RESTORE ACT Direct Component Multiyear Plan Matrix — Department of the Treasury OMB Approval No. 1505-0250

Applicant Name:

1. CUMULATIVE DIRECT COMPONENT ALLOCATION AVAILABLE FOR DISTRIBUTION TO APPLICANT: 

3. Primary Direct Component Eligible Activity 

Further Described in Application (Static Field)

4. Activity Number and Activity Title 

(Static Field)

5. Location - Municipality(ies) 

(Static Field, locations also shown 

on attached map)

6. Total Funding Resources For Activity Budget (refer to Instructions)

7. Proposed 

Start Date 

mm/yyyy

8. Actual Start 

Date 

mm/yyyy 

(Static Field)

9. Proposed 

End Date 

mm/yyyy 

10. Actual End 

Date 

mm/yyyy 

(Static Field)

11. Proposed High Level Milestones 

Further Described in Application

6a. Direct Component 

Contribution

6b. Other RESTORE Act 

Contribution 

6c. Other Third Party 

Contribution 6d. Total Project Budget

Restoration and protection of the 

natural resources, ecosystems, 

fisheries, marine and wildlife 

habitats, beaches, and coastal 

wetlands of the Gulf Coast Region

Student-led Habitat Restoration in 

Okaloosa County Okaloosa County parks $87,590.18 $124,409.82 $212,000.00 Jan-18 Dec-18

grow plants. planting activities. 

begin monitoring. growing 

plants. planting activities; 

evaluate and compile 

monitoring data

Promotion of tourism in the Gulf 

Coast Region, including 

recreational fishing

The NeighborWood at Emerald 

Coast Science Center Fort Walton Beach, FL $87,598.21 $0.00 $87,589.21 Feb-18 Jan-19

Planning; constrction; open to 

public.

Infrastructure projects benefitting 

the economy or ecological 

resources, including port 

infrastructure

Multi-use Outdoor Community 

Facility Niceville, FL $80,777.61 $0.00 $80,777.61 Feb-18 Jan-19

Develop engineering designs; 

Select contractor; initiate 

construction; Complete 

construction; Open the facility 

for public use and enjoyment

Mitigation of damage to fish, 

wildlife, and natural resources Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center Fort Walton Beach, FL $87,181.43 $150,000.00 $237,181.43 Feb-18 Jan-19

Drawings and permits; 

equipment ordered and 

foundation poured; pools 

installed/refurbished, LSS 

equipment installed; shade. 

Lighting, decking; operations 

commence; project completion

Promotion of tourism in the Gulf 

Coast Region, including 

recreational fishing

Okaloosa County Snorkel/Dive

Reef Construction Okaloosa County $1,196,559.77 $1,050,000.00 $2,246,559.77 Feb-18 Jan-19

Preliminary Design and 

Regulatory Permitting; start 

construction; complete 

construction; documentation 

of success.

Infrastructure projects benefitting 

the economy or ecological 

resources, including port 

infrastructure

Economic Revitalization of 

Niceville's Historic "Old 

Downtown" Niceville, FL $389,289.71 $100,000.00 $489,289.71 Feb-18 Jan-19

Obtain purchase agreements; 

Obtain appraisals; validate and 

clear title; Conduct closing on 

property and obtain title; 

Project closeout

Promotion of tourism in the Gulf 

Coast Region, including 

recreational fishing

Clement Taylor Park Restoration 

and Pathway Destin, FL $729,918.20 $1,228,706.30 $1,958,624.50 Feb-18 Jan-19

Start; Permitting; Out to bid; 

Construction; Project complete

Okaloosa County, FL

$9,803,325.13 $42,481,257.95

2. TOTAL ALLOCATIONS PLUS KNOWN FUNDS NOT YET DEPOSITED IN TRUST FUND FOR DIRECT 

COMPONENT: 
Infrastructure projects benefitting 

the economy or ecological 

resources, including port 

infrastructure

Fort Walton Beach Landing

Waterfront Improvements Phase Fort Walton Beach, FL $1,070,024.07 $510,000.00 $1,580,024.07 Feb-18 Jan-19

Design; Permits Applied for; 

Permits Received; 

Construction. Downtown 

Master Plan (Economic 

Analysis). Water Sampling 

Program (Ecological): Baseline 

Sampling; Post-Construction 

Sampling Start (Monthly Basis)

Promotion of tourism in the Gulf 

Coast Region, including 

recreational fishing

Capt. Royal Melvin Heritage Park 

and Plaza Destin, FL $1,216,530.33 $250,000.00 $1,466,530.33 Feb-18 Jan-19

Permitting; Out to bid ; 

Construction begins; 

construction complete; Park 

opens

Infrastructure projects benefitting 

the economy or ecological 

resources, including port 

infrastructure

Laffitte Crescent Stormwater

Infrastructure Retrofit Fort Walton Beach, FL $420,432.88 $0.00 $420,432.88 Feb-18 Jan-19

Contract Advertisement;

Contract Award;

Project Execution;

Complete Project

12. TOTAL FUNDING FOR BUDGET (refer to Instructions) $5,365,902.39 $0.00 $3,413,116.12 $8,779,009.51

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 1505-0250. Comments concerning the time required to complete this information collection, including the time to review 

instructions, search existing data resources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information, should be directed to the Department of the Treasury, RESTORE Act Program, 1500 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20220.
RESTORE ACT Direct Component Multiyear Plan Narrative 

OMB Approval No. 1505-0250 

Eligible Applicant Name: Okaloosa County, Florida

Name and Contact Information of the Person to be contacted (POC) on matters concerning this Multiyear Implementation Plan:

POC Name: Jane H. Evans

POC Title: Grants and RESTORE Manager

POC Email: jevans@co.okaloosa.fl.us

POC Phone: +1 (850) 651-7521

B. PROVIDE A BRIEF NARRATIVE THAT DEMONSTRATES:

1. The need, purpose, and objectives for each activity, including a detailed description of each activity.

Note: The following 10 projects are being submitted as Phase I of the Initial Multi-year Plan (MYP). The County intends to submit 

Amendments for future Phases which will include additional projects described in the detailed MYP, at a future date following 

Treasury’s acceptance of the Initial MYP. Projects costs are estimates and project grants will include project oversight costs by the 

County. 

The projects and activities proposed for funding in the Okaloosa County Multiyear Implementation Plan include the following and are 

described in more detail below: 

1. Student-Led Habitat Restoration in Okaloosa County ($87,590.18) 

2. The NeighborWood at Emerald Coast Science Center ($87,589.21) 

3. Multi-use Outdoor Community Facility ($80,777.61) 

4. Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center RESTORE ($87,181.43) 

5. Okaloosa County Snorkel/Dive Reef Construction ($1,196,559.77) 

6. Economic Revitalization of Niceville's Historic "Old Downtown” ($389,289.71) 

7. Clement Taylor Park Restoration ($729,918.20) 

8. FWB Landing Waterfront Improvements Phase 1 ($1,070,024.07) 

9. Captain Royal Melvin Heritage Park and Plaza ($1,216,530.33) 

10. Laffitte Crescent Stormwater Infrastructure Retrofit ($420,432.88) 

1. Student-Led Habitat Restoration in Okaloosa County ($87,590.18) 

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The project will address environmental degradation in the coastal and estuarine portions of the 

Choctawhatchee watershed. Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance (CBA) proposes a student-led restoration initiative that will restore 2.5 

acres of salt marsh habitat and 3.2 acres of dune habitat at public sites in Okaloosa County. CBA scientists and trained AmeriCorps 

members will guide a student workforce as they grow, maintain, and plant native vegetation to restore ecosystem function to eroded 

salt marsh and dune habitats. The Direct Component funding requested for this project will be used solely to fund restoration of these 

habitats. Any associated outreach components will be funded through other sources. 

NEED: Project activities and outcomes are directly referenced in the Northwest Florida Water Management District’s (NWFWMD) 2005 

Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) Plan. The SWIM Plan calls for an increase in salt marsh habitat to contribute to 

the Bay’s recovery and resilience in the face of natural and anthropogenic stressors that have degraded and threatened salt marsh in 

Choctawhatchee Bay. Dune restoration through revegetation is recommended in the Henderson Beach State Park Unit Management 

Plan (Florida Department of Environmental Protection [FDEP] 2013) as a mechanism to provide habitat. 

PURPOSE: To provide efficient, high-quality coastal and estuarine habitat restoration to recover the ecosystem services associated with 

those habitats. Increased dune habitat will provide refuge and feeding habitat for the federally-listed, endangered Choctawhatchee 

beach mouse, nesting habitat for snowy plovers and least terns, and protection for inland areas. Increased salt marsh habitat will 

provide refuge and feeding habitat for invertebrates such as blue crabs, mud crabs, marsh periwinkles, and shorebirds such as blue 

herons, green herons and willets, decrease shoreline erosion/increase sediment stabilization, and increase filtration and storage for 

stormwater runoff. 

