets, and dates:. - The required Narrative.. a Treasury Department Adobe fill able form and - An additional Plan Document providing more detailed information (this is not technically required, but is invited.) 3) The County must post the MYIP for public review and comment for a minimum of 45 days. (The County's PJYIP was posted on July 8 2015 and will remain posted for public review and comment through August 31. 2015.) The MYIP describes the process the County used for project selection and award. and a description of those projects The MYIP tracks the funds currently available to Monroe County., and consists of three projects as ranked by Monroe County's RESTORE Act Local Advisory Committee and approved by the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners. -Coral Restoration. $650.000:. • Canal Restoration Monroe County. $450.000: and • Canal Restoration Islamorada. $100.000. This document is to be considered a Draft MYIP until such time that public input is received and incorporated. and a revised final MYIP is developed and formally adopted by the Nlonroe Courrty BOCC. We hope to bring that to the BOCC for the September agenda. The Final PJYIP will then be sent to the Treasury Department which will review it for completeness and conformity with the Act and Treasury regulations. After its review and pending approval. Treasury will then notify the County that it may begin submitting grant applications for the three (3) projects and activities consistent with this MYIP (NOTE: Though there has been recent news of a settlement with BP_ that settlement has not yet been finalized. those funds are not yet available_ the County has not yet determined the distribution of that funding. and therefore it is not a part of the MYIP at this time) Please send ;tour comments to Nt YlPcomments @monroecounty-fl -gov To Vie* The Flan f �► .r >s Next => Staff; Island Fre Station Search All categories q Tools ® RS= ® NctAy r ye LJ Categories 4 Categories Home Monrce cornpetri%- Sckdatcns Monroe County MYIP Posted July 8, 2015 Screen Shots 3) MYfP on RESTORE page of Website Ede A. F-A. T.ft X C o Ip— Implementatlon Plan 'AIONROF. CMA 3AIII ITAR BIPUMEN TATION FLkN The%Lmr C.. = NUt Ym fapd4xmw,,.dwmert ucenm±&%-Umew� 11 T T— Dpa=m d mim.2 projem bu4eu, and &ws, -Ts ped rantwe a Tmm w. Np-mmew AdoLt i- ac (th. n eot technxaL4r raqmtei NA . - d c AS a rmh of the DCrvff Hmm CkI Sptu, \k— C,=, u the Mz'p= of RESTORE Act fiv&z E-. wL d p-11 fix, fim &e -p�-acs ;-an Loa Tennyson The ae:5 r.aL+k !, t, C�-= x its b- Si 16 61: are ,;! the LeqOatw Aftn and wd�,M�m Grants AqAAon Director L-Ii Pm is RESTORE Ac mgAr-- Nk— Co . de: e..ped the MIIP Historic Gato Bt"nq d.1— ii. Cwm, used k' s'krmm and naa and IIDO smatm Svw adfta,pbx, awe proK" Th, MY2 mad3 the fAk -,a!, a vlabk to Key WW, FL 33040 .\k-. Cmw, and cm :f th," gq m x =kid h %kM C RESTORE AR Lca. , kin Cm ,w = an W, , b v I&- N ka,� C-0; Ph: '305} 292-4444 &-d c' Corn C—S— k: j305129-4515 co,aI P-,tn- S 4 "0. ^. C&,W Res! nm>forca Couwy, 5450,000. and C-: Rnwar.m IsW=34 5100,000 Uw M-= v the madam M-. C-n ,m P" tt, Nnlp fa p.bix m.- .d comment k . mQamnm M'4` U, M CCnml M m posted . Imh S, 201 : and a — potted dood A-q .1 %., d-=,m tU pikh, m;w a wwed an - and a mud F.W % s k*p-d sa k.10, a&ved by the mm Cwh Bocc We hope 1olmw thr. tQ zhe BOCC fa the Sqemb,,- agmU The Flrz MY? *,,U dm b, sea m the Tre D,,rmwm f,, 47o,t Ow, aW—' T— a d wd, the C om m drat a rnr• bran .kmm= amt apphcata f. the thsn 31 PY�r a nd .ilb thnV'1i? OiF: LWiagh (here has bees raem seas of a uT!kmem With BP, [has gal has wt se: kaen fiaal¢ed those foods are aM set as aihMe. the Coin s a s "I determined the d..W of that fdi an ihertfore apart of the \158 aRhis time.i Screenshot of the page created online. Posted July 8, 2015 Multi -Year Implementation Plan 110NROE COUNTY MULTIYEAR LNIPLEIIENTATION PLAN The'Monroe C'otiuty Multi -Year Implementation Plan (MnP) is posted here for public review and comment. It consists of three parts (click the links to access each document): 1) The required Matrix a Treasury Department spreadsheet outlining projects, budgets. and dates: 3) The required Narrative a Treasury Department Adobe form_ and 3) An additional Plan Document providing more detailed information (this is not technically- required. but is invited_) As a result of the Deepurater Horizon Oil Spill. Monroe Coin ty is the recipient of RESTORE Act finding from civil penalty fines from the responsible parties- Lisa Tennyson The finds available to the Count• at this time. $1.16.64 - are those from the Legislative Affairs and Grants Acquisition Director settlement of Transoceaut Enia'rI Pursuant to RESTORE Act remilatious. Xfouroe Count developed the MYIP which describes the process the Count used for project selection and award- and a description of those projects. The 'fI IP tracks the finds currenth available to Monroe County and consists of three projects as ranked by'lomoe Countv's RESTORE Act Local Advisor- Committee and approved by the Monroe C'ouuity- Board of County C'onimissioners: Coral Restoration_ $510.000: Canal Restoration Monroe Count-. 5450.000: and Canal Restoration Islamorada. S100 OW Also pursuant to the regulations_ Monroe County will post the MZZP for public review and comment for a minimum of 45 days. (The Counn 's MYIP is posted on July S_ 3015. and «ill remain posted through August 31. 3011.) This docunnent is to be considered a Drmf ' N1Y IP until such time that public input is received and incorporated. and a revised Final'1I"IP is developed and formally adopted by the 'Monroe County BOCC_ We hope to bring that to the BOC'C for the September agenda. The Fimal X 'IP will then be sent to the Treasury Department for approval Once approved. Treasury will then notify the County that it may begin submitting grant applications for the three (3) projects and activities consistent with this NMR Please send your comments to MYIPcommentsjlmonroecounty- fl.gov (NOTE: Though there has been recent news of a settlement with BP, that settlement has not yet been finalized, those funds are not yet available, the Count} has not yet determined the distribution of that funding, and therefore it is not a part of the AMP at this time.) Historic Gato Building 1100 Simonton Street Key West, FL 33040 Ph: (305) 292-4444 Fx: (305) 292 -4515 Contact: This is a screenshot of the back end of the website showing The creation of the MYIP page. The MYIP page was created "Last Updated" 7/8/2015 12:30:24 p.m. Back Page Menu Home > Programs > RESTORE Act > Multi -Year Implementation Plan (NID = 683 Shoe.; Archived `w'ie. +; Published Front -End Edit Help A V Cancel Sa ✓e Sae and Pre�ie, Save as Copy Version Name: LM lti -Y implem Plan pap You have ZW characters left. Content Type: Editor ► Show Addtlonal Detain OM Type; Editor ,:. Aw l ' . 1 Z 5 ip. — sa:e Trh .. n T.Irpl-te PageTttle_ j Multi -Year Implementation Plan i MONROE COUNTY MULTI -YEAR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN (RESTORE ACT) Posted for Public Review and Comment As a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil Spill, Monroe County is the recipient of RESTORE Act funding from civil penalty fines from the responsible parties. The funds available to the County at this time, $1,167,643, are those from the settlement of Transocean. Before we can access these funds, the RESTORE Act regulations requires: 1) The County develop a Multi-Year Implementation Plan ( "MYIP ") before funds can be distributed to any eligible entity. CSS CL.. Font Name (Real.. Contact: Lisa Tennyson Legislative Affairs and Grants Acquisition Director Monroe County MYIP Posted July 8, 2015 Screen Shots 4) Link to MYIP Posted on Monroe County's Facebook Page This is a screenshot of the facebook page item, generated by our news feed online. Posted July 8, 2015 Monroe County News 'l�f110nrlleLounib The mission of Lionroe County is to provide outstanding public service responsive to the needs of our citizens, our unique community. and our environment. V Monroe county Florida oO monroecounty- ti.gov Q Joined May 2009 icJ+ Photos and videos 2015 FAC� Ph ti TWEET RJLLO' FOALOAtERS 4,249 5 900 Tweets & replies Photos & videos Monroe County News monroecounty 31s RESTORE Act Multi -Year Implementation Plan dlvr.it /BSWfyS Monroe County News r' >rrc ; 1.!i AF TERNOON AT THE IES dlvr.it/ Monroe County News „ i Breastfeeding Support Group rilvr It /RR9TCCH Copy of Press Release Announcing MYIP Posting for Public Review and Comment To Monroe County Media Outlets Press Release Monroe County Administrator's Office 1100 Simonton Street, Suite 2 -205 Key West, FL 33040 305- 292444 For Immediate Release MONROE COUNTY MULTI -YEAR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN (RESTORE ACT) The Monroe County Multi -Year Implementation Plan (MYIP) is now available for public review and comment on the County's website: www.monroecounty- fl.gov As a result of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Monroe County is the recipient of RESTORE Act funding from civil penalty fines from the responsible parties. The funds available to the County at this time, $1,167,643, are those from the settlement of Transocean. Pursuant to RESTORE Act regulations, Monroe County developed the MYIP which describes the process the County used for project selection and award, and a description of those projects. The MYIP tracks the funds currently available to Monroe County and consists of three projects as ranked by Monroe County's RESTORE Act Local Advisory Committee and approved by the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners: • Coral Reef Restoration, $550,000; • Canal Water Restoration in Monroe County, $450,000; and • Canal Water Restoration in Islamorada, $100,000. Also pursuant to the regulations, Monroe County will post the MYIP for public review and comment for a minimum of 45 days. The County's MYIP is posted on July 8, 2015, and will remain posted through August 31, 2015. This document is to be considered a Draft MYIP until such time that public input is received and incorporated, and a revised Final MYIP is developed and formally adopted by the Monroe County BOCC. We hope to bring that to the BOCC for the September agenda. The Final MYIP will then be sent to the Treasury Department for approval. Once approved, Treasury will then notify the County that it may begin submitting grant applications for the three (3) projects and activities consistent with this MYIP. Comments regarding the MYIP may be sent to MYIPcomments na.monroecounty- fl.gov (NOTE: Though there has been recent news of a settlement with BP, that settlement has not yet been finalized, those funds are not yet available, the County has not yet determined the distribution of that funding, and therefore it is not a part of the MYIP at this time.) For additional information, please contact Lisa Tennyson, Director of Legislative Affairs at 305- 292 -4444. Public Notices Announcing MYIP Posting for Public Review and Comment in Local Newspapers (The Key West Citizen, The Keynoter and The Reporter) MONROE -rally 'S MULTI -YEAR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN (RESTORE ACT) NOTICE OF POSTING The Monroe County Multi -Year Implementation Plan (MYIP) is now available for public review and comment on the County's website: www.monroecounty- fl.gov. As a result of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Monroe County is the recipient of RESTORE Act funding. Pursuant to RESTORE Act regulations, Monroe County developed the MYIP which describes the projects to be funded. The projects were ranked by Monroe County's RESTORE Act Local Advisory Committee and approved for award by the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners. The MYIP will be posted for a minimum of 45 days. Please send your comments to vveo STATE OF FLORIDA COUNTY OF MONROE rsigned authority personally appeared Tommy Todd, who on is Advertising Director of the Key West Citizen, a daily shed in Key West, in Monroe County, Florida; that the adve rtisement, being a legal notice in the matter of A CLO c�_ P n S�1N�A ;9 4,1489 1 T said newspaper in the issue(s) of V NEWSPAPERS The Citizen Florida Keys Free Press MARKETING SERVICES Commercial Printing Direct Mail FLORIDA KEYS OFFICES Printing / Main Facility 3420 Northside Drive Key West, FL 33040 -1800 Tel 305 - 292 -7777 Fax 305 - 294 -0768 c itizen(aakevwest.com Internet Division Tel 305 - 292 -1880 Fax 305 - 294 -1699 sales @keywest.com Upper Keys Office 91731 Overseas Hwy Tavernier, FL 33070 Tel 305 - 853 -7277 Fax 305 - 853 -0556 freepress@floddakeys.com Affiant further says that the Key West Citizen is a newspaper published in Key West, in said Monroe County, Florida and that the said newspaper has heretofore been continuously published in said Monroe County, Florida every day, and has been entered as se ss mail matter at the post office in Key West, in said Monroe C ty, Florida, a pe ' of 1 ye next preceding the first publication OfAe attached copy of ertisement; andAaffiant further says that he has neit er paid nor promised y erson, firm or cYecuring oration any m discount, rebate, omission or refu for he purpose of this advertisement for ublication in the sai newsD Der. Affiant Sworn and subscribed before me this day of July, 2015 I. ly DA WN KAWZINSKY Notary Public: r NOTARY PUBLIC STATE OF FLORIDA Comm# EE157233 F_xpirps 114/2016 Dawn Kawzinsky Expires: 1/4/16 Personally Known x Produced Identification Type of Identification Produced Notary Seal F L 0 R I 0 A K E Y S KEyM40TE Published Twice Weekly Marathon, Monroe County, Florida PROOF OF PUBLICATION STATE OF FLORIDA COUNTY OF MONROE Before the undersigned authority personally appeared RICHARD TAMBORRINO who on oath, says that he is PUBLISHER of the FLORIDA KEYS KEYNOTER, a twice weekly newspaper published in Marathon, in Monroe County, Florida: that the attached copy of advertisement was published in said newspaper in the issues of: (date(s) of publication) 7 Affiant further says that the said FLORIDA KEYS KEYNOTER is a newspaper published at Marathon, in said Monroe County, Florida, and that the said newspaper has heretofore been continuously published in said Monroe County, Florida, twice each week (on Wednesday and Saturday) and has been entered as a second class mail matter at the post office in Marathon, in Monroe County, Florida, for a period of one year next preceding the first publication of the attached copy of advertisement. The affiant further says that he has neither paid nor promised any person, firm, or corporation any discount, rebate, commission or refund for the purpose of securing this advertisement for publication in the said newspaper(s) and that The Florida Keys Keynoter is in full compliance with Chapter 50 of the Florida State Statutes on Legal Advertisements. Richard TaWborrino, Publishfar Sworn to and subscribed before me this _Day of l�fiii _ , 2015 Notary (SEAL) MONROE COUNTY'S MULTI -YEAR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN (RESTORE ACT) NOTICE OF POSTING The Monroe County Multi -Year Implementation Plan (MYIP) is now available for public review and comment on the County's website:, www.monroecounty-fl,gov