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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBackup 04302014Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program Fiscal Year 2074 - 2075 Work Plan ~~ 9~, Y ~ ~~~ ~ ~ ~, I `'l . ~ ~p ~ ' J ! ~~ ~ .,~ ' `,~i ~R ~ to ~ ~ ~ ~ .' ` ~ ; ~ ! tl 1 ~: ` ' . ~~~/l ~5; ~_~~_~ '~•` ~~ ` ` T T~ ~ l ~~ ~ t ~.I~.~ ~ ~~ _ Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program 525 Community College Parkway S.E. Palm Bay, FL 32909 (321)984-4950 Itif~ll~.T"7 r~~~,~~E€ ~~a~_r ~~~• ~~~~4> ir' .~,.-' ~~' 2014 Indian River. Lagoon National Estuary Program 525 Community College Parkway S.E, Palm Bay, FL 32909 (321)98-4950 JN~t¢o srq~s. _~, YU ~ ~~~' / U' i -' 4 ~. ~yrgt cao'r~°~` Pai•tnei`ship Directs Program Troy Rice,. Director nice cr sjrwmd.com I~tiD!r~rS,_ . ~ • . , l.i;' ?C)I'~' PKt G'~;~9S,~~tih- r~~ -1 1 ~ ' ^- The Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program is a partnership whose members work to imp-'ove the water quality and ecological integrity of the 15G-mile long esh~ary on Florida's east coast: The 1J. S. Environmental Protection Ageney.(EPA) designated the lagoon as `°an estuary of national significance" in April 1990 and included the lagoon in the National Estuary Program. The Lagoon program began in Aprii 1991, with oversight and funding from EPA: The St, Johns River and South Florida water management districts, the five counties that border the lagoon - Volusia, Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie and Martin -and representatives of state,. federal and regional. govermnents and agencies snake up the Indian River Lagoon Advisory Board, a board charged with guiding and overseeing the lagoon's protectiw~ and restoration.. The lagoon program is sponsored by St. Johns River Water Management District and is housed at the District's Pahn Bay Service Center. The St. Johns' District oversees lagoon work in Volusia; t3revard and Indian River counties. The South Florida District oversees lagoon work in St. Lucie and Martin Counties. ,4:~'K6AV 1 - ~~ ~rtT IFtORI~A ~ ,, Volusia County fLORIbA t...~~~~.__, _ _ ~--.`i> ~ ?~, _ .''~, / 9 ~ `L _f.;, G?v r~i _'~rr E cc ''~ ~ J C~*'J US Army Corps ''~ of Engineers«~ ,~ ~ _ ;. , ~_- - _ ,' ~ ~ ~~ - Conser~fancy ; ~' ' ` PfCtKllnp nglUtE, {'7ESEhin31i1E" ~. A ~ l r .~.~ .~:- a et nifiViioiuc ~~ _ -. ~~~ n,:. NRYIGAIq'i DiSiA~r. VF w a t ~~~ ~ Rc~~ /~~ ~~~ o~a ~1 per/ 'y r`~1~ ~ ~~Cp~~] 1 ~~~ ~ i ~ •;_i, , ,,., * ~~ * ~ \~ 'rZOR1~~ _c~w section A. General Information Reporting Requirements CCMP A.1. Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan Goals for Fiscal Year 2014-2015* Activities Fisheries F-1 Conserve, protect, restore and manage the finfish and shellfish resources in the Indian River Lagoon 3,6,9 region. Priority- High. F-3 Support and expand research initiatives and coordinated finfish and shellfish management strategies specific to the Indian River Lagoon. Priority- High. IRL COMP Implementation Oversight 14 FI-1 Continue the Indian River Lagoon Advisory Board's role of oversight, monitoring, and guidance of implementation of the IRL CCMP. Priorit3~- High. FI-2. Continue measurements of progress of CCMP implementation activities. Priority -High Fresh and Storm Water Discharges FSD-1 Complete or continue the. diagnostic, management or pilot projects related to stormwater or freshwater discharges being planned or undertaken by federal, state, regional and local govermnents. Priorit~~- High. FSD-4 Develop and implement best management practices (BMPs) for the management of stormwater, agricultural and fresh water discharges. Priority- High. FSD-6 Reduce the impacts of muck on the Indian River Lagoon. Priority- Medium. 1,2,8,9,11, FSD-10 Encourage the proper use of fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and reuse water. Priority- High. 12 FSD-11 Educate residents and property owners about the impacts, off' freshwater and stormwater discharges on the Indian River Lagoon and what they can do to reduce these impacts. Priority- High. ,. ......FSD-13 Upgrade existing urban and agricultural stormwater_ systems to reduce pollutant loadings to the Indian`River Lagoon. Priority- High. FSD-14 Develop and implement appropriate mechanisms to fund and undertake the operation, maintenance and improvement of urban and agricultural stormwater management systems to reduce pollutant loadings. Priorii~,- High. Invasive Fauna and Flora ~ IFF-1 Support the inventory and assessment ofnon-native invasive fauna and flora within the Indian River Lagoon basin. Priority-High. ~ Monitoring MON-1 Continue projects related to monitoring the resources of the Indian River Lagoon and address gaps in data as needed. Priority- High. Public Involvement and Education PIE-1 Implement and expand public involvement and education projects or programs. Priority- High. PIE-2 Develop, implement and refine a communications plan to inform stakeholders and government officials 1,3,6,1Q about the resources of the Indian River Lagoon, the economic and ecological value of these resources and 13 threats to the continued viability of these resources. PrioritJ~- High. PIE-4 Increase public and governrrrental involvement in activities designed to protect and restore the resources of the Indian River Lagoon. Priority- High. 1 CCMP Activities Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) 8 TMDL-1 Develop, implement, and update TMDLs for all areas of the Indian River Lagoon. Prior•it)~-High. Wetlands 4,5 W-5 Continue restoration & rehabilitation of impacted coastal wetlands. P~•70TItJ~-High. W-6 Continue projects to restore shorelines. Priority -High. W-7 Promote the removal of trash and litter fi•om wetlands, shorelines and islands. 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Indian River Lagoon Staff and Their Respective Position Responsibilities SJRWMD Division of Strategic Deliverables and Continuous Improvement IRL Program Office -Palm Bay Service Center IRL NEP Program Director, Troy Rice Principal Duties and Responsibilities: • Directs the IRL Project Office and staff, and provides primary support to the IRL Advisory Board • Coordinates with other agencies and local governments on lagoon conservation projects • Develops strategies to keep implementation activities on schedule and within budget • Manages information resources to individuals and organizations interested in CCMP implementation • Facilitates partnerships between agencies, governments and organizations to accomplish CCMP implementation • Oversees and provides project management for IRL Program/SJRWMD projects and programs IRL NEP Project Administrator, Frank Sakuma Principal Duties and Responsibilities: • Manages assigned projects and local government assistance agreements • Assists in development of Management Conference reports • Supports preparation of project budgets, tracks expenditures, responds to audit and financial inquires • Supports implementing Management Conference agreements and the CCMP • Assists in the planning and conduct of Management Conference meetings • Meets with and participates in various advisory boards IRL NEP Education Coordinator, Kathy Hill (Contingent Worker) Principal Duties and Responsibilities: • Coordinates IRL license plate marketing, IRL NEP public education and outreach • Coordinates and participates in II~L public education and outreach events to distribute information • Coordinates the NEP Citizens Action Committee for the Progt•am • Prepares summaries of marketing and outreach activities • Supports development of annual work plans, reports and presentations SJRWMD Division of Regulatory, Engineering, and Environmental Services -Estuaries Headquarters -Palatka Environmental Scientist V, Charles Jacoby Principal Duties and Responsibilities: • Serves as the IRL NEP Program Scientist • Provides technical support for the IRL Advisory Board and other IRL Program staff • Coordinates with the IRLNEP TAC and Bio-toxin Task Force to investigate scientific and research priorities • Provides presentations on IRL research and environmental related issues • Participates in the development of projects to implement the IRL CCMP • Provides project management for IRL NEP Program/SJRWMD research and technical projects • Participates in the implementation of environmental assessment and monitoring programs in the IRL Basin ry c p o N ~ 0 N O 0 N O 0 ci o 0 N O N O V U ~ T O N Q J ~ d a+ ~ d jA v v v ~ v v 'v ~ ~ W N N N ~ N N A O ^ ~_ O O \ O G p 'A ~. , ] q ~ ° ~ m C O M ~' ~ '~ -d GI ~ Yom` q y., ~ ~ N a~ ° '1] p ~ 0 GI ~ S . ~ C~ O d 0 ~ a ~ fn p ~' O N p VI ~ y ~O U y J" ~' O U .G ^^q N v P' N 4 E aJ E O y~ U O ea te~ ~ p G v p 04 5 4 ' O 'O v ~ T a ~ Q ~ .q p n ~` 0. 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Q Section B.1 Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program 2014-2015 Outputs and Outcomes Outputs: • Continued Program administration providing NEP Board and management conference support, CCMP implementation oversight and budgeting/project/contract management activities and reports • Core monitoring information developing tools for rapid identification of pico and nano- planktonic species responsible for harmful algae blooms to aid in future bloom species identification. • Delivery of public education and outreach presentations tln•oughout the watershed, implementation of the 2014-15 portion of the NEP Communications Plan, teacher summer training workshop, production of the annual IRL Calendar • Delivery of five (5) competitive grant applications onbehalf of local governments to help implement the IRL CCMP • Project Report on the FDEP Aquatic Preserves IRL Shoreline Restoration Project activities for 2014-15 • Quarterly and final summary report on the Community Outreach and Restoration of Intertidal Oyster Reef in Mosquito Lagoon with copies of volunteer sign-up sheets and project photos • Final report on the community-based living shoreline stabilization project in Oak Hill protecting 110 meters of Mosquito Lagoon shoreline. • Final report on the restoration of 200 linear feet of living shoreline at Indian Riverside Park in Martin County. • Final report with photos and monitoring results from the City of Cocoa Beach Minuteman Streetscape and Stormwater Improvement Project implementing low impact design features and sorption media technology. • Final report of the development of bioremediation and habitat restoration platforms to test prototypes for floating platforms to improve water quality and habitat species. • Final report from the MRC on the Lagoon Lifesaver project to create a Lagoon Leader Business Program, launch the Lagoon Lifesavers Education Corps Program Training Module, and support the 2015 American Assembly focused on priority actions. • Final report on the in-situ water quality three dimensional "patch" reef at the 451 street outfall by Indian River County. • Implementation of the Be Floridian fertilizer education campaign in the IRL watershed in support of local governments that have adopted a strong fertilizer ordinance, to educate residents about the ordinances in their communities and ways they can reduce nutrient loadings from their lawns. • Bi-annual Newsletter Outcomes: • Clean Water Act implementation • EPA Strategic Plan implementation • Support of EPA Non-Point Source Program • hnproved water quality and shoreline habitats • Restored oyster beds • Increased use of native plants • Increased Program visibility • Increased wetland acreage restored and or protected • Increased public awareness and stewardship • Continued water;shed-wide coordination and networking ,.,_ • Increased knowledge of living resources 9 Section B.2 Proposed New and On~oin~ Project Repoi•tin~ Requirements Activitv 1 CCMP/Work Plan Goal: FSD-I1; Priority-High. Educate r°esider~ts ar~d property otivner°s about the impacts offi•eshl~~ater and storm water discharges on the badian River Lagoon and ivlaat they can do to reduce these impacts. PIE-2; Priority-High. Develop, inzplernent and refine a connrzunications plan to inform stakeholders and goverrnnent officials about the r•esozrrces of the b~dian River° Lagoon, the econonzic and ecological valise of these resources and threats to the continued viability of these resources. Proiect/Activitv Name: IRLNEP Outreach and Education Coordinator and Communications Plan Implementation Project/Activitv Purpose and Description: (indicate as proposed or ongoing) This project is ongoing. The Coordinator will administer the Education Program for the Indian River Lagoon Program. Additionally, she will coordinate the activities of the IRLNEP Citizens Action Connnittee and the Education Conunittee, organize lagoon summer training teacher workshops, and coordinate the design of the annual IRL calendar photo contest, The Coordinator also produces and disseminates IRL and District information to the connnunity at enviromnental educational events, brown bag lunches and public speaking events. Budget: $82,000 NEP funding. ($70,000. Coordinator Salary / $12,000 Connnunications Plan) Outcomes: (report. anticipated and/or completed accomplishments) Short-term: Attend and provide IRLNEP materials to the public at speaking events and festivals. Discuss IRL strengths and challenges with the public at those events. Implement the 2014-2015 portion of the adopted IRL NEP Connnunications Plan. Intermediate: Increased awareness of the state of the IRL and promote changes in lifestyle that will benefit the IRL. Changes (+/-) in Pressure Tar eg ts: Positive as teachers, students, citizens and connnunity leaders are informed about IRL strengths and challenges and because of this heightened awareness, become better stewards of the IRL. Long-term: Public awareness of the importance of the IRL habitat restoration and water quality improvement programs; anthropogenic impacts to the IRL and changes in behavior that will curtail pointless personal pollution. CWA implementation information: One of the strategic goals for the EPA Office of Environmental Education is to promote the use of environmental education in schools and communities to improve academic achievement and stewardship. This project compliments that goal. 10 Activi 2 CCMP/Worlc Plan Goal: FSD-13; Priority- Higlz. Upgrade existing stor°mtivater systems. FSD-14; Priority- High. Develop and implement appropriate mechanisms to fzmd and under°take the operation, maintenance and improvement of za•ban and agricultural stormwater management systems to reduce pollutant loadings. PIE-4 Priority- High. Increase public and governmental involvement in activities designed to protect and restore the resources of the IRL. Project/Activity Name: Grant Writing Services in Support of the Indian River Lagoon CCMP. Lead Contractor: Cape Canaveral Scientific Inc. Project/Activity Purpose and Description: (indicate as proposed or ongoing) This project is ongoing. The project assists local governments in meeting the challenges of financing CCMP implementation projects. Most local govermnents in the IRL watershed have little if any staff support including engineering services to dedicate to preparation of grant applications for stormwater projects and environmental restoration. As this project has gained acceptance and success stories circulated, more local governments have agreed to utilize the services of the grant writer team. Last year, while under contract with the IRLNEP, Cape Canaveral Scientific (CCS) worked with various local govermnents to submit four applications for capital water quality improvements from the State of Florida's 319,and TMDL programs. Budget: $50,000 NEP Funding, $15;750 in match funding from CCS. Gutcomes: (report anticipated and/or completed accomplislnnents) „„k Short-term: Develop, generate, submit and support five grant applications. Intermediate: Since the inception of this project, the number of participating partners has steadily increased. Changes (+/-~ in Pressure Targets: Projected change is negative. As many of these grants require a local match, state mandated property tax reductions will impact implementation of CCMP Action Plans by local governments. State of Florida funding for the Florida Forever/Florida Connnunities Trust Program has been significantly reduced. Long-term: These projects have a direct benefit to the IRL either tln•ough land acquisition or stormwater improvements designed to reduce nonpoint source pollution and untreated stormwater discharges to the IRL. CWA implementation information: This project supports the EPA Non Point Source (NPS) Program to provide technical assistance for implementation of activities designed to reduce non point sources of pollution. The grants writer has submitted 319 and TMDL finding applications for projects that include the development of stormwater parks and treatment systems in urbanized areas and for the ptu•chase of environmentally sensitive lands tln•ough the Florida Forever/ Florida Communities Trust Program. 