OBJECTIVES: This request is to fund the following activities over two consecutive school years. 

1) Grow and plant 3,300 sea oat plants to restore 3.2 acres of dune habitat. 

Students participating in this project will grow, maintain and plant 3,300 sea oats to restore 3.2 acres of dune habitat along the Gulf of 
Mexico. CBA staff will coordinate with Florida State Parks and the Okaloosa County National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) 

agent to plan restoration activities at Henderson Beach State Park and John C. Beasley Parks, respectively. Under the direction of CBA 

scientists and trained AmeriCorps members, students will grow 4-inch sea oat plants at their schools over a 6-month period. The plants 

will be site-appropriate, NRCS-approved Uniola paniculata. At the end of the 6-month period CBA scientists and AmeriCorps members 

will guide students as they plant sea oats along degraded dune habitat to achieve maximum dune building services. Sea oats will be 

planted on 2-5 foot centers as recommended by the NRCS planting guide for Uniola paniculata. 

2) Grow and plant 23,000 smooth cordgrass plants to restore 2.5 acres of salt marsh habitat. 

CBA scientists and trained AmeriCorps members will train and guide students participating in this project to grow 23,000 Spartina 

alterniflora (smooth cordgrass) plants at salt marsh nurseries located at their schools. CBA scientists will coordinate with trained 

AmeriCorps members and local municipalities to plan and design salt marsh restoration activities at public, Choctawhatchee Bay-front 

parks. Under the guidance of CBA and AmeriCorps, students will place 4-inch smooth cordgrass plants to restore a total of 2.5 acres of 

salt marsh habitat at designated eroded shoreline sites. The Spartina alterniflora will be site-appropriate as defined by FDEP Northwest 

Florida Aquatic Preserves Office. 

DIRECT COMPONENT FUNDS: 100% of direct component funds will be spent on materials and supplies and staffing needed to 

accomplish the restoration of 3.2 acres of dune habitat and 2.5 acres of salt marsh habitat. The $124,409.82 in third-party contributions 

from Okaloosa County Schools, Walton County Schools, US Fish and Wildlife Service and Boeing Company will cover unmet materials

and supplies expenses, as well as travel and equipment needed to complete the project. 

2. The NeighborWood at Emerald Coast Science Center ($87,589.21) 

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: This project will improve a 30,000 square foot tract creating bog environments and native plant exhibits as 

well as providing an interactive learning environment in order to increase Green Tourism for Okaloosa County and the Gulf Coast. 

The NeighborWood, a naturalized exhibit space and environment, will provide areas that are highly stimulating and inviting while

serving as a connection to the natural world, as well as helping mitigate damages to weakened Gulf Coast ecosystems created by the 

Deepwater Horizon incident. The NeighborWood will blend several regions, including: 

• A covered pavilion will provide an area for educational lectures, as well as special events. 

• A 500 ft meandering trail will showcase 40+ native plants which provide several microenvironments for native birds, reptiles,

invertebrates and mammals. 

• A waterlogged bog garden stocked with native flora will be created in the center of the trail, providing a niche where local insects and 

other invertebrates live, reproduce and benefit the NeighborWood food chain. 

• Innovative outdoor exhibits and activity stations will foster creative learning and engagement with STEM concepts within the targeted 

environment. 

• Kits will be available to borrow which will contain scientific observation tools such as binoculars and field guides for self-guided 

BioBlitz activities. 

The NeighborWood’s strategic plan will be implemented in three phases over the period of one year. Phase 1 involves construction of 

the pavilion and outlining the trail. Phase 2 entails creating the bog environment and native plant area. Installation of interactive play 

areas will be completed in Phase 3. Revenue generated through rental of the NeighborWood pavilion for non-ECSC functions add to the

sustainability of this project and ensure funds will be available to maintain and upkeep the grounds. 

The project will be monitored and evaluated by the biological community on a bi-yearly basis by volunteers. Bird, reptile and 

amphibian counts will be done by members of the local Audubon Society, local members of The Center for Snake Conservation and the 

North American Amphibian Monitoring Project to catalogue species and provide data on increased biodiversity. Flora counts and 

classes will be offered by Okaloosa County Master Gardeners and Okaloosa County Cooperative Extension Service. 

NEED: In our community, tourism revenue declined by more than 14 percent in the weeks following the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster. 

Development of this eco-based tourist attraction based on our local environment, will enable the ECSC to mitigate documented 

economic losses while increasing Green Tourism for Okaloosa County and the Gulf Coast. This exhibit will help to bolster tourism to the 

Emerald Coast by providing an enhanced attraction for visitors. 7% of visitors to Florida (VISIT Florida Research) come to visit our 

Museums, by improving our facility, ECSC hopes to help Okaloosa County capture their share of those 7% of visitors. The Science Center 

saw over 12,000 Museum visitors through our 2015-16 (July 1 – June 30) fiscal year. Our goal for this project includes a 5% increase in 

Museum visitors. This added opportunity for eco-tourism will promote visitors to the Okaloosa County area and encourage tourists to 

visit venues beyond the beach. 

PURPOSE: The NeighborWood is a project designed to improve a 30,000 square foot tract owned by ECSC for wildlife, citizens, and

tourists of all ages. This naturalized outdoor learning environment is designed to offer integrated experiential education on many 

levels. This exhibit will help to bolster tourism to the Emerald Coast by providing an enhanced attraction for visitors. 

OBJECTIVE: We are all creatures of our experience, and our common experiences shape the conventional wisdom by which we operate. 

By creating an interactive area that incorporates the features highlighted above, the NeighborWood will encourage visitors to foster a 
love and respect for our fragile Gulf Coast ecosystems, while emphasizing the need to protect them. Environmental awareness has

increased significantly since the Deepwater Horizon spill. While the full extent of the Deepwater Horizon disaster’s effect on Gulf Coast 

ecosystems will take years to unfold, ECSC’s NeighborWood aims to lessen the impact by not only providing a sanctuary for native flora 

and fauna, but also offering the community a place to reconnect with the environment and gain a better understanding of the 

importance of stewardship. 

Local business partners Lowe’s, Navarre Lumber, Ace Hardware and Trees Unlimited have agreed to donate materials. Eglin Air Force 

Base Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Hurlburt Air Force Base fire fighters crew, Okaloosa Building Industry Association, and the 

Gulf Coast Council of Boy Scouts, among others have committed to support the NeighborWood’s development and longevity through 

educational partnerships and community service. A robust network of volunteers capable of creating and caring for the 

NeighborWood are actively being recruited from Choctawhatchee High School, Fort Walton Beach High School, Northwest Florida State 

College, Eglin AFB and Hurlburt AFB. 

This exhibit will help to bolster tourism to the Emerald Coast by providing an enhanced attraction for visitors. 

3. Multi-use Outdoor Community Facility ($80,777.61) 

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: This project will transform otherwise unimproved property into a highly visible, attractive outdoor area for the 

public to use adjacent to the Chamber Commerce and welcome/visitor center. The project will primarily address the direct costs of 

materials to construct gazebos with concrete slab flooring, walkways, benches and seating areas, resurfaced parking, fencing, waste 

receptacles, landscaping, lighting, signs, utility building, storm water management and related costs to the currently unimproved 

property. The Chamber of Commerce will manage and monitor use of the facility as part of their normal business. 

Location: The parcel of land is located within the city limits of Niceville in Okaloosa County and is owned by the City of Niceville and 

leased by the Niceville Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce. The parcel adjoins the parking lot of the Chamber of Commerce. It is 

unimproved property that is not being used to its best advantage considering the prime location and placement near the largest 

business organization in the Niceville area. The designed improvements will be handicap accessible and will preserve and enhance the 

natural beauty of the property. The facility will be considered a public infrastructure as the land is owned by the municipality and will 

be available for use by the general public. 

NEED: Due to the prime location and mixture of land use surrounding the proposed facility (Twin Cities Pavilion - county-owned 

assisted living facility, Disabled American Veterans, Children's Advocacy Center, Single Family Homes and Palm Plaza Shopping Center) 

this facility will transform otherwise unimproved property into a highly visible, attractive outdoor area for the public to use. Because the 

Chamber serves as a welcome/visitor center, guests will be able to use the amenities and will be able to walk to nearby businesses and 

extend the time they spend, in turn bringing additional revenue to nearby businesses. Since this property is a vacant parcel now, all 

activity will be an increase over that of the past and will be monitored and measured by the Chamber. 

PURPOSE: Currently, the residents of Twin Cities Pavilion and the local community have very little outdoor space where they are safe to 

enjoy fresh air and outdoor exercise. In addition, the project will serve the Disabled American Veterans facility on the south side of the 

parcel. Other neighbors at the Children's Advocacy Center, Sharing and Caring of Niceville and the Emergency Management Station will 

also benefit from this project. All of these organizations are located within the same block in Niceville. 

