Subject:
Title
Permission to Accept a Grant from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Matching Fund Donations for Artificial Reef Construction
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Fiscal Impact:
$60,000 of grant revenue (Fund 1700) and $6,000 in donation revenue (Boating and Waterways Fund 0034) used as the 10% local match required for the grant.
Dept/Office:
Natural Resources Management Department
Requested Action:
Recommendation
It is requested that the Board: 1) Authorize the Chairman to execute an Artificial Reef Construction Grant Agreement between Brevard County and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; 2) Accept matching fund donations; 3) Authorize staff to competitively bid and the County Manager to execute a construction contract with the lowest responsive and qualified bidder; and 4) authorize associated Budget Change Requests.
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Summary Explanation and Background:
The Brevard County Boating & Waterways Program is actively pursuing funding to deploy artificial reef material within the permitted Brevard County Artificial Reef Site 2 area. Artificial reefs link ecological, recreational, and economic objectives. By developing a well-managed artificial reef site, the County seeks to increase viable habitat for key recreational and commercial fish species along Florida’s Central Atlantic coast. It has been shown that well-managed artificial reef sites can be a driving factor for recreational and commercial fishing as well as diving. Regional growth in recreational and commercial use directly increases expenditures at regional waterfront businesses such as bait shops, fishing and diving charters/businesses, and boat rental/sales locations, thus motivating the economy of the associated shoreline community and the region.
The permitted Brevard County reef site is located approximately 15.5 nautical miles east of Port Canaveral. Site depths range from 76 ft. to 88 ft. This 3,085-acre site was selected due to its expanse of open sandy bottom and lack of hard bottom features. The site is mostly uninhabited, with the exception of scattered starfish, sea urchins, and calico scallops. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission grant is for the transport and deployment of at least 125 tons of clean secondary-use concrete structures or limestone boulders placed in a single patch reef cluster within the County’s permitted site. This project will be the ninth in a series of patch reefs created within the larger permitted site.
The Florida Sports Fishing Association, Central Florida Offshore Anglers, and the Coastal Conservation Association have each pledged $2,000 to cover the local match requirement for the grant funds. Additional project partners include the Florida Institute of Technology and the University of Florida’s Brevard County Marine Extension Service.
Staff requests permission to accept the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Artificial Reef Construction Grant and associated donations, authorize any necessary budget change requests, and authorize staff to advertise for bids and the County Manager to execute a construction contract with the lowest responsive and qualified bidder.
Clerk to the Board Instructions:
Please execute (1) original copy of the attached Grant Agreement (FWC-24034), see page 29 of 29. Contact Agustin Sebastian at agustin.sebastian@brevardfl.gov <mailto:agustin.sebastian@brevardfl.gov> for pick-up of the executed document.