11 Activity 3 CCMP/Work Plan Goal: F-1 Pr•iorit3~-Higlz. Conserve, protect, restore and manage fznfislz and shellfish resources in the IRL region. PIE-4 Priority- High. bzcrease public and govermnental involvement in activities designed to pr°otect and restore the resources of the IRL. W-6 Prior•it)~-High. Continue projects and programs to restore shorelines. Proiect/Activity Name: Community-based living shoreline stabilization in Oak Hill, FL Lead Contractor: University of Central Florida Proiect/Activity Purpose and Description: (indicate as proposed or ongoing) This project is proposed. The project will reduce erosion and improve shoreline habitat at Sum•ise Parkin Oak Hill by constructing a living shoreline along 110 meters of Mosquito Lagoon shoreline. Budget: $29,566 NEP Funding, plus $11,878 in Volusia County IRL License Plate for a total award of $41,444: $42,667 in-kind cost share match from UCF and volunteer time. Outcomes: (report anticipated and/or completed accomplishments) Short-term: Reduce erosion and improve shoreline habitat by constructing 110 meters of living shoreline to stabilize.the shoreline sediments and buffer wave actions using native vegetation and oyster shell bags. ... With the target of decreased erosion by 20% after 5 months. Community engagement, education and outreach in a living shoreline restoration project. Intermediate: Increase intertidal habitat for fisheries and other marine organisms and improve erosion protection. Providing/protecting habitat for federally listed species, educating waterfront community residents of ways they may protect their private lagoon shorelines using similar living shoreline techniques. Changes (+/-Zin Pressure Targets: Positive, as erosion is reduced and volunteers participate in the restor°ation project learyrirzg about living shoreline benefits and techniques. , Lon -tg erm: Protected Mosquito Lagoon shoreline with increased native habitats within a public park setting for on-going educational opportunities. CWA implementation information: This project directly correlates to one of EPA's primary responsibilities as directed by the Clean Water Act- to provide for the protection and propagation of a balanced, indigenous population of shellfish, fish, and wildlife. 12 Activity 4 CCMP/Work Plan Goal: W-5: Priority-High. Continue restoration & rehabilitation of impacted coastal tivetlands. W-6: Pries°ity-High. Continue projects to restore shorelines. W-7: Priority -High. Promote the removal of trash fzronz wetlands, shorelines and islands. PIE-4 Prioz•ily- High. Increase public and governmental involvement in activities designed to protect and restore the resotn°ces of the IRL. Project/Activity Name: Indian River Lagoon Shoreline Restoration Project. Lead Contractor: Florida Department of Environmental Protection - IRL Aquatic Preserves Project/Activity Purpose and Description: (indicate as proposed or ongoing) This project is ongoing. The goal of this project is to continue to stabilize publicly-owned shorelines impacted by wave energy to limit erosion, sedimentation and enhance littoral habitat, while facilitating environmental awareness, stewardship and public participation in restoration activities. Budget: $35,910 NEP Funding, plus $5,000 in Indian River County IRL License Plate, and $5,000 in Brevard County IRL License Plate for a total $45,910. $57,897 in-ltind match and volunteer services from FDEP IRL Aquatic Preserves. Outcomes: (report anticipated and/or completed accomplishments) Short-term: Planting of native species along two identified mangrove ecosystem restoration sites of ..... 200m2of shoreline, removal of invasive exotics at the sites. Provide an activity for volunteers to participate in lagoon restoration enhancing stewardship and awai;eness. •~ Intermediate: Expand mangrove and saltmarsh shoreline habitat ecological benefits, reducing suspended solids and erosion and contributing to shoreline stabilization. Chances (+/-~ in Pressure Tar eg ts: Positive as the shoreline native vegetation becomes established and provides enhanced estuarine habitat and improvements to adjacent surface water quality. Development of volunteers to become IRL stewards. Lon -teg iln_ Restoration of mangrove shoreline forests, enhanced public participation in restoration activities, and enhanced habitat and water quality. CWA implementation information: Implementation of the EPA Strategic Plan to restore estuaries and maintain healthy habitats within estuaries. This project will result in a gain of habitat acreage as sites over run with invasive vegetation are rehabilitated. 13 Activity 5 CCMP/Work Plan Goal: W-6: P~•70T•lty- Hig1~. Continare p~•ojects to ~'estore shorelines W-7.• Pz°ioz•it~~ - Higlz. Pzromote tlTe removal of tr•aslz from tivetlands, slzor•elines & islands Project/Activity Name: Indian Riverside Park Living Shoreline Lead Contractor: Martin County Project/Activity Purpose and Description: (indicate as proposed or ongoing) This project is proposed. This project will restore 200 feet of living shoreline along the western shore of the IRL at Indian Riverside Park a highly visible area with numerous visitors tln•oughotit the year. This area is experiencing erosion from waves and. boat wakes and provides an excellent location to educate the public on the values of choosing natural stabilization methods in appropriate settings. Tln•ough a series of workdays volunteers will remove litter, fill and deploy oyster bags, concrete reef modules and plant native vegetation. All in an effort to create habitat, provide vertical relief, bind substrate. Budget: $15,000 NEP Funding, $15,000 in-kind match from Martin County Outcomes: (report anticipated and/or completed accomplishments) Short-term: Reduce erosion and improve shoreline habitat by constructing 200 feet of living shoreline to stabilize the shoreline sediments and buffer wave actions using native vegetation and oyster shell bags, and concrete reef modules, all deployed with vohmteer assistance. Community engagement, education aild outreach in a living shoreline restoration project. ~,• Intermediate: Increase intertidal habitat for fisheries and other marine organisms and improve erosion protection. Providing/protecting habitat for federally listed species, educating waterfront community residents of ways they may protect their private lagoon shorelines using similar living shoreline techniques. Changes (+/-) in Pressure Targets: Positive, as erosion is reduced and volunteers participate in the restoration project learning about living shoreline benefits and techniques. Lon -tg eim: Protected Lagoon shoreline with increased native habitats within a public park setting for on- goingeducational opportunities. CWA implementation information: This project directly correlates to one of EPA's primary responsibilities as directed by the Clean Water Act- to provide for the protection and propagation of a balanced, indigenous population of shellfish, fish, and wildlife. 14 Activity 6 CCMP/Worlc Plan Goal: F-1; Priority- High. Conserve, protect, r•estor•e and manage the finfrsh and shel~sh resoan•ces in the Indian River Lagoon region. PIE-4; Priority- High. Increase public and govermnental involvement in activities designed to protect and restore the r•esozn•ces of the Indian River Lagoon. Project/Activity Name: Community Outreach, Restoration and Monitoring of Intertidal Oyster Reefs in Mosquito Lagoon Lead Contractor: The Brevard Zoo Project/Activity Purpose and Description: (indicate as proposed or ongoing) This project is ongoing. The project objective is to implement and monitor the success of a scientifically based restoration technique to restore intertidal oyster reefs of the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica significantly damaged from wakes from boats. To meet our project goals, the community outreach coordinator will continue to organize volunteers to produce a minimum of 1,500 restoration mats/shell bags and deploy these on 5 additional reefs. Project funding will also support the contractual efforts of UCF to conduct the following activities: conduct vertical reef profiles for each dead margin to be leveled (a minimum of two dead mat•gins); organize and participate in deployment of oyster restoration on the leveled dead margins in spring/summer. Budget: $41,035 NEP Funding, plus $24,640 in Brevard County IRL License Plate Funding for a total award of $65,675. $77,770 in-kind match from The Brevard Zoo, the University of Central Florida, and citizen volunteers. ~ .. Outcomes: (report anticipated and/or completed accomplishments) Short-term:. Production and deployment of 1,500 oyster mats/shell bags in Mosquito Lagoon restoring 5 additional intertidal reefs. Intermediate: Quarterly and final summary report on the Community Outreach and Restoration of hitertidal Oyster Reef in Mosquito Lagoon with copies of volunteer sign-up sheets and project photos Chan es +/-) in Pressure Targets: Positive as the number of oyster reefs in Mosquito Lagoon increases and the outreach component of this project allows citizen volunteers to be directly involved in a marine restoration project. Lon -tg_ erm: Historically viewed as a commodity to harvest, sell and eat, oysters have been gaining value for the economically important "ecosystem services" they provide including water filtration, shoreline stabilization, and shelter and food for many commercially and recreationally important species, CWA implementation information This project directly correlates to one of EPA's primary responsibilities as directed by the Clean Water Act- to provide for the protection and propagation of a balanced, indigenous population of shellfish, fish, and wildlife. 15 Activity 7 CCMP/Work Plan Goal: MON-1: Prior°it~~- High. Continare projects related to rnonitor•ing the r•esour•ces of the IRL and address gaps in data as needed. IFF-1: Priority-High. Szrpport the inventory and assessment ofnon-native invasive faarna and flora with the IRL basin. Project/Activity Name: Molecular Tool Development and Implementation to Advance Monitoring of Pico- and Nano-Planktonic Algae in the Indian River Lagoon. Lead Contractor: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission -Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. . Project/Activity Purpose and Description: (indicate as proposed or ongoing) This project is proposed. The project will develop science-based tools to rapidly detect and quantify pico- and nano-planl~tonic algae responsible for harmful algal blooms in the IRL. Develop new and or refine existing molecular tools for detection of target species and determine practical and viable methods for detection and quantification by comparing the pt•ecision, efficiency, and affordability of existing and new approaches. Communicate method development approaches and outcomes with primary end-users and the public. Budget: $49,769 NEP Funding. $48,960 in-kind match. Outcomes: (report anticipated and/or completed accomplishments) - .. Short-term: Development of molecular tools for the detection and quantification of pico and nano- plarrictonic algae to aid in the rapid assessment of harmful algal blooms in the IRL. Intermediate: Valuable information needed to strengthen monitoring of HABs Changes (+/-) in Pressure Targets: Positive, as more scientific information is available indicating the species of algal responsible for HABs. Lon_-tg et•111: Increased knowledge and activism for potential remediation and management actions to reduce the occurrence of HABs. CWA implementation information: This project complies lvith the objectives of the Clean Water• Act to restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the Nation's waters and to cozzb°ol point and non point soZn•ces of pollution. I6 Activity 8 CCMP/Worlc Plan Goal: FSD-1 Priority- High. Complete or continue the diagnostic, management or pilot projects related to stormwater or freshwater discharges being planned or undertaken by federal, state, i°egional and local governments. TMDL-3 Priority- High. Support implementation of BMAPs fo~° all basins requiring TMDLs Project/Activity Name: Minuteman Streetscape &Stormwater Improvement Lead Contractor: City of Cocoa Beach Project/Activity Purpose and Description: (indicate as proposed or ongoing) This project is proposed. Cocoa Beach will construct LID stormwater improvement components within the re-design of Minuteman Causeway, reducing impervious surface runoff using bioswales and landscaping, nutrient sorption media and exfiltration. This project will aid the city in meeting nutrient reduction requirements under the adopted Banana River BMAP and monitoring results will be shared with the lagoon comnnmity to demonstrate the effectiveness of these stormwater management practices compared to traditional ponds and catchment basins. Budget: $35,000 NEP Funding. $118,008 in cost-share from the City of Cocoa Beach Stormwater Utility. Outcomes: (report anticipated and/or completed accomplislnnents) Short-term: Removes sediments;~organic matter and floatables (litter) prior to entering the lagoon; reducing the need for frequent dredging, trash clean-ups and habitat-destruction. Intermediate: Improves the quality of stormwater discharged to the lagoon, educates residents in the area about stormwater impacts and ways they can help reduce pollution loadings. Changes (+/-) in Pressure Targets: Positive, as the LID and streetscape improvements are maintained and cleaned less sediments and trash and organic matter (leaves /grass clippings) will enter Banana River Lagoon. Lon -tg erm; Helps to implement the Basin Management Action Plan for the Banana River Lagoon TMDL, reducing sediment and litter discharges to the lagoon. CWA implementation information: This project complies with the objectives of the Clean Water Act to restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the Nation's waters and to control point and non-point sources of pollution. 17 Activity 9 CCMP/Worlc Plan Goal: F-3 Pz°ioz°it~~- High. Support and expand research initiatives and coordinated finfish and shellfrsh znanagernent strategies. FSD-6.• Priority- Medium. Reduce the impacts of muck on the lagoon. Project/Activity Name: Development of Bioremediation and Habitat Restoration Platforms to Improve Lagoon Water Quality, Restore Seagrasses, and Rebuild Bivalve Populations Lead Contractor: Florida Institute of Technology Project/Activity Purpose and Description: (indicate as proposed or ongoing) This project is proposed. This project will develop and test prototypes for floating bioremediation and restoration platforms to improve water quality around areas with high nutrient input or sediment re- suspension and in areas targeted for habitat restoration. Budget: $65,674 NEP funding. $35,641 in match funding from Florida Tech. Outcomes: (report anticipated and/or completed accomplishments) Short-term_ Evaluation of the effectiveness of Restoration Platforms (RP) to absorb nutrients, propagate bivalves and seagrasses and other shoreline grasses. • -- Intermediate: The data will reveal the viability of this design and determine thelife cycle of the RPs to determine their use at Various stormwater outfalls, muck dredging sites, and creation of a source to restore <• vegetation at shoreline and seagrass habitat locations as the,RP materials are traded out and replaced with juvenile species to continue the absorption cycle. Chan es +/-) in Pressure Targets: Positive as pollutant and nutrient loadings to the IRL will be reduced, Lon -tg erm: With the reduced pollutant loadings, water quality will improve in the IRL resulting in greater seagrass propagation and habitat restoration producing more fisheries and wildlife abundance. Increased citizen luiowledge and activism for pollution prevention and enviromnental protection and enhanced personal responsibility to reduce water quality impacts at home, business, and public spaces while utilizing new stormwater BMP. CWA implementation information: This project complies with the objectives of the Clean Water Act to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation's waters and to control point and non-point sources of pollution. 18 Activitv 10 CCMP/Work Plan Goal: PIE-1: Priority-High bnplement and expand Public Information and Education P~•ojects. PIE-4: Priority-High. Increase public and government involvement in activities to protect and ~°estoJ°e tlae IRL. Project/Activitv Name: Lagoon Life Savers Working Together to Save the Indian River Lagoon Lead Contractor: Marine Resources Council Project/Activitv Purpose and Description: (indicate as proposed or ongoing) This project is proposed. This project builds upon the MRC's long-standing volunteer and education programs with 3 implementable goals 1. Create Lagoon Leader Business Practices and Performance Standards and recruit business participation to promote Lagoon Leaders tln•ough local media outlets, and evaluate the Leader Program; 2. Launch the Lagoon Lifesavers Education Corps Training Module for civic organizations and K-12 classrooms; and 3. Hold the 15`'' American Assembly focused on Lagoon Priorities. Budget: $51,110 NEP funding. $27,500 in-kind match Outcomes: (report anticipated and/or completed accomplishments) _ ,-~ Short-term: Builds upon existing education and.volunteer programs and provides people, businesses and local. governments an avenue towards solutions in meeting the lagoon's challenges. Intermediate: Enhanced knowledge of the lagoon and expands the pool of lagoon leaders and future stakeholders . Changes (+/-) in Pressure Targets: Positive, as the project supports enhanced education and outreach to involve more people and businesses in the solutions to solving the lagoon's challenges. Long-term: This project will provide information to stakeholders to evaluate solutions and effective management tool and involve businesses in sustainable practices. CWA implementation information One of the strategic goals for the EPA Office of Environmental Education is to promote the use of environmental education in schools and communities to improve academic achievement and stewardship. This project compliments that goal. 19 Activity 11 CCMP/Work Plan Goal: FSD-1 Priority -High. Complete or continue the diag~zostic, management or pilot projects related to stormwater• or freshwater disclza~ges being planned o~° undertaken by federal, state, or regional and local govermnent. FSD-4 Priority -High. Develop and implement best management practices for° the management of stormwater, agricultural and fresh water dischai°ges. Project/Activity Name: In-Situ Water Quality Three Dimensional `Patch' Reef at the 45`t' Street Outfall Lead Contractor: Indian River County Utilities Services Project/Activity Purpose and Description: (indicate as proposed or ongoing) This project is proposed. The project will construct a clean concrete rubble tln•ee-dimensional reef 100 feet from the stormwater outfall from the 45"' Street Ditch to provide the surface area for natural recruitment of attached and encrusting invertebrate such as oysters and turf algae. These species are known to facilitate the de-nitrification process, and the oysters can provide along-term phosphorus sink. The patch reef will also provide potential habitat for additional species and will provide refugia for juvenile invertebrate and fish species that may in turn attract and support larger game fish populations in and around the project area. Budget: $7,289 in Indian River County IRL License Plate Funding. The County will provide $7,000 in match funds through county funds. ®utcomes: (report anticipated and/or completed accomplislunents) Short-term: Creation of a patch reef to reduce nutrient sto~•mwater loadings from a FDOT outfall to the Indian River Lagoon and provide surface area for the natural recruitment of turf algae, invertebrates and bivalve species. Intermediate: Growth and expansion of de-nitrification algal species and oysters to naturally filter nutrients from the adjacent stormwater outfall enhancing water quality in the area. Changes (+/-~ in Pressure Targets: Positive, as stormwater nutrients are reduced and natural lagoon flora and fauna colonize the patch reef creating new habitat in the estuary. Lon -t~ erni: Improved water quality in the area of the patch reef and establishment of benthic habitat to serve as refugia for juvenile species and an attractant for larger game fish species. CWA implementation information: This project complies with the objectives of the Clean Water Act to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation's waters and to control point and non-point sources of pollution. 20 Activity 12 CCMP/Worlc Plan Goal: PIE-5 Priority -High. Strategically pz•ior•itize and implement public education progz°ams based on pollution potential, perceived likelihood for behavior change, resource availability, and opportzmities that arise. FSD-10 Priority-High. Encourage the pr°oper zrse offertilizez•s, herbicides, pesticides and reuse water. Proiect/Activity Name: Be Floridian Program in the Indian River Lagoon Lead Contractor: Indian River Lagoon National Estuat•y Program Project/Activity Purpose and Description: (indicate as proposed or ongoing) This project is proposed. This project will bring the successful Be Floridian fertilizer education campaign created by the Tampa Bay NEP to the IRL watershed. This NEP Tech Transfer Project - Be Floridian provides information on Florida-friendly lawn care products, services, landscape designs, how to videos and information for residents to comply with local fertilizer ordinances in their communities. Twenty local governments in the IRL watershed, including four of the five counties, have adopted strong fertilizer ordinances that include a rainy season application prohibition period, require 50% slow release nitrogen content and 0% phosphorous, and a minimum 10 foot fertilizer free buffer zone from any waterway. All twenty local governments and numerous lagoon stakeholders have expressed a strong interest in working with the NEP to bring this education campaign to the IRL to provide a uniform message and standardized education program for their citizens, insuring that their communities are working in cooperation to reduce residential fertilizer sourced nutrient loadings to the lagoon. This project includes the contracting for a `Flamingo Wrangler,' who will oversee implementation of the program throughout the watershed, work with local government partners to deliver the program to their communities and work with local retail stores that sale fertilizers to educate their employees about-the ordinances in the communities where the , store is located and prpvide information about the program within the store if desired..., Budget: $65,836 NEP Funding. $40,000 in local government cost-share. City partners will contribute $2,500 and county partners will contribute $5,000 to participate in the program. Outcomes: (report anticipated and/or completed accomplishments) Short-term: Provides information to residents in communities that have adopted a strong fertilizer ordinance with ways they can comply with their ordinance through a watershed wide education campaign. Intermediate: Educates residents on ways to implement Florida friendly landscaping and lawn care practices that reduce fertilizer use and runoff from their properties, provides a friendly outreach campaign to inform communities about the water quality impacts from inappropriate fertilizer applications and ways residents can reduce the time they spend in yard maintenance. Chan es +/-) in Pressure Targets: Positive, as citizens learn the ecological value of and improvements in water quality from reduced fertilizer applications in the watershed. Lon -t~ ernl: Helps to provide the material needed to educate homeowners on proper fertilizer application rates and times of year, reducing fertilizer nutrient loadings in the watershed and improving lagoon water quality and reducing harmful algal blooms. CWA implementation information: One of the strategic goals for the EPA Office of Environmental Education is to promote the use of environmental education in communities to improve stewardship. This project compliments that goal. 21 Activity 13 CCMP/Work Plan Goal; PIE-1 Priority-High. bnplement and expand public involvement and education projects or progz°ams. PIE-4 Priority-High. Increase public and gone»zment itzvolveme»t in activities designed to protect and restore the resources of the Indian River Lagoon. Project/Activity Name: Event and Conference Sponsorships Lead Contractor: Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program Project/Activity Purpose and Description: (indicate as proposed or ongoing) This activity is proposed. These funds will provide sponsorship support for several on-going conferences and events in the IRL that provide education to residents, allow their participation in the development of lagoon restoration and protection strategies, and supports environmental education for the lagoon's high school and juniar• high students. Funding of $2,500 to support the annual IRL Symposium at Harbor Branch, $2,500 to support the American Assembly with the Marine Resources Council, and $1,200 to support the IRL Envirothon Envirommental Education Competition for lagoon students. Budget: $6,200 NEP Funds. Outcomes: (report anticipated and/or completed accomplishments) Short-term: Supports lagoon symposium and events for area residents and students. Intermediate: Improves the lalowledge and education of residents and students about the ecological and economic impot•tance of the IRL and ways they can contribute towards the estuaries protection and restoration. Changes (+/-~ in Pressure Targets; Positive, as more residents participate in the Lagoon Symposium and American Assembly and learn about these events through media stories and students participate and compete in the Envirothon. Lon -tg er•m: Creates knowledge lagoon stakeholders and future stewards for lagoon protection. CWA implementation information: One of the strategic goals for the EPA Office of Environmental Education is to promote the use of environmental education in schools and communities to improve academic achievement and stewardship. This project compliments that goal. 22 Activity 14 Program Operation CCMP/Work Plan Goal: FI-1: Priority-High. Continue the Indian River Lagoon Advisory Board's r°ole of over•siglzt, nzonitor•ing, and guidance of the inzplenzentation of the IRL CCMP. Project/Activity Name: Indian River Lagoon Program Operations Lead Contractor: Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program Project/Activity Purpose and Description: (indicate as proposed or ongoing) This project is ongoing. The goal of this project is to continue to support the IRL Project Office providing funds for travel, legal advertising of meetings, printing, office supplies and field equipment. Budget: $10,900 NEP finding Outcomes: (report anticipated and/or completed accomplishments) Short-term: Enables~staff to travel to the required NEP EPA National Meeting in Washington DC in March, to legally advertise Advisory Board meetings in accordance with Florida's Sunshine Law, and provides a small amount of funds for supplies and printing to support CCMP implementation. Intermediate: Supports implementation of the FY2014-2015 work plan. Chance+/-) in Pressure Targets: Positive, allowing staff to continue CCMP implementation and management of work plan projects. Lon =teg_ rtn: Continues the project office operations for on-going CCIVIP implementation, reporting and future work plan development. CWA implementation information: Implementation of the EPA Strategic Plan to restore estuaries and maintain healthy habitats within estuaries. 23 Section C. Completed Maior Proiects/ Activities Previous Years Reporting C.1 Summary of IRLNEP and Management Conference Accomplishments for 2013-2014 The IRLNEP had another successful year in FY 2013-2014 implementing the IRL CCMP. Staff administered the Program, including 17 high priority CCMP implementation projects (please see Section C.2 of this Work Plan) which ranged fi•om support of the SJRWMD's Indian River Lagoon Protection Initiative to restoration of native habitat along estuarine waters, and on-going seagrass resource and water quality monitoring tln•oughout the estuary. The IRLNEP also funded a number of other projects utilizing revenue from the sales of the Indian River Lagoon Specialty License Plate. These projects included a stormwater improvement project, the restoration of oyster habitat in Mosquito Lagoon, shoreline restoration and stabilization, and community education and outreach. Completed Major Project Modeling IRL Seagrass Restoration Success and Long-Term Sustainability Under Changing Conditions of Water Quality and Sea Level Rise: Phase II Objective -Quantify changes in subtidal habitat as the lagoon shoreline migrates landward; Combine Phase I and Phase II results to forecast the net change in seagrass habitat coverage as the IRL both deepens and expands under conditions of rising sea level to the year 2100. Four sea level rise scenarios are modeled: +1 ft and +2 ft by 2050 and +2 ft and +4 ft by 2100. Lead Project Implementer -The Balmoral Institute, Inc. Section 320 funds - $20,500/ Cost-share $7,750 The Balmoral Institute, Inc. Project Deliverables -'Interim, and final project report, including: the outcomes from the four scenarios; summary statistics; locations, dates, times and number of participants for the education and outreach events; as well as a digital copy of project'sYouTube Video. The final report is accompanied by a working model/GIS tool complete with a technical memorandum written to assist others wishing to replicate this work for other coastal estuaries, full metadata, attribute tables, maps, and supporting reference materials, including literature citations. Project Outcomes - An enhanced management tool designed to facilitate the successful restoration and long term sustainability of the IRL estuarine ecosystem. CWA Core Programs - (5) protecting wetlands & (6) protecting coastal waters through the NEP Program Role: Significant The IRLNEP Management Conference made up of the Indian River Lagoon Advisory Board, the Citizen's Action Committee (CAC), and the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) continues to lead the program through active community directed guidance and oversight. Below and on the following pages are projects that have been initiated and/or completed by members of the IRLNEP Management Conference in FY 2013-2014. St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) The SJRWMD adopted the lagoon as one of the District's Strategic Priorities for 2014-2018. This sh•ategic priority involves the implementation of the Indian River Lagoon Protection Initiative, with the goal to "protect and restore the water quality and ecological habitat of the Indian River Lagoon by leveraging District resources and working with the National Estuary Program and its partners." The SJRWMD also continues to serve as the on-going local administrative sponsor for the IRLNEP Project Office and staff. The SJRWMD continued several regional stormwater and enviromnental enhancement projects in 2012 and 2013 in the basin. 24 • SJRWMD's Estuaries Section continues to assist the Florida Department of Enviromnental Protection's (FDEP) Bureau of Watershed Management in fine-tuning lagoon TMDLs based on Pollutant Load Reduction Goals for sea grass restoration in the IRL and Banana River Lagoon and is cturently working on creating scientifically based numeric nutrient criteria in cooperation with FDEP and to determine the maximum BMAP credits for muck sediment removal projects. • Impounded wetlands and drag-line ditched wetland restoration is continuing under the guidance of SJRWMD in partnership with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Vohisia County Mosquito Control, with a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and National Coastal Wetlands Grants Program. • The first phase of the C-1 Re-diversion Project is complete with the construction of the western pump station and the MS-1 gate modifications and is operational. This project is currently re- diverting 33% of the freshwater currently discharged from the 100 square mile Melbourne- Tillman Water Control District west, into treatment cells prior to being released into the upper basin of the St Johns River. Upgrading of the Sawgrass Lake Pump Station in 2014 will allow additional canal waters to be pumped into the Sawgrass Lakes Water Management Area. Phase 2, the C-10 Reservoir to be complete in 2017, will increase the projects treatment capacity re- diverting or retaining a tota145% of the discharges currently discharged to Turkey Creek and the IRL. •„ Construction of the Fellsmere Water Management Area is ongoing to create a 10,000-acre _.. _ management area providing water quality treatment of agricultural.discharges in northwest Indian River County. This project when complete in 2015 wilLhelp to prevent futm•e freshwater discharges into the IRL from the C-54 canal. e Construction of the Wheeler Stormwater Park a regiona130-acre stormwater treatment system to reduce sediments and nutrients from the Sottile Canal prior to discharge into the north prong of the St. Sebastian River and IRL. • Algal Bloom Investigation is an enhanced scientifich•esearch effort to gain a deeper understanding of the lagoon's nutrient dynamics and to enhance predictive modeling capabilities for improved management techniques. • Eau Gallie River Muck Dredging is a proposed future project to remove approximately 625,000 cubic yards of muck sediments from this tributary to prevent the movement of muck into the lagoon during storm events, prevent the fluxing of muck nutrients impacting water quality and to restore the sediment trapping sump capabilities of the Eau Gallie. The Indian River La:roon License Plate Program was established to support habitat restoration, water quality improvement, and associated education projects. The South Florida Water Management District is responsible for administering Indian River Lagoon License Plate funds for projects in St. Lucie, Mattin and Palm Beach counties. The IRLNEP is responsible for administering IRL License Plate funds for projects in Brevard, Volusia, and Indian River counties. Indian Rivet• Lagoon License Plate projects completed FY2013 in Martin, St. Lucie, and Palm Beach counties include: 25 • Colorado Avenue Environmental Improvements: The project consists of stormwater quality retrofit BMP improvements for the existing City of Stuart Frazier Creels Basin and enhancements to the existing vegetation along Frazier Creels near the Colorado Avenue crossing • Living Shorelines: The project goal is the restoration of historic oyster populations to continue water quality improvements and benefit the estuary and Indian River Lagoon. • Fullerton Island Restoration: This project included selective clearing of exotic vegetation which is itnpacting existing mangroves on Fullerton Island. Indian River Lagoon License Plate projects completed FY2013 in Volusia, Brevard, and Indian River counties include: • The Brevard Zoo's Community Outreach, Restoration and Monitoring of Intertidal Oyster Reefs in Mosquito Lagoon. The project implemented and monitors the success of a scientifically-based restoration technique restoring approximately 1 acre of intertidal oyster