OBJECTIVES: Improve identified parcel located in Okaloosa County to its highest and best use to provide practical use by citizens and 

organizations through a partnership between the Chamber of Commerce, the City of Niceville, and Okaloosa County as a multi-use 

outdoor facility for community functions and recreation including fundraising and other community functions in addition to the regular 

use as an outdoor location to be used by visitors and locals who may be in the area or may come to the area to patronize local 

businesses. 

Continued use and maintenance of the parcel will have a lasting impact on the environment and will be enjoyed by many as a lasting 

improvement of the quality of life. Other benefits include: 

• No permitting or land acquisition costs are required. 

• Design concept is established and will be finalized upon approval of funding. 

• While there are several outdoor recreational areas in Niceville, there are not any within close proximity to meet the needs outlined 

above. 

• Risks to implement and maintain the project are minimal, if any. 

• Current employees will be utilized although some work will be contracted with local businesses. 

Labor for the majority of the project will be provided as an in-kind investment by the City of Niceville with an estimated value of 

$13,000. 

4. Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center RESTORE ($87,181.43) 

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park (GMAP), known simply as "The Gulfarium" by residents and guests, has a rich 
history in sea turtle exhibition, care, rehabilitation and release. It is estimated that "well into the hundreds" of these protected species 

have been cared for and returned to the Gulf of Mexico since 1955. Currently, GMAP employs an animal care staff of up to (8) individuals 

dedicated in part to sea turtle rescue, rehabilitation, and release. Veterinary care is funded entirely by GMAP. 

Phase 1 of the C.A.R.E. (Conserve. Act. Rehabilitate. Educate.) Center will comprise six pools: one 20 ft in diameter, one 12 ft in diameter, 

and four 6 ft in diameter. This phase will cost an estimated $240,000.00, $150,000.00 of which will be funded by Gulfarium Marine 

Adventure Park. The requested $87,181.43 (Direct Component Funds) will provide the funding necessary to refurbish fiberglass pools 

and to purchase and install state-of-the-art Life Support Systems (filtration). The scope of work requires permit acquisition, hiring of 

contractors/crews, continued operational and financial support by GMAP, and two additional staff to be retained. Future phases of the 

Center include additional pools, hospital, classrooms, lab space, natural history educational opportunities, outreach programs, etc. 

resulting in increased staffing and budgetary support. 

To expand on the need for the project and how refurbishing two fiberglass pools and installing a filtration system will address the need: 

the Gulfarium received the fiberglass pools as donations to support our sea turtle conservation efforts. In order for the pools to be 

transported to the Gulfarium, the structures were disassembled, thus requiring fiberglass refurbishment in order for them to be in 

usable condition. The extra four 6 ft diameter pools are already on site as well, however, they do not need refurbishment. In the past 5 

years, we have seen a noticeable increase in the number of sea turtles requiring care and rehabilitation at the Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center. 

Since 2012 the number of sea turtles needing rehabilitation has increased, we saw an 80 % increase from 2012 to 2013, 22 % increase 

from 2013 to 2014, 154 % increase from 2014 to 2015, and we are on track for a 50 % increase from 2015 to 2016. Similar facilities 

throughout the state of Florida are also seeing increased demand and are also attempting to create additional facilities to 

accommodate patient load. The increased demand is attributed to pollution, food source, depletion, disease, weather changes, and 

increased public presence and fluctuating trends in sea turtle populations. The scope of this project will more than double our current 

capacity of sea turtle patients that we are able to treat at any given time. This includes not only animals needing care in the Okaloosa 

county area, but sea turtles that need rehabilitation from as far away as New England and the Eastern Seaboard. 

NEED: While the rescue program has seen more than 20 animals successfully released in the past three years, it has done so operating at 

a maximum capacity of its four 6 ft diameter pools. Cold stunned sea turtle numbers have increased over recent years, as have the 

number of animals entangled by, or that have ingested fishing gear. Boat strikes are common. These, along with the threat of potential 

oil spills, have created the critical need for additional sea turtle rehabilitation facilities. The addition of the pools will more be more than 

double the pools space we currently have. 

Currently, sea turtle conservation has limitations and constraints based on federal regulations by the United States Fish and Wildlife 

Service (USFWS) as well as the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). This includes captive breeding and thus introduction of any 

offspring. Response to stranded and compromised sea turtles lie squarely on the shoulders of Gulfarium’s program (under permitting 

by FWCC) in the surrounding county area. Not only has a measured increase in emerging diseases, interaction with personal and 

commercial fishing gear, and environmental inconsistencies occurred in the ecology of these endangered and/or threatened animals, 

but toxin exposure from scenarios such red tides and oil spills have made survival more difficult. Sea turtles fill an important role in the 

marine ecosystem of the Gulf of Mexico, and their extinction from the environment would change the already fragile balance we 

observe today. In order to protect this resource, rescue, rehabilitation and release must continue as a major function of enhancement 

and preservation of this iconic species. 

PURPOSE: The scope of this project will more than double our current capacity of sea turtle patients that we are able to treat at any 

given time. In January of 2015, the Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Foundation became an incorporated 501(c)3, with IRS exemption approval 

pending. The creation of the Foundation will enable the Center to hire its own staff, as well as allow for volunteers to participate in 

operations. While GMAP staff will continue to manage the rehabilitation program after Phase 1 completion, the C.A.R.E. Foundation will 

eventually assume these responsibilities by selecting a Program Manager and supporting staff, estimated with an initial staff of five 

having a wage scale from $24,000 to $100,000. The project is simple in artistic design, but requires expertise to assemble and operate 

from a life support (filtration) perspective. Technologies are already utilized in accredited aquariums (like GMAP), and available through 

vendors in the state of Florida. Given Gulfarium's sea turtle rehabilitation performance record, the risk to implement and maintain is 

minimal to none. 

OBJECTIVES: The scope of this project will more than double our current capacity of sea turtle patients that we are able to treat at any 

given time. The Gulf Coast, specifically Okaloosa County and Ft. Walton Beach, receive national media attention when successful sea 

turtle releases occur. This affords the C.A.R.E. Center the opportunity to promote its relationships including the RESTORE Act funding 

should this project be funded. That relationship is based on the mutual commitment shared to support the environment, tourism, and 

the local economy. 

100% of the Direct Component funds will be used to refurbish the two 20‘ and 12‘ fiberglass pools and to purchase/install filtration 

systems. Approximately $150,000 funded by the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park will be used to pay for the concrete pad, 

infrastructure and utility installation for the quarantine facility that the refurbished pools and filtrations system are going into so that 

the entire quarantine system is functional. 

5. Okaloosa County Snorkel/Dive Reef Construction ($1,196,559.77) 
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: This project involves the creation of artificial reefs in the Gulf of Mexico across eight different sites. The number 

of reef units across all eight sites totals 563. Design for all eight sites is complete. Each unit will cost approximately $3,600 to construct. 

This application requests funding for construction of a network of the eight snorkeling/dive reef sites, along with the associated 

construction drawings and construction management services. Two sites have all required permits and are shovel ready. The remaining 

six sites have all required FDEP permits and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permits are expected within six months and will then be 

shovel ready. These sites are in sovereignty submerged lands and therefore no land acquisition is required. Use of the sites is allowed 

through a Letter of Consent. This permission has been granted for all eight sites as referenced in the executed FDEP permits. This reef 

network will be ideal for a relative new technology called Snuba, already popular in Destin. This technology falls somewhere between 

snorkeling and scuba diving, allowing participants to dive up to 20 ft and stay underwater for up to 30 minutes; a perfect scenario for 

this network of reefs. The use of this technology could grow exponentially with the construction of these reefs. This type of project has 

been successful worldwide but the most germane projects are in Santa Rosa and Escambia Counties. Santa Rosa has one reef near the 

Navarre Pier while Escambia has one Gulf-side and one Bay-side reef. All of these projects are extremely popular 

with residents and tourists alike. 

NEED: This project will have positive environmental impacts by providing habitat for a variety of marine species. There will be no 

negative environmental impacts. Construction is very straightforward and simple and no maintenance is anticipated barring damage 

from major storms, which is unlikely. These are very robust structures. It is anticipated that many jobs will be created associated with 

the use of this snorkel/diving reef network. Snorkel guides, paddle boat rentals, other equipment rental will require new jobs to be 

created to meet this increased demand. 

 

PURPOSE: This snorkel/dive reef construction project is a legacy project that, once constructed, will continue to serve its purpose with 

minimal to no maintenance required. This network of reefs will fill a niche in the tourist market not presently available in Okaloosa 

County. 