As a result of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Monroe County is the recipient of RESTORE Act funding. Pursuant to RESTORE Act regulations, Monroe County developed the MYIP which describes the projects to be funded. The projects were ranked by Monroe County's' RESTORE Act Local Advisory Committee and approved for award by the- Monroe County Board of County Commissioners. The MYIP will be posted for a minimum of 45 days. Please send your comments to MYIPcomment @monr °^nnnty fl aov Published Keynoter 7 -11 -15 ,eve'•. ^i?g•, BEVERLY TRAEGER e.: .: MY COM AISSiON # FF 108704 • g a ¢i ct EXPIRES: April 18 2018 Banded Thru Notary PuNit Undenwrke s MONROE COUNTY'S MULTI -YEAR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN (RESTORE ACT) NOTICE OF POSTING The Monroe County Multi -Year Implementation Plan (MYIP) is now available for public review and comment on the County's website:, www.monroecounty-fl,gov As a result of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Monroe County is the recipient of RESTORE Act funding. Pursuant to RESTORE Act regulations, Monroe County developed the MYIP which describes the projects to be funded. The projects were ranked by Monroe County's' RESTORE Act Local Advisory Committee and approved for award by the- Monroe County Board of County Commissioners. The MYIP will be posted for a minimum of 45 days. Please send your comments to MYIPcomment @monr °^nnnty fl aov Published Keynoter 7 -11 -15 THE REPORTER Published Weekly Tavernier, Monroe County, Florida PROOF OF PUBLICATION STATE OF FLORIDA COUNTY OF MONROE Before the undersigned authority personally appeared RICHARD TAMBORRINO who on oath, says that he is PUBLISHER of THE REPORTER, a weekly newspaper published in Tavernier, in Monroe County, Florida: that the attached copy of advertisement was published in said newspaper in the issues of: (date(s) of publication) 7 % 7 -/S Affiant further says that the said THE REPORTER is a newspaper published at Tavernier, in said Monroe County, Florida, and that the said newspaper has heretofore been continuously published in said Monroe County, Florida, each week (on Friday) and has been entered as a second class mail matter at the post office in Tavernier, in Monroe County, Florida, for a period of one year next preceding the first publication of the attached copy of advertisement. The affiant further says that he has neither paid nor promised any person, firm, or corporation any discount, rebate, commission or refund for the purpose of securing this advertisement for publication in the said newspaper(s) and that The THE REPORTER is in full compliance with Chapter 50 of the Florida State Statutes on Legal and Official Advertis ts. Richard Tam orrino, Publisher Sworn to and subscribed before me this Day of & 2015 o ry , (SEAL) °va BEVERLY TRAEGER *; MY COMM: SSI01V tl FF 108704 zo EXPIRES: April 18, 2018 tended RN Notary Pudic Undewrtem MONROE COUNTY'S MULTI -YEAR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN (RESTORE ACT) NOTICE OF POSTING The Monroe County Multi -Year Implementation Plan (MYIP) is now available for public review and comment on the County's website:. monroecoW 1y_fl4oy As a result of the Deepwater• Horizon Oil Spill, Monroe County is the recipient of RESTORE Act funding. Pursuant to RESTORE Act regulations, Monroe County developed the MYIP which describes the projects to be funded. The .projects were ranked by Monroe County's RESTORE Act Local Advisory Committee and approved for award by the Monroe - County Board of County Commissioners. The MYIP will be posted for a minimum of 45 days. Please send your comments to MYIPcomment monroeronnty fl 4 eov Published Reporter 7 -17.15 Public Comment NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION UM SOUTH CENTRAL REGIONAL CENTER 850.332.0266 44 East Avenue, Suite 200 727.424.0057 Austin, Texas 78701 www.nwf.ora WILDLIFE Local Office: 5295 Powrie Dr, Pensacola, FL 32504 August 25, 2015 Lisa Tennyson, Legislative Affairs and Grants Acquisition Director Monroe County Government Historic Gato Building 1100 Simonton Street Key West, FL 33040 Re: National Wildlife Federation's Comments on Monroe County's Draft Multi -Year Implementation Plan (MYIP) Dear Ms. Tennyson, Thank you for the opportunity to submit comments on Monroe County's draft Multi -Year Implementation Plan (MYIP). National Wildlife Federation (NWF) is the nation's largest conservation organization. We have four million members and supporters nationally, hundreds of whom reside in Monroe County. Working closely with our state partner Florida Wildlife Federation, we have been on the ground, lobbying for comprehensive Gulf restoration in the wake of the 2010 BP oil spill. Our work has been focused on long- lasting efforts, such as coastal and watershed protection. The work that began with the passage of the RESTORE Act is now directed towards supporting ecological restoration. We have been closely following as Florida's 23 Gulf Coast Counties consider projects to fund with their Direct Component funds available through the RESTORE Act, as they develop Multi -Year Implementation Plans (MYIP). Working with a coalition of organizations in Florida, NWF and its partners crafted a restoration framework with project outcomes and guiding principles (outlined in a separate comment letter). We encourage Monroe County to keep these themes in mind while planning and implementing restoration activities. In addition to these themes and principles, NWF has also reviewed Monroe County's MYIP, and wishes to present comments on the two main components of the MYIP: Process and Projects. Process In 2014, the U.S. Treasury Department issued their "Direct Component Guidance and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance ". This Guidance provides critical context for ensuring an effective process and describes the following: As a prerequisite under the RESTORE Act for requesting and receiving Direct Component funding for eligible activities, each applicant must submit a multiyear plan to cover a period of time during which projects could be undertaken with funds available from the Trust Fund...An applicant must use the form shown at Section 4.0 for its multiyear plans... The multiyear plan must include the Multiyear Implementation Matrix, a map showing the locations where the work will be performed, and the narrative description. An applicant must provide detail on planned activities in the multiyear plan, including the information required in the multiyear plan matrix and narrative in Section 4.0. The multiyear plan must be available for 45 days for public review and comment, in a manner calculated to obtain broad -based participation from individuals, businesses, Indian tribes, and non - profit organizations. If the applicant has developed a more detailed multiyear plan document in addition to the forms in Section 4.0, the document should be included as an attachment to the multiyear plan submission to Treasury. Our analysis indicates that Monroe County has met and in many cases exceeded the requirements outlined in the Treasury Guidance. We applaud Monroe County's MYIP process, and hope other counties use your process as a model for development of their own MYIPs. Website: We are pleased Monroe County established a website with process - related information clearly poste, including overview of process, Advisory Committee members, agendas and minutes from Committee meetings, list of submitted projects (and links to Project Applications), evaluation forms and score sheets, and project scores and ranking. It is important to the transparency and integrity of the process to clearly indicate methods used for soliciting and evaluating project proposals, and Monroe County has done an excellent job at this. Public Engagement: The MYIP recognizes that projects must be selected based on "meaningful input from the public, including broad -based participation from individuals, businesses, and nonprofit organizations..." Monroe County appears to have successfully engaged this broad -based participation in the selection of its Advisory Committee with members representing the relevant and appropriate sectors of the community. In addition, Monroe County made their MYIP available for public comment for 52 days (more than the 45 days required by Treasury). This additional time allowed for more public comment and review. Best Available Science: According the Treasure Guidance, projects related to Natural Resources are required to be based on "Best Available Science" (BAS). The section on BAS in Monroe County's MYIP is comprehensive and thorough. Providing both the context and background, as well as reviewing the existing research and literature provides the basis for a sound scientific review. Once again, we applaud Monroe County and hope this MYIP serves as a model for others. Projects The Gulf Coast's economy and way of life are deeply entwined with the land and the water. The fines and penalties from the Deepwater Horizon disaster have great potential to restore and protect the Gulf of Mexico's lands, waters, wildlife, communities, and economy. However, there is a risk that some of these funds could be spent unwisely —even squandered on projects that would harm the very places the money was intended to benefit. The public can and should insist that all recovery monies are spent in a science - driven, transparent process that ensures a healthy Gulf of Mexico for wildlife as well as for future generations. We wholly support the projects that Monroe County has selected for its initial MYIP. The three projects (Coral Reef Restoration, Canal Water Quality Restoration in Unincorporated Monroe County Canals, and Canal Water Quality Restoration in Islamorada Canals) each fall under multiple RESTORE Act Eligible Activities, have clearly identified objectives, need and purpose, and benefits. In addition, the milestones and project success criteria for all three projects appears reasonable and achievable. Of note, the Proposed Timeline for the Coral Reef Restoration project indicates the first Proposed Action will take place in July 2015 (last month). Given that the MYIP has not yet been finalized, the July 2015 date may need to be adjusted if it is intended to correspond with the MYIP and a Treasury approval timeline. In addition, the funding and budget information provided in the MYIP matrix and Project Information Sheets is not detailed enough to achieve a true understanding of either the project costs or the match. This information may not be necessary for the Treasury approval or for the public. Conclusion: We applaud Monroe County for being leaders in the state and among the first to select projects and prepare a Draft MYIP. Given our experience with all 23 Gulf Coast Counties, Monroe County has demonstrated itself to be a leader in RESTORE Act implementation. We encourage you to offer guidance and assistance to other counties developing their own MYIPs. We optimistically anticipate Monroe County taking the same thorough and comprehensive approach with future installments of Direct Component funding (following the BP settlement), and welcome the opportunity to support future ecologically- focused restoration projects. Thank you very much for considering our comments. Please do not hesitate to contact me to further discuss these comments and recommendations. Sincerely, Jessica Koelsch Florida Policy Specialist National Wildlife Federation Tennyson -Lisa From: National Wildlife Federation < NationalWildlifeFederation @nwf.org> on behalf of Meagan Hull < NationalWildlifeFederation @nwf.org> Sent: Sunday, August 30, 2015 11:31 AM To: Tennyson -Lisa Subject: Thank you for restoration projects that benefit wildlife. Aug 30, 2015 Monroe County RESTORE Act Coordinator FL Dear RESTORE Act Coordinator, I care deeply about the fish, wildlife, and natural areas in Monroe County. The 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was a horrible tragedy, and it is imperative that we use the restoration funds resulting from the spill to improve the water quality and restore fish, wildlife, and their habitats locally, so we can repair the Gulf Coast as a whole. Some of the highest priorities for our community are clean water, abundant fish and wildlife, and improving natural habitats. The projects you selected to complete with the Gulf spill restoration dollars restoring coral reefs and improving water quality in County canals will both directly and indirectly help the environment, improve quality of life for locals, attract visitors and in turn boost our economy. I support the projects that you have selected for this initial round of funding and I encourage you to take a similar approach when additional restoration funds become available. Sincerely, Mrs. Meagan Hull 19585 Date Palm Dr Aummerland Key, FL 33042 -3111 morrisonmea a� n2014Agmail.com Tennyson -Lisa From: National Wildlife Federation < NationalWildlifeFederation @nwf.org> on behalf of Carmen Prebel < NationalWildlifeFederation @nwf.org> Sent: Sunday, August 30, 2015 11:01 AM To: Tennyson -Lisa Subject: Thank you for restoration projects that benefit wildlife. Aug 30, 2015 Monroe County RESTORE Act Coordinator FL Dear RESTORE Act Coordinator, I care deeply about the fish, wildlife, and natural areas in Monroe County. The 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was a horrible tragedy, and it is imperative that we use the restoration funds resulting from the spill to improve the water quality and restore fish, wildlife, and their habitats locally, so we can repair the Gulf Coast as a whole. Some of the highest priorities for our community are clean water, abundant fish and wildlife, and improving natural habitats. The projects you selected to complete with the Gulf spill restoration dollars restoring coral reefs and improving water quality in County canals will both directly and indirectly help the environment, improve quality of life for locals, attract visitors and in turn boost our economy. I support the projects that you have selected for this initial round of funding and I encourage you to take a similar approach when additional restoration funds become available. Sincerely, Mrs. Carmen Prebel 24 Dockside Ln `Key Largo, FL 33037 -5267 keowee97(a- )aol.com Tennvson -Lisa From: National Wildlife Federation < NationalWildlifeFederation @nwf.org> on behalf of Devin Morris < NationalWildlifeFederation @nwf.org> Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2015 10:36 PM To: Tennyson -Lisa Subject: Thank you for restoration projects that benefit wildlife. Aug 26, 2015 Monroe County RESTORE Act Coordinator FL Dear RESTORE Act Coordinator, I care deeply about the fish, wildlife, and natural areas in Monroe County. The 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was a horrible tragedy, and it is imperative that we use the restoration funds resulting from the spill to improve the water quality and restore fish, wildlife, and their habitats locally, so we can repair the Gulf Coast as a whole. Some of the highest priorities for our community are clean water, abundant fish and wildlife, and improving natural habitats. The