reef of the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica in the Mosquito Lagoon segment of the 1RL. • Florida Department of Enviromnental Protection IRL Aquatic Preserve's Indian River Lagoon Shoreline Restoration Project. The goal of the Shoreline Restoration Project is to re-establish fringing mangrove habitat on public shorelines along the Indian River Lagoon, while promoting public education and awareness of mangrove habitat and its ecosystem benefits. • Marine Discovery Center's Oyster Recycling Project. This project developed and implemented a pilot program to recycle restaurant-produced oyster shell waste that is currently going to the landfill and redirected rnaterial.to a central collection point. Shell was utilized to construct oyster- based structural materials fo• deployment to support regional shoreline habitat "Living Shoreline". This project will continue to provide free shell to volunteer groups currently paying for their shell including the "Oyster Reef Restoration Project" at the Brevard Zoo. • City of Pahn Bay's Port Malabar Unit I Inlet Inserts. The city of Paltn Bay installed inlet inserts to capture sediment and floatables from stormwater runoff within the watersheds of Florin Avenue and Port Malabar Boulevard. • Canaveral Port Authority's Canaveral Inlet Lionfish Battle Plan. Lionfish are an emerging threat along the east-central Florida shoreline. Lionfish survey/cull in Canaveral Inlet will provide key data for lionfish invasive impacts and served as an initial lionfish reduction program. South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) continues to lead localized IRL restoration efforts and CCMP implementation throughout the southern IRL watershed. • SFWMD, in collaboration with FDEP, FDACS and local stakeholders, submitted the 2012 St. Lucie River Watershed Protection Plan to the legislature. This update focuses on the progress since 2009 toward meeting the plan's integrated, multi-phased goals. It also defines current and proposed nutrient reduction and storage projects and programs that will require funding for implementation and identifies the lead agencies responsible for implementation. • Since 2005, the South Florida Water Management District has been working with a coalition of agencies, environmental organizations, ranchers and researchers to enhance opportunities for 26 storing excess surface water on private and public lands. In addition to utilizing public land projects, the Dispersed Water Management Program encourages property owners to retain water on their land rather than drain it, accept and detain regional runoff, or do both. The total storage, retention and detention created by the Dispersed Water Management Program since 2005 is 46,920 acre-feet. • SFWMD through the CERP RECOVER program is monitoring IRL and St. Lucie River benthos, submerged aquatic vegetation, oyster reefs and water quality parameters in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Data is reported in the System Status Report (SSR) on Evergladesplan.org. The 2014 SSR will be completed and available online by summer 2014. The Coastal Ecosystems Section (CES) of the SFWMD is working in conjunction with our state and federal partners on the Central Everglades Planning Project, a first increment of the larger CERP. Analysis of the improvements made to the St. Lucie Estuary and Southern Indian River Lagoon is part of that effort. Hydrology, salinity, oyster and seagrass models were used in this effort to help quantify the effects of moving 200,000 acre feet of water-per year away from the northern estuaries and sending it south into the everglades systems south of Lake Okeechobee. • In 2013 under the Northern Estuaries Protection Plan, the CES will be updating the St. Lucie Watershed model to better reflect current conditions. This tool is used in the TMDL and BMAP programs as well as other restoration planning efforts. • The CES completed amulti-variate statistical analyses of water quality data collected in major drainage canals discharging into the St. Lucie Estuary and the Southern Indian River Lagoon to determine the linkage between spatial variations in water quality with basin-specific land and water management. The results support the ongoing pollutant loading reduction and ecosystem restoration programs. • The CES is developing and calibrating a water quality model for the estuary to better refine the nutrient budget for the St. Lucie Estuary. The St. Lucie River Issues Team was formed by the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Working Group in May 1998 and is managed by SFWMD. The Issues Team mission is to develop federal, state and stakeholder consensus on an action plan that would accelerate progress toward improving water and habitat quality in the St. Lucie River Estuary and IRL. This action plan assessed current problems in the estuary and lagoon and set direction for achieving improvements in both water quality and estuarine ecosystem functions (e.g., fish and wildlife habitat). The Issues Team has continued to solicit, rank and submit projects to the Florida Legislature. And to date, has received $63.7 million from the Florida Legislature, and an additional $2 million in federal funding for over 114 individual projects in Martin and St. Lucie counties. Cun•ent Issues Team projects are as follows: • Port St. Lucie Baffle Box Storm Water Quality Retrofit: This City of Port St. Lucie project will install baffle boxes on City-owned property to remove pollutants and improve storm water treatment in the City of Port St. Lucie Central Drainage Basin. The project is scheduled for completion in 2014. 27 • White City Drainage Project -Citrus and Saeger Avenues: St. Lucie County plans to construct roadside swales and a 4-acre detention pond to treat and attenuate stormwater runoff from alow- lying 42-acre residential neighborhood. The project is scheduled for completion in 2015. • Oyster Restoration and Estuary Observatory System for the St. Lucie Estuary: The Florida Oceanographic Society plans to restore oystet• habitat at two sites in the St. Lucie Estuary (SLE), establish 4 Kilroy monitoring stations with the SLE and create a water quality-themed exhibit at the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center. The project is scheduled for completion in 2015. • St. Lucie Estuary Oyster Reef Habitat Restoration Project: Mat•tin County will restore oyster reefs in the St. Lucie estuary by constructing 4-acres of habitat and a living shoreline. This restoration will improve water quality, provide habitat for hundreds of species, and increase resiliency to climate change induced sea level rise. The project is scheduled for completion in 2015. • High Point Water Quality Retrofit: The Town of Sewall's Point will provide stormwater treatment by constructing a 260 LF exfiltration system installed within the existing Town right- of-way redttcing pollutant loading currently degrading water quality and allow for seagrass propagation. The project is scheduled for completion in 2014 • Nitrogen (N) Speciation and Phosphorus (P) Transport from Agricultural Fields to the Indian River Lagoon: This research project will evaluate the bioavailability change, of N and P in stormwater during transport from its origin to destination and to relate N and P bioavailability to- Speciation dynamics and sediment chemistry. The project is scheduled for completion in 2014. • Indian Hills .Stormwater Retrofit: The City of Fort Pierce and St. Lucie.County will construct a treatment train including instahlation of six different Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) on 60 acres of jointly owned land. The improvements will provide water quality benefits for 1,242 acres of highly developed urban area. The project is scheduled for completion in 2014. • Establish the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center as an IRL Sentinel Site for Seagrass Health through Citizen Science Monitoring: The primary purpose of this project is to establish a sentinel site for assessing seagrass health to address the problem of increasing losses of seagrasses from the IRL. The project is scheduled for completion in 2015. • Characterization and Beneficial Use of Muck Sediment from St. Lucie County Waterways: the University of Florida/IFAS plans to chemically characterize the nutritional value and potential contaminants in the muck sediments and to develop technology for beneficial use of muck sediments for improving highway, parks, or vegetation grass media. The project is scheduled for completion in 2014. • Harbor Branch Preserve: The St. Lucie County Mosquito Control District plans to restore tidal flow to a 178-acre impounded salt marsh by restoring a perimeter ditch, reconstructing dikes to secure the impoundment structure and installing 20 culverts and a 24,000 GMP pump station to provide connection between the wetland and the Indian River Lagoon. The project is scheduled for completion in 2015. • The Collection of Fertilizer Nutrient Loading Data to Support the Establishment of Strict Residential Fertilizer Ordinances in Martin and St. Lucie Counties: Florida Tech. will provide needed data that will either prove or refute whether St. Lucie and Martin counties should 28 formulate fertilizer ordinances that are more restrictive in certain aspects than those ordinances currently existing. The project is scheduled for completion in 2015. • Groveland Reservoir/Stormwater Treatment Area (STA) Public/Private Partnership: This public/private partnership is to support a financial feasibility study for the Grove Land Reservoir and STA to answer questions relating to cost effectiveness and water demand to provide a basis for the project to move forward. The project is scheduled for completion in 2014. • Quail Run Stormwater Management Retrofit: The Town of Sewall's Point will add stormwater treatment by construction an exfilhation trench and baffle box, which will route stormwater flow to an existing dry detention area at the end of Quail Run Lane. This project is anticipated to reduce sediment into the hldian River Lagoon by 135.71bs. per year. This project is scheduled for completion in 2014. ® Amerigo Avenue Retrofit: The City of Stuart is creating a 1.26-acre dry detention area/exf7lh•ation and control structure that will provide 1.0 acre-feet of water quality treatment for the drainage basin. This project is scheduled for completion in 2014. Issues Team projects completed in since Apri12013 includes: • Danforth Creek Water Quality Retrofit: This Martin County project will re-direct flows from Danforth Creels into an excavated deep cell lake with littoral shelves and an STA, and construct a water quality control structure weir for detention priar• to discharging back into Danforth Creek. A second project component would serve a 90-acre sub-basin, of which roughly..55-acres have - - been developed prior to today's water quality standards,_and provide about 5.5 acre-feet of wet detention treatment. This project is scheduled for completion in 2012. • Paradise Parlc Stormwater Improvements, Phase 3: This St. Lucie County project-includes the construction of conveyance and treatment facilities for stormwater runoff from the Paradise Park Sub-division, which ultimately discharges into the Indian River Lagoon. This project is scheduled for completion in 2013. • - Canal No. 1 & 4 Stormwater Retrofit & Erosion Protection: Modified Phase IL• The Fort Pierce Farms Water Control District will reduce sediment loading to the estuaries of the Indian River Lagoon b addressing an area of severe stream bank erosion through the restoration hardening of the confluence of Canal 1 and Cana14. The Florida Department of Agricultural and Consumer Services (FDACS) develops and adopts Best Management Practices (BMPs) addressing water quality and water conservation applicable to commercial agricultural operations. FDACS has adopted BMP programs for citrus, sod, vegetableh•ow crops, nurseries, cow/calf, equine, and specialty fruit and nut operations. Florida law provides for farmers to reduce their impacts to water quality tln•ough the implementation of BMPs adopted by FDACS. Agricultural BMPs are practical, cost-effective actions that agricultural producers can take to reduce the amount of pesticides, fertilizers, animal waste, and other pollutants entering our water resources. Implementing BMPs benefits both the farmer and the enviromnent, and demonstrates agriculture's commitment to water resource protection. Approximately 351,322 acres of agt•icultm•al land within Btevard, Indian River, Martin, St. Lucie, and Volusia counties are em•olled in FDACS BMP programs as of December 31, 2013. The table below provides a breakout of em•olled acres by county and commodity. Although this is a decrease from the total 29 enrolled acres last year, enrollment in most commodities actually increased. The majority of the loss was due to the deactivation of NOIs representing citrus acreage that is no longer in production. Because the existing Leatherleaf Fern BMP was not verified by FDEP, FDACS no longer reports the enr olhnent figtues for that progt•am. It is also unclear how many of those nurseries are still in operation. FDACS is in the process of adopting a new comprehensive nursery manual that will include in-ground and cut foliage operations, and the ferneries previously enrolled under the Leatherleaf Fern BMP that are still in operation will be em•olled under the new manual. Acres 1~:1n•olled i^ FDACS OAWP BMP Pro grams (I2f31/2012) Count~• Citrus Co~i~/Calf - I+ruit & Nut l~, uinc Container Nursery Row Cro s Sod To(ct1 Brcvard 3,395.1 --- - 66,192.5 20.7 - 148.5 590.0 2,003.0 72,349.8 Indian River 42,204.8 11,776.7 163.5 100.0 325.0 54,570.0 _ Martin 17,984.5 59,245.6 10.0 1,442.4 15,680.4 381.7 94,744.6 St' Lucic 65,174.8 46,367.0 255.1 891.6 130.0 112,818.4 Volusia 153.0 15,822.4 7.7 10.0 247.0 10.0 589.6 16,839.6 Total 128,912.1 199,404.2 293.5 10.0 2,892.9 16,380.4 3,429.2 351,322.4 The County Alliance for Responsible Environmental Stewardship (CARES) program highlights efforts by farm owners~to improve natural resource management. The CARES program-is sponsored by the Florida Farm Bureau. FDACS provides support for the program in evaluating BMP implementation and .nominating growers for the award. Each county Farm.Bureau branch selects the award recipients, who ` are given a sign to post on their propet•ties identifying them as good stewards. For more than a decade, partnership-based Mobile h•rigation Labs (MILs) have been operating free of chat•ge throughout the state. MILS provide expertise in analyzing irrigation systems and educating agricultrual, commercial, and residential property owners on how to improve water use efficiency. They give recommendations on the improvement of existing irrigation systems and equipment, and inform their customers and the public on water conservation, irrigation planning, and irrigation management. Three MILS operate within the Indian River Lagoon Region: the Treasure Coast Resource Conservation and Development Council MIL via the St. Lucie Soil and Water Conservation District (agricultural), which serves Indian River, St. Lucie and Martin counties; the East Centt•al Florida Resource Conservation and Development Council MIL (agriculhu•al and urban), which serves Brevard County; and the Floridan Resource Conservation and Development Council MIL (agricultural) which serves Volusia County. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has contributed funding to a number of local government projects designed to improve water quality in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) and its tributaries. FDEP has staff involved with research and restoration activities benefiting the Indian River Lagoon as well. Listed below is a sampling of those projects and activities: • The Basin Management Action Plans for the IRL stakeholders to implement action toward achieving the nutrient TMDLs have been adopted by the FDEP. The Indian River Lagoon is in Category 5 of the TMDL cycle and was divided into 3sub-basins, Banana River, Not•th Indian River and Central Indian River. The first annual meeting for reviewing BMAP implementation projects was held in August 2013. 