OBJECTIVES: The objectives for this project include increased and extended tourist visits, creation of new jobs/businesses and the 

creation of marine habitat for numerous species. Data from a 2013 Visit Florida study indicate the following information about the 

archetypal Northwest Florida domestic tourist: 

• Average Daily Expenditures per person: $135.00 

• Party Size: 2.7 people 

• Length of stay: 4.0 nights 

In determining project revenue, we have used these very conservative estimates: 

• Five-month snorkel/dive season 

• 15 snorkelers/divers per day/per reef 

• 18,000 snorkelers/divers per five-month season 

• 3-day average stay 

Using these conservative numbers, this project will generate almost $7.3 million dollars in the first year. Future years will show 

significant revenue increase as we are able to market these reefs as unique to Northwest Florida. This represents a benefit- to-cost ratio 

of approximately 4.9 in the first year. 

Direct Component Funds: 100% of the Direct Component funds received will be applied to furnishing materials used in the 

construction and constructing the artificial reefs. $1,000,000 for this project will come from National Resource Damage Assessment 

funds. Okaloosa County has a grant agreement in place for this NRDA funding: CONTRACT # FWC-15155. Additionally, the Tourist 

Development Council has committed to providing a $50,000 match for construction purposes. An additional $50,000 in Tourist 

Development funds is currently budgeted to provide a real-time streaming high definition video camera to be used for monitoring and 

marketing/website purposes. 

6. Economic Revitalization of Niceville's Historic "Old Downtown” ($389,289.71) 

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The project entails the fee simple purchase of 120 linear feet of Boggy Bayou waterfront property along 

Bayshore Drive in Niceville's Historic "Old Downtown." This is a onetime purchase/expenditure with very limited life cycle costs. The City 

of Niceville is pledging $100,000 toward this acquisition. The total project cost is $489,289.71. 

The project has three basic components: 

1. Land acquisition – The City currently has options to purchase 120’ of water frontage on Boggy Bayou and on Bayshore Drive. This 

acquisition is the specific element of the requested RESTORE funding. 

2. Construction – the City has plans to construct the identified landing facility and has a current Florida Legislative Appropriation (State 

Grant) to begin construction. Construction is slated to begin approximately 60 days after the land acquisition. The landing project is 

designed to be a concrete structure of 60’ by 100’ extending into Boggy Bayou. The platform is intended to be connected to the shore 

by a 20’ by 20’ ramp. The perimeter of the platform will be available for boat/barge access and some 40’ by 60’ will be covered by an 

expanded fabric cover that can be rolled up or removed as conditions warrant. No permanent boat moorings will be provided. The 

facility is intended for boating day trippers, public assembly, and pedestrian usage while visiting the adjacent restored retail and dining 
facilities. 

3. Amenities – The City of Niceville will add amenities including: fabric covers, lighting, benches, boating and fishing facilities, 

stormwater, landscaping, the funding for these projects will be available through its Community Redevelopment Agency taxing 

authority. 

NEED: The City of Niceville is proposing a comprehensive restoration initiative for the economic environment of its historic central 

business district Historic "Old Downtown." This project is intended to provide a public landing in the Historic "Old Downtown" for 

access to the revitalized commercial area and to provide a public assembly area for special occasion/event utilization and public access 

to the bayou. The proposed project has two specific components. First, it is the City’s desire to purchase a waterfront site of

approximately 120 linear feet fronting both Boggy Bayou and Bayshore Drive. The second phase would be to construct a pier type of 

landing of approximately 60’ wide by 100’ long extending into the bayou and to also provide for upland public parking on or adjacent 

to the site. The landing is intended to be the focal point of the Historic "Old Downtown" revitalization providing water access, 

sightseeing, and public assembly. 

PURPOSE: The intended purpose is to provide a permanent public access and use facility over the waters of Boggy Bayou to support 

activities relating to the economic revitalization of Historic “Old Downtown” Niceville. The facility is intended to be the center piece of 

economic restoration to serve as an event platform, boating access, and casual use facility to attract and support commerce and

economic development of this Historic "Old Downtown" business district. 

Summary of funding: 

Okaloosa County RESTORE Direct Component Funding $389,289.71 

City of Niceville RESTORE Match $100,000 

State of Florida FWCCC Grant $500,000 

City of Niceville Redevelopment Agency $200,000 

Available and Committed Total Funds $1,189,289.71 

OBJECTIVES: 

- Support commercial development, jobs 

- Increase property values 

- Organize public assemblies (examples: festivals, fireworks, arts and craft shows, boat parades/shows, etc.) 

- Provide public access to Boggy Bayou, Choctawhatchee Bay and the Gulf of Mexico waterways 

The Institute for Senior Professionals of the Northwest Florida State College provided an Economic Assessment of the proposed project. 

The report concluded that: 

• The proposed project is the “center piece” of the commercial restoration of the Historic Downtown District and will make a significant 

impact on the local economy. 

• The designated project has significant potential as a year round venue and will provide economic stimulus to the City. 

• The project will anchor other developments in the Historic Downtown District. 

• More significant will be jobs resulting from business drawn to the Historic Downtown District by the signature Bayou Landing.

• Increased economic impacts over the ten year planning Horizon could be as much as $11,713,610 for private returns on investments 

and some $1,590,000 in CRA revenues. 

In summary, the proposed project is intended to support economic revitalization of Niceville's Historic Downtown, serve as a catalyst 

for intensive retail and high quality residential development, commercial redevelopment of the Historic Downtown, and to provide 

public access to and from area waters. 

7. Clement Taylor Park Restoration ($729,918.20) 

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: This project includes the construction of a 10-ft wide pedestrian pathway, with landscaping, lighting, and 

underground utilities from Clement Taylor Park to the Harbor Boardwalk vicinity as well as the much needed restoration of Clement 

Taylor Park itself, a beautiful 3.39-acre park located on the Choctawhatchee Bay. The proposed project is located in Destin's Harbor 

District Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), a district whose purpose is to redevelop historic Destin to promote tourism. 

 

NEED: Access to public beaches and waterfront amenities continues to be more restrictive in Destin making Clement Taylor Park, once 

considered to be a neighborhood park, into a destination park for many tourists/visitors to our area. The City of Destin is partnering 

with the Florida Department of Transportation through a TAP grant to implement the pathway system linking public parking areas to 

the park on the Bay and the gulf front Harbor District (Budgeted for funding in FY17 and FY18, TAP will cover 76% of the cost, or 

$928,706.330, and the City of Destin is responsible for 24%, or $300,000.) 

The Direct Component funding will refurbish aging and substandard park facilities and amenities at Clement Taylor Park. Pavilion 

rental records at Clement Taylor reveal that currently 40% of the events scheduled are booked by out of town individuals. A new 

pavilion, kayak launch, fishing pier, ADA compliant playground equipment and walkways, new restrooms (to replace those over 40 

years old), and added parking are needed to attract people to the park for weddings, family reunions, or just stopping in by boat from a 

day on the Bay or by foot during a stroll from the Boardwalk. 
PURPOSE: This project serves the sole purpose of the Harbor District CRA which is to redevelop Destin's waterfront and harbor district 

to promote and encourage tourism. First-quality public parks and water access are integral to enhancing the quality of life for residents 

and the quality of experience for visitors who will want to return and spread the word. This project will lead and encourage tourists to 

access not just Destin's beaches and harborfront but the Choctawhatchee Bay as well. The physical location of the project provides 

additional easy access to a wide range of water activities in the Bay, East Pass, and Gulf of Mexico and is along the State of Florida's 

Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail (segment 2). 

OBJECTIVES: Improving recreational infrastructure to promote tourism is a key economic driver for our region. This project will provide 

a measurable increase in tourists to the area by appealing to a new demographic heretofore untapped in Destin -- the ecotourist and 

kayaker/canoer. Not only will the lighted pathway from the park to HarborWalk serve as a catalyst for visitors to spend more time 

leisurely exploring and enjoying the entire Harbor District's diverse offerings of dining, water sports rentals, and other outdoor 

activities, the linking pathway to the refurbished park amenities will provide a new and unexpected experience for ecotourists, as 

Clement Taylor's natural beauty and bay access is incomparable. The project links the diverse ecological worlds of harbor/gulf to bay/

bayou that is unique to Destin and that will expand the tourist experience and entice a new type of visitor as well. 

Direct Component Funds: 100% of the Direct Component funds received will be applied to the restoration of Clement Taylor Park with 

the installation of a new pavilion, ADA playground equipment, and restroom facility; and the renovation of the fishing pier, park 

walkways, existing pavilion, and gazebo. Other party contributions of $1,228,706.30 are from the Florida Dept. of Transportation's TAP 

grant and City of Destin match to construct the lighted pedestrian pathway from Clement Taylor Park to the Harbor Boardwalk parking 

area and Festive Marketplace. 

8. FWB Landing Waterfront Improvements Phase 1 ($1,070,024.07) 

The project is located at the City's most popular waterfront park, The Landing, in its Downtown Entertainment District. Many large 

festivals and events have taken place at this waterfront park throughout the years. There are numerous goals for the park which include 

continuing to enhance the park for community events, improving the park for residents and making the park a destination and focal 

point for land and water related activities, services, and facilities. 

