A Conceptual Plan for RestoringSweetwater Branch Sheetflow toPaynes PrairieApril 9, 2007#061100Presentation Outline•Public Works - Project Background•GRU Perspective•Project DescriptionBob Knight, Wetland Solutions, Inc.•Paynes Prairie State Park PreserveJim Weimer, Park Biologist•St Johns River Water ManagementDistrictCasey Fitzgerald, AssistantDirector Department of Water Resources#061100Project Background•1992 Stormwater ManagementMaster Plan•2004 Watershed Management PlanUpdate – Getting ready for TMDLs•2004 50 acre Wetland Projectadded to the CIP•2005 Land Exchange BetweenSJRWMD and Paynes Prairiehalted•Find a solution that will restoresheetflow onto the Prairie#061100Pollutant Load ReductionsSweetwater BranchWater Quality Improvement ProjectsTotal SurfaceArea (acres)Total N(lb/year)Total P(lb/year)2 Existing Basins4.13761429 Identified Basins26.21,821387Enhancement Wetland125.0125,0002,900#061100Slides Presented at 2007/2008 GRUSlides Presented at 2007/2008 GRUBudget PresentationBudget Presentation#061100Total Maximum Daily LoadTotal Maximum Daily Load•TMDL Finalized for Alachua SinkTMDL Finalized for Alachua Sink••Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP)Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP)––12/06••Stakeholder Group Developing BMAP:Stakeholder Group Developing BMAP:--Gainesville Public WorksGainesville Public Works-GRU-Alachua County Public WorksAlachua County Public Works--Alachua County EPDAlachua County EPD--Marion CountyMarion County--of McIntoshTownof McIntosh-DEP (DWRM, NE District, Parks,DEP (DWRM, NE District, Parks,--DOTAquatic Plant Management)Aquatic Plant Management)-DCA-DOH-UF-FWCC-Women for Wise GrowthWomen for Wise Growth-Sierra ClubSierra Club-County EPACCounty EPAC-Sustainable Alachua CountySustainable Alachua County-SJRWMD-City Water Management CommitteeCity Water Management Committee-DACS ForestryDACS Forestry-DACS AgricultureDACS Agriculture--Private SectorPrivate Sector-Forestry IndustryForestry Industry-Town of MicanopyTown of Micanopy••BMAP will be Signed by all StakeholdersBMAP will be Signed by all Stakeholders••BMAP will be Adopted by FDEP Secretarial OrderBMAP will be Adopted by FDEP Secretarial Order#061100Basin Management Action PlanBasin Management Action Plan••Facility Cost for GRU to Meet theFacility Cost for GRU to Meet theBMAP could range from $10 toBMAP could range from $10 to$40 Million$40 Million••GRU Facilities would AccomplishGRU Facilities would Accomplish26% of Required Reduction26% of Required Reduction••69% of Required Reduction from69% of Required Reduction fromNatural SystemsNatural Systems#061100Basin Management Action PlanBasin Management Action Plan••Uncertain if/how ReductionsUncertain if/how ReductionsfromNatural Systems willNatural Systems willbe Accomplishedbe Accomplished••Uncertain if UtilityUncertain if UtilityExpenditures would ImproveExpenditures would ImproveWater QualityWater Qualityat Alachua Sink if otherat Alachua Sink if otherReductions not AccomplishedReductions not Accomplished•FDEP will Request that City Commission Commit toBMAP Projects•Could Increase Wastewater Rates Additional 4% to 17%#061100GRUCompliance with Alachua Sink TMDLCompliance with Alachua Sink TMDL#061100OutlineOutline•TMDL ExplanationTMDL Explanation•Alachua Sink TMDL DevelopmentAlachua Sink TMDL Development•GRU’sAlternatives for meeting TMDLAlternatives for meeting TMDL•Project CostsProject Costs#061100Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)•Mandated by EPA and FDEPMandated by EPA and FDEP•Sets maximum allowable pollutant loads toSets maximum allowable pollutant loads to“impairedimpaired”water bodieswater bodies•Requires all sources to reduce loads ofRequires all sources to reduce loads ofpollutant(spollutant(s)causing water body to impairedcausing water body to impaired•Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP) establishesBasin Management Action Plan (BMAP) establisheshow TMDL will be methow TMDL will be met#061100Alachua Sink TMDLAlachua Sink TMDL––TMDL for Total Nitrogen (Jan 2006)TMDL for Total Nitrogen (Jan 2006)••Wastewater (MSWRF)Wastewater (MSWRF)55% N reduction55% N reduction••StormwaterStormwater45% N reduction45% N reduction•Other SourcesOther Sources45% N Reduction45% N Reduction#061100GRU Alternatives to Meet Alachua SinkGRU Alternatives to Meet Alachua SinkTMDL•Water Reuse from MSWRFWater Reuse from MSWRF––5.8mgdreuse••Rapid Infiltration BasisRapid Infiltration Basis•Irrigation/Public Access ReuseIrrigation/Public Access Reuse–$21-$35 M•Proposed Sweetwater Branch/Proposed Sweetwater Branch/PaynesPrairie SheetflowPrairie SheetflowRestoration ProjectRestoration Project––$20-25 M estimated total cost25 M estimated total cost––Cost share between GRU & PWD & other funding partnersCost share between GRU & PWD & other funding partners#061100Current & Potential Funding PartnersCurrent & Potential Funding Partners••FDEP••FDOT••Alachua CountyAlachua County•SJRWMD•Florida Wildlife & GameFlorida Wildlife & Game•Fed/Legislative grantsFed/Legislative grants•Alachua County ForeverAlachua County Forever•Others#061100Preliminary CostsPreliminary Costs•Approximate City Cost ~$21MApproximate City Cost ~$21M–Additional outside funding soughtAdditional outside funding sought–Not including public access facilitiesNot including public access facilities•GRU & PWD split of CityGRU & PWD split of City’s costss costs–Cost for each project component split basedCost for each project component split basedon design load from each sourceon design load from each source–Agreement on allocating grantsAgreement on allocating grants––PreliminaryPreliminaryCost split:Cost split:GRUPWD»CapitalCapital73%27%»O&M80%20%#061100SummarySummary•Alachua Sink TMDLAlachua Sink TMDL–55% N reduction from MSWRF55% N reduction from MSWRF–45% N reduction from stormwater & non45% N reduction from stormwater & non-point sourcespoint sources–Will be binding in GRU MSWRF & PWD Stormwater permitsWill be binding in GRU MSWRF & PWD Stormwater permits•SWB/PP RestorationSWB/PP Restoration–Meets TMDL for GRU, PWD, FDOTMeets TMDL for GRU, PWD, FDOT–Cost-effective compared to reuse alternativeeffective compared to reuse alternative–Environmental & Public benefitsEnvironmental & Public benefits–Optimize outside funding partners/sourcesOptimize outside funding partners/sources–PartnershipPartnership#061100A Conceptual Plan for RestoringSweetwater Branch Sheetflow to PaynesPrairieApril 9, 2007Robert Knight, Ph.D.Wetland Solutions, Inc.#061100Presentation Outline•Project Background•Conceptual PlanSummary•EnvironmentalAssessment•Implementation•QuestionsWetland Solutions, Inc.#061100Project LocationWetland Solutions, Inc.#061100Description of the ProblemWetland Solutions, Inc.•Sweetwater BranchChannelized Directