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Bay County RESTORE Act Direct Component Proposals 2014-2015 1 Proj # Bay PRP 2014-042 Project Name Restoration of St. Andrew Bay Submerged Grass Beds Project Proposer, affiliation, web site BEST Inc./Friends of St. Andrew Bay 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization Under development Project Description Restoration of St. Andrew Bay submerged grass beds relating to existing and extensive, outboard motor propeller scarring (prop scarring) of the Bay's submerged grass beds. Project will entail restoration of several acres of submerged grass beds. In addition, restored areas will be demarcated (posted) with shoal grass bed warning signs utilizing floating buoys that will caution the boating community of the presence of submerged grass beds (sea grasses). Proj. Size (acres) 8 Economic This restoration project will ensure the sustainability of Bay County's economic interest in the recreational fishing industry and help us maintain our tourism. Environmental This restoration project will improve the water quality of St. Andrew Bay. The Bay's grass beds are one of its most important natural resources and essential to the good health of the marine ecosystem. Social This restoration project will provide for the maintenance of natural resources and ecological balance for the St. Andrew Bay marine habitat. Other This restoration project will provide improved water quality for the marine ecosystem of the St. Andrew Bay. Project Location This restoration project is located in the St. Andrew Bay focusing on the east end of Shell Island and the west end of Grand Lagoon by the shipping channel. Est total project cost $250,000 Amount requested $250,000 Describe what funds will be used for Purchase and contract out submerged grassbed restoration with grass plugs that will fill in the prop-scarred channels lying along the submerged bottom of the described area. The grass plugs will fill in the long, prop-scarred channels and will promote stabilization of the grass beds. Long term funding needed? Source? Availability? This restoration project comprises the initial phase(s) and as such, no additional funding is presently anticipated. Est yrs completion 0-2 Matching $ available? Match source? Secured? Amount match secured % proj cost from match Partners anticipated? Yes Partner names Local NOAA Marine Fisheries (expertise and assistance) Funds request other source? If yes, name source, decision date ---PAGE BREAK--- Bay County RESTORE Act Direct Component Proposals 2014-2015 2 Proj fully funded by other source? FULL PROPOSAL FORM Project number (proposal) Bay PRP 2014-042 Submittal date proposal 2/7/2015 Project name (proposal) Restoration of St. Andrew Bay Submerged Grass Beds Applicant name BEST Inc./Friends of St. Andrew Bay Project description (proposal) Restoration of St. Andrew Bay submerged grass beds relating to existing and extensive, outboard motor propeller scarring (prop scarring) of the Bay's submerged grass beds. Project will entail restoration by planting of several acres of submerged grass beds on the Bay side of Shell Island in the vicinity of St. Andrew State Park. In addition, restored areas will be demarcated (posted) with shoal grass bed warning signs utilizing floating buoys that will caution the boating community of the presence of submerged grass beds (sea grasses). Project location description This restoration project is located in the St. Andrew Bay focusing on the Bay side of Shell Island in the vicinity of the St. Andrew State Park undeveloped property (lying just east of the Port of Panama City shipping channel). The state park owns approximately 700 acres on Shell Island. 1. Restore nat res The proposed project will benefit essential fish habitat by planting submerged grass beds where they have been partially destroyed by prop scarring. As such, the project will improve the balance of the Bay's marine ecosystem. This restoration project will improve the water quality of the Bay and assist in maintaining the essential role of a nursery marine habitat. The Bay's grass beds are one of its most important natural resources for the good health of the marine environment. This restoration project will enhance the ecological balance for the St. Andrew Bay, thus ensuring and promoting the sustainability of Bay County's economic interest in the recreational fishing industry and tourism. 2. Mitigate The sea grass beds provide spawning, feeding and nursery areas and protective habitat for a wide range of aquatic organisms, including many recreational fisheries. This restoration project of the grass bed habitat supports larval and post-larval gag grouper, gray and lane snappers, shrimp and vertebrates that are protected by using the cover of the submerged grass beds, thus supporting commercial fisheries and the natural resources. 3. Implement plan N/A 4. Workforce/Jobs We will use the services of contractors for planting grass bed plugs and for installing floating shoal grass warning buoys. In addition, we have a multi-year monitoring plan that will be executed. 