In order to accomplish the objectives, a Landing Master Plan was completed by the City with input from local stakeholders to guide the 

future development of the park. The Master Plan developed a phased approach to completing the park improvements with Phase I 

incorporating all of the waterfront improvements, Phase II incorporating the upland improvements, and Phase III incorporating 

roadway and parking improvements along Brooks Street, the main corridor adjacent to The Landing. 

All of the improvements identified in The Landing Master Plan involve infrastructure improvements that will enhance and/or improve 

the economy and ecological resources in the Downtown area. Phase I improvements involve the infrastructure related to hosting larger 

festivals and events and creating an ecological educational area for oyster beds and sea grasses. 

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Phase I includes the engineering and permitting of the project, demolition and construction of the boardwalk 

improvements. Phase I also includes construction of a new seawall, boardwalk, retaining walls/stairs, covered performance stage, 

pocket beach area for passive water-related activities, and sidewalks, along with improvements to the existing docks. There will also be 

a small coastal ecology demonstration area to provide educational information about various sea life and sea grasses. Similar projects 

have been completed around the country including numerous examples within our own state. One recent example is Water Works Park

in Tampa, which has been quite successful since its completion. 

NEED: The project is intended to address a need to revitalize the Downtown area through the enhancement of the City's premier 

waterfront park via infrastructure improvements. The redeveloped park will allow the City to attract larger events and festivals, resulting 

in an economic boost for the local businesses. More visitors equals more visibility for the businesses. 

PURPOSE: The expected outcome of the project is to improve the public access and facilities of the park, provide better accessibility to 

host events and festivals attracting more visitors to Downtown, improve the visual opportunities to view the water within the park, 

preserve the park's mature trees, and improve the relationship of the walkways and boardwalks to the view and edge of the water. 

Lastly, we expect the project to generate more users of the boardwalk, dock and other public amenities, which will draw more people 

to enjoy the Downtown area and the natural resources that make Downtown Fort Walton Beach unique. 

OBJECTIVES: The ultimate goal of the Landing Improvements project is to revitalize the Downtown area. With the Landing being the 

focal point for Downtown events, improving the infrastructure to host these events is vital. Through the RESTORE Act funding and other 

funding sources, improvements along the waterfront will enhance the park and allow for economic and ecological benefits. 

Long term maintenance will be the responsibility of the City of Fort Walton Beach through the CRA and eventually the General Fund 

once the CRA sunsets in 2026. In order to offset the expenses, the goal of Phase I is to implement revenue generating activities, such as 

leasing space for passive waterfront activity rental booths (kayaks, paddleboards, etc.), leasing boat slips for commercial inshore charter 

boats, etc. 
In future phases, a children's splash pad will be constructed along with an area for food trucks. 

The City of Fort Walton Beach currently owns the land and currently has a submerged land lease with the FDEP for the dock area. Phase 

I would require amending the submerged land lease with FDEP, and discussions have already been held to convert the dock area to a 

revenue generating endeavor. An FDEP and U.S. Army Corp of Engineers permit has been applied for to complete the waterfront 

improvements. 

Funding for the design and permitting was programmed in the FY 2015-16 CRA budget. Design has been completed and permits were 

applied for in May 2016. The estimated permit approval is January 2017, which will allow the project to begin soon after. This project is 

"shovel ready", but construction will have to be coordinated with ongoing events and "peak" tourist season to minimize disruption to 

the Downtown area. 

The environmental impact of this project is positive as Phase I includes a coastal ecology demonstration area near the dock on the east 

end of the Landing. This area will include sea grass plantings and oyster reefs that will provide an educational opportunity for local 

schools and environmental groups. In return, the sea grasses and oyster reefs will serve to improve water quality. Water sampling will 

be completed prior to the installation of the sea grasses and the oyster reefs to gather a baseline, and a water sampling program will be 

conducted on at least a monthly basis through a partnership with the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance to measure the success of the 

ecological improvements. 

The economic impact of Phase I is also positive. Jobs will be created during construction, which will last approximately six months. 

Once the project is complete, the economic benefit will be endless. The City will be able to allow vendors to setup passive waterfront 

activity rental booths for kayaks, paddleboards, etc.; inshore charter boats will be able to rent dock space for their fishing ventures, 

including the added capability to host fishing tournaments; The Landing will be capable of hosting larger events and festivals,

attracting more visitors to the Downtown area, creating opportunities for the Downtown businesses, including retail shops and 

restaurants. The Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce has adopted a Resolution of Support for this project along with the 

Downtown Association. 

The current Landing park can handle approximately 2,000 people in a comfortable environment for concerts and festivals. With the

proposed improvements, the park will be able to handle over 5,000 people for these types of events. 

Some of the new events that The Landing will be able to accommodate larger concerts, movies, festivals, fishing tournaments, passive 

water recreation competitions, etc. 

The City is also engaging a consultant in October 2016 to conduct an economic analysis of the Downtown area to evaluate the benefits 

of infrastructure projects such as The Landing Improvement project. This analysis is part of an overall Downtown Master Plan that will 

be completed by April 2017. This will provide the City with a baseline of the current economy in the Downtown area in order to 

measure the success of the Landing improvements. Through the Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Association, the City will 

actively engage stakeholders throughout the project to gauge the success of the project. 

Direct Component Funds: 100% of the Direct Component funds received will be applied to the construction of the Phase I 

improvements, including construction of a new seawall, boardwalk, retaining walls/stairs, covered performance stage, sidewalks, docks, 

and the small coastal ecology demonstration area. 

Third party funding will also be paired with the Direct Component funds to complete Phase I. City of Fort Walton Beach CRA funds have 

been used to complete the design and permitting task; FDEP NRDA grant funding will be used to construct the boardwalk 

improvements, the pocket beach, and the ecological demonstration area; and Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council funding 

will be used to assist in the construction of the covered performance stage. 

9. Captain Royal Melvin Heritage Park and Plaza ($1,216,530.33) 

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The purpose of this project is to promote of tourism in the Gulf Coast Region by constructing the Capt. Royal 

Melvin Heritage Park and Plaza that will serve as the only public gateway to the Destin harbor and the charter fishing fleet, its 

recreational opportunities, and its fresh Gulf seafood restaurants. The project has been envisioned prior to the completion of the first 

phase of Destin's Harbor Boardwalk in 2012. The new gateway and plaza will provide additional harbor access, open space, and 

recreational/educational opportunities for visitors along the Destin Harbor as detailed in the City's adopted Harbor Community 

Redevelopment Plan (CRA). 

Specific improvements outlined in the park's state management plan include a Harbor and Wildlife Observation Platform with 

educational signage, a resource center for educational classes by the Destin Fishing and History Museum staff on the fish and wildlife of 

the Gulf Coast, historical displays of Destin's fishing history and the "biggest catches" over the City's recreational fishing history (Destin 

is known as "the world's luckiest fishing village"). There will be a kayak/canoe lift for access to the State of Florida's Circumnavigational 

Saltwater Paddling Trail (segment 2). There will be a terraced walkway from Harbor Boulevard to the Boardwalk, underground utilities, 
a plaza for public events, a picnic/sitting area, drinking fountain, restrooms, trash bins, and bike racks. All of these are much needed 

improvements to draw tourists to our unique fishing fleet, fresh seafood, and harbor activities. 

NEED: Modeling successful riverfront gateways that have increased tourism, like San Antonio, Savannah, and Fort Lauderdale 

Riverwalks, Destin has designed the Capt. Royal Melvin Heritage Park and Plaza to serve as the public gateway and a sight corridor from 

US 98 (Harbor Boulevard) to the working docks and boardwalk that is lined with boats, fresh catches from the Gulf, and restaurants 

selling that fresh seafood. This parkland is the only public access way to the Harbor Boardwalk. In addition, the completed project will 

correct the unimpeded flow of stormwater and other chemicals and material into the harbor. 

In July 2014, the City of Destin conducted an "Economic Impact Analysis of Charter Fishing and Recreational Boating Along Destin 

Harbor" through the University of West Florida's Haas Center. The analysis covers charter fishing impacts, recreational boating impacts, 

visitor spending impacts and inter-industry impacts. In 2014, over 300,000 annual visitors came to Destin for charter boat fishing, 

recreational boating, and/or water-based activities located in Destin Harbor; 90% of the visitor base was from outside the region. 

PURPOSE: The purpose of this project is to promote of tourism in the Gulf Coast Region by constructing the Capt. Royal Melvin Heritage 

Park and Plaza. The project site is located at 206 Harbor Boulevard and is intended to accommodate a festive mixed-use market place to 

encourage tourist commercial development designed to preserve waterfront views, water dependent activity, foster a pedestrian 

environment, and promote convenient public access to the recently constructed Harbor Boardwalk Project (first phase) and charter 

fishing fleet activities. A major intent of Destin's Comprehensive Plan is to preserve the SHMU area as a world-class fishing village open 

to the public. 