30 • The Basin Management Action Plan for the St. Lucie River and Estuary was adopted in May 2013. This plan is a collaborative effort of Martin, Okeechobee and St. Lucie counties; and multiple cities, water control districts and other stakeholders. The last Technical Advisory Committee meeting for this BMAP was held in February 2014. • The NPDES Permits for Domestic and Industrial Wastewater Facilities with surface water discharges have been revised to include new nutrient load allocations as contained in the adopted TMDL. Facilities continue to work to maximize reuse and minimize discharge into the IRL. • FDEP continues to monitor wastewater treatment plants throughout the IRL watershed for compliance with the Indian River Lagoon Protection Act. • The City of Cocoa Beach received a State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan from FDEP in 2011 for approximately $21.5 million for the construction of advanced wastewater treatment facilities and au injection well for aquifer storage and recovery of reclaimed water, to enable compliance with the nutrient wasteload allocation contained in the TMDL for the Banana River. Construction of the treatment plant improvements was completed in May 2013, and testing of the well is ongoing. • The City of Cocoa Beach was just recently (March 2014) awat•ded an SRF loan of just over $6 million for sewer rehabilitation and stormwater treatment. The Sewer Rehabilitation includes televising, cleaning the laterals and sewer mains, repairing manholes, and repairing or replacing the sewer mains to eliminate excessive Infiltration and Inflow. The Stormwater Itnprovemetrts ..project consists of installation of state-of--the-art, new technology treatment trains of the project _.. watershed sub-basins along the Minutemen Causeway which. is th8 main street corridor for the City of Cocoa Beach. All project basins currently discharge untreated stormwater into the Banana Rivea• Lagoon. With these improvements, installing a BMP Treatment tt•ain, achieves more nitrogen and phosphorus removal fionrdit•ect dischat•ge to the lagoon. • The City of Melbourne was awarded a State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan of approximately $5.6 million for construction of treatment and reclaimed water reuse improvements for the City's D. B. Lee WWTF in 2011. This construction project is almost complete. • The City of Edgewater was awarded a State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan of approximately $5.64 million to construct improvements to the advanced wastewater treatment (AWT) to increase reliability and maintain compliance. • The City of Cape Canaveral was recently awarded an SRF loan of just over $500,000 to complete improvements to the wastewater h•eatment plant including rehabilitation and upgrade of the oxidation ditch, and rehabilitation of the sludge belt press. Stormwater improvements include pipe replacement, street scaping, ditch dredging, and installation of new RCPs. • Brevard County received state TMDL cost-share grant finding in 2013 of $197,625 to construct stormwater improvements to the Chain of Lalses Pond Expansion Stage 2 that will intercept an existing canal that discharges currently to the IRL with no treatment. • Brevard County received state TMDL cost-share grant funding in 2013 of approximately $40,800 in addition to the previous federa1319 cost share grant for the Vallsaria Lakes project consisting of wet detention ponds converted from existing borrow pits with discharge into Goat Creels. 31 • Brevard County received state TMDL cost-share grant funding in 2013 of approximately $342,000 to construct the Fortenberry Regional Stormwater Management System, Phase 2. • Brevard County received state TMDL cost-share grant funding in 2013 of approximately $117,000 for the Brevard County Baffle Box Upgrade project. • Brevard County received state TMDL cost-share grant funding in 2013 of approximately $274,000 to construct the C-1 Canal Rediversion pump project in cooperation with the SJRWMD. • Brevard County also received federal 319 cost-share grant finding in 2013 of approximately $380,600 to construct the Fleming Grant Road Wet Detention Pond in cooperation with SJRWMD. • The City of Melbourne was awarded state TMDL cost-share grant finding in 2013 of $103,000 to construct improvements to the Highland Avenue Parking Lot, which drains to the Eau Gallie River. • The City of Sebastian was awarded a state TMDL cost-share grant in 2013 of $90,000 for the Sebastian Presidential Street Retrofit project. • Indian River County has been awarded a federal 319 cost-share grant of $850,000 to construct an - algal nutrient removal facility that will also provide treatment and dilution of demineralization concentrate tlu•ough blending and passing South Relief Canal Water tln•ough the algal nutrient removal facility. In 2013, additional state TMDL cost-share grant funding of $1,000,000 was obtained for the project and another approximately $377,000 is anticipated to be funded from state TMDL cost-share dollar's is anticipated. • The FDEP Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration (DEAR) staff have collected water quality samples related to potential reclassification of existing Class III waters where shellfish harvesting is allowed to Class II waters. Tlus reclassification effort is still ongoing. The Nature Conservancy • Pending The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continues to make progress on the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan South Indian River Lagoon (SIRE) implementation. The C-44 featm•e and the Troop Indiantown Water Control District Reconfiguration: All land has been acquired and design completed. Relocation of the Troop Indiantown Water Control District office has begun clearing the way for construction of the C-44 reservoir and stormwater treatment area. Worlc that has been underway during April 2013 through March 2014 has dealt primarily with preparing for actual construction of the reservoir and STAB, such as intake canals, access roads, drainage canals and outlets. In this timefi•ame, the C133 and C132A eastern canals were completed and opened to C-44 / St. Lucie canal, including culverts installation along Citrus Blvd. In 2012, Citrus Blvd bridge was completed and opened for use. 32 • Implementation of the C-23/24 Reservoir and Stormwater Treatment Area is temporarily on hold as the focus has shifted to construction of the C-44 features. All land has been acquired for the northern Stormwater Treatment Area and reservoir footprint. Near the completion of the C-44 features, detailed design will be reinitiated on the C-23 /24 reservoirs and Stormwater treatment area. During the past year, Brevard County has initiated and/or completed numerous stormwater treatment and outreach projects. Completed stormwater treatment projects include the following: Chain of Lakes Southern Expansion: This project expanded an existing system of stormwater ponds and created a new connection to treat stormwater flows from the Cone Rd ditch, which previously discharged directly to the Indian River Lagoon. This project was made possible by public-private collaborations between Brevard County, Titusville, Parish Medical Center, Brevard Community College, and St Johns River Water Management District. Land acquisition, permitting and design cost approximately $2M. The original Chain of Lakes system was constructed for $2.9M. A TMDL grant was secured to cost share some of the southern expansion construction costs and recreational amenities were funded by Parks and Recreation. Construction was completed in mid 2013, however grant required monitoring and outreach will continue into FY 14-15. • Florida Boulevard Floating Vegetated Islands: This project consists of installing floating vegetated islands in the existing Florida Boulevard Pond located east of Courtenay Parkway (State Road 3), south of Sykes Loop Drive and north of SR 520 and Diana Blvd. in, unincorporated Central Merritt Island. This 2.4 acre stormwater retention pond provides nutrient removal fora 170 acre drainage basin that discharges stormwater into the Banana River Lagoon. The floating island was installed in the summer of 2013 with grant-required monitoring and outreach extending into FY 13-14. Fountainhead Aquatic Vegetation Harvesting: This project was a pilot project for removing nutrients from a pond and canal by harvesting the dense growth of aquatic weeds. Typically, aquatic weeds at this location are controlled tln•ough herbicide use which kills the vegetation in place and leads to decay, release of nutrients, and organic muck buildup. This successful pilot project was made possible by partnership with the City of Melbourne, Brevard County Public Works and Solid Waste. Additional details and cost: benefit calculations are provided in a presentation on the enclosed CD. • Sarno Lakes Phase II improved drainage conveyance and diverted previously untreated water through three existing stormwater treatment ponds totaling 14.5 acres. The $5.2M project also diverts stormwater from the IRL, restoring the historic hydrological connection between the basin and the St. Johns River. Stormwater projects with construction underway inchtde the following: Pine Island: This project will improve water quality and reduce the duration of flooding within the North Merritt Island drainage basin. The project was divided into two phases to modify each of two existing borrow pits. The land is owned jointly by the St. Johns River Water Management District and the Brevard County Environmentally Endangered Lands program. Phase I involved expansion and regrading of the north borrow pit, installation of the first pump, and fabrication of a diversion weir within the Pine Island Road ditch to redirect stormwater runoff into the bon•ow 33 pit for water quality treatment. FDEP (319 & TMDL programs) provided $1,380,000 in grant funding towards Phase I of the project. Phase I construction was completed in September 2012. The Phase II portion of the North Merritt Island Pine Island Improvements is currently under construction. It will provide additional storage for water quality treatment and flood control. Phase II construction includes expanding and excavating the south borrow pit and installation of two more pumps to divert additional flow to the pits from the Pine Island Road drainage ditch. The FDEP 319 program awarded the County $800,000 for Phase ILof the project. Phase II construction began in late fall of 2013 with completion anticipated in the fall of 2014. Fortenberry Pond: This project involves multi-phase construction of a 22.3-acre regional stormwater• treatment pond on Merritt Island. In September 2009, the Merritt Island Redevelopment Authority (MIRA) purchased a 50-acre parcel to accommodate a regional water quality treatment/stormwater management system to serve roughly 170 commercially developed acres along the south side of SR 520. The first phase of construction, completed in November 2012, excavated nearly 11 acres of pond and provided immediate potential for economic redevelopment along the 520 corridor. Excavation of the Phase 2 area, an additional 11.65 acres, began construction in the Fall of 2013 using a combination of available stormwater assessment revenues, grants and commercial paper. West Cocoa: In 2011, a Watershed Evaluation Study identified 17 projects to reduce wide-spread flooding in West Cocoa. Funding was secured to complete five of the highest priority projects. Collectively, the funded improvements protect approximately 100 properties that were previously subject to frequent flooding inside their homes and businesses. Storage in upgraded conveyance channels provides water quality benefits to the St Johns River during low flow conditions.. The last funded phase is currently under construction, improving drainage~along Lake Drive from Range Road to Burnett Road and improving stormwater storage capacity in a new channel west of the intersection of Gray Rd and Lake Drive. A 20-acre parcel that was purchased for constructing the new canal contains uplands that could be excavated to provide additional wet pond treatment if additional funding becomes available. Brevard County anticipates that the following stormwater projects will be constructed during 2014: • Crane Creek/Lamplighter Phase II will redirect additional freshwater flaws to the St Johns River and away from the IRL by adding additional conveyance improvements under I-95 and by routing stormwater through multiple stormwater treatment ponds. Construction will commence in May. (Approximately $2.9M) C-1 Rediversion: This project will pump 14% of the freshwater flow from the C-1 Canal toward the St Johns River by upgrading existing pump stations near the western end of the C-1 Canal. The C-1 Canal was originally constructed to drain natural wetlands for agricultural use and has been maintained for flood protection. The canal serves a 53,777 acre basin by collecting flow from approximately 300 miles of feeder ditches and canals. Brevard County has partnered with SJRWMD to fund installation of two 100hp, 36-inch axial pumps, rated at 50 cubic feet per second (cfs), as well as the associated walkway expansions, electrical connections and electrical services required for this upgrade. Pump installation is anticipated to occur in the summer of 2014, with grant-required monitoring and outreach continuing for a year thereafter. • Wheeler Wet Pond #2 (alca Fleming Grant Pond) will treat stormwater collected from the Fleming Grant Road ditch in Micco. This project will be constructed through a partnership with the SJRWMD. The Dishict owns the land and will oversee construction. The County assisted in the 34 site design process and will fund consh•uction of Wet Pond #2 with some cost share provided by a state grant. (Approximately $625K) Baffle Box Retrofits (Haverhill, Manth, Alamanda, Rivershore #1848, Rivershore #1925, Cedar, Oak Ridge, Lucas, Indian River Isles, McGiver, Frankyn, 3`d Ave, 4t~1 Place, Thrush, Ocean Blvd, Corey Rd and Riverview): Approximately 90 sediment collection boxes have been installed throughout the county in areas where land was not available for larger, more effective, stormwater treatment projects. Many of the original boxes were designed solely to collect sediment. These hap leaves and grass clippings that release nutrients as they decay. In order to reduce nutrient loading from organic decay, 17 type lbaffle boxes located county-wide are currently being retrofitted with nutrient removal screens that separate organic debris from the sediment and hold it up out of the water. This includes 4 baffle box locations in BRL Zone B. The Micco I project consists of constructing 800 LF of exfiltration pipe with sump inlets to provide treatment for an 8 acre drainage basin, and a baffle box to provide additional treatment to a 37 acre drainage basin. A de-nitrification wall component has recently been added to the treatment train design to enhance nutrient removal effectiveness. These basins currently discharge untreated stormwater into the Sebastian River and the Indian River Lagoon. (Approximately $350K) • The Kingsmill project will provide drainage improvements in the Kingsmill/Aurora Road drainage area and j oin to the Upper Eau Gallie drainage improvements that were completed west of Tut•tlemound Road in 2009. Improvements include upsizing culverts, channel improvements, and an additional box culvert tinder Wickham Road. The City of Melborune is providing $250K .... of funding assistance through a Joint Participation Agreement with the County. (Approximately $1.8M) • South Lalce/Carpenter Rd De-nittifcation Pond Layer: This project will add a denitrifying layer to a dry retention area recently constructed to provide water quality treatment for a drainage system that outfalls to South Lake. The de-nitrification layer will enhance the nutrient removal effectiveness of the project. The improvements will be visited by classes from the nearby South .Lake Elementary School. Street Sweeping: County staff reviewed road data sheets to estimate that there are 1062 miles of county roadway that are constructed with curb and gutter. Street sweeping is currently conducted annually on 386 lane miles, or about 18% of the County's 2125 miles of curb lanes. Staff has recommended that 100% of curb lanes should be swept 8 times annually. It is estimated that this increase in sheet sweeping coverage and frequency would increase nitrogen load reduction from an estimated 7,333 pounds to 83,548 pounds per year. BMP Cleanout: Baffle Box/sediment trap cleaning is currently conducted annually. It is reconmrended that the County increase cleaning frequency to quarterly. This would increase nitrogen load reduction from an estimated 667 pounds to 2,667 pounds of nitrogen per year. The Brevard County Natural Resources Management Office (NRMO) offered the following outreach/educational programs and events in 2013: Education Efforts: stormwater Outreach is a vital component of our Watershed Management program. We strive to engage the community in activities that reduce pollutant loads at the source as well as projects that remove pollutants that have ah•eady entered the lagoon. Programs incorporate fim, hands-on activities like Rain Barrel workshops, Florida Yard and 35 Neighborhood workshops, oyster gardening, as well as interactive presentations with homeowner associations, civic clubs, and school groups. We constantly seek creative approaches to lead our community in best management practices that protect our precious water bodies. Outreach is conducted by our in-house Stormwater Outreach Specialist and tln•ough a contracted program -Blue Life. Brevard County leads a Blue Life partnership with 9 participating jurisdictions, the Brevard Zoo and Good Education Solutions. This Blue Life Partnership provides consistent messaging across jurisdictions, improves cost effectiveness, and provides a venue for volunteers to assist in this community matter. Outreach conducted county- wide during the first year of the BMAP includes six categories: o Outreach to Children: 118 presentations to 2,803 children o Outreach to Adults: 40 presentations to 2,185 people o Outreach at Special events: 16 events, 7,167 people o Florida Stormwater Erosion and Sedimentation Control for the Construction Industry: classes, 124 attendees o Pollution Prevention Employee Training: 21 training sessions, 421 employees o Public Engagement Projects: 20 events, 633 volunteers, 1,202 hours • Staff continued to partner with the University of Central Florida Stormwater Academy, Brevard County Cooperative Extension Service, municipalities and local businesses to provide nine rain barrel workshops for the public. • Staff partnered with the Cities of Melbourne and Palm Bay, Brevard County Water Resources and Cooperative Extension, Keep Brevard Beautiful, Inc. and the Indian River Lagoon National Estuaty_ Program to conduct a "Your Florida Yatd" Florida Friendly.LandscapingTM Seminar at - the Viera Holiday Inn, hosting over 250 attendees: ~• • Staff presented programs that described local watersheds, drainage basins, and Best Management Practices for homeowners. ,. • Staff presented to civic clubs and garden clubs on Stormwater projects in their areas and Best Management Practices for homeowners. • Staff coordinated with multiple partners to hold a "Wonders of Water Science Night" event at Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy and Cambridge Elementary Schools, as well as the Knowledge Exchange for reacl>inghnme-schooled children. Community partners assisted with water related activities for all grade levels. • Watershed science was presented to 8-12 year old students at the Brevard County Public Libraries as part of the summer reading program. • Brevard County continued outreach to local veterinarians to encourage pet owners to dispose of pet waste properly. Bacteria and nutrients from pet waste have been identified as a significant pollutant of the Eau Gallie River and Crane Creek, major IRL tributaries. "Bags on Board" waste disposal tools were distributed at area "dog" events such as Paws in the Park. • NRMO continued to partner with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the City of Palm Bay Public Works Stormwater Department to offer certification classes for construction inspectors and other construction industry employees on BMP's that reduce erosion on construction sites. 