Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Henry A. Sniezek
Department: Environmental Protection Division: Environmental Planning & Comm. Resilience
Information
Requested Action
title
MOTION TO ADOPT budget Resolution No. 2020-095 within the Environmental Monitoring Laboratory contract fund in the amount of $1,814, for the purpose of recognizing revenues from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) for contract services in support of the FDEP - Coral Reef Conservation Program 9 (CRCP9 Program). Services are provided in support of water quality monitoring during construction projects near coral reef resources as part of Southeast Florida Coral Reef Ecosystem Conservation Area for the counties of Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade from January 1, 2020 to June 30, 2020.
body
Why Action is Necessary
Appropriating revenue requires approval by the Board of County Commissioners.
What Action Accomplishes
Recognizes revenue provided by the State of Florida for services delivered by the Environmental Monitoring Laboratory in support of the CRCP9 program that monitors water quality in areas of construction near coral reefs and the relationship between photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), nephelometric turbidity units (NTU), and total suspended solids (TSS).
Is this Action Goal Related
Yes
Previous Action Taken
None taken
Summary Explanation/Background
THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE DIVISION RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTION.
This item supports the Commission’s Value of “Encouraging investments in renewable energy, sustainable practices and environmental protection” Goal 4: Educate the public about the fragile South Florida ecosystems, impacts of severe weather, sea level rise, and climate change, with special emphasis on the coral reef ecosystem and Goal 5: Support and seek local, state, and federal funds for coastal management of coral reefs through collaboration with other governmental jurisdictions, by providing support and services to augment coral reef monitoring, conservation and protection.
Approval of this item recognizes reimbursement received by County’s Environmental Monitoring Laboratory (EML) from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) as part of the Coral Reef Conservation Program 9 (CRCP9), for analytical services performed in support of water quality monitoring during construction projects near coral reef resources. In Fiscal Year 2019, the EML was contracted by FDEP to provide analysis of Total Suspended Solids (TSS) during the construction of the Jupiter Island Nourishment project in Palm Beach County. This current project will deliver this same TSS analysis for samples associated with a beach nourishment project for Delray Beach.
The FDEP’s turbidity criterion states that turbidity should not exceed 29 NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Units) above background in state waters during construction projects. This criterion is generally recognized to be too high to be adequately protective of coral reefs resources; however, there has not yet been sufficient data specific to Southeast Florida to substantiate a lower NTU standard. The most biologically relevant components of turbidity are TSS and Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR). Environmental data provided by the EML as part of this and related projects will aid the FDEP and others in evaluating the relationship between NTU, TSS and PAR to potentially update the State’s turbidity criterion standard.
Source of Additional Information
Dr. Jennifer Jurado, Chief Resilience Officer and Director, Environmental Planning and Community Resilience Division, (954) 519-1464
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
The Broward County Environmental Monitoring Laboratory (EML) will conduct analyses of Total Suspended Solids under a contract agreement using the EML’s Fee Schedule. The cost of chemicals, laboratory supplies and analyses will be provided via contract revenues of $1,814. No additional funds will be required from the County.