5. Improve state park St. Andrew State Park is located on the Gulf of Mexico and St. Andrew Bay and owns property on both sides of the Port of Panama City shipping channel. The state park owns approximately 700 acres on Shell Island. The proposed restoration project is located on the Bay side of the undeveloped St. Andrew State Park. ---PAGE BREAK--- Bay County RESTORE Act Direct Component Proposals 2014-2015 3 6. Infrastructure This proposed restoration project will provide ecological resource benefits for the St. Andrew Bay marine environment and ecosystem. The marine fisheries in Bay County comprise a significant industry in terms of the local economy. This project will help sustain this important industry. 7. Flood protect N/A 8. Planning N/A 9. Promote tourism The proposed submerged grass bed restoration project will provide improved water quality and marine habitat essential for sustaining recreational and commercial fishing. The sea grass beds provide protective cover for spawning and juvenile organisms, thus promoting and maintaining the Gulf Coast regional fisheries. 10. Promote seafood In support of the consumption of seafood harvested from the Gulf, this proposed submerged grass bed restoration project will contribute to maintaining the healthy marine environment, in particular, the habitat for spawning and juvenile organisms that is essential for marine fisheries. 1.1 Diversify N/A 1.2 Infrastruc N/A 1.3 Airport Indirectly this proposed restoration project supports efforts and expansion of economic benefits derived from the airport. The airport brings tourists to Bay County and many of these tourists come for the fishing experience. This proposed restoration project will contribute to the sustainability of a marine habitat supporting the local fisheries industry. 1.4 Job train N/A 1.5 Workforce dev N/A 1.6 Facil tourism/econ dev This submerged grass beds restoration proposal preserving the marine environment and fishery hatcheries promotes amenities that foster tourism and assists economical development of the recreational and commercial fishing industries. 1.7 Rec, transport, wage This proposed restoration project will preserve the marine grass beds that support water recreational activities, including the county's large fishing industry. It will also support the quality of life for Bay County citizens through the tax revenues attributable to the annual influx of tourists. 1.8 Protect nat res Preserving the submerged grass beds of St. Andrew Bay will conserve and protect the natural resources that are the foundation for a robust fishing industry which is fundamental to the county's large tourism base. 1.9 Promote fishing This restoration project is critical because the sea grass beds provide spawning, feeding and nursery areas and protective habitat for a wide range of aquatic organisms, including many recreational fish species. The sea grass bed environment supports larval and post- larval gag grouper, gray and lane snappers, shrimp and vertebrates, among others. Adult fish come to the grass beds to spawn; the juvenile fish use the cover of the grass beds for protection while feeding, growing and maturing and then eventually returning to the Gulf supporting the fishing industry. 1.10 Commun resil The prop scarring of the submerged grass beds is a product of man-made activity that is destroying the marine ecosystem. This proposed grass bed restoration project will assist in supporting the continuity of locally owned fishing-related businesses. ---PAGE BREAK--- Bay County RESTORE Act Direct Component Proposals 2014-2015 4 2.1 Protect SAB By protecting and promoting the recovery of submerged grass beds damaged by prop scarring, this project will improve and protect the St. Andrew Bay watershed water quality, watershed condition and marine habitat in accordance with the recommendations and priorities outlined in this Objective 2.1. 2.2 Improv wtr qual This restoration project will improve the water quality and marine habitat of St. Andrew Bay. Per the Florida Department of Environmental Protection publication "The Underwater World of Florida Sea Grasses" attached as Exhibit 1, "the sea grasses are important natural resources that serve many significant functions: 1) they help maintain water clarity by trapping fine sediments and particles with their leaves; 2) they can stabilize the bottoms with their roots and rhizomes in much the same way that land grasses retard soil erosion..." 2.3 Protect seagrass Part of this restoration project is to establish shoal grass warning buoys that will serve as information to provide public awareness of the existence of shallow grass beds along the shoreline. As the public becomes aware, we believe less prop scarring should occur along the shoreline of St. Andrew Bay. 2.4 Wildl hab As noted in Objective 2.3 above, the shoal grass warning buoys will increase public awareness of the near-shore shallow grass beds that assist and protect the marine wildlife habitat. 