36 • Staff participated in events such as the Eco-Friendly Fest at Brevard Zoo, Secondary Science Teacher Conference, Rain Garden Workshops, Ocean Reef Festival, Earth Day at the Enchanted Forest and Hands Across the Lagoon. Oyster Gardening: In the fall of 2013, Brevard County partnered with Brevard Zoo to develop a program to engage 1000 waterfront property owners in citizen science to release one million oysters into the Indian River Lagoon in 2014.. To date, nearly 500 gardeners have been trained. An initial release of 100,000 oysters occurred in February. A second release of 450,000 oysters is scheduled for mid-April. The remaining oysters will be released in summet• or fall, as soon as volunteer oyster gardeners are trained and ready. Oyster gardeners clean their hanging gardens weekly and monitor survival, growth rates and natural recruitment. Their monitoring data will be used to site the best locations in the county for constructing oyster reefs and living shorelines. Fertilizer Outreach: Brevard County adopted an equivalent to the state model ordinance in December 2012. However, on March 6, 2014 the county amended its ordinance to contain four provisions common to local governments seeking greater water quality protection. New outreach opportunities are being explored to increase public knowledge of and carnpliance with the regulation. Brevard County's amended ordinance includes the following provisions that exceed the state model: o A 15 foot fertilizer-free buffer strip along waterways, o June -September blackout period for nitrogen application, o A nitrogen formulation requirement of at least 50% slow release, o Zero Phosphorus year-round unless a tissue or soil test indicates need. • The NRMO Website continues to offer-stormwater guidelines for homeowners and contractors, updates on NRMO projects, an Atlas of all County projects completed to date, and a calendar of events. The URL for the NRMO website is: htt~//www.brevardcounty.us/NaturalResources/Home The Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND) continues to direct navigational and enviromnental dredging projects and support boater education, habitat restoration efforts, waterway cleanups and recreational enhancement tln•oughout the IRL. Listed below are projects that FIND initiated, continued or completed in FY 2013-2014: • Continue publication and distribution of Florida East Coast Intracoastal Waterway Zone Brochures • Completed the design/permitting phase of dredging Reach 1 and 2 of Indian River County. Initiating dredging project. • Allowed contractor constructing storm-protection islands for the Fort Pierce marina to offload material from DMMA M-5 in St. Lucie Inlet • Completed Crossroads dredging project • Completed dredging of the Intracoastal Waterway with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the vicinity of Jupiter Inlet 37 • Initiated design, engineering and permitting of Dredge Material Management Area (DMMA) BV- 4B in Brevard County to support navigation and muck dredging • Completed construction of DMMA IR-2, Indian River County. • Initiated design, engineering and permitting of dredging of Reach 1 in St. Lucie County for navigation and water quality benefits • Continue support for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Clean Marina and Clean Vessel programs • Sponsored Waterway Cleanup programs in Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie and Martin County. • Funded the following projects through FIND's 2013 Waterway Assistance Program o Brevard County ^ Griffs Landing at Blue Crab Cove with Brevard County ^ John Jorgensen's Landing Boat Ramp with Brevard County ^ POW MIA Park Channel Dredging design and permitting with Brevard County ^ Public spoil site development with the City of Cocoa Beach ^ Lee Wemier Park renovation design and permitting with City of Cocoa o Indian River County _ Sebastian Working Waterfront with the City of Sebastian ^ Jones's Pier Waterfront hnprovements with IR County o St Lucie County "' ~""~ ^ Melody Lane Fishing Pier with City of Fort Pierce ^ C-24 Canal Park Boat Ramp with Coty of Port St. Lucie o Martin County ^ St Lucie Inlet Maintenance with Martin County ^ Waterways Master Plan with Martin and St. Lucie County ^ Working waterfront dock in Manatee Pocket The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC) has a number of completed and ongoing research and restoration projects in the IRL watershed: • Continued studying manatee use of secondary warm water refugia in Brevard and neighboring counties. FFWCC staff is monitoring water temperature, salinity, and the availability of fresh water and food sources among other factors at sites used by manatees between the months of November and March. • Ongoing monitoring of marine fisheries tlu•ough fisheries-independent, fisheries-dependent and life history projects for the assessment and management of fisheries resources. • Ongoing seagrass sampling at the restored spoil island (SL15) in Fort Pierce, a Florida Department of Transportation mitigation site. 38 • Continuing with a study on habitat utilization and resource partitioning of apex predators in coastal rivers • Continuing to work with the St. Johns River Water Management District and Volusia County to conduct dike removal/impoundment restoration on public lands in Volusia County. The project is funded through athree-year grant fi•om the NOAA National Coastal Program. A grant for Phase 2 was secured for an additional three years. • Continued a study of blackwater effects on coral stress at St. Lucie Reef in Martin County funded through the State Wildlife Grant program • Continued developing a Restoration Plan for Johnson's seagrass within its range funded by NOAH • Completed the demolition/renovation of buildings at the old New Smyrna Beach High School along Mosquito Lagoon as part of a Marine Eco-center development process. Facilitated occupation of admin building by Marine Discovery Center and a local artist group. Conducted design planning for construction of a 4-acre marsh on site. • Conducted monitoring of a reconnected historical oxbow along the North Forlc St. Lucie River funded through FWC's Lake Restoration program • Facilitated the development of a North Florida Estuarine Restoration Team and secured funding to develop a comprehensive planning document for NE FL tln•ough FDEP's Coastal Zone Management. Program (funds administered by SJRWMD) "` • Initiated a fisheries independent monitoring project in the northern Indian River Lagoon titled "Indian River Lagoon Enhanced Fisheries Monitoring and Pytoplankton Bloom Impact Evaluation" • Initiated a gear testing titled "The development of a standardized sampling program to monitor relative abundance of age-1 common snook in Florida estuaries." Florida Atlantic University, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (HBOI), with its scientific and technology expertise, ideal geographical location, and long history of research on the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), continues to be a strong contributor to finding answers to research questions regarding the many facets of the Lagoon. Harbor Branch researchers collaborate with other research institutions, federal and state agencies, not-for-profits, governmental bodies, and other interested parties to successfully advance this research and education. Projects and other activities related to the IRL in the past year include: Research• The Indian River' Lagoon Observatory (IRLO): Biodiversity and Ecosyste»z Function of an Estuaiy in Transition - IRLO is a long-term, multi-disciplinary, ecosystem-based program, that addresses emerging issues of environmental health in the IRL ecosystem. IRLO acquires and disseminates new and existing data and knowledge on components of the IRL critical to its ecological function and its sustainable management. 39 Land/Ocean Biogeochemical Observatories (LOBOS) for Intensive, Real-tune Water Quality Sampling in the Indian River Lagoon - IRLO research and education activities are enhanced by deployment of LOBO units that provide real-time, high-accuracy, and high-resolution water quality through a dedicated interactive website (http;//fau.loboviz.comn. We have deployed two LOBOS in and near the Harbor Branch Channel adjacent to long-term research sites; additional units will deployed throughout the IRL based on successful grantsmanship. These data provide scientists of various disciplines from many organizations reliable, continuous observatory data to better quantify and model relationships between environmental factors and biological processes in the IRL. They can also be used to follow the outcome of changes related to recovery measures and assist resource and policy managers with decision making. • Water Quality, Seagrass, and Macroalgal Monitoring in Central IRL -Another IRLO activity is high-frequency water quality and Seagrass/macroalgal monitoring along a water quality gradient near Vero Beach and Fort Pierce. This time series, initiated in 2005, demonstrates both human impacts and the tremendous climate-related interannual variability in IRL water quality and will be used in models of estuarine health in the lagoon. • Evaluating the Feasibility of Transplanting to Promote Seagrass Recovery in the Indian River Lagoon -Partnering with SJRWMD, FAU Harbor Branch researchers established experimental plots in July 2013, at tln•ee sites which have shown no recovery following the unprecedented loss of Seagrass due to the 2011 "super bloom". Our initial results suggest that, in the absence of grazing pressure, environmental.. conditions present at all three 'sites are favorable for Seagrass recovery. - • Ecology & Nutrition of Macroalgal Blooms in the IRL -Because persistent macroalgal blooms can reduce the prevalence and distribution of Seagrass, FAU Harbor Branch researchers are studying the composition and seasonal variability of blooms and the nutrients fueling them at more than 20 sites throughout the IRL from Jupiter Inlet to the Mosquito Lagoon. • Investigation of CyanoHABs in the IRL -Blooms of filamentous cyanobacteria in the IRL have been identified as an emerging, but little-studied, potential threat to marine organisms and humans: FAU Harbor Branch researchers are collecting and analyzing samples for incorporation into a larger model of IRL health. • Study of Bacterial Contamination of the IRL -FAU Harbor Branch researchers have been investigating microbial populations in the IRL focusing on two distinct areas: indicator species commonly found in contaminated waters (e.g., fecal coliforms, enterococci) and antibiotic resistant bacteria found in association with marine mammals. This work is intended to address a gap in long-term IRL datasets. • Estuarine Impacts on SLR: Determining the Effects of Changing Resozn•ce Management on Florida's Northernmost Coral Reef -FAU Harbor Branch researchers have been studying the coral reef south of the St. Lucie Inlet to assess whether the freshwater discharges affecting the St. Lucie Estuary are harming the hopical coral reef species at their northern limit of distribution in the U.S. • Plankton Ecology of the IRL -This project explored the role that microzooplankton play in the trophic transfer of planktonic primary production in the south-central IRL, including the 40 characterization of spatial and temporal variability in the structure of this community and measurement of primary production consumed by zooplanlcton. • Sources of Nitrogen & Phosphorus b~puts to the IRL - To help determine how land-use changes are affecting the IRL and enable science-based management decisions, FAU Harbor Branch scientists are analyzing stormwater from tributary relief canals and rivets in Indian River County to measure concentrations and determine sources of nitrogen and phosphorus. • The Effects of Onsife Sewage Treatment and Disposal Systems (OSTDS) on YT~ater Quality of the IRL -FAU Harbor Branch scientists are generating data characterizing the impact of OSTDS on IRL water quality in Indian River County by obtaining and analyzing groundwater and surface water samples from tln•ee relief canals and the St. Sebastian River, and through analysis of stable isotopes of nitrogen, carbon, sulfur, and elemental C:N:P in macrophyte tissue. Bottlenose Dolphin Stranding Response & Necropsy - As a member of the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Network, FAU Harbor Branch is responsible for responding to marine mammal stranding incidents in the IRL and near- shore ocean waters. The work tools on added significance in light of a bottlenose dolphin Unusual Mortality Event declared by NOAH Fisheries due to elevated deaths in the central and not•thern IRL and offshore waters. • IRL Bottlenose DolpJ~in Photo Identification -FAU Harbor Branch has been conducting photo identification studies ,of IRL bottlenose dolphins since 1996, and has identified more. than 1,700 individual dolphins. Arllong the findings enabled by this data is identification_of. adistinct IRL stock now breeding its third generation since the study began, and insights into breeding and social behavior. • Population Biology & Behavioral Ecology -Genetic studies of IRL and coastal. Atlantic bottlenose dolphins indicate that IRL dolphins are genetically distinct from coastal Atlantic dolphins and can be identified as such using three separate types of genetic methodology; one of which, MHC, is directly related to the immune response and environmental threats. • - .Epidemiology & Population Health Science -FAU Harbor Branch epidemiology research focuses on the health of IRL bottlenose dolphins as an indicator of the health of the ecosystem and potential implications for human health. Studies include assessments of mercury concentrations, the prevalence and patterns of antibiotic-resistant organisms and lobotnycosis, zoonotic diseases, and the pathophysiology of stress. • Environrnei~tal Correlates of Habitat use by Manatees in the Harbor Branch Channel Using Advanced Technologies - To assess enviromnental conditions accompanying thermal-refuge use by the endangered Florida manatee, as well as the use of advanced technologies to observe the species, FAU Harbor Branch scientists and engineers developed a program focused on the Harbor Branch channel, which is a common gathering space for IRL manatees particularly during winter months. Remote observation was complemented by a team of volunteer spotters. Broader Efforts to Foster Research: • Indian River Lagoon Symposium 2014 -Lagoon Biodiversity -For the third year in a row, FAU Harbor Branch and amulti-institution steering committee organized and hosted the Indian River Lagoon Symposium in February, providing a forum for all active researchers and agencies 41 working in the IRL to share research findings and discuss challenges and opportunities. About 300 people, with 60 o f them students, attended IRLS 2014. Program and abstracts of the 60 presentations are available at: http://indiam•iverla og on•org/s~posium.html. • Our Global Estzrary Workshop (October 21-23, 2013) -FAU Harbor Branch hosted this meeting of approximately 50 i nvited experts fi•om the U.S. east and west coasts, the Gulf of Mexico region, Alaska, and Australia. Our Global Estzrazy is a response to the urgent need to anticipate and manage changes in estuaries -locally critical ecosystems whose aggregate services are essential for regional and global sustainability. Areport from the workshop is in progress. Education: • Ti•aini»g of Graduate Students -Students are currently pursuing graduate degrees in FAU biological and environmental sciences degree programs, often using the IRL as a research site. Harbor Branch cotuses include Natural History of the b~dian River Lagoon, an interdisciplinary overview of the IRL ecosystem. Hands-on field and lab work focus on introducing students to the biodiversity of the IRL, its management, and human impacts. • Semester By The Sea -FAU Harbor Branch faculty provide undergraduate students with semester-long immersion in marine science, including extensive field experience in the IRL. • Harbor Sunrnrer Intern Program -This competitive program ath•acts top undergraduate and graduate. students worldwide fora 10-week immersion in projects that touch on all aspects of research at Harbor Branch, with many projects involving the IRL. • Marine and Oceanographic Academy (MOA) - MOA is a model for partnering a marine research institute (FAU Harbor Branch) with a public school system (St. Lucie County School District) to improve the scientific literacy of high school students and their teachers. MOA, located at Harbor Branch, is a magnet high school program of Fort Pierre's Westwood High School. Approximately 15% of the science courseworlc is taught by Harbor Branch instructors, with most of the field work done in the IRL. Indian River Cozmry Junior Scientists Fello~ns Progr°am -FAU Harbor Branch and the Indian River Land Trust have formed a unique partnership to fully engage high school students in the research and care of the environmentally sensitive 185-acre Coastal Oalcs Preserve. A team of Harbor Branch scientists and educators is sharing their expertise about problems facing our Lagoon and mentoring research conducted by the students to provide scientific information needed for conservation management of the Lagoon and its sensitive shoreline habitats. Public Outreach: • Ocean Science Lecture Series -The Ocean Science Lecture Series is a forum for Harbor Branch researchers and guest speakers to inform general audiences about their work and a range of ocean science and engineering concepts. Many of the lectures focus on IRL research. • Ocean Discover°y Center -The Harbor Branch Ocean Discovery Center provides the public with interpretations of Harbor Branch research and nearby marine envirmnnents including the IRL via a continually evolving array of interactive exhibits, small live animal tanks, video, and other displays. 