projects you selected to complete with the Gulf spill restoration dollars restoring coral reefs and improving water quality in County canals will both directly and indirectly help the environment, improve quality of life for locals, attract visitors and in turn boost our economy. I support the projects that you have selected for this initial round of funding and I encourage you to take a similar approach when additional restoration funds become available. As a recent graduate of the University of Tampa, with an environmental science degree, I would like to learn more about how to get involved with the restoration projects that will be going on in South Florida and Monroe County. Sincerely, Mr. Devin Morris 212 Palm Ave ✓Islamorada, FL 33036 -3786 devimnorris.9315 (cugmail.com Tennyson -Lisa From: National Wildlife Federation < NationalWildlifeFederation @nwf.org> on behalf of Gianna Krstic < Nationa [Wild lifeFederation @ nwf.org> Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2015 9:32 PM To: Tennyson -Lisa Subject: Thank you for restoration projects that benefit wildlife. Aug 25, 2015 Monroe County RESTORE Act Coordinator FL Dear RESTORE Act Coordinator, I care deeply about the fish, wildlife, and natural areas in Monroe County. The 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was a horrible tragedy, and it is imperative that we use the restoration funds resulting from the spill to improve the water quality and restore fish, wildlife, and their habitats locally, so we can repair the Gulf Coast as a whole. Some of the highest priorities for our community are clean water, abundant fish and wildlife, and improving natural habitats. The projects you selected to complete with the Gulf spill restoration dollars restoring coral reefs and improving water quality in County canals will both directly and indirectly help the environment, improve quality of life for locals, attract visitors and in turn boost our economy. I support the projects that you have selected for this initial round of funding and I encourage you to take a similar approach when additional restoration funds become available. Sincerely, Ms. Gianna Krstic 188 Ocean Dr ,/Tavernier, FL 33070 -2339 giannaloveslife@gmail.com Tennyson -Lisa From: National Wildlife Federation < NationalWildlifeFederation @nwf.org> on behalf of Christine King < NationalWildlifeFederation @nwf.org> Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2015 9:32 PM To: Tennyson -Lisa Subject: Thank you for restoration projects that benefit wildlife. Aug 25, 2015 Monroe County RESTORE Act Coordinator FL Dear RESTORE Act Coordinator, I care deeply about the fish, wildlife, and natural areas in Monroe County. The 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was a horrible tragedy, and it is imperative that we use the restoration funds resulting from the spill to improve the water quality and restore fish, wildlife, and their habitats locally, so we can repair the Gulf Coast as a whole. Some of the highest priorities for our community are clean water, abundant fish and wildlife, and improving natural habitats. The projects you selected to complete with the Gulf spill restoration dollars restoring coral reefs and improving water quality in County canals will both directly and indirectly help the environment, improve quality of life for locals, attract visitors and in turn boost our economy. I support the projects that you have selected for this initial round of funding and I encourage you to take a similar approach when additional restoration funds become available. Sincerely, Ms. Christine King /1590 Gardenia Ln / Big Pine Key, FL 33043 -6075 chrissykings gmail.com Tennvson -Lisa From: National Wildlife Federation < NationalWildlifeFederation @nwf.org> on behalf of terry griffo < NationalWildlifeFederation @nwf.org> Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2015 6:33 AM To: Tennyson -Lisa Subject: Thank you for restoration projects that benefit wildlife. Aug 26, 2015 Monroe County RESTORE Act Coordinator FL Dear RESTORE Act Coordinator, I care deeply about the fish, wildlife, and natural areas in Monroe County. The 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was a horrible tragedy, and it is imperative that we use the restoration funds resulting from the spill to improve the water quality and restore fish, wildlife, and their habitats locally, so we can repair the Gulf Coast as a whole. Some of the highest priorities for our community are clean water, abundant fish and wildlife, and improving natural habitats. The projects you selected to complete with the Gulf spill restoration dollars restoring coral reefs and improving water quality in County canals will both directly and indirectly help the environment, improve quality of life for locals, attract visitors and in turn boost our economy. I support the projects that you have selected for this initial round of funding and I encourage you to take a similar approach when additional restoration funds become available. Sincerely, Ms. terry griffo 27 Snapper Ave Key Largo, FL 33037 -4755 t gr iffo ,yahoo.cotn Tennvson -Lisa From: National Wildlife Federation < NationalWildlifeFederation @ nwf.org> on behalf of Karin Wolfe < NationalWildlifeFederation @nwf.org> Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2015 7:33 AM To: Tennyson -Lisa Subject: Thank you for restoration projects that benefit wildlife. Aug 26, 2015 Monroe County RESTORE Act Coordinator FL Dear RESTORE Act Coordinator, I care deeply about the fish, wildlife, and natural areas in Monroe County. The 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was a horrible tragedy, and it is imperative that we use the restoration funds resulting from the spill to improve the water quality and restore fish, wildlife, and their habitats locally, so we can repair the Gulf Coast as a whole. Some of the highest priorities for our community are clean water, abundant fish and wildlife, and improving natural habitats. The projects you selected to complete with the Gulf spill restoration dollars restoring coral reefs and improving water quality in County canals will both directly and indirectly help the environment, improve quality of life for locals, attract visitors and in turn boost our economy. I support the projects that you have selected for this initial round of funding and I encourage you to take a similar approach when additional restoration funds become available. Sincerely, Ms. Karin Wolfe 6 Ironwood Dr Islamorada, FL 33036 -3625 karin wolfe(cvyahoo.com Tennyson -Lisa From: National Wildlife Federation < NationalWildlifeFederation @nwf.org> on behalf of STEPHEN SELBY < NationalWildlifeFederation @ nwf.org> Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2015 10:03 AM To: Tennyson -Lisa Subject: Thank you for restoration projects that benefit wildlife. Aug 26, 2015 Monroe County RESTORE Act Coordinator FL Dear RESTORE Act Coordinator, I care deeply about the fish, wildlife, and natural areas in Monroe County. The 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was a horrible tragedy, and it is imperative that we use the restoration funds resulting from the spill to improve the water quality and restore fish, wildlife, and their habitats locally, so we can repair the Gulf Coast as a whole. Some of the highest priorities for our community are clean water, abundant fish and wildlife, and improving natural habitats. The projects you selected to complete with the Gulf spill restoration dollars restoring coral reefs and improving water quality in County canals will both directly and indirectly help the environment, improve quality of life for locals, attract visitors and in turn boost our economy. I support the projects that you have selected for this initial round of funding and I encourage you to take a similar approach when additional restoration funds become available. Sincerely, Mr. STEPHEN SELBY 1107 Key Plz # 180 Key West, FL 33040 -4077 atlanticgulfsupply att.net Tennyson -Lisa From: National Wildlife Federation < NationalWildlifeFederation @ nwf.org> on behalf of Elizabeth Eubanks < NationalWildlifeFederation @nwf.org> Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2015 1:55 PM To: Tennyson -Lisa Subject: Thank you for restoration projects that benefit wildlife. Aug 26, 2015 Monroe County RESTORE Act Coordinator FL Dear RESTORE Act Coordinator, I care deeply about the fish, wildlife, and natural areas in Monroe County. The 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was a horrible tragedy, and it is imperative that we use the restoration funds resulting from the spill to improve the water quality and restore fish, wildlife, and their habitats locally, so we can repair the Gulf Coast as a whole. Some of the highest priorities for our community are clean water, abundant fish and wildlife, and improving natural habitats. The projects you selected to complete with the Gulf spill restoration dollars restoring coral reefs and improving water quality in County canals will both directly and indirectly help the environment, improve quality of life for locals, attract visitors and in turn boost our economy. I support the projects that you have selected for this initial round of funding and I encourage you to take a similar approach when additional restoration funds become available. Sincerely, Dr. Elizabeth Eubanks 31587 Avenue D Big Pine Key, FL 33043 -4531 ocon3333@bellsouth.net Tennvson -Lisa From: National Wildlife Federation < NationalWildlifeFederation @nwf.org> on behalf of Devin Morris < NationalWildlifeFederation @nwf.org> Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2015 10:36 PM To: Tennyson -Lisa Subject: Thank you for restoration projects that benefit wildlife. Aug 26, 2015 Monroe County RESTORE Act Coordinator FL Dear RESTORE Act Coordinator, I care deeply about the fish, wildlife, and natural areas in Monroe County. The 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was a horrible tragedy, and it is imperative that we use the restoration funds resulting from the spill to improve the water quality and restore fish, wildlife, and their habitats locally, so we can repair the Gulf Coast as a whole. Some of the highest priorities for our community are clean water, abundant fish and wildlife, and improving natural habitats. The projects you selected to complete with the Gulf spill restoration dollars restoring coral reefs and improving water quality in County canals will both directly and indirectly help the environment, improve quality of life for locals, attract visitors and in turn boost our economy. I support the projects that you have selected for this initial round of funding and I encourage you to take a similar approach when additional restoration funds become available. As a recent graduate of the University of Tampa, with an environmental science degree, I would like to learn more about how to get involved with the restoration projects that will be going on in South Florida and Monroe County. Sincerely, Mr. Devin Morris 212 Palm Ave Islamorada, FL 33036 -3786 devinmorri s.9315 &email. corn Tennyson -Lisa From: National Wildlife Federation < NationalWildlifeFederation @nwf.org> on behalf of KAREN SADOF < NationalWildlifeFederation @nwf.org> Sent: Thursday, August 27, 2015 12:42 AM To: Tennyson -Lisa Subject: Thank you for restoration projects that benefit wildlife. Aug 26, 2015 Monroe County RESTORE Act Coordinator FL Dear RESTORE Act Coordinator, I care deeply about the fish, wildlife, and natural areas in Monroe County. The 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was a horrible tragedy, and it is imperative that we use the restoration funds resulting from the spill to improve the water quality and restore fish, wildlife, and their habitats locally, so we can repair the Gulf Coast as a whole. Some of the highest priorities for our community are clean water, abundant fish and wildlife, and improving natural habitats. The projects you selected to complete with the Gulf spill restoration dollars restoring coral reefs and improving water quality in County canals will both directly and indirectly help the environment, improve quality of life for locals, attract visitors and in turn boost our economy. I support the projects that you have selected for this initial round of funding and I encourage you to take a similar approach when additional restoration funds become available. Sincerely, Ms. KAREN SADOF 714 Elizabeth St Apt D Key West, FL 33040 -6400 ksadof(cvyahoo.com Tennyson -Lisa From: National Wildlife Federation < NationalWildlifeFederation @nwf.org> on behalf of nancy forrester < NationalWildlifeFederation @nwf.org> Sent: Thursday, August 27, 2015 8:21 AM To: Tennyson -Lisa Subject: Thank you for restoration projects that benefit wildlife. Aug 27, 2015 Monroe County RESTORE Act Coordinator FL Dear RESTORE Act Coordinator, I care deeply about the fish, wildlife, and natural areas in Monroe County. The 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was a horrible tragedy, and it is imperative that we use the restoration funds resulting from the spill to improve the water quality and restore fish, wildlife, and their habitats locally, so we can repair the Gulf Coast as a whole. Some of the highest priorities for our community are clean water, abundant fish and wildlife, and improving natural habitats. The projects you selected to complete with the Gulf spill restoration dollars restoring coral reefs and improving water quality in County canals will both directly and indirectly help the environment, improve quality of life for locals, attract visitors and in turn boost our economy. I support the projects that you have selected for this initial round of funding and I encourage you to take a similar approach when additional restoration funds become available. Sincerely, Ms. nancy forrester 518 Elizabeth St Key West, FL 33040 -6821 nancy forresternyahoo.com Tennyson -Lisa From: National Wildlife Federation < NationalWildlifeFederation @nwf.org> on behalf of Sallie Korte < NationalWildlifeFederation @nwf.org> Sent: Thursday, August 27, 2015 5:28 PM To: Tennyson -Lisa Subject: Thank you for restoration projects that benefit wildlife. Aug 27, 2015 Monroe County RESTORE Act Coordinator FL Dear RESTORE Act Coordinator, I care deeply about the fish, wildlife, and natural areas in Monroe County. The 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was a horrible tragedy, and it is imperative that we use the restoration funds resulting from the spill to improve the water quality and restore fish, wildlife, and their habitats locally, so we can repair the Gulf Coast as a whole. Some of the highest priorities for our community are clean water, abundant fish and wildlife, and improving natural habitats. The projects you selected to complete with the Gulf spill restoration dollars restoring coral reefs and improving water quality in County canals will both directly and indirectly help the environment, improve quality of life for locals, attract visitors and in turn boost our economy. I support the projects that you have selected for this initial round of funding and I encourage you to take a similar approach when additional