OBJECTIVES: Improving recreational infrastructure to promote tourism is a key economic driver for this region. A 2014 "Economic 

Impact Analysis of Charter Fishing and Recreational Boating along the Destin Harbor" states that both large and small fishing 

businesses alone generate $248 million a year to the local spending economy and 90% of the vistors to the park are from outside the 

region (tourists). The park's objective is to further increase exposure to Destin Harbor and Boardwalk, promote tourism, and positively 

impact the economy. 

Additionally, there would be an open space park, designed to filter and slow storm water before it flows into the harbor. Maintenance 

of the finalized park will be combined with the current maintenance of the Harbor Boardwalk with the increase of one part-time job or 

conversion of a part time to full time position. 

Direct Component Funds: 100% of the Direct Component funds received will be used to rehabilitate the property into an open park 

and to construct the harbor/wildlife observation platform, the terraced walkway, the resource center, a kayak/canoe lift, educational 

signage, a picnic pavilion, trash cans, seating areas, drinking fountain, bike racks, and restrooms. Other party contributions of $250,000 

(state recreation grant with city match) will be used following initial construction to add any additional amenities needed, such as 

outdoor display casings and play structures. 

10. Laffitte Crescent Stormwater Infrastructure Retrofit ($420,432.88) 

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: This project will replace stormwater infrastructure from the inlets at Standish Court and Bradford Drive 

southward to the outfall into Bayou Cinco. In terms of capacity, the original design of the drainage system is adequate and will be 

replicated in this project. Certain features like piping material and conflict boxes will be enhanced to improve the system efficiency 

since development and utility infrastructure have encroached and in some cases infiltrated the conveyance system. Some of these

encroachments will be discovered during construction. Solutions to rectify these situations will be the responsibility of the County 

Engineer. Solutions will be pursued that result in a positive impact to the system performance. Control measures will be implemented 

to minimize temporary construction annoyances such as increased noise levels, increased airborne particulates, and surface runoff. The 

rehabilitation of this section of the Laffitte Crescent SW Infrastructure will extend the useful life of the system by over 50 years. It will 

also reduce the carbon footprint since maintenance of the system will be dramatically reduced. 

NEED: The stormwater system in the Laffitte Crescent Basin has issues that test the limitations of Okaloosa County Public Works

resources. Stormwater from Racetrack Road southward flows into stormwater appurtenances to a point at Standish Court and Bradford 

Drive. To achieve the required slope for gravity flow, the pipeline had to be buried very deep. Most systems Public Works maintains are 

less than 10 ft deep. All along the pipeline to be replaced are pipe failures that allow sediments to infiltrate the system causing 

extremely deep sinkholes above the buried pipe. Continuous monitoring and maintenance of this section of the Laffitte Crescent Basin 

stormwater infrastructure is expensive and resource consuming. Sediment and other pollutants is transported through the conveyance 

to the outfall into Cinco Bayou. 

PURPOSE: The purpose of this project is to replace a failing stormwater infrastructure that contributes to flooding conditions in even 

light to moderate rainfall events and transport and deposition of sediment and other pollutants into Cinco Bayou. These flooding 

events create hazardous conditions on the roadways and disseminate pollutants to areas that create public health concerns. Failure of 

the piping systems also allows excessive pollutants to be conveyed directly into State waters. 
2. How the applicant made the multiyear plan available for 45 days for public review and comment, in a manner calculated to obtain broad-based 

participation from individuals, businesses, Indian tribes, and non-profit organizations, such as through public meetings, presentations in languages other 

than English, and postings on the Internet. The applicant will need to submit documentation (e.g., a copy of public notices) to demonstrate that it made its 

multiyear plan available to the public for at least 45 days. In addition, describe how each activity in the plan was adopted after consideration of all 

meaningful input from the public.

Public review and comment was available throughout the MYP development during publicly announced and attended monthly ORAC 

meetings, BCC updates, and public workshops. In total, the County (via the ORAC and BCC) hosted over 30 sessions open to the public 

that totaled over 100 hours. After the Board of County Commissioners approved the draft MYP project list on October 13, 2015, County 

representatives spent the next two months finalizing the overall draft plan. The MYP was posted to the County’s RESTORE website on 

December 15, 2015, and was available for public comment through February 10, 2016. Okaloosa County issued a News Release on 

December 15, 2015 announcing the Okaloosa RESTORE Direct Component Draft Multi-Year Implementation Plan posted online for 45-

day public comment. A total of 28 public comments were received. 

Each activity in the plan was adopted after consideration of all meaningful input from the public while remaining consistent to the 

mission set forth by the Okaloosa County RESTORE Advisory Committee to select projects in a fair and transparent manner to help

restore, enhance, and protect the natural resources and economy of our County. In addition to advancing pure environmental projects, 

the County consciously selected projects that led to workforce development and job creation, improved infrastructure that benefitted 

the economy or ecological resources, and fostered economic diversification (to help reduce reliance on tourism and military related 

jobs.) 

The following lists each project along with a description of the relevant comments received and a summary of responsive actions taken. 

1. Student-Led Habitat Restoration in Okaloosa County 

Received 20 supportive comments citing aspects of the help to the environment, improving quality of life for locals, attracting visitors 

and boost to the economy. The project description for this project was revised to emphasize the primary purpose of restoration. 

2. The NeighborWood at Emerald Coast Science Center 

Received 3 comments opposing the eligibility as “restoration and protection”. The eligibility has been more appropriately categorized 

as “promotion of tourism in the Gulf Coast Region”. 

3. Multi-use Outdoor Community Facility 

Received 1 comment criticizing the lack of demonstrating best available science. This project is eligible as an infrastructure project 

benefiting the economy or ecological resources and does not require best available science. 

4. Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center RESTORE 

Received 21 supportive comments citing aspects of help to the environment, improving quality of life for locals, attracting visitors and 

boost to the economy. 

5. Okaloosa County Snorkel/Dive Reef Construction 

Received 21 comments supporting inclusion in the County’s MYP. 

6. Economic Revitalization of Niceville's Historic "Old Downtown” 

Received no specific comments. 

7. Clement Taylor Park Restoration 

Received 1 comment supporting inclusion in the County’s MYP. 

8. FWB Landing Waterfront Improvements Phase 1 

Received 3 comments critical of the project’s environmental benefits. The ecological benefits lie in the sea grass plantings and the 

installation of oyster reefs to improve water quality in the area. No changes were made to this project based on public comment given 

that the County believes that the sea grass plantings and oyster reefs will provide ecological benefits. 

9. Captain Royal Melvin Heritage Park and Plaza 

Received 2 comments supporting inclusion in the County’s MYP. 

10. Laffitte Crescent Stormwater Infrastructure Retrofit 

Received 21 supportive comments citing aspects of help to the environment, improving quality of life for locals, attracting visitors and 

in turn boost to the economy. 

Comments were received regarding how the County’s evaluation criteria were applied to the selected projects. No significant changes 

were made as a result. The evaluation tool was developed using both quantitative and qualitative components. This approach was
preferred as it provided a defensible, replicable process while allowing the respective expertise from the individual members of the 

ORAC. The County understands the desire for additional projects some believe are designed to help restore the fish, wildlife and water 

quality of Okaloosa County. The process developed by the ORAC over the course of two years cumulated in the development of the 

evaluation tool. 

The Okaloosa RESTORE Advisory Committee (ORAC) was very deliberate in designing a tool to measure benefits across the spectrum of 

allowable activities. They fully understood the impacts the oil spill had on natural resources, ecosystems, marine and wildlife habitats, 

beaches, and coastal wetlands. Similarly, they fully comprehended the devastating economic impact the BP disaster had on our local 

economy. As such, in addition to advancing pure environmental projects, the ORAC consciously devised a system to reward projects 

that led to workforce development and job creation, improved infrastructure that benefited the economy or ecological resources, and 

fostered economic diversification (to help reduce reliance on tourism and military related jobs). This evaluation tool was developed in 

accordance with Florida’s Sunshine Law and was used to rank the projects submitted for inclusion in the MYP. 

During the 45-day public review period, Okaloosa County received public comments stating that a map was not included with the draft 

multiyear plan that was posted for public review. Project locations are detailed in the MYP Narrative project descriptions and

specifically identified in Box/Column 5 in the MYP Matrix. Each Data collection Form evaluated by the ORAC contained details on the 

Location of Activity which included addresses, maps, and ownership and were available on the website prior to and during the public 

review period. The County responded to these comments by including a map with project locations indicated in the updated version of 

the MYP and further addresses the issue with the following statement: 

The State of Florida's coastal zone includes the area encompassed by the state's 67 counties, including Okaloosa County and the state's 

territorial waters. As a result, each of the 16 activities included in the multiyear plan matrix is located within the Gulf Coast region as 

defined in the RESTORE Act and is therefore eligible provided they meet one or more of the eligible activity requirements enumerated 

in the RESTORE Act.