42 ® Friends of Harbo~° Branch -Programs and special events for Friends of Harbor Branch and their guests include activities such as lagoon pontoon boat cruises, IRL spoil island cleanup, kayak trips, and visits to Harbor Branch research labs. Many of these activities provide the public with an appreciation of the IRL and what they can do to help. • Indian River Lagoon Video -This 6.5-minute video takes a look at the IRL with perspectives of some of the Harbor Branch researchers and Troy Rice, Director of the IRL National Estuary Program, and addresses critical issues facing this estuary of national significance. See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3 GDhX9HicI,s&list=UU6YvxeMtnm-aSNbhMKvk-Jg. St. Lucie County stormwater management projects in 2013 focused on retrofitting several existing neighborhoods in watersheds that ultimately drain to the IRL: ® Design and permitting of the Paradise Park Phase IV drainage retrofit was completed. This project will provide stormwater management, water quality treatment and paved roads to 55 acres of this 171-acre single family, residential neighborhood draining to the IRL via SFWMD Canal C-25. • Construction of the $6.6M Indian River Estates Phase II drainage retrofit is ongoing. The project will provide a drainage conveyance system to the pump station, alum injection and wet detention facilities constructed in Phase I of the project. When completed this system will provide stormwater management and water quality treatment to this 1,200-acre single family residential .._ . neighborhood draining to the IRL via the Savannas State Preserve, -Over 700 Lbs. of Total Nitrogen and 1,800 Lbs. Total Phosphorus per year are the expected reductions in the basin. • • Design and permitting of the San Lucie Plaza Master Drainage Plan was completed. This project will provide stormwater management, water quality treatment and paved roads to a 175-acre single family, residential neighborhood draining to the IRL via SFWMD Canal C-25. • Initiated construction of the $1.1M Citrus Saeger Stormwater Treatment Train. The project proposes a 4 acre stormwater treatment area along with several BMP's to treat runoff from a 40 acre residential neighborhood in White City draining to the IRL via the North Fork of the St. Lucie River. A reduction of over 100 Lbs. of harmful nutrients is expected from this project. New education programs in 2013 included: The Lagoon and You Resource Education Program by Cooperative Extension and the Oxbow Eco-Center. In October, the Enviromnental Resources Department began the year-long program with a grant award of $37,000 from the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program, through the St. Johns Water Management District. The program is educating more than 5,000 St. Lucie County youth and their families about the diversity and importance of the Indian River Lagoon and the effect of their footprint. Through an educational and interactive program, students are learning about the Lagoon's unprecedented variety of life, and how critical it is to protect the environment from human impacts. The focus is on preventing and reducing pollution. In partnership with the St. Lucie School Board, the program includes in-class presentations to 3rd-5`'' graders and field trips to the Indian River Lagoon. St. Lucie County is providing cash and in-kind match of up to $24,269 while the St. Lucie School Board is providing up to $25,575 in in-kind services (transportation costs). 43 Exotic Removal Projects in 2013 included: Treated 17 acres of Lygodimn and Guava (category 1 exotics) at D.J. Wilcox Preserve with the assistance of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. • Treated 6 acres of Lygodium (Category 1 exotic) at St. Lucie Village Heritage Park with the assistance of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. • Treated 15 acres of Australian Pine (Category 1 exotic) at Raccoon Island with the assistance of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection -Coastal Management Program, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In addition, 600 trees and shrubs were planted to fully restore the island. In 2013 the oyster reef program: • Completed 2358 square feet of oyster restoration at Wildcat Cove with the assistance of the IRL- NEP transporting oyster shell to the quarantine storage site and tln•ough the work of numerous community volunteers, bagging shell and placing the bags in the Cove. Additional construction has been postponed to allow for permitting of another oyster reef inside the adjacent mosquito control impoundment. • Initiated construction of a 8,200 square foot oyster reef at Site 1 (Fort Pierce Yacht Club area). 850 square feet filled to date. - - • Commenced planning discussions with County personnel to create an oyster reef near the Indian ~; Hills outfall. The Indian Hills Stormwater Treatment Area (STA) when completed. will eliminate much of the tannins and solids`emanating from this outfall. The effect of the STA on periodic' water discharges may either increase or decrease depending on factors such as connecting the STA to the Savannahs and connecting the STA to a larger drainage basin within the City of Fort Pierce. An oyster reef in this location would: • Not interfere with the function of the STA. • Act as a spreader Swale to reduce scouring from the outfall. • Act to enhance oyster reefs (Essential Fish Habitat) . • Possibly regenerate seagrass (another Essential Fish Habitat -see Indian Hills Outfall jpg (269 KB) to show where seagrasses are receding away from the Indian Hills outfall and the smaller Savannah Road outfall a few hundred yards to the south). • Be relatively inexpensive and quick to permit and install. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) manages the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge (PINWR) and the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (MINWR). Managing conservation habitats of that size requires a variety of tools ranging from conducting wildlife surveys to implementing wetland impoundment strategies to exotic vegetation removal. Pelican Island is norv assigned to the Everglades Headwaters Complex, instead of the Merritt Isl~atd Complex. PINWR: • Tl>ioughout 2013-2014, refuge staff and volunteers continued to treat Category I and II invasive species across 400 acres of the refuge, including Preachers Island (approx. $SK). Jarst received funding (appr°ox. $30K) to treat 1 SO acres which will be completed by June 2014. 44 • Tln•oughout 2013-2014, Marine Resource Council (MRC), Environmental Learning Center (ELC) and Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FLDEP) restored 10 acres on Preachers, Paul's and Nelsons Islands through exotic removal and the installation of 15,000 wetland plants ($SOK). • Pelican Island phase IV restoration study completed by Coastal Resources Group ($35K). • Island clean-ups continue on IR4, IRS, and IR6 through volunteer efforts and outreach activities. • The refuge continues to participate in waterway clean-ups and derelict crab trap removal (approx. $500). • In 2013, FL DEP installed 3 oyster trees north of Paul's Island to monitor spat in an effort to research oyster reef restoration (approx. $500). • Throughout 2013-2014 FWC, refuge staff and volunteers monitored Pelican Island's bird roosting and nesting activity (approx. $3K). • Thoughout 2013-2014, Samuel Koltinslcy, with Marvo Entertaimnent, filmed at the refuge in preparation of the documentary about Paul Kroegel, "America's Gatekeeper" (approx. $1K). • Water. quality continues to be monitored near Pelican Island and submitted through Lagoon Watch with MRC (approx. $300). _ • Pelican Island designated "wilderness" monitoring plan was completed and implemented (approx. $6K). _ . • Bi-annual sea grass surveys were completed and data submitted to the St Jolms River Water Management District (SJRWMD) (approx. $500). • Fish sampling with Florida Institute of Technology was conducted in refuge waters of the IRL (approx. $200). • Lion fish surveys were completed in cooperation with FWC (approx. $400). • Annual diamond back terrapin surveys completed by FL DEP, refuge staff and volunteers (approx. $1K). • UCF continues to net sea turtles in the IRL to collect morphometric data. MINWR: Boating safety and Resource Protection: Two Refilge Officers spent over 300 hours patrolling the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) by boat and enforcing State, Federal and U.S. Coast Guard regulations. At least four hours each workday were spent checking bank anglers, totaling over 1,000 hours annually. The officers also worked details with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), and Brevard County Sheriff (marine sanitation, BUI, resource checks, and navigation/safety checks). Over 100 citations and warnings were issued for fishing 45 violations, 55 citations and warnings were issued for boating violations and over 30 citations and warnings were issued for manatee zone violations. The Refuge Officers average five search and rescues each year on the IRL. ($100K) To provide a quality fishing experience and minimize wildlife and habitat (seagrass) impacts, the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (MINWR) established two pole and troll zones within Mosquito Lagoon in 2005 (2,949-acre and 194-acre). Additionally, a 10,600-acre Federal Manatee Zone (no motor zone - NMZ) is located within MINWR in the Banana River. These protected areas are popular for boating and fishing. This year the refuge staff received several requests from fishing guides and anglers to increase the acreage of pole and troll zones in Mosquito Lagoon. Unfortunately, limited staff and reduced budgets prevent adequate enforcement of current zones and the development of additional protection zones at this time. This year, refuge officers documented each manatee zone/sign on and adjacent to the MINWR. Working with FWC, staff docwnented each sign's condition and location, and noted if the zone should be expanded. The signs within the Federal Manatee Zone are scheduled to be replaced in the near future depending on available funding. ($15K) Management of Impounded Marsh and Environmentally Sensitive Lands: MINWR manages 26,000 acres of impounded wetlands (55 impoundments; 140 miles of levees; 430 water control stt•uctures) to enhance waterfowl and migt•atory bird food production, control mosquito breeding, , and enhance healthy salt marsh habitat. Water levels and salinity are monitored and managed. Staff monitored the productions of submerged aquatic vegetation in the impoundments managed for wintering waterfowl. Management actions are conducted in coordination with conservation initiatives such as the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, U.S. Shorebird Plan, and North American Waterbird Conservation Plan. This year the refuge repaired 7.5 miles of eroded levee in the Jack Davis impoundments. ($175K) • Prescribed fire is the primary habitat management tool for coast scrub habitat. Between October 2012 and September 2013, 6,500 acres were prescribed burned on MINWR. During the same period, 19 wildfires burned 5,000 acres on the refuge. ($400I~) • The refuge monitors and maps invasive non-native plant infestations to track effectiveness of herbicide treatments and ensure follow-up treatments. Staff, volunteers and contractors treated 1,419 acres of exotic plants ($120K). • Approximately 2,500 feral hogs were removed from the refuge by staff and permitted trappers ($15K). • Endangered and Threatened Species Management Population monitoring was conducted on several federal tht•eatened and endangered species: Florida scrub jays, sea turtles, and Southeastern beach mice. Scrub jays were monitored to determine their response to the prescribed burn program. Beach mice were surveyed to determine the presence/absence of the species across the coastal landscape and correlate with desired habitat conditions (partners: NPS, 46 NASA, Air Force). This past summer, 1080 loggerhead, 509 green and three leatherback sea turtle nests were counted along the six miles of refuge beach. Post emergence analyses were conducted to determine hatchling success. Predation of nests was monitored and predator control measures implemented to minimize nest predation. ($172K) • Gopher tortoises (Candidate Species -Endangered Species Act) were surveyed on 6,141 acres using line transect distance sampling during the spring and summer. Results of the survey estimated about one tortoise per 6.5 acres or about 6,000 tortoises on the refuge. ($30K) Public Involvement and Education MINWR hosts over 1 million visitors each year. The refuge conducts enviroimiental education programs for local schools and on-site and off-site outreach programs. Many of the visitor activities/programs highlight the IRL. Interpretive signs at boat ramps, the Manatee Observation Deck, and Haulover area provide information to visitors about the IRL • The refuge has an "Adopt an Area" program with 21 groups conducting tlnee clean-ups per year at designated refuge sites. Additionally, 10 scout groups conducted clean ups at Dmnmitt Cove and Haulover Canal. The refuge partnered with Keep Brevard Beautiful on September 21, 2013 on International Beach Cleanup day to pick trash at the Haulover area. New York Mellon employees conducted a cleanup on October 25, 2013 for six hours and contributed $1,500 to the Merritt Island Wildlife Association. Several families also conducted cleanups on the refuge. Volunteers empty trash cans at five refuge boat ramps two times a week. ($ l OK) • The refuge worked with Anglers for Conservation and hosted two "Hook Kids on Fishing" programs (Apri127, 2013 and March 9, 2014). An Aquatic Wild Teacher Workshop was facilitated at the refuge visitor center on May 11, 2013. The refuge participated in the Titusville Sea Turtle festival in June 2013. The refuge staff and volunteers staffed an exhibit table at the "Hands Over Lagoon" event in September. An IRL workshop was held on December 12, 2013 at the MIN WR Sendler Education Pavilion. ($20K) • The refuge is currently working on the development of two IRL informational panels which will be displayed in kiosks at the Haulover Canal ($11K). • The refuge staff and volunteers provide scheduled manatee programs at the Manatee Observation Deck and Bairs Cove boat ramp throughout the year. ($SK) • Approximately 3,000 students participate in various environmental education programs each year. Nine seining, water quality and mangrove programs and five manatee programs were provided to school groups. Seven Brevard Zoo's Lagoon Quest programs were held at the Sendler Pavilion. Unfortunately six Zoo programs were cancelled due to the federal government shutdown in October, ($20K) • Economic Analysis In November, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released the 2013 Banking on Nature report 47 (http://www.doi.~ov/news/loader.cfm?csModule=security/ eta file&pa~eid=380921), which included MINWR. According to the analysis, the refuge contributes $60.4 million per year to the local four-county area. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is the world's leading conservation organization worl~ing to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. TNC has a strong presence in the IRL region focusing on the areas of invasive species management, oyster habitat restoration and ocean mapping. Statewide General Permit for Low Profile Oyster Habitat Restoration The Gei~ei°al Pern2zt fo~° the Restoration, Establishment and Enhance»ae»t of Lore Profile Oyster Habitat became effective on 10/01/13 as part of the new statewide Enviromnental Resource Permit rule. Designed for small- scale restoration projects, this is the first general permit specifically for ecological restoration of oyster reefs and an important step in the state's recognition of the need for restoration of oyster reefs for more than just harvesting. The Nature Conservancy's Florida Chapter spearheaded development of the permit with valuable input from representatives of the Army Corps of Engineers, Charlotte Harbor NEP, Florida Department of Enviromnental Protection, Indian River Lagoon NEP, St. Johns River Water Management District and the University of Florida, as well as stakeholders statewide. The permit can be found at the link below: https•//www flrules org/ atg eway/RuleNo asp title=ENVIRONMENTAL%20RESOURCE%20PE KNITTING&ID=62-330.632 ® Oyster Restoration Habitat Restoration Monitoring; and Assessment Handbook The Oyster Habitdt Restoration Monitoring and Assessment Handbook- developed'by NOAA, TNC, FAU • and University.of South Alabama, with input from many shellfish scientists and practitioners - • ~ was finalized iri January 2014. The handbook provides a template for "universal" metrics to use when creating monitoring plans for oyster restoration projects (e.g. reef areal dimension, reef height, `oyster density, and oyster size-frequency distributions). The doc"izment also provides a template for restoration goal-based metrics for specific ecosystem services. Metrics for enviromnental variables are included to aid with interpretation of universal metrics data (e.g. water temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen). Collecting data in this uniform way will allow for the comparison of projects across a variety of scales and restoration approaches. The handbook can be found at the link below: http•//www habitat noaa goy/pdf/O~ Habitat Restoration Mouitorin~ and Assessment Han dboolc.pdf Invasive Species Mana eng lent TNC led or assisted with coordination of the Treasure Coast Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (TC CISMA). TC CISMA is a regional invasive working group that includes northern Palm Beach County, and all of Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties. Major partners inchide TNC, Florida Park Service, Martin County, St. Lucie County, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Palm Beach County, Natural Resource Conservation Service-Resource Conservation and Development Program, Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council, Florida Native Plant Society, Florida Forest Service, Florida Grazing Land Coalition, and University of Florida/IFAS. Other participants include FPL, The Boy Scouts of America, Institute for Regional Conservation, and South Florida and St. Johns Water Management Districts. TC CISMA's mission is to implement a comprehensive, cooperative approach across boundaries to address the threats of invasive species within the Treasure Coast. Highlights from the past year include: five cooperative multi- agency workdays within TC CISMA boundaries; renewal of the 5-year multi-agency workday MOU; participation in National Invasive Species Awareness Weelc with a cooperative multi- 48 agency workday on The Boy Scouts of America Camp Tanah Keeta Scout Reservation; continuation of Scaevola taccada removal and resto~•ation on one private land; leading the Natural Areas Training herbicide license certification classes; presentations at FVMA and FLEPPC Annual Symposium; outreach events held at county fairs, Florida state park festivals and outdoor shows; and coordination of an invasive training workshop with the iJF/IFAS and FFS Program. South Atlantic Bight Marine Assessment (SABMA) The Natut•e Conservancy continues to support Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning efforts by developing the South Atlantic Bight Marine Assessment (SABMA). The purpose of the SABMA is to characterize natural systems and tlu•eats, and identify conservation priorities both in nearshore areas and the deep ocean. The initial stage of the SABMA process is to enhance the understanding of regional coastal and marine environments, along with the relationship between the organisms and the ecosystems they inhabit. Doing this requires synthesizing geospatial data on species and natural system distributions, geology, oceanography and chemistry that characterize the distribution of natural systems and species. The Florida portion of the SABMA covers the state's entire Atlantic Coast from the Georgia border south to the Dry Tortugas. 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O F ~ ~ I-a O M ~ U b s ' .c Fa~~ G o C b A y ~ ~" ~' U r Ua CYO t0 'xx o ~ ,v v ~'"~aaa c ~ •G o in ~ '3 .~ ~ u . 2 !A ~ ° y ~ ~ ;~ C W O v !~ ~ .. ~ q ~ Q ,n o ~ v .v o ~ E P. ,~ a ~ v $ ,$ ,,~ v U~ ~rn~~ ~~O ~ V a ~. ~. ~ ~ ~' N N O q ' U P1 VYiW QUUUN''7 ~Q > N a Section C.3. IRLl~EP Clean Water Act Implementation The IRLNEP CCMP established under Section 320 of the Clean Water Act (CWA) and in compliance with the CWA has developed partnerships with federal, state and local governments, non-profit organizations, academia and the IRL region citizens. These partnerships form the framework for consensus, ecosystem based management strategies designed to restore and maintain IRL water quality and habitat. The FY 2014-2015 IRLNEP Work Plan directly or indirectly supports all of the CWA core programs. Highlighted in this section are specific examples of programs and projects implemented in the IRL basin that are directly related to CWA. Activity 2 Grants Writer/ Facilitator. The project is funded entirely by the IRLNEP as a mechanism to assist local governments in meeting the challenges of financing projects that implement the IRL CCMP. Many local governments have utilized the services of the IRL NEP grant writer to identify new funding sources, prepare grant proposals and join with other partners to help implement CCMP Action Plans. This project directly supports the IRL NEP goal to identify and develop long-term fimding sources to implement CCMP prioritized projects. Without offering grant writing assistance to IRL local governments via this project, it is highly unlikely that these activities would be completed. Clean Water Act Implementation Information IRLNEP has a primary role in this project. This project directly supports the objectives of the CWA to restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the Nation's waters and to control point and non-point sources of pollution,,The grants writer has submitted to the Florida Department of Ertvromnental Protection Clean Water Act Section 319 and state TMDL funding applications for projects that include the development'of stormwater parks, and installation of.treatment train methodology systems in older, highly urbanized treas. • Activity 7 Molecular Too Development and Implementation to Advance Monitoring of Pico- and Nano-Planktonic Algae in the IRL Tl>is project provides funding support for the development of monitoring tools to rapidly detect and quantify planl~ton algae species responsible for harmful algae blooms in the IRL. The data collected from this monitoring generates core information for seagrass and water quality evaluation and development of related performance measures and compliance criteria for the TMDLs associated with the lagoon's impaired waters. Clean Water Act Implementation Information The IRLNEP has a primary role in this project. The project complies with CWA to identify polluted waters and develop plans to restore them (TMDLs). 53 C.4. Discussion of External Factors Impacting the IRL NEP FY 2014-2015 WORK PLAN IMPLEMENTATION During 2013 and early 2014, the IRL NEP continues to work with the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) within the newly created IRL Protection Initiative to improve the management, protection, restoration and sustainable uses of the lagoon focusing on four core values; base decisions on rigorous and objective science-based evidence; build internal and external partnerships with mutual trust, respect and participation; communicate cleat•ly and honestly; and evaluate and adapt consistently. The Initiative started in the spring of 2013, to respond to, and investigate the causes of the 2011 algal superbloom, the reoccurring brown-tide blooms of 2012 and 2013 and the resulting loss of over 47,000 acres of seagrass habitat within the northern and central IRL. The Initiative is a $3.7 million dollar, 5- year effort to complete an Algal Bloom Investigation and four capital projects within the SJRWMD's portion of the IRL. The main concern is that the IRL system is becoming more eutrophic, particularly in the northern reaches where major blooms of long duration (months) are becoming more frequent. Eutrophy, in the case of the IRL system, can be described as aphytoplankton-dominated system with reduced seagrass cover and ditninislung fisheries. Given the recent sequence of major blooms, and the ~•eal potential for major blooms in the firture, there is a compelling need to expand the 2011 superbloom investigation. The IRL Algal Blooms Investigation (IRL-ABI) will build upon long-term, multi-agency sampling efforts and the 2011 superbloom investigation. Tluough IRL-ABI, the SJRWMD intends to employ additional diagnostic resources and expertise to better understand the troubling shift in the Lagoon's primary production and to develop suitable measures to reverse it. The IRL-ABI aims to improve the scientific understanding of the primary producer and consumer assemblages, especially causal links between variation in drivers and forcing factors and the initiation and maintenance. of phytoplankton blooms. This improved understanding will be translated into sound recommendations for managing controllable drivers to prevent or ameliorate major blooms that are harmful to seagrasses. Thus, completion of tb-is project work will (1) improve knowledge of infaunal and epifaunal grazers and (2)improee an understanding of grazing pressure and its potential to act as a "top-down" control on phytoplankton blooms. The IRL NEP contributed approximately $207,000 in support of the Initiative under the FY 2013-2014 work plan, targeting these funds towards the work of the Initiative's Ot•ange Team that is investigating the lagoon's phytoplankton species composition, zooplanlcton grazers, and invetebrate grazers and fish. There are two primary objectives of this work to determine the identity and abundance of infauna and epifauna occurring in the region affected by the recent algal blooms and document spatial and temporal variation in key components of the infaunal and epifaunal assemblages during the project; and too estimate clearance rates for grazers that could exert substantial top-down control of algal blooms, with a focus on species that dominated recent blooms. In addition, the IRL NEP hosted a very successful National Estuaries Day event in 2013 called the Hands- Across-the-Lagoon (HAL), working with 38 partners throughout the watershed to organize and support a day of community support for the estuary. On September 28, 2013, over 5,300 people turned out on a rainy Satruday morning to show their support for the restoration and protection of the IRL by j oining hands over eight causeway bridges in five lagoon counties. Additional lagoon supporters showed up for lcayalcs across the lagoon when nearly 100 kayakers, paddle boarders and canoeists joined together to show their support for the estuary. Public concern and the need for information about the lagoon has expanded exponentially since knowledge of the seagrass habitat loss became public and the massive polluted freshwater discharges occurred from Lake Okeechobee into the St. Lucie River and southern IRL during the summer of 2013, 54 resulting in "the lost summer" throughout much of the southern portions of the lagoon. The Unusual Mortality Events (UME) declared by NOAA Marine Fisheries following the deaths of hundreds of manatee and bottlenose dolphins in the estuary has also raised alarm and concern about the lagoon. Currently (as of Apri12014) 211 manatee have been included in the lagoon UME since January 2013, and 179 dolphin since July 2013. Over 300 Pelican also died in the central IRL watershed in the spring and summer of 2013 of unknown causes. As a result, the media has featured the lagoon in numerous stories and articles, including the NY Times, CBS News, Al Jazeera America and other national and international media outlets. In fact the TC Palm newspaper covering the southern segments of the lagoon has. made the IRL an on-going featured section of their newspaper and on-line articles; and the Daytona News-Journal released a five part series of the lagoon's challenges in the fall of 2013. Because of the increased focus on the lagoon, the IRL NEP Director has been providing numerous public presentations throughout the watershed to hundreds of residents, and elected officials. At the present time all IRL NEP FY 2013-2014 Worlc Plan projects are being implemented on schedule and within budget and the IRL NEP staff is in continuous communications with the project leads to insure outcomes are achieved and tasks are met. In 2014, the State of Florida is rebounding from the economib downturn of 2008-2012, and tourism and the housing industry are continuing to comeback. These are the two primary revenue sources for the state generated through sales tax and property tax collections. Florida does not have an individual income tax. With increasing revenues the state legislature may allocate additional funds to the IRL in 2014 in an attempt to address many of the concerns of the past year. The majority of projected state funds are targeted to the southern IRL and Everglades restoration projects. Some funds may become available for environmental muck dredging in the central IRL and Eau Gallie River tributary. The IRL NEP prepared a __ $750,000 grant application to the Florida Inland Navigation District (an IRL NEP Board member) on behalf of tho SJRWMD for Eau Gallie muck dredging, as a follow-up to the previous $150,000 award for Eau Gallie dredging design and permitting. A summary of continuing FY2013-2014 work plan projects is included as Section C.2. and precedes this narrative. In 2013, the Program's contracted grants writer successfully submitted $900,000 in Sec. 319 grant applications and $1,087,000 in TMDL grant applications primarily for two stormwater capital projects, one in Cocoa Beach and the other in Ft. Pierce to improve the quality of stormwater prior to discharge to the IRL. Other notable achievements iiichide on-going support by the Program for several volunteer-based habitat enhancement projects, research into the sources of nitrogen to the lagoon, work to determine if more restrictive local government fertilizer ordinances are needed, assessing future seagrass habitat viability in relation to sea level rise, and several on-going education and ouh•each projects tlu•oughout the watershed. 55 Section D. Clean Water Act Travel Funds Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program FY 2013-2014 Travel Cost Personnel Travel Dates Propose Location Cost Tro}~ Rice 10/2/2013 to 10/3/2013 Treasure Coast Council of GOER and travel to Washington DC for Washington D.C. briefing of congress $ 223.37 Chutes Jacoby 10/22/2013 to 10/25/2013 Attend Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Conmiission's Lionfish Cocoa Beach, FL Smnmit $ 358.76 Charles Jacoby 10/28/2013 to 11/1/2013 Attend meetings with Brevard County and the Melbourne Zoo on behalf Palm Bay, FL of the Indiu~ River Lagoon National Estuary Program $ 474.68 Puticipate in a meeting of the Basin Management Action Plus Chines Jacoby 12/ 10/2013 to 12/11/2013 stakeholdei~as; participate in a review of plans for a project at Grand Palm Bay, FL Harbor $ 136.91 IRL Initiative Team Meeting & Meeting with Jeff Cole; presentation to the FL Dept of Health Ceuhml Dish'ict Retreat; attend the Florida Inlu~d Palatka, FL; Odu~dq FL; Troy Rice 12/5/2013; 12/12/13 ; 12/13/13 Navigation DisVict Board meeting; presentation -Attend DBHYDRO Sebastian, FL training; attending Sebastian IRL Workshop $ 257.03 Attend a meeting of the Ilidiau River Lagoon National Estuary Program Charles Jacoby 2/L8/14 to 2/19/14 Advisory Board, meet with Dr. Jon Shenker of the Florida Institute of Palm Bay, FL Technology $ 155.78 Troy Rice 2/24/14 to 2/27/14 EPA urd ANEP annual meeting Washington D.C. $ 992.43 Chutes Jacoby 2/5/14 to 2/7/14 Attend the hidiui River Lagoon Symposium and deliver a presentation Vero Beach, FL $ 112.11 Troy Rice 3l13/14to3/14/14 Tampa Bay NEP Teclmology Transfer and attendance at TB Nitrogen Tampa Bay, FL MgmtConsoitium $ 47.00 Total $ 2,758.07. • • Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program FI' 2013-2014 Travel Cost (Estimate to end of FY) Personnel Travel Dates ~ Purpose Locatim~ Cost Charles Jacoby & TroyRice Multiple Dates/Smmuer 2014 Atteud meetings and provide presentations as required Mrdtiple $ 4,241.93 Total $ 7,000.00 56