restoration funds become available. Sincerely, Ms. Sallie Korte 325 Calusa St Key Largo, FL 33037 -2641 islandsallie 10l @hotmail.com Tennyson -Lisa From: National Wildlife Federation < NationalWildlifeFederation @nwf.org> on behalf of Suzanne Mason < NationalWildlifeFederation @nwf.org> Sent: Thursday, August 27, 2015 10:27 PM To: Tennyson -Lisa Subject: Thank you for restoration projects that benefit wildlife. Aug 27, 2015 Monroe County RESTORE Act Coordinator FL Dear RESTORE Act Coordinator, I care deeply about the fish, wildlife, and natural areas in Monroe County. The 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was a horrible tragedy, and it is imperative that we use the restoration funds resulting from the spill to improve the water quality and restore fish, wildlife, and their habitats locally, so we can repair the Gulf Coast as a whole. Some of the highest priorities for our community are clean water, abundant fish and wildlife, and improving natural habitats. The projects you selected to complete with the Gulf spill restoration dollars restoring coral reefs and improving water quality in County canals will both directly and indirectly help the environment, improve quality of life for locals, attract visitors and in turn boost our economy. I support the projects that you have selected for this initial round of funding and I encourage you to take a similar approach when additional restoration funds become available. Sincerely, Ms. Suzanne Mason 10 Lauderdale Dr Key Largo, FL 33037 -2515 semason a)bellsouth.net Tennvson -Lisa From: National Wildlife Federation < NationalWildlifeFederation @nwf.org> on behalf of MI Derousse < NationalWildlifeFederation @nwf.org> Sent: Saturday, August 29, 2015 10:30 AM To: Tennyson -Lisa Subject: Thank you for restoration projects that benefit wildlife. Aug 29, 2015 Monroe County RESTORE Act Coordinator FL Dear RESTORE Act Coordinator I care deeply about the fish, wildlife, and natural areas in Monroe County. The 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was a horrible tragedy, and it is imperative that we use the restoration funds resulting from the spill to improve the water quality and restore fish, wildlife, and their habitats locally, so we can repair the Gulf Coast as a whole. Some of the highest priorities for our community are clean water, abundant fish and wildlife, and improving natural habitats. The projects you selected to complete with the Gulf spill restoration dollars restoring coral reefs and improving water quality in County canals will both directly and indirectly help the environment, improve quality of life for locals, attract visitors and in turn boost our economy. I support the projects that you have selected for this initial round of funding and I encourage you to take a similar approach when additional restoration funds become available. Sincerely, Ms. M.L Derousse 26875 Old State Road 4a # Rd.4a Summerland Key, FL 33042 -5333 marte4l (a mac.com Tennyson -Lisa From: National Wildlife Federation < NationalWildlifeFederation @nwf.org> on behalf of Alan Mineo < NationalWildlifeFederation @nwf.org> Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2015 7:32 PM To: Tennyson -Lisa Subject: Thank you for restoration projects that benefit wildlife. Aug 25, 2015 Monroe County RESTORE Act Coordinator FL Dear RESTORE Act Coordinator, I care deeply about the fish, wildlife, and natural areas in Monroe County. The 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was a horrible tragedy, and it is imperative that we use the restoration funds resulting from the spill to improve the water quality and restore fish, wildlife, and their habitats locally, so we can repair the Gulf Coast as a whole. Some of the highest priorities for our community are clean water, abundant fish and wildlife, and improving natural habitats. The projects you selected to complete with the Gulf spill restoration dollars restoring coral reefs and improving water quality in County canals will both directly and indirectly help the environment, improve quality of life for locals, attract visitors and in turn boost our economy. I support the projects that you have selected for this initial round of funding and I encourage you to take a similar approach when additional restoration funds become available. Sincerely, Mr. Alan Mineo 1424 Newton St Apt B Key West, FL 33040 -7073 aljmin(a�gmail.com Tennvson -Lisa From: National Wildlife Federation < NationalWildlifeFederation @nwf.org> on behalf of April Schoeneman < NationalWildlifeFederation @nwf.org> Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2015 6:32 PM To: Tennyson -Lisa Subject: Thank you for restoration projects that benefit wildlife. Aug 25, 2015 Monroe County RESTORE Act Coordinator FL Dear RESTORE Act Coordinator I care deeply about the fish, wildlife, and natural areas in Monroe County. The 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was a horrible tragedy, and it is imperative that we use the restoration funds resulting from the spill to improve the water quality and restore fish, wildlife, and their habitats locally, so we can repair the Gulf Coast as a whole. Some of the highest priorities for our community are clean water, abundant fish and wildlife, and improving natural habitats. The projects you selected to complete with the Gulf spill restoration dollars restoring coral reefs and improving water quality in County canals will both directly and indirectly help the environment, improve quality of life for locals, attract visitors and in turn boost our economy. I support the projects that you have selected for this initial round of funding and I encourage you to take a similar approach when additional restoration funds become available. Sincerely, Ms. April Schoeneman Overseas Hwy Islamorada, FL 33036 -3107 aprils e t�yCyahoo.com Tennvson -Lisa From: National Wildlife Federation < NationalWildlifeFederation @nwf.org> on behalf of Larry Benvenuti < NationalWildlifeFederation @nwf.org> Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2015 5:31 PM To: Tennyson -Lisa Subject: Thank you for restoration projects that benefit wildlife. Aug 25, 2015 Monroe County RESTORE Act Coordinator FL Dear RESTORE Act Coordinator, I care deeply about the fish, wildlife, and natural areas in Monroe County. The 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was a horrible tragedy, and it is imperative that we use the restoration funds resulting from the spill to improve the water quality and restore fish, wildlife, and their habitats locally, so we can repair the Gulf Coast as a whole. Some of the highest priorities for our community are clean water, abundant fish and wildlife, and improving natural habitats. The projects you selected to complete with the Gulf spill restoration dollars restoring coral reefs and improving water quality in County canals will both directly and indirectly help the environment, improve quality of life for locals, attract visitors and in turn boost our economy. I support the projects that you have selected for this initial round of funding and I encourage you to take a similar approach when additional restoration funds become available. Sincerely, Mr. Larry Benvenuti PO Box 501403 Marathon, FL 33050 -1403 larbabes I @aol.com Tennvson -Lisa From: National Wildlife Federation < NationalWildlifeFederation @nwf.org> on behalf of michele wildman- powell < NationalWildlifeFederation @nwf.org> Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2015 5:31 PM To: Tennyson -Lisa Subject: Thank you for restoration projects that benefit wildlife. Aug 25, 2015 Monroe County RESTORE Act Coordinator FL Dear RESTORE Act Coordinator, I care deeply about the fish, wildlife, and natural areas in Monroe County. The 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was a horrible tragedy, and it is imperative that we use the restoration funds resulting from the spill to improve the water quality and restore fish, wildlife, and their habitats locally, so we can repair the Gulf Coast as a whole. Some of the highest priorities for our community are clean water, abundant fish and wildlife, and improving natural habitats. The projects you selected to complete with the Gulf spill restoration dollars restoring coral reefs and improving water quality in County canals will both directly and indirectly help the environment, improve quality of life for locals, attract visitors and in turn boost our economy. I support the projects that you have selected for this initial round of funding and I encourage you to take a similar approach when additional restoration funds become available. Sincerely, Mrs. michele wildman - powell 301 White St Apt 4a Key West, FL 33040 -6980 micheler)owe1132I �cuhotmail.com Tennyson -Lisa From: National Wildlife Federation < NationalWildlifeFederation @nwf.org> on behalf of H McKee < NationalWildlifeFederation @nwf.org> Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2015 5:02 PM To: Tennyson -Lisa Subject: Thank you for restoration projects that benefit wildlife. Aug 25, 2015 Monroe County RESTORE Act Coordinator FL Dear RESTORE Act Coordinator, I care deeply about the fish, wildlife, and natural areas in Monroe County. The 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was a horrible tragedy, and it is imperative that we use the restoration funds resulting from the spill to improve the water quality and restore fish, wildlife, and their habitats locally, so we can repair the Gulf Coast as a whole. Some of the highest priorities for our community are clean water, abundant fish and wildlife, and improving natural habitats. The projects you selected to complete with the Gulf spill restoration dollars restoring coral reefs and improving water quality in County canals will both directly and indirectly help the environment, improve quality of life for locals, attract visitors and in turn boost our economy. I support the projects that you have selected for this initial round of funding and I encourage you to take a similar approach when additional restoration funds become available. Sincerely, Mr. H McKee 515 Unid St Key West, FL 33040 keMsun@gmail.com Tennyson -Lisa From: National Wildlife Federation < NationalWildlifeFederation @nwf.org> on behalf of Jeffrey Greene < NationalWildlifeFederation @nwf.org> Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2015 4:31 PM To: Tennyson -Lisa Subject: Thank you for restoration projects that benefit wildlife. Aug 25, 2015 Monroe County RESTORE Act Coordinator FL Dear RESTORE Act Coordinator, I care deeply about the fish, wildlife, and natural areas in Monroe County. The 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was a horrible tragedy, and it is imperative that we use the restoration funds resulting from the spill to improve the water quality and restore fish, wildlife, and their habitats locally, so we can repair the Gulf Coast as a whole. Some of the highest priorities for our community are clean water, abundant fish and wildlife, and improving natural habitats. The projects you selected to complete with the Gulf spill restoration dollars restoring coral reefs and improving water quality in County canals will both directly and indirectly help the environment, improve quality of life for locals, attract visitors and in turn boost our economy. I support the projects that you have selected for this initial round of funding and I encourage you to take a similar approach when additional restoration funds become available. Sincerely, Mr. Jeffrey Greene 3920 S Roosevelt Blvd Apt 207w Key West, FL 33040 -2307 wheel 1622(a) p-mail.com Tennvson -Lisa From: National Wildlife Federation < NationalWildlifeFederation @nwf.org> on behalf of Todd Milligan < NationalWildlifeFederation @nwf.org> Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2015 4:01 PM To: Tennyson -Lisa Subject: Thank you for restoration projects that benefit wildlife. Aug 25, 2015 Monroe County RESTORE Act Coordinator FL Dear RESTORE Act Coordinator, I care deeply about the fish, wildlife, and natural areas in Monroe County. The 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was a horrible tragedy, and it is imperative that we use the restoration funds resulting from the spill to improve the water quality and restore fish, wildlife, and their habitats locally, so we can repair the Gulf Coast as a whole. Some of the highest priorities for our community are clean water, abundant fish and wildlife, and improving natural habitats. The projects you selected to complete with the Gulf spill restoration dollars restoring coral reefs and improving water quality in County canals will both directly and indirectly help the environment, improve quality of life for locals, attract visitors and in turn boost our economy. I support the projects that you have selected for this initial round of funding and I encourage you to take a similar approach when additional restoration funds become available. Sincerely, Mr. Todd Milligan PO Box 1834 Tavernier, FL 33070 -1834 toddmilligan (d)bellsouth.net Tennyson -Lisa From: National Wildlife Federation < NationalWildlifeFederation @nwf.org> on behalf of Michael Stella < NationalWildlifeFederation @nwf.org> Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2015 4:01 PM To: Tennyson -Lisa Subject: Thank you for restoration projects that benefit wildlife. Aug 25, 2015 Monroe County RESTORE Act Coordinator FL Dear RESTORE Act Coordinator, I care deeply about the fish, wildlife, and natural areas in Monroe County. The 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was a horrible tragedy, and it is imperative that we use the restoration funds resulting from the spill to improve the water quality and restore fish, wildlife, and their habitats locally, so we can repair the Gulf Coast as a whole. Some of the highest priorities for our community are clean water, abundant fish and wildlife, and improving natural habitats. The projects you selected to complete with the Gulf spill restoration dollars restoring coral reefs and improving water quality in County canals will both directly and indirectly help the environment, improve quality of life for locals, attract visitors and in turn boost our economy. I support the projects that you have selected for this initial round of funding and I encourage you to take a similar approach when additional restoration funds become available. Sincerely, Mr. Michael Stella 529 Elizabeth St Unit 1 Key West, FL 33040 -6820 michael- stellaocomcast.net Tennyson -Lisa From: National Wildlife Federation < NationalWildlifeFederation @nwf.org> on behalf of Cynthia Edwards < NationalWildlifeFederation @nwf.org> Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2015 4:01 PM To: Tennyson -Lisa Subject: Thank you for restoration projects that benefit wildlife. Aug 25, 2015 Monroe County RESTORE Act Coordinator FL Dear RESTORE Act Coordinator, I care deeply about the fish, wildlife, and natural areas in Monroe County. The 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was a horrible tragedy, and it is imperative that we use the restoration funds resulting from the spill to improve the water quality and restore fish, wildlife, and their habitats