TO: The Honorable Board of County Commissioners
THROUGH: John A. Titkanich, Jr., County Administrator
Michael C. Zito, Deputy County Administrator
Beth Powell, Parks Recreation & Conservation Director
FROM: Wendy Swindell, Parks, Recreation & Conservation Assistant Director
DATE: March 19, 2025
SUBJECT: St. John's River Water Management District Project Agreement Amendment for the South Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area
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BACKGROUND
The South Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area (SORCA) was acquired through cost-share funding with Florida Communities Trust. SORCA consists of three parcels: (1) the 66-acre Salama & Emerson Tract acquired in 2000; (2) the 6.69-acre “South Link’ acquired in 2004; and (3) the 70-acre Diamond Tract acquired in 2005. The property is located on the south side of Oslo Road directly across from the Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area.
Hydrologic changes within the Indian River Lagoon have affected the hydrology within the County’s lagoon-front conservation areas. Increased water levels have resulted in a shift in native plant communities from upland to transitional wetland. To mitigate these effects, staff submitted a grant application to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Resilient Florida Program. The grant was submitted through the St. John’s River Water Management District (SJRWMD); the SJRWMD is administering the grant, and is also providing matching funds for this project. Funding for the grant is $200,000, with the County providing $50,000. The FDEP approved the grant and provided Contract #38600 for execution by the Board. The Board approved Contract #38600 on January 9, 2024.
ANALYSIS
The schedule for the completion of the grant was not amended by FDEP to reflect a delay in providing the Contract to the County. Currently the term of the Contract expires on March 31, 2025. The SJRWMD has provided an Amendment to the Contr...
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