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:
FY 22/23 Revenues - $60,000 Grant (to Fund 1700) and $6,000 in donations (to Beaches, Boating and Waterways Fund 0032). The donations are used as the local 10% match that is required for the grant.
Dept/Office:
Natural Resources Management Department
Requested Action:
Recommendation
It is requested that the Board: 1) Authorize the Chair 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 at the County permitted Brevard County Artificial Reef Site 2. 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 due east of Port Canaveral. Site depths range from 76 ft. to 88 ft. This 3085-acre site was selected due to its lack of hard bottom features and its expanse of open sandy bottom. 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 construction and deployment of at least 15 prefabricated artificial reef modules at the County’s site. Materials will be placed in a single patch reef cluster within the County’s permitted site. This project will be the eighth in a series of patch reefs the county intends to create within the larger permitted site.
Current project partners include the Florida Sports Fishing Association, Central Florida Offshore Anglers, the Coastal Conservation Association, the Florida Institute of Technology, and the University of Florida’s Brevard County Marine Extension Service. The Florida Sports Fishing Association, Central Florida Offshore Anglers, the Coastal Conservation Association have each pledged $2,000 to cover the local match requirement for the grant funds.
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 and attest one (1) original copy of the attached Grant Agreement (FWC-22001). Contact Matt Culver at matt.culver@brevardfl.gov for pick-up of the executed document.