locally, so we can repair the Gulf Coast as a whole. Some of the highest priorities for our community are clean water, abundant fish and wildlife, and improving natural habitats. The projects you selected to complete with the Gulf spill restoration dollars restoring coral reefs and improving water quality in County canals will both directly and indirectly help the environment, improve quality of life for locals, attract visitors and in turn boost our economy. I support the projects that you have selected for this initial round of funding and I encourage you to take a similar approach when additional restoration funds become available. Sincerely, Ms. Cynthia Edwards 1402 Olivia St Apt 1 Key West, FL 33040 -7211 cw.edwardsr- yahoo.com Tennyson -Lisa From: National Wildlife Federation < NationalWildlifeFederation @nwf.org> on behalf of U Dennehy < NationalWildlifeFederation @nwf.org> Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2015 3:31 PM To: Tennyson -Lisa Subject: Thank you for restoration projects that benefit wildlife. Aug 25, 2015 Monroe County RESTORE Act Coordinator FL Dear RESTORE Act Coordinator, I care deeply about the fish, wildlife, and natural areas in Monroe County. The 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was a horrible tragedy, and it is imperative that we use the restoration funds resulting from the spill to improve the water quality and restore fish, wildlife, and their habitats locally, so we can repair the Gulf Coast as a whole. Some of the highest priorities for our community are clean water, abundant fish and wildlife, and improving natural habitats. The projects you selected to complete with the Gulf spill restoration dollars restoring coral reefs and improving water quality in County canals will both directly and indirectly help the environment, improve quality of life for locals, attract visitors and in turn boost our economy. I support the projects that you have selected for this initial round of funding and I encourage you to take a similar approach when additional restoration funds become available. Sincerely, Ms. U Dennehy PO Box 863 Islamorada, FL 33036 -0863 ocnchld a,=ail.com Appendix E: General Media Coverage of Monroe County RESTORE Act Activities Attached: • Letters to the Editor from National Wildlife Federation and The Nature Conservancy • Various Examples of Local Press Coverage and County Press Releases 33 PANAMA CITY NEWS HERALD This copy is for your personal, noncommercial use only. To print this article, open the file menu and choose Print. Letter: Environment should benefit from RESTORE By Published: Thursday, March 5, 2015 at 10:44 AM. Last week, a Bay County advisory committee considered almost two dozen projects that could be funded with restoration money from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The RESTORE Act provides all 23 Gulf Coast counties in Florida the opportunity to fund environmental, economic, tourism, infrastructure and /or job creation projects in their community. So far, only two other Florida counties — Hernando and Monroe — have selected projects to submit for RESTORE Act funding. Both counties have wisely chosen to focus on projects that will directly benefit the environment. Monroe County, in the Florida Keys, will restore and rebuild coral reefs and improve water quality by repairing aging canals. Hernando County (north of Tampa Bay) will restore salt marshes, make shoreline improvements to address water quality and construct fish habitat. The National Wildlife Federation applauds these two counties for selecting projects that will benefit the environment, improve quality of life for locals, attract visitors and boost the economy. As they prepare to recommend projects for funding, we encourage the Bay County RESTORE committee to look closely at projects that will have both economic and environmental benefits. This might include addressing the continuous outfalls on Panama City Beach, converting Laguna Beach from septic to sewer, developing the Gulf World Marine Institute, cleaning up stormwater and assessing water quality improvement needs. Bay County's beaches and waters are key drivers of the local economy. These projects would tangibly and visibly improve natural systems, making Bay County an even more desirable place to live, visit, and to do business. Jessica Koelsch Koelsch is a Florida policy specialist with the National Wildlife Federation Copyright © 2015 http: / /www.newsherald.com —All rights reserved. Restricted use only. BP spill money allocated for canal restoration, coral farms BY KEVIN WADLOW kwadlow dUkcvnoter.com I=61IM", 21. 2111 { Coral- restoration efforts will get half of Monroe County's $1.1 million in the first water - pollution fines from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and Islamorada was awarded a $100,000 slice for canal restoration work. Monroe County commissioners, meeting Wednesday at the Murray E. Nelson Government and Cultural Center in Key Largo, approved a spending plan for the first installment of RESTORE Act funding for the Keys. Islamorada's $100,000 share comes out of $550,000 proposed for the county's own canal- restoration pilot projects. Commissioners opted to include Islamorada in the RESTORE Act budget after village Mayor Mike Forster said allocating half the total to the unincorporated county's own projects creates "a perception that really doesn't go over well. We're partners." Islamorada already has installed one air - bubbler curtain at Treasure Harbor with municipal funding. "We're shovel -ready on two smaller projects," said Susan Sprunt, Islamorada canal - project manager. Work to install two weed - barrier projects at $50,000 each is "ready to go immediately," Sprunt said. Commissioner Sylvia Murphy commended Islamorada for moving quickly on efforts to improve water quality in its canals. "Islamorada is the only [Keys city] that put up money to do a pilot project and got it done," she said. "I have a problem not rewarding that." Other commissioners agreed. The Nature Conservancy will administer the $550,000 coral - restoration grant for new reef plantings by the Coral Restoration Foundation in the Upper Keys, Mote Marine Laboratory in the Lower Keys and the state Fish and Wildlife Research Institute in the Middle Keys. In addition to staghom coral, Mote will expand a project to revive boulder corals with replantings, said Chris Bergh of the Nature Conservancy. Reef restoration using corals grown in underwater nurseries "has been shown to be very successful and we're excited about having funds to proceed," Bergh said. The money comes from a settlement reached between the federal government and Transocean Deepwater Inc., which owned the rig that exploded and burned in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. Eleven men died in the explosion, which led to an estimated 200 million gallons of crude spewing into the gulf. Additional RESTORE Act funds are expected when a final decision on BP's pollution liability is confirmed. No oil reached the Keys but the threat of it was enough to keep lots of tourists away, spelling problems for businesses. In other action Wednesday, commissioners: Agreed in principle to Key West's proposal to use land - acquisition money for affordable- housing property outside city limits. Commissioner Heather Carruthers said she wants further clarification to ensure the money goes to workforce housing, not a homeless shelter. Agreed to work with the Trust for Public Lands to seek more state funding for conservation land buys in the Keys during the state budget process. Approved the county's priorities for requests from Congress. Most center on water - quality funding and receiving payments in lieu of taxes for federal lands in the Keys. W I0/LU 15 county to vote on coral, canal project tuning Published on KeysNews.com ( http: / /keysnews.com County to vote on coral, canal funding Sunday, February 15, 2015 BY TIMOTHY O'HARA Citizen Staff tohara(cD-keysnews.com project K�L'I C J 1 The Monroe County Commission will vote Wednesday on allocating $1.1 million to coral and canal restoration projects. The projects were among the top choices of the local Restore Act committee, which was established by the county commission to rank and make recommendations on roughly 40 projects seeking federal funding. The local committee ranked The Nature Conservancy's coral restoration work in the Florida Keys and the county's canal restoration projects as the top two projects. County staff is recommending that the two groups split the $1.1 million, with each group getting $550,000. "We want to be mindful to minimize county resources necessary for ongoing grant management and oversight due to the program's very low 3 percent administrative cost reimbursement limit," Monroe County Legislative Affairs Director Lisa Tennyson said. "So, staff is recommending that the commission consider making fewer awards to the projects, in this case the top two ranked projects that show the most promise to deliver clear and measurable benefits, have timely start and finish dates, and whose sponsors have the capacity and experience to manage rigorous federal grant program requirements." The county commission will vote on staffs recommendation when it meets at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Murray Nelson Government Center, 102050 Overseas Highway, Key Largo. The Nature Conservancy initially requested $1.1 million for its coral restoration projects with Mote Marine Laboratory, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Coral Restoration Foundation in the Upper Keys. All three groups have reared hundreds of thousands of corals in their nurseries in the past decade. Many of those corals have been replanted on the Florida Keys reef have begun to spawn and reproduce. The $500,000 would facilitate the rearing and planting of 20,000 staghorn corals and 15,000 boulder coral fragments, said Chris Bergh, Florida Keys program manager for The Nature Conservancy coral recovery effort. "That's a lot of coral," Bergh said. "Every one of those corals has the ability to grow and become habitat and to spawn." W ICVZU 15 Uounty to vote on coral, canal project tuning Monroe County's plan for the second project is to improve the water quality in the canals in unincorporated areas through a series of restoration and dredging projects. Restore Act funding comes from Clean Water Act fines placed on Transocean and B.P. for their roles in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. tohara keysnews com Tweet 8 +1 0 Home I Legal Classifieds I Privacy Polic I About us Subscribe Advertise I Visitor Information I Contact Us I Employment Opportunities I Site Plan Source URL: http://keysnews.com/node/63495 Two projects recommended for BP money Panel proposals canal cleanups, coral nurseries By KEVIN WADLOW Senior Staff Writer kwadlow@keynoter. com Wednesday, February 11, 2015 L 2 Baby corals and dirty canals seem likely to benefit from Monroe County's first allocation of water - pollution fines from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in April 2010. Coral- restoration efforts at several Florida Keys underwater nurseries and money for the Monroe County's canal- restoration test projects will be recommended for RESTORE Act funding to the Monroe County Commission, meeting Feb. 18 in Key Largo. The two proposals won the top two spots of 10 ranked applications considered by the 11 members of the county's RESTORE Act Advisory Committee. Each project was recommended for a $550,819 grant. "We're happy that people think coral restoration is important," said Caitlin Lustic, coral - recovery coordinator for The Nature Conservancy in the Keys. "Nobody gets too mad about getting money to grow coral." The coral - restoration money will allocate funding to at least three existing staghorn coral nurseries in the Keys run by the Coral Restoration Foundation in the Upper Keys, Mote Marine Laboratory in the Lower Keys and the state's Fish and Wildlife Research Institute in the Middle Keys. An additional Dry Tortugas nursery run by The Nature Conservancy and National Park Service also may be eligible Money for coral restoration primarily would go to costs for staff and boat transportation to transplant nursery-grown staghorn at damaged reef sites, Lustic said. "The nurseries have tons of coral ready to go," Lustic said. "The number of new out planting sites will be based on how much money is available." If commissioners agree, Monroe County would likely use the RESTORE Act money to move forward on some of the five different canal- restoration projects it is testing. "These would be smaller projects like installing culverts for water flow, or air - curtain bubblers," said Rhonda Haag, manager of the county's canal program. The money comes from the $1 billion settlement with the federal government with Transocean Deepwater Inc., which owned the oil - drilling rig that exploded and burned in the gulf, caus- ing the nation's worst -ever oil spill. Eleven men died on the rig. The U.S. Department of the Treasury notified Monroe County that it will receive about $1.1 million as its dedicated share from Clear Water Act fines assessed against Trans -ocean. Fines against the BP oil company are expected to be significantly larger but that case is mired in a lawsuit. The RESTORE Act was passed by Congress to ensure that pollution fines from the Deepwater Horizon spill go toward environmental or economic restoration. No oil reached the Keys but merely the threat of it caused tourism to dip in summer 2010. W 1?J/LU 10 uuu leaas ine way on uua Oi Mexico resiorauon Published on KeysNews.com http://storm.keysnews.com County leads the way on Gulf of Mexico restoration Sunday, January 18, 2015 rti V The Monroe County Restore Act Advisory Committee recently ranked potential projects for funding with money soon to be available from "Bucket 1" of the Restore Act. The committee selected a project to accelerate restoration of the coral reefs in the Florida Keys as its first priority. This recommendation recognizes the importance of healthy natural features to the economic and environmental future of the Keys and the Gulf as a whole. The Restore Act was passed by Congress to insure that most fines from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill are returned for restoration of the Gulf of Mexico. Restore funds are distributed to the Gulf region through a formula, and "Bucket 1" funds are those that can be used by states and counties for a broad range of purposes, including investment in economic redevelopment activities such as roads and other infrastructure. The Monroe County committee's recommendation was significant because, by ranking the coral reef project as its first priority, the committee recognized that in a place where tourism is the most important industry, it makes sense to think of the reef as an asset just as deserving of investment as traditional infrastructure such as highways and bridges. And healthy reefs have another critical benefit -- they serve as natural breakwaters to protect the land from storm waves. Other natural features across the gulf, including oyster reefs, barrier islands, coastal forests and marshes, also provide tangible benefits to communities including opportunities for recreation, fish and wildlife habitat and storm surge protection. As the various government agencies and committees in the five gulf states think about how to invest the money that will be allocated under the Restore Act, including those funds that might be used for a variety of purposes, one would hope they would look care_ fully at the example of the Monroe Counter Restore Ad siv ory Committee and realize that the natural - - -- ---- - - - - -- f a�atures and - systems of the Gulf of Mexico region proviae to their communities that are every bit as valuable (and even more durable in the face of change) as projects built out of concrete and steel. Bc endi6 Gulf of Mexico program director The Nature Conservancy Tweet { $ +i 0 im Tnt Ker Ilia i Orb., • Su,uonr, D—v atx 21, 2011 Emouu Bos to euw A. uar Wan E Y,mwv➢rrtw garm - n. Kcx M-- r... cnvvs U Wearing body cams should be a priority 15 IF JU5rft , c* �f:> r- tine OEA I WTfEN a0JFR fuT!'L PM - FEW DA}'J- s ingy erywh Editorial Vn eve came. They re { �1 , -a F TWenry y yeazsag,, video systems were With video so ubiquitousN relatively raze due in the cost our society: there is one entity and bulkiness of the mchnol locally which has been a bit ogy Because of this video was reluctant to fully embrace the'�� - . primarily limned to banks most current vxdn rchnol I ) - andhigh security government ogy. That enu[yis the Key Wes[ ! _. - 1 t_ locations. Police Dep--, While As technology has Sfonrne ' "t- pro- Canty Sheriff Rick guessed exponentially and Ramsay has gone on record prices of said technology have stating hewill be outfitting all L � __ _.—_•_ �a�1�f ;s,.J Letters to the gone down inversely we now of his officers with body cam - editor we video systems almost eras, Donnie lee the chief of .... everywhere we go. Key Wen's Police Depar[mmt Cuban embargo has n Monroe County takes lead C schools really afford If a person walks around sc ems reluctt an exercise of' on Gulf restoration funding a 'eek vacation? in mutely urban We find fn reluc[nce aou- paid environment, one is sum in be thing . After more than 60 year of abject Recently. the Monroe County It' beginning to look a lot like —aided almost continuously. Without going into the failax,the Cubnemhar isinthe RESTORE Committee (made up of Chr as. One way that you can tell Think about it, cameras are details of the ongoing tragedy process of being lifted community leaders appointed by is tha the administrative nperations virtually everywhere —retail of the police involved in the The original goal was t e - the county commissioners) co en at the than[ district have beshut stores, schools, traffic cameras, death of Charles Eimets, one tally force regime chug me. n- sidered projects to implement with down m the annual two-week paid ATAfs. home security systems thing N dear, and that is the ing get rid ant Fidel Caw The truth money from BP's and spill lines that vita[? n. The llemiquez Budding is To say the least, Gntge Orwell fact that video has played not Drily N Fidel still and but. will available via the RESTORE Act. a gho town as the administrators would be proud. a major tole in the public ne U S presidents late there are Monroe County will soon receive are o doing their Christmas thing. This is to say nothing of the discussion ofee incident. n ow too Cast —in pow S1.16m m illum— andfarorenimmy asar their counterparts in each of impact that universally avail- Unfommately, the only widen Repeating the same a Linn while shnu ldbeavailableafewyeandown the Dols. able camera phones have had available so far has came from expecting different res IN is one [he road. Y have to ask yourself What on the amount and type of the camem phones of bystand- definition of ansamry. and that's After reviewing proposals ands- busi ess can afford to cease all video h ded N today's en Of the hal(dozm or so exactly ,hat we've bee doing for teeing m presentations far over 40 ad 'saraNe activity for a two - i i m g,e world .Thevast --at of panel cars at the scene, all of half a century projects, the committee ranked the we period? What business can famage available today, as well the vehicles with in -car cam Because Florida is a � political p„ jecN and voted to submit the aII pa ' its entire administra- as the various mediums such ems, none of the in -car video swing state, with subs fiat elec- entire list with the mp -ranked proj- dv start for awn weeks to do noth - as YouTube and Fwebook N was saved for evidence. total votes, the copse Ne anti- ecN highlighted, to Board of Counry in which it is distributed, has We dare m speculate that Casuo Nst and second eneration CommNsioncn. Monroe is the fast ne of two results are likely to changed the very way in which it all of the more than halt Cuban exile votes in th past were county to send a ranked INt to their n cur when the administrators we get news. dwm officers on scene dm- critical to both politic parties commission, and 1 hope this serves turn on fan S. All Nis vidm has created ing Imurf artrst had been Today, amidst the rise a moderate as an example to the other 22 Gulf One scenario N that aso weeks other chnges as well. Where wearing body camera, 'and third. andfounh- gmimau nCuban- counties, given the strong focus on orth of work will have backed up many situations used to be that footage had been archived American, close to 70 p ent of all projects that will benefit the ecol- d the administrators will be over - c ases of 'he sand -she said," we properly." all the speculation Floridians and Cuban- encans ogy and economy of the Keys com- helmed Bills have gone unpaid, mnv often have video proof, and controversy surrounding have no problem with dlmomr, murmy ders have not been processed and which many times shows a the death of Eimms would commercial and humaru[ n mia- The committee did an nu stand- end of other activity has been very different version nfwlsa[ have been avoided The City of [inns between om two own as ing job, with prajmrs at the top of bayed or neglected. How long actuany happened. Key%Vmt might not have been Finally, on Wednesday, esident the list that address major needs it take to catch up? l dl some Nnfiere has this new tech - facing a multimillion dollar Obama boldly did the rig i thing and will have a lasting impact no nplc have m work overdme ?ktinll had more impact than civil suit, the olBcers involved far the people and the ec n,mies the health of the Keys. These proj- s e vendors deny prompt pay - in in the world of police work and might not have stains on then of both counties by rest" un dip- ecN might n otherwise be aermi, n[ discounts, or charge late fees nnnindprnrecmim Cases reputauons: an d, most torpor- =y mw Ioc rrha. an' ope me ginner- plished without funding through the f r onerdue accounts? which were once hard to prove urndy the of Chwles national travel and com a This RESTORE Act Regardless, it is not a pretty pic- wn(mncnmicallydear F'mer' would have a better .step was long Overdue. The highest ranked projects — t to and one must question the effn- due in the avaaabiluy of video idea of have their father died. Mayor Craig Cates and a er local restoration of coal refs, warm qual- c cy of a two -week paid vacation if fnurge. Flay a suspect has !aw mfnrcemmt is quick visionaries had the toresigh to pre- iry imprmemenN in ranais. control [ is is the mesul[, changed their th dwim of inn,- m cite e need ( the most and diet d begin planning for ust this and nem,val of invasive Bonfish, A second scenario is that nothing cc ahem warehing video cutting -edge weaponry, bady economic and cultural opp reaiity. and restmmon of Cape Sable we[- � particular has backed up over the of themselves communing a m and computer systems and the long -term benefi to our lands —tie exactly [he types that weeks of Christmas vacaunn. under the pretense of enswing u Zmersely, unity could be obst dot. All local and state gowmn arms should I that is the case, if the course of video can also be safe officer ty c- all points we c dynamic sectors of Key 'est [the be conducting with RESTORE Act N e s is so slow, perhaps the s district I., as useful in proving one's tainly support. arts, tourism, ro in funds. Bravo Monroe! hool N owmiuffed with or at least helping We also believe that our expert. healthcare, [rut rtarion let's all urge the county commas- wsuwmms. If the absence of to imp r" the memories of county deputies and city and education) should burning sinners to get these important prnj- L a administrative staff barely goes those involved in an incident police officers should be wear- the midnight and thinking f creadve ecN mulm ayand improe the Keys r ticed, maybe the district should where mcallectfns vary ing the best video technology ways to nun this oppor 'ty into envirmurnect and economy r - evaluate its administrative staff - Another benefit comes from available to protect them and reality . Jessica K,dxh g. the numerous studies which those they are swum to serve Viva Cuba' Viva the U red States' Florida paltcy specia$st Merry ChrNmas. have shown that the wean ig and protect R,ger G Kostmayer Gulf of Kkxico Resti ation . f- arrYMurreY of body cameras has a positive The Enners case lacally. Key West National 1451d$fe Federation ig Pine Key impact on the behavior and along with myriad — t law attitude of froth parties when enforcement cases across the - it conies to pm &e intemction country, shun Nat the time N n with the public. To put it blunt- long past membrace this tech l y . mostevet)mmbehavesher- ecology and make implement- trr� w. "rte wtw ,m w om myy ,otu .v. mmrn:h n .:,sso w..w.e° orpwm�o M�,m mwr " a � wati"t� °mar „i„ar .f�ywv:tr r° ing? ter when they know they are t of the utmost pnnnry t"n�,rwwv,ua„oti,e�zam being recoiled The Citizen mq„�t... f Hurt d e. wmned: u , .- ,,,,, uo<. fuweiry�� .w ii�.0 r.m.. eve mrlsn, i'<rwwc rrvwt .n,re„d,�m,SmN :vrn°rry°"w:slv:um” f „s,.„rw, "memi How to fight the lone wolf terrorist who s fed from abroad BY CHARLES KRAIIla1MMER a cauldron ofprydhopa- does not provide unim age. The larger danger N the N the lace of similar sav- us and given the strictures The wnhig- Pau Nol,gim, Described by dmis, it paoides a script Klaj. 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He'd purpose, a chance even at The still greater threat is the Manic Sham Which a take us only so far . ed and ampfi- bem charged as accessory m heroism. vc otga [error, as we were sunessfiil, world not just The Nlamic Suite has dN- fied this week by the how- the tun Me, of his ex- I suspect dus N the reminded pmt hours after affeea the region Reversing covered that the projection urge -taking attack in Sydney wife and convicted c ase with most of Sydney by the Talibn attack the fommes of the terror of tenor does not depend, re But them too kinds of of sending threw- - the totem duster on a school in Peshawar that masters abroad is the key m cif- Qaeda- style, on sending lone Waves —die crazy and enmg letters to aflone wditer- killed at least 14th, mostly diminishing the lone -waif expeditionary cells to loll the nil —and the disfine- the families of onst incidents, duldnen. threat at home. inBdeh abmad. 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He is ing'Ailahu Akbar,” shot brought the wrong Islamic tal hospitals, in and out of ings of hostages. of the himuc State. It N the fed from abroad. Which N dead 13 people, 12 of them Kann er r in else attack Ile homelessness, some are now The purity ofsu h evil strong horse, on the case. where, as mer since 9111, fellow soidNrs To this day, had m ask the authorities m redirected to find a twisted N clarify ing. It banishes The first $rte of defense the battle must be fought. a Hain speak coherently prtwide ham with an Iskanue redemption in ton,. thoughts of negotiation or against lone waves of Charles X urhammer and proudly MNe massacre. State Bag. Nonetheless. in he compromise . Indeed, N course, protective mnsmes: a columnist wth the Thant enaman Which led to a Gann, scheme of things, the crazies response to the Peshawar mentifi- do"'tracking and Whshnngmn Post 11i Sydney's Man [Loan search to find n Islamic are limited in what they can avociry, the Pakistani Prime pre-emprion. But given the Coup. It" roIuma appears Minix an the other hand, Star nnaemon or nn carry out They are too dN- tvfutister suspended his 'beer number of the din- in The Citizen an Sm days a a marginal. alienated spiracy But far the dNnwb re ,en nd orgaitized to do mode than try , p on 's rohibid of the oohed. unstable and paten- His marl addrm N ?mien@ It— anian unmagrant with like Mmes. the term, gmup localized, small-scale dam- death penalty. dally impressionable among charferk uthammecnm S t-?- , Gi v e ) e , y C 1 rA- V .,7 Letters to the editor Monroe County takes lead on Gulf restoration funding Recently, the Monroe County RESTORE Committee (made up of community leaders appointed by the county commissioners) considered projects to implement with money from BP's oil spill fines that will available via the RESTORE Act. Monroe County will soon receive $1.16 million — and far more money should be available a few years down the road. After reviewing proposals and listening to presentations for over 40 projects, the committee ranked the projects and voted to submit the entire list, with the top- ranked projects highlighted, to Board of County Commissioners. Monroe is the first county to send a ranked list to their commission, and I hope this serves as an example to the other 22 Gulf counties, given the strong focus on projects that will benefit the ecology and economy of the Keys community. The committee did an outstanding job, with projects at the top of the list that address major needs and will have a lasting impact on the health of the Keys. These projects might not otherwise be accomplished without funding through the RESTORE Act. The highest ranked projects restoration of coral reefs, water quality improvements in canals, control and removal of invasive lionfish, and restoration of Cape Sable wetlands are exactly the types that local and state governments should be conducting with RESTORE Act funds. Bravo Monroe! Let's all urge the county commissioners to get these important projects underway and improve the Keys environment and economy. Jessica Koelsch Florida policy specialist Gulf of Mexico Restoration National Wildlife Federation tN 1 O/LU10 baCK i0 worK Tor K65tore HC[ committee Published on KeysNews.com ( http: / /keysnews.com Back to work for Restore Act committee Tuesday, September 16, 2014 BY TIMOTHY O'HARA Citizen Staff 21 1 Cc ( z� toharaa- keysnews.com A committee tasked with making recommendations on nearly $1.2 million in federal grants for environmental and capital improvement projects in the Florida Keys will reconvene later this month, after being on hiatus since November 2013. The local committee will meet Sept. 26 at the Marathon Government Center. The Monroe County government established the local committee to oversee the allocation of Restore Act funding designated specifically for the county. The committee will make recommendations to the county commission, which is responsible for the allocation of the nearly $1.2 million to come to Monroe County through what is known as a "local pot" of Restore Act money. The county is also applying for other pots of federal Restore Act funding. Federal Restore Act funds come from Clean Water Act fines levied on B.P. and Transocean for the Deepwater Horizon oil. Roughly 46 groups have applied for $71 million in funding from the local pot of money. The local committee had been on hiatus because it was waiting on rules from the U.S. Department of Treasury about the disbursement of funds. Last month, the department published a new rule in the Federal Register that sets up the framework for how Restore Act money will be distributed to Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. "There's a lot we (the committee) need to talk about," County Legislative Affairs Director Lisa Tennyson said. Tennyson, County Administrator Roman Gastesi and County Commissioner George Neugent have been active in the Restore Act process, and have regularly attended and participated in Gulf Consortium meetings. Neugent is not only on the Gulf Consortium, set up to allocate Restore Act funds, but he also serves on the consortium's executive committee. All three county officials are in Walton County this week for a Gulf Consortium meeting. Gastesi, who is part of the consortium's evaluation team, will be given a presentation on evaluation criteria at this week's meeting. "We (Monroe County) are perceived as very engaged and very active," Tennyson said. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill released millions of barrels of crude oil in the Gulf waters and 0/ 10/LU 15 baCK to worK Tor Kesiore AC[ committee caused extensive damage to marine and wildlife habitats, fishing and tourism from Louisiana to Florida. In 2012, President Barack Obama signed the Restore Act into law, establishing a trust fund within the Department of Treasury with 80 percent of the civil penalties to be paid by parties responsible for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. A list of all local groups that have applied for a share of Restore Act funds, and information on the Restore Act can be found at the county's website at www.monroecounty- fl.gov /index.aspx ?nid =432 toharaO- keys news. com Tweet ( +7 1 Home I Legal Classifieds I Privacy Polite I About us I Subscribe I Advertise I Visitor Information I Contact Us I Employment Opportunities I Site Plan Source URL: http: / /keysnews.com /node/58233 w luau 15 Uounry Uommisslon 1ooKing T or a rew goon projects to Tuna 1 meyslvews.com �.,,�',, FLORIDAWEYS 1 ews.com The Florida Keys and Key R'est's Daily Online N ews l F '��^` m hursday, Julyl8, - 2M County Commission looking for a few good projects to fund BY TIMOTHY O'HARA Citizen Staff toharaA)kevsnews eom rma no mha-aaKevue rs romi The Monroe County Commission on Wednesday approved the criteria and application form for projects to be funded through fines levied on BP and Transocean for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The commission also selected its own top projects it wants funded through the fines, which will come to the county through the federal Restore Act From July 22 to Aug. 30, Monroe County will accept applications for roughly $11 million in environmental restoration and marine -based economic development projects. The applications are available on the Restore Act section of the county's website. The Local (Restore Act) Advisory Committee, established in February, will review and rank the applications in one or more public meetings in September, county Legislative Affairs Director Lisa Tennyson said The County Commission will ultimately decide what projects will he funded The 11- member advisory committee, comprising local government leaders, scientists. business owners and fishermen, has met three times Projects must have an environmental or economic benefit, or both, Tennyson said The commission also agreed to four priority projects it wants funded seperate from the projects that will go before the advisory committee From a "local pot" of money, the commission agreed to request $3 million for stormwater projects, $2 million for canal restoration and $1 million for mooring fields, the meeting agenda states. From a statewide "consortium pot," the commission agreed to request $5 million for stormvater projects, $5 million for canal restoration projects, $4 5 million for mooring fields and $6 million for acquisition of conservation hands, the agenda states. j Also at the Wednesday meeting, the commission agreed to0port coral nurseries vestoration sites as "zoological parks," which would make them eligible for county Tourist Development Council (TDC) funding. The commission agreed to request a state Attorney General's Office opinion to determine if the coral nurseries and restoration sites meet the legal requirement of being zoological parks. Commissioners Danny Kolhage and Heather Carruthers voted against the designation, because the Monroe County Attorney's Office researched it and ruled it not eligible. The two commissioners did vote in favor of having the Attorney General's Office opine on the matter, though. Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council members Dave Vaughan and Chris Bergh and sanctuary regional administrator Billy Causey attended Wednesday's meeting to support giving the coral nurseries and restoration sites the zoological park designation Last week, the Sanctuary Advisory Council voted for it (305)735 -4165 �l Causey, Vaughan and Bergh cited the benefits of reef restoration and how coral nurseries and restoration sites in the Keys have become destinations for divers and scientists around the world 0/ 10/LU 13 t ounty t-ommtssion iooKing for a rew goon projects to runo I neysrvews.com Bergh argued that nurseries themselves are zoos "Zoological parks, or zoos as they are called on the street, are places where people are guaranteed they can go and see animals," Bergh said "A coral nursery is a place to see animals The corals themselves are animals. There are invertebrates. There is marine life... "I think it fits as a zoological park. It makes sense I would classify the whole entire Keys reef as a zoological park " Some Keys dive shops have begun to offer ecotourism packages that include working at coral nurseries and restoration sites. Amy Slate's Amoray Dive Resort in Key Largo regularly offers dive trips to coral biologist Ken Nedimyer's nurseries and restoration sites off the Upper Keys Mote also regularly takes visiting divers and scientists to its coral nursery and transplant site off Big Pine Key Bergh also told the commission that all corals grown at nurseries in the Keys stay in the Keys and are not sold or shipped to other areas of the world. There are attorney general opinions that have classified ships sunk as artificial reefs as nature centers "If we can put (TDC) money toward artificial reefs, we should have the ability to put it toward the natural reef," Vaughan said "The more people that come to see the reef, the more people will want to save it." Commissioner Sylvia Murphy argued that if the Attorney General's Office does not support classifying the nurseries and restoration sites as a zoological parks or nature centers, the county should push to change state law to allow it "When the rules were set up, no one knew you could do this," Murphy said "If it doesn't fit as a nature center, maybe a new category should be established_ It (coral restoration) works and it's the future." tohara news. com '` — . Imailto'suh+cct= L'ounh Commiss+on liokm" for a tcw �� od oa icts to fund KFYSNFINS C011KboJN=ht11i Aevsnooscom'node < 1 Tweet I ; More Florida Keys Headlines FAMILIAR FACES: Shirlee Fzmirly 1%orldwide wanderer stopped staved in the Southernmost Citc ro + �•s��; Tuesdu, d, ^,,av� L4 '015 Marquardt to run for 1 tilit♦ Board Group I r rode,,sy t T, —J,n ,lug,nr M 2149 Top cops warn of court scam !.fomf.n a +(gm'. 1' 1145 Porch collapse iniuries hvo+ � � 7 + „,mss; M 2011 Raschein files bill to protect 1 CB I workersi nu,4°6Slj3 1 )1 — „11,4 . - aguv !9 205 Ness neiahhorhtiod hakes shape on Hagler, � 81 '.l mdm. lug—,17 '01i Available Only in the Electronic Edition Mistrial in Cav Clubs case, r 7u,sdq, .Ingest L4 2015 - Slow start for ness E11S billing system dr'r N:nd n _+�gusr 1h 'u15 - FKAA gets draft permit for deep infection well - .o,ie N .+ Experts study parrottish and corals I istoric day in Ilavana e7 i sx—tal 2u,,.t 15 '015 - Feds: Developers stole millions tH 1O/ZU 15 croup to aae out bt- money Published on KeysNews.com ( http: / /keysnews com Group to dole out BP money Tuesday, October 22, 2013 BY TIMOTHY O'HARA Citizen Staff tohara(a com KL� /0( Z�zO(� A local committee, tasked with making recommendations about how to spend millions of dollars coming to the Florida Keys, will hold its first meeting in months to discuss formulas to distribute the money. The Monroe County Commission selected the Local Advisory Committee earlier this year to make recommendations on how to spend $11 million in money from federal Cleanwater Act fines levied on BP and Transocean for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The funds are part of the Gulf of Mexico Restore Act. The committee is tentatively scheduled to meet at 9 a.m. Nov. 8, at the Marathon Government Center. This will be the first time the committee has met since 33 local government agencies and private groups submitted $48 million worth of applications for funding. The committee will eventually make recommendations on which and how many of the 33 projects to fund. Committee member Bill Kelly realizes the committee can't support funding all projects, even partially, as that would water down the pot of money, he said. "They all have merit," Kelly said. "I want to see shovel -ready projects -- projects that bring in the most bang for the buck and projects that are going to bring a considerable benefit to the environment and the economy." Committee member Todd German supports "fully funding a bunch of little projects, where you can see the results," he said. "They are not beholden to anyone like the government proposals," German said. The city governments of Key Colony Beach, Key West and Marathon, and Monroe County itself, all submitted applications for funding. Key Colony Beach requested $6.6 million for canal restoration, wastewater and stormwater projects, according to its application. Monroe County requested $6 million for stormwater, canal restoration and mooring field projections. Key West asked for $8.6 million for the revitalization of the Truman Waterfront, said county Legislative Affairs Director Lisa Tennyson, who oversees the Local Advisory Committee. IH 1 Wzu 15 croup to aole ou[ bt- money Marathon requested $14 million for canal and tidal restoration projects, and for the redevelopment of Sunset Park, which leads to the Old Seven Mile Bridge, Tennyson said. Several local and national nonprofit organizations have requested funding as well. The Nature Conservancy asked for $1.3 million for coral nursery and coral restoration projections to be run in conjunction with Mote Marine Lab and the Coral Restoration Foundation, Tennyson said. The Key Largo -based Reef Environmental Education Foundation has requested $630,000 to continue its efforts to eradicate invasive lionfish populations, according to the group's application. The Key West Wildlife Center requested $637,000 for facility upgrades; and the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center requested $500,000 for capital improvements, Tennyson said. The Key West Botanical Garden requested $1.1 million for restoration projects, according to its application. All the project applications will be listed on the Restore Act section of the county website at www.monroecounty -fl gov Outside of the local pot of money, there are also a federal and state Restore Act funds that Keys governments, agencies and private groups can apply for. tohara @keysnews.com Tweet + 0 Home I Legal Classifieds Privacy Policy About us Subscribe I Advertise I Visitor Information I Contact Us I Employment Opportunities I Site Plan Source URL: http: / /keysnews.com /node /50768 .m; J A ►' Press Release Monroe County Administrator's Office 1100 Simonton Street, Suite 2 -205 Key West, FL 33040 305- 292 -4441 July 18, 2013 NOTICE OF RESTORE ACT PROJECT FUNDING AVAILABILITY Monroe County will receive funding under the RESTORE Act, when it becomes available, and has opened its project solicitation process. RESTORE Act funding will derive from civil fines or penalties paid by BP under the Clean Water Act. As required by RESTORE Act law, projects eligible for funding must meet one or more of the following uses: • Restoration and protection of natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches, and coastal wetlands of the Gulf Coast region • Mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife, and natural resources • Implementation of a federally approved marine, coastal or comprehensive conservation management plan, including fisheries monitoring • Workforce development and job creation • Improvements to state parks in coastal areas affected by Deep Water Horizon spill • Infrastructure projects benefitting economy or ecological resources, including ports • Coastal flood protection and related infrastructure • Planning assistance • Promotion of tourism, including recreational fishing • Promotion of consumption of seafood harvested from the Gulf Coast region Project Submittal Forms are available on the Monroe County RESTORE Act webpage or by email request ( tennyson- lisana,monroecouM -flfl gov or c31- co nnienn.monroecouM-fl gov or, for a hard copy, by visiting the County Administrator's Offices at the Historic Gato Building in Key West and at the Key Largo Government Center, or the Growth Management Office in the Marathon Government Center. To be considered for funding, projects must meet one or more of the above uses and submit completed Project Submittal Forms by August 30, 2013. The Monroe County RESTORE Act Local Advisory Committee will review, rank and recommend project submissions to the County Commission at one or more noticed, public meetings. The Monroe County BOCC will make final project awards. All project awards are subject to the availability and amount of local RESTORE Act dollars directed to Monroe County. The amount and time frame for this funding are not yet known. For additional information, please refer to the RESTORE Act webpage on the Monroe County website h!W://www.monroecountv-fl-gov or contact Lisa Tennyson, Legislative Affairs Director, 1100 Simonton Street, Key West, Room 2 -210, Florida 33040; 305- 292 -4444; tennyson-lisaaa.monroecou ,Ay-fl gov Press Release Monroe County Administrator's Office 1100 Simonton Street, Suite 2 -205 Key West, FL 33040 305- 292 -4441 November 22, 2013 NOTICE OF RESTORE ACT PROJECT FUNDING AVAILABILITY Application Cycle Re- Opened Monroe County will receive funding under the RESTORE Act, when it becomes available, and has opened its project solicitation process. RESTORE Act funding will derive from civil fines or penalties