2.5 Acq lands N/A 2.6 Preserve dunes, shore This sea grass bed restoration project will promote estuarine habitat and water quality by providing mitigation and repair to the prop-scarred submerged grass beds. 2.7 Protected spp Per attached Exhibit 1, sea grasses provide habitat for all fishes, crustaceans and shellfish; sea grasses and the organisms that grow on them are food for many marine animals; and, most importantly, they are nursery areas for much of Florida's recreationally and commercially marine life, including fisheries. 2.8 Water data N/A 3.1 Deer Pt Lk wtr qual N/A 3.2 Stabil roads N/A 3.3 Sewer AWT N/A 3.4 Septic to central N/A 3.5 N/A 3.6 LID N/A 3.7 Coast resil Although this project does not directly protect key public assets from coastal flooding, this restoration proposal will increase coastal resilience by stabilizing the sea bottom as well as increasing resilience of aquatic life by affording an improved marine habitat. 3.8 Support port N/A Budget justification See description of our planned expenditure on the table at the back of this form (Cost Appendix Sheet). Our funding source is Bay County's Recovery Act Funding. Ongoing costs Our ongoing activity consists of monitoring the restoration project and has a budget of $5,000 of requested funding). We do not anticipate any ongoing costs to be borne by Bay County. ---PAGE BREAK--- Bay County RESTORE Act Direct Component Proposals 2014-2015 5 Objective and measures The overall objective of this project is to repair sea grass beds damaged by prop scarring. The overall success of this restoration project will be measured through the two-year monitoring plan after the planting of sea grass beds and posting with floating shoal grass warning buoys. Nat Res Proj Yes Best Avail Science Please refer to Exhibit 1, Florida Department of Environmental Protection publication "The Underwater World of Florida Sea Grasses." Based on our extensive research, planting and plugging between the pro-scarred areas of the sea grass beds is the most effective and accepted method for restoration of damaged sea grass beds. Env issues We have reviewed the environmental checklist and do not foresee any problems. Econ Dev proj? Econ Dev description Job Creation? Yes Describe how jobs created This restoration project will employ marine-type contractors to install and repair the submerged grass beds. In addition, the shoal grass warning buoy installation will required additional workforce (employment). No. jobs created No. jobs created Yr 1 No. jobs created Yr 2 No. jobs created Yr 3 Avg wage Total proj cost Complement. proj descr. N/A Proj readiness descr This restoration project is ready to start when funds are available. Permits required? Yes Permits status Permits will be required from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, US Army Corps of Engineers, Florida Fish and Wildlife and the US Coast Guard. Land acq? Acquire fee simple? Acquire easement? Fee and easement descri Terms of easement Entity to hold title Easement acres Fee simple acres Appraisal avail? Appraised value Title opinon avail? Material risks We have not identified material risks associated with this project. Although not assessed as a material risk, this restoration project is subject to regulatory requirements including permits as outlined in Section K above; we do not foresee issues with permitting. ---PAGE BREAK--- Bay County RESTORE Act Direct Component Proposals 2014-2015 6 Likelihood of success This is a highly scientific restoration project with a number of weather-related variables that are not within our control. As such, it is difficult to determine the percentage of success. We will strive for 100% success but dealing with the marine environment makes it very difficult to determine and assert. Contract out work? Yes Contracting strategy We will obtain multiple bids for the sea grass planting. Price will be an important consideration but expertise, qualifications and extensive, direct experience will be the primary consideration for awarding such a bid. Contract performance will be monitored through administrative expenditures. Applic manage proj? Yes L 1. Proposed mgr BEST, Inc. retains qualified personnel and resources to manage the proposed restoration project. L 2. Mgr agreed? Yes L 3.Mgr experience Through the years, BEST, Inc. has managed several environmental-type projects, including grants and contracts. The BEST Board has expertise in management, environmental, finance (CPA), grant writing and administrating. We anticipate that this restoration project will offer and/or present BEST with no unmanageable challenges. L 4. Post proj maint Aside from the two-year follow-up monitoring program, no additional maintenance or financial aspects will be required. L 5. Mgmt approach As mentioned above, the restoration project will be placed out for bids and upon receipt of the bids will be scrutinized for the best possible selection. The BEST, Inc. Board will coordinate and manage the project. Outreach descr We believe that the shoal grass warning floating buoys will serve as a constant reminder and an outreach effort to the boating community that the shoal grass beds are present and need to be protected. As such, we believe this will develop a more informed public regarding our natural resources (sea grass beds).