3. How each activity included in the applicant's multiyear plan matrix is eligible for funding and meets all requirements under the RESTORE Act.

The State of Florida's coastal zone includes the area encompassed by the state's 67 counties, including Okaloosa County and the state's 

territorial waters. As a result, each of the 13 activities included in the multiyear plan matrix is located within the Gulf Coast region as 

defined in the RESTORE Act and is therefore eligible provided they meet one or more of the eligible activity requirements enumerated 

in the RESTORE Act. The following information describes how each activity proposed in the Okaloosa County multiyear plan meets the 

activity eligibility requirements: 

1. Student-Led Habitat Restoration in Okaloosa County ($87,590.18) 

The activity meets the RESTORE Act eligibility requirement for restoration and protection of the natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, 

marine and wildlife habitats, beaches and coastal wetlands of the Gulf Coast Region by planting 3.2 acres of sea oats across dune 

habitat and by planting 2.5 acres of smooth cordgrass plants in salt marsh habitat. 

2. The NeighborWood at Emerald Coast Science Center ($87,589.21) 

The activity meets the RESTORE Act eligibility requirement for promotion of tourism in the Gulf Coast Region, including recreational 

fishing by creating bog environments and native plant exhibits as well as providing an interactive learning environment for the added 

opportunity for eco-tourism visitors to the Okaloosa County area and encourage tourists to visit venues beyond the beach. 

3. Multi-use Outdoor Community Facility ($80,777.61) 

The activity meets the RESTORE Act eligibility requirement for infrastructure projects benefitting the economy or ecological resources 

by providing needed infrastructure allowing highest and best use of a previously unimproved and unused portion of property located 

in a prime area of mixed use development that included public, private and residential establishments. The project will improve and 

increase property values in the area and will promote patronage of businesses in the area and increase visibility for existing and future 

commerce. 

4. Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center RESTORE ($87,181.43) 

The activity meets the RESTORE Act eligibility requirement for mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife and natural resources by providing 

state-of-the-art facilities for rehabilitating injured sea turtles before releasing the protected animals back into the wild. 

To expand on the specificity of how this project will result in “mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife, and natural resources”: the scope of 

the current project will allow the Gulfarium and C.A.R.E. Center to increase the number of sea turtle patients to more than double the 

current capacity. The more patients that can be treated has a direct impact on how many sea turtles can be returned to the Gulf of 

Mexico and contribute to the reestablishment of native sea turtle population levels. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) 

considers “enhancement” to encompass several practices that include introducing animals into wild populations to “increase” stock 

numbers. Since USFWS, the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) won’t 

allow captive breeding of endangered species, rehabilitation and release is one of the few measures that can enhance, or in this case, 

maintain stock numbers. 
5. Okaloosa County Snorkel/Dive Reef Construction ($1,196,559.77) 

The activity meets the RESTORE Act eligibility requirement for promotion of tourism in the Gulf Coast Region, including recreational 

fishing by filling a niche tourist market not presently available in Okaloosa County. It will also include creation of marine habitat for 

numerous fish and aquatic species. 

6. Economic Revitalization of Niceville's Historic "Old Downtown” ($389,289.71) 

The activity meets the RESTORE Act eligibility requirement for infrastructure projects benefiting the economy or ecological resources, 

including port infrastructure by providing the property to allow the City of Niceville to construct a public landing that will draw visitors 

and local residents as part of the local revitalization efforts. 

Additional eligibility requirements include: 

1. “Workforce Development and Job Creation”: The Northwest Florida State College estimates that as much as $11,000,000 in economic 

returns will be realized from the addition of the landing facility within the Community Redevelopment Area. Much of this economic 

revitalization will occur in the creation and availability of new jobs. 

2. “Coastal Flood Protection and Related Infrastructure”: This criteria will be realized by the location of a structurally sound landing 

facility on the identified site, rather than non-flood proof business or residential structures which would otherwise locate there. The 

facility prevents flood damage by not letting it occur. 

3. “Promotion of tourism in the Gulf Coast Region, including recreational fishing”: The project is intended to be an active tourist 

destination along with its associated business and retail restoration. The landing will be used to host festivals, aquatic events, arts and 

craft events and other similar events that will draw visitors to the Historic "Old Downtown" business area and the business in the area 

will benefit economically from these visitors. Also, access to recreational fishing will be provided on the facility or made accessible by 

the facility. 

7. Clement Taylor Park Restoration ($729,918.20) 

This activity meets the RESTORE Act eligibility requirement for promotion of tourism in the Gulf Coast Region, including the promotion 

of recreational fishing, by constructing pedestrian access and park improvements along the Bay which will add additional tourist 

amenities, including a pier for recreational fishing, linking diverse water opportunities and environments-- from harbor to Gulf to Bay-- 

for tourists within a single pathway. 

8. FWB Landing Waterfront Improvements Phase 1 ($1,070,024.07) 

The activity meets the RESTORE Act eligibility requirement for infrastructure projects benefiting the economy or ecological resources by 

constructing a boardwalk, seawall, performance stage, docks, pocket beach area and other park improvements which will allow larger 

events and festivals drawing more people to the Downtown area. The ecological benefits lie in the sea grass plantings and the 

installation of oyster reefs to improve water quality in the area. 

9. Captain Royal Melvin Heritage Park and Plaza ($1,216,530.33) 

The activity meets the RESTORE Act eligibility requirement for promotion of tourism in the Gulf Coast Region, including recreational 

fishing, by constructing a public gateway and park which will attract visitors and locals to Destin's unique working harbor, its charter 

fishing fleet, recreational boating and water sport activity, and local seafood. 

10. Laffitte Crescent Stormwater Infrastructure Retrofit ($420,432.88) 

The activity meets the RESTORE Act eligibility requirement for Infrastructure projects benefiting the economy or ecological resources, 

including port infrastructure by improving stormwater management to reduce flooding and to reduce sediment and other pollutants

discharging into Cinco Bayou. 

4. How the applicant will evaluate success of the activities included in the matrix.

1. Student-Led Habitat Restoration in Okaloosa County ($87,590.18) 

Salt marsh restoration will be tracked by 2 success measures: vegetation density and sediment accumulation. Quarterly monitoring of 

random quadrats within the marsh plantings will establish percent cover (density) of smooth cordgrass. Quarterly measurements of 

depth-of-accumulation rods placed strategically in the planted salt marsh will yield sand accumulation information. 

The success of the dune restoration will be tracked in much the same way as the salt marsh plantings. Sea oat density and dune height 

will be measured quarterly to determine if plantings are successfully building dunes. 

2. The NeighborWood at Emerald Coast Science Center ($87,589.21) 

Success metrics will include a 5% increase in Museum visitors in 2017-2018. These statistics will be tracked by Museum Staff. The project 

will be monitored and evaluated by the biological community on a bi-yearly basis by volunteers. 

3. Multi-use Outdoor Community Facility ($80,777.61) 

Success will be evaluated using the following methods: 

Parking lot vehicle usage survey taken 3 times per regular business day. 
Obtain garbage collection information on a monthly basis. 

Track usage inquiries that are received by telephone, email and in person. 

Maintain a reservation log of events held at the facility. 

Obtain a report from each organization/individual reserving the facility documenting number of attendees. 

Establish a social media official hashtag (#) that will be posted on site and on all reservation and informational publications

encouraging users to "check in" with the hashtag allowing Chamber Staff to document usage through social media outlets such as 

Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 

Obtain calls for public assistance to the facility from the Okaloosa County Dispatch and City of Niceville sources. 

Survey surrounding businesses quarterly to monitor increases in activity. 

Obtain and evaluate property values in the area annually for increased values. 

Obtain and evaluate applications for building permits in the area for increasing trends. 

4. Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center RESTORE ($87,181.43) 

Equipment acquisition and property development will be monitored by Gulfarium Marine Park Management. Operational evaluations 

will be made by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC) per policy and regulations. Success will be based on the 

number of patients that have been rehabilitated at the Gulfarium that is already mandated to be reported to the State on a quarterly 

and annual basis. Furthermore, success of this project is measured in the increased number of sea turtle patients the Gulfarium and 

C.A.R.E. Center is able to treat at any given time as well as the number of sea turtles being reintroduced into the Gulf of Mexico versus 

those that are euthanized based on facility limitations. The addition of the tanks will be more than double the size of our current 

holding space. The installation of the proposed systems will more than double our current capacity of 6-8 patients to 16-18 patients. 

5. Okaloosa County Snorkel/Dive Reef Construction ($1,196,559.77) 

Okaloosa County staff will, on a regular basis, monitor the eight snorkel/dive sites for a variety of conditions including effectiveness as 

a fish habitat, economic impact, amount of human usage and structural stability. Additionally, one site will be equipped with a real-time 

streaming video camera to monitor a number of different conditions and provide marketing opportunities. The monitoring will be 

accomplished by existing County staff and require no additional funds. 

6. Economic Revitalization of Niceville's Historic "Old Downtown” ($389,289.71) 

The Niceville City Council and legal counsel, Mr. Dixie Dan Powell, will provide monitoring and evaluation. A measure of success will be 

the real estate closing process and a clean title of the properties. The property will be actively monitored and maintained as a major 

component of the City's Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) Plan. A measure of success will be monitoring the economic 

revitalization of the CRA area and creation of new jobs in the CRA area. Both Public Works and Field Services personnel will provide 

continuous monitoring and maintenance to the site. Another measure of success will be the certificate of completion from the building 

inspector for the landing facility that it has been built to code, meets or exceeds all regulations. Three basic measures of the specific 

successes of the project to benefit the economy will include: the number of boat landings, the number of public assembly and 

gatherings, and the number of pedestrian or passive recreational users. The City of Niceville will specifically sample the nature and 

extent of utilization of the landing to measure the nature and extent of its actual usage. 

7. Clement Taylor Park Restoration ($729,918.20) 

The City of Destin tracks the number of visitors versus resident pavilion rentals at Clement Taylor Park and will continue to do so. The 

City can then determine the tourist growth rate when compared to data collected prior to the park's completion. Likewise the City will 

continue to track Park Event Permits issued for the facility which will also indicate the user growth when compared to data collected 

prior to the project's completion. Both of these measures include the ability to approximate the number of users participating in each 

rental and/or Park Event providing an additional data point for measuring the facility's user growth rate. 

8. FWB Landing Waterfront Improvements Phase 1 ($1,070,024.07) 

Measures of Success for Phase I of the Landing Improvements: 

Economic Metrics: The City will engage a consultant in October 2016 to perform an economic analysis of the Downtown area in its

current state versus the projected economic state after the Landing improvements are completed. The economic analysis is part of an 

overall Downtown Master Plan that will be completed in April 2017. The consultant will be retained on an annual basis to update the 

economic analysis based on the projects completed in the Downtown area. 

Ecological Metrics: With the construction of an ecology demonstration area, it will give the City not only an educational opportunity, 

but a water quality benefit in the local area. The success of this portion of the project will be measured through water quality testing. A 

baseline for existing conditions will be developed prior to the start of construction through a partnership with the Choctawhatchee 

Basin Alliance via water sampling. Once construction is complete, a monthly water sampling program will be implemented to measure 

the water quality improvements realized through the sea grasses and oyster reefs. 

9. Captain Royal Melvin Heritage Park and Plaza ($1,216,530.33) 

To measure the success of this project, the City will a) install "trail sensors" at the park entrance to count traffic into the park and b) 

conduct a follow-up "Economic Impact Analysis of Charter Fishing and Recreational Boating Along Destin Harbor" 1 year following the 

opening of the completed public gateway and park (2019). The two sources together will show how many visitors used the harbor,
how many entered the harbor through the park, and how many of them are from out of the area. Comparison to 2014 data will 

demonstrate the increase of tourism to Destin's harbor through the gateway park. 

The City also conducts regular water-quality testing of the Destin Harbor and can compare data at the park site before and after the 

construction of the stormwater improvements. 

10. Laffitte Crescent Stormwater Infrastructure Retrofit ($420,432.88) 

During construction, certified Public Works inspectors will monitor the project to assure compliance with all codes and regulations. 

Once the project is complete, routine inspection of the Stormwater Infrastructure will become an activity performed by the Public 

Works Department. Visual inspections of inlets and piping transects will be performed to assure that the system is functioning properly. 

Debris that could collect at inlets will be cleared to allow unobstructed flow into the piping system as needed. Additional inspections 

are conducted as part of compliance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit Best Management Practices. This 

includes yearly evaluation of the effectiveness of the system outfall. The field work portion of the project will be inspected almost daily 

by County personnel. Construction inspectors from Public Works will ensure that the vendor is compliant with local building code and 

federal NPDES requirements. 

5. How the activities included in the multiyear plan matrix were prioritized and the criteria used to establish the priorities.

The Okaloosa County RESTORE Advisory Committee (ORAC) established and publicized a meeting schedule which identified monthly 

public meetings at alternating geographic locations within the County. These meetings were nominally two hours in length and 

included opportunities for public comment. 

The ORAC opted to develop an evaluation tool comprising both quantitative and qualitative scores that collectively represent an 

individual project score for each activity. The process involved developing economic, general, and environmental evaluation factors for 

the quantitative scoring and performing tests of the model using examples of projects being considered elsewhere. The public was 

provided opportunity to submit project ideas and presentations would be heard by project proposers that meet the minimum 

requirements established by the ORAC. 

An evaluation tool was developed using both quantitative and qualitative components. This approach was preferred as it provided a 

defensible, replicable process while allowing the respective expertise from the individual members of the ORAC. The ORAC adopted a 

70%-30% split ratio with 70% of the weight placed on quantitative factors and 30% on qualitative factors. The economic factors 

identified by the ORAC were consolidated into a smaller number of revised factors which capture the underlying concepts the ORAC 

has identified as important to measure. Three economic factors were formalized for the Quantitative Score which capture job 

opportunity/job creation impacts, economic diversification impacts, life-cycle costs, leverage, matching funds, in-kind considerations, 

taxpayer return-on-investment, and sustained economic benefit. The three factors include: 

i. Gross Product per RESTORE Dollar Invested 

ii. Net State and Local Government Revenues Generated per RESTORE Dollar Invested; and, 

iii. Economic Diversification. 

Numerous “general” factors identified in by the ORAC which capture implementation readiness, shovel readiness, permits, compliance, 

land ownership, proven success, and technical feasibility. These were consolidated into two general factors for the scoring model: 

i. Implementation Readiness; and, 

ii. Project Feasibility. 

Lastly, the ORAC identified four environmental factors to be considered in the quantitative score. These four factors are consistent with 

the four non-economic goals identified in the Initial Comprehensive Plan approved by the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council 

(GCERC) in August 2013 for regional-wide Gulf Coast restoration and include: 

i. Restore / Enhance / Protect Habitats 

ii. Replenish / Protect Living Coast and Marine Fisheries 

iii. Enhanced Community Resilience 

iv. Restore Water Quality 

Each of these nine quantitative factors was given a “factor significance” that represents the relative importance of each factor as follows: 

• 12% - Gross Product per RESTORE Dollar Invested 

• 14% - Net State and Local Government Revenues Generated per RESTORE Dollar Invested 

• 14% - Economic Diversification 

• 10% - Implementation Readiness 

• 13% - Project Feasibility 

• 10% - Restore / Enhance / Protect Habitats 

• 10% - Replenish / Protect Living Coast and Marine Fisheries 

• 10% - Enhanced Community Resilience 

• 7% - Restore Water Quality 

The qualitative scores, representing 30% of the project score, was determined to be a subjective score applied by the members of the 

ORAC based on their respective importance of each project proposed. The ORAC agreed to base their individual quantitative scoring on 

factors such as community acceptance, geographic distribution of projects, enhancement to local quality of life, and the expert

judgment each member offered to the committee. 

Project presentations were heard by the ORAC in June/July 2015 and the ORAC members provided their qualitative scores. The final 
project scores were tabulated and the projects were prioritized accordingly. The recommended projects for the draft Multi-Year 

Implementation Plan were selected and presented to the Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners for approval and publicly 

noticed for public comment.

6. The relationship, if any, between the activities the applicant included in the multiyear plan matrix and other activities funded under the RESTORE Act.

There were no other RESTORE Act funds considered for the activities included in the multiyear plan matrix and no direct relationships 

between the activities included in the multiyear plan matrix and other activities funded separately under the RESTORE Act.

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid 

OMB control number for this information collection is 1505-0250. Comments concerning the time required to complete this information collection, including the time to review 

instructions, search existing data resources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information, should be directed to the 

Department of the Treasury, RESTORE Act Program, 1500 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20220. 

 
OKALOOSA

COUNTY

RESTORE ACT

ENGINEERS & PLANNERS MYP PROJECT LOCATIONS AVCON, INC. www.avconinc.com

320 BAYSHORE DRIVE, SUITE A - NICEVILLE, FL 32578-2425 OFFICE: (850) 678-0050 - FAX: (850) 678-0040 CORPORATE CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORIZATION NUMBER: 5057

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1. Student-led Habitat Restoration in Okaloosa

County

2. The Neighborwood at Emerald Coast Science

Center

3. Multi-use Outdoor Community Facility

4. Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center Restore

5. Okaloosa County Snorkel/Dive Reed

Construction

6. Economic Revitalization of Niceville's Historic

"Old Downtown"

7. Clement Taylor Park Restoration

8. FWB Landing Waterfront Improvements Phase 1

9. Captain Royal Melvin Heritage Park and Plaza

10. Laffitte Crescent Stormwater Infrastructure

Retrofit