paid by BP under the Clean Water Act. As required by RESTORE Act law, projects eligible for funding must meet one or more of the following uses: • Restoration and protection of natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches, and coastal wetlands of the Gulf Coast region • Mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife, and natural resources • Implementation of a federally approved marine, coastal or comprehensive conservation management plan, including fisheries monitoring • Workforce development and job creation • Improvements to state parks in coastal areas affected by Deep Water Horizon spill • Infrastructure projects benefitting economy or ecological resources, including ports • Coastal flood protection and related infrastructure • Planning assistance • Promotion of tourism, including recreational fishing • Promotion of consumption of seafood harvested from the Gulf Coast region Project Submittal Forms are available on the Monroe County RESTORE Act webpage or by email request ( tnnyson- lisa(&monroecogM-fl.gov or c31- con nieaa.monroecouM -fl ov or, for a hard copy, by visiting the County Administrator's Offices at the Historic Gato Building inKey West and at the Key Largo Government Center, or the Growth Management Office in the Marathon Government Center. To be considered for funding, projects must meet one or more of the above uses and submit completed Project Submittal Forms by December 20, 2013 at 3PM If your organization is among those that previously submitted an application, you have the opportunity to re- submit an application. The Monroe County RESTORE Act Local Advisory Committee will review, rank and recommend project submissions to the County Commission at one or more noticed, public meetings. The Monroe County BOCC will make final project awards. All project awards are subject to the availability and amount of local RESTORE Act dollars directed to Monroe County. The amount and time frame for this funding are not yet known. For additional information, please refer to the RESTORE Act webpage on the Monroe County website hM: / /www.monroecounty -fl.gov or contact Lisa Tennyson, Legislative Affairs Director, 1100 Simonton Street, Key West, Room 2 -210, Florida 33040; 305- 292 -4444; tennyson- lisaaa,monroecogM -fl gov REFERENCES AMEC Environment & Infrastructure, 2013. Monroe County Canal Management Master Plan Summary Report. Department of Environmental Protection, 2011. Florida Keys Reasonable Assurance Plan Florida Department of Environmental Protection, 2013. Background Information & History of TMDL Program. September 2013, http:/Iwww.dep.state.fl.us/water/tmdl/background.htm Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Water Quality Protection Program, http: //floridakeys.noaa- Roy /wapp /welcome htmI and http: / /ocean.floridamarine.org /FKNMS WQPP/ Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, 2007. Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Revised Management Plan. FKNMS. Marathon, FL. Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary; National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, 2013. Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Socioeconomic Factsheet. Website Accessed September 2013 http: / /sanctuaries.noaa.gov /science /socioeconomic /pdfs /fk final pdf Johnson ME, Lustic C, Bartels E, Baums IB, Gilliam DS, et al. (2011) Caribbean Acropora restoration guide: Best practices for propagation and population enhancement. The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA. Lapointe, B. and Clark, M., 1992. Nutrient inputs from the Watershed and Coastal Eutrophication in the Florida Keys, Estuaries Volume 15, No. 4. Lapointe, B., Tomasko, D., and Matzie, W., 1994. Eutrophication and trophic State Classification of Seagrass. Monroe County RESTORE Act Webpage: http:/Iwww.monroecounty-fl.gov/index.aspx?NID=432 Monroe County Canal Restoration Webpage: http: /Iwww.monroecounty -fl.gov /index aspx ?NID =598 Ruzicka R. et al., (2010) CREMP 2009 Final Report. Fish & Wildlife Research Institute, Florida, Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, Saint Petersburg, FL. 34 ENDNOTES 1 H.R. 4348, Public Law 112 -141, Subtitle F, Section 311(t) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act z Department of Treasury Regulations for the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund, 31 C.F.R. Part 34, RIN 1505 -AC44, 79 FR 48039 (August 15, 2014). 3 Department of the Treasury, RESTORE Act Direct Component Guidance and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance (August 2014), available at: http: / /www.treasurv.izov /services /restore- act/ Documents /Direct %20Component %20Guidance August %202014 pdf ° "As a condition of receiving amounts from the Trust Fund, a Gulf Coast State ...shall ... (iv) develop and submit a multiyear implementation plan for the use of such amounts, which may include milestones, projected completion of each activity, and a mechanism to evaluate the success of each activity in helping to restore and protect the Gulf Coast region impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill." 33 U.S.C. § 1321(t)(1)(E)(iv) (2012). 5 Eligible activities in the gulf coast region: (1) Restoration and protection of the natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches, and coastal wetlands of the Gulf Coast region. (II) Mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife, and natural resources. (III) Implementation of a federally approved marine, coastal, or comprehensive conservation management plan, including fisheries monitoring. (IV) Workforce development and job creation. (V) Improvements to or on State parks located in coastal areas affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. (VI) Infrastructure projects benefitting the economy or ecological resources, including port infrastructure. (VII) Coastal flood protection and related infrastructure. (VIII) Planning assistance. (IX) Administrative costs of complying with this subsection. (X) Promotion of tourism in the Gulf Coast Region, including recreational fishing. (XI) Promotion of the consumption of seafood harvested from the Gulf Coast Region." 33 U.S.C. §1321(t)(1)(B) (2012) 6 Resolution 094 -2013 Creating Local RESTORE Act Advisory Committee: htt[)://fl- monroecounty.civicr)lus.com/DocumentCenter/View/5347 Resolution 129 -2013 Addressing Voting Conflicts for Local RESTORE Act Advisory ommittee htt ry fl- monroecounty.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/6363 8 Official Monroe County Website Main Page Link: http://www.monroecounty-fl.gov/index.asr)x RESTORE Act Page Link: http://www.monroecounty-fl.gov/index.aspx?NID=432 9 With regard to the project entitled "Canal Water Quality Restoration In Monroe County for Canals Across All Entities in Monroe County," the term "all entities" refers to the five municipalities within Monroe County (differentiated from those portions of the County that are unincorporated, ie, not part of one of these municipalities), as all are part of the County - Wide Canal Management Master Plan. The individual entities are at various stages in their respective canal project planning. The Board of County Commissioners approved funding for one entity, Islamorada, because Islamorada is furthest along in its project planning, and had canal restoration projects most ready to proceed. Readiness to proceed (ie, the ability to utilize the funding and implement the project timely) was one of the evaluation criteria. to M.C.C. Sec. 1 -2. - Rules of construction and definitions. Computation of time. In computing an P p g y period of time, the day of the act, event or default from which the designated period of time begins to run shall not be included. The last day of the period so computed shall be included unless it is a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, in which event the period shall run until the end of the next day that is neither a Saturday, Sunday nor legal holiday. When the period of time prescribed or allowed is less than seven days, intermediate Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays shall be excluded in the computation. 11 http: / /ocean.floridamarine.orit/FKNMS WQPP/pages/wqpr).html 12 http: / /ocean.floridamarine.org /FKNMS WQPP/i)ages/wqmp.html 13 htto: / /ocean.floridamarine.org /FKNMS WQPP/i)ages/cremi).html 35 14 http: / /fi monroecounty.civicplus .com / DocumentCenterNiew /5327 1s http://www.monroecounty-fl.izov/DocumentCenter/View/5316 16 http:Hwww.dep.state.fl.us/water/wQssp/ofwfs.htm 17 http: / /fl- monroecounty.civicplus com /DocumentCenterNiew /5319 18 http: / /fl monroecounty.civicplus .com /DocumentCenterNiew /5301 19 http: / /ocean.fioridamarine.org /FKNMS WQPP / products /wapp /FKNMS %20Biennial %20Rer)ort%20201309 pdf 20 http: / /ocean.floridamarine.ora /FKNMS WQPP / products /wgpp /FKNMS %20Biennial %20Report%20201309 pdf 21 http:Hoceanservice.noaa.gov /education /kits /corals /coral07 importance html 22 http: / /www.rsmas.miami.edu /groups /benthic- ecology /research- Droiects /coral - nursery/ 23 http: / /floridakevs. noaa .gov /scisummaries /wgmonitorina Ddf 24 http: / /ocean.floridamarine.org /FKNMS WQPP /products /wapp /Archive /1997 WQPP Quality Action Plan PDF 2s http:Hocean.floridamarine.org /FKNMS WQPP / products / wapp / FKNMS %20Biennial %20Report%20201309 Ddf 26 Link to the Monroe County Canal Management Master Plan: http: / /www.monroecounty- fl.gov /DocumentCenterNiew /5301 27 More detailed descriptions of each technology: • Swinging Weed Gates: Swinging weed gates are mechanical devices that physically block seaweed from passing through the device. The weed gates are designed to prevent floating, wind- driven flotsam from entering and accumulating in man -made canals where it typically sinks and fouls with water. Weed gates consist of a floating arm that contains hanging flaps often made of rubber. The gates are placed at a canal mouth to prevent floating seaweed from entering the canal. The gate swings open when applied with slight pressure to allow access for boat traffic. • Air Curtains: These are aeration devices that consist of perforated piping connected to a blower. They are typically installed at the mouth of a canal. The curtains consist of perforated PVC pipe, a blower, control panel, electric, and protective pump housing. The PVC pipe is installed on the canal bottom across the entire canal mouth and anchored in place. The pipe is connected to a blower located on the adjacent shore. Blower selection strongly influences the capital and operation and maintenance costs of the system. • Pumping: Pumps can be installed to promote water circulation within a canal. Water can be pumped from a 'dead end' canal to another adjacent canal or mangrove creek to increase turnover of water at the end of a canal system. Pump installation must be designed to prevent adverse secondary effects such as bottom scouring or impact to adjacent waters. Circulation studies by a qualified coastal engineer would be needed to provide an effective design. Culvert Installation: Culverts could be installed between canals or between canals and thin land strips to improve flushing within them in a similar fashion to flushing channels. Based on canal- specific hydrology, larger or smaller diameter culverts may be more applicable. Culverts would still need an energy source to induce flushing such as a channel at the outfall mouth. Like channels, culverts are even more prone to clogging, and require maintenance. And residents in Key Largo have complained that culverts serve as ideal habitats for the American crocodile so this technology may have some wildlife management issues. Circulation studies by a qualified coastal engineer would be needed here as well. Canal Backfilling: Canal backfilling could be performed in order to decrease the depth of a canal to promote flushing and reduce /eliminate stratification. Filling in of abrupt changes in depth or sink areas would assist in increasing circulation. Backfilling attempts to mimic the hydrology of a mangrove creek, with the shallowest depth at the landward end of the canal, and greatest depth at the mouth of the canal. Flushing is typically hindered by the fact that both the canal sill and the waters surrounding the Keys are typically shallower than the canal bottom. This difference in depth hinders mixing in the lower depths of the canals. This option would work best in canals where there was sufficient energy, either from tidal fluctuations or wind force, to promote flushing. Naturally there may be some restrictions to the size of boats that can utilize filled canals. Canal backfilling can be performed in order to 36 decrease the depth of a canal to promote flushing and reduce /eliminate stratification. This option works best in canals where there is sufficient energy, either from tidal fluctuations or wind force, to promote flushing. Circulation Devices: Aeration can be used in smaller canals to facilitate circulation. The design of aeration systems must be aimed at moving water out of the canal, not merely vertical mixing of the water column. Circulation improvement needs to be coupled with reducing the pollution loading within the canal. Circulation devices are specialized aeration devices that could be installed to increase both the transfer of oxygen to the water as well as the horizontal movement of water out of the canal. Circulation devices can help prevent hypoxic /anoxic conditions to a limited extent and promote aerobic processing of nutrients. Nutrient Removal: Nutrient removal from canal waters is a developing technology. In brief, it consists of pumping the water to a structure that supports the growth of algae that utilize nutrients from the water. Special macroalgae species have been used effectively in small -scale nutrient stripping experiments in the Keys. Water is circulated through shallow troughs exposed to sunlight with small starter colonies of algae. Often airstones are used to vigorously circulate the water and stimulate nutrient uptake by the algae. The algae must be periodically harvested (and possibly sold). The water is recycled back to the canal after treatment with lowered nutrient content. In situ systems such as Aquamats are also being employed. This technology would likely work best on small canals with high inorganic nutrient loading. 28 Hart, Ron, and John H. Kiefer, 2006. Lake Griffin Canal Dredging: A Project Designed to Mitigate the Navigational Impacts Resulting from Enhanced Water Level Fluctuations. Proceedings of the Florida Lake Management Society 2006 Annual Symposium. 29 http: / /floridaswater.com /EGRET/ 30 http: / /www.nvc.pov/html /dep /html /press releases /13 -120pr shtml# VYxMidrD M8 31 http: / /bethanybeachnews.com /content /south bethanv canals improve tides 32 As per Section 1321(t)(1)(B)(1) of the RESTORE Act, Public Law 112 -141, Subtitle F. 33 Link to the Monroe County Canal Management Master Plan: http://www.monroecountv- fl.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5301 34 Towards Sustainable Multispecies Fisheries in the Florida, USA, Coral Reef Ecosystem, Bulletin of Marine Science, 2005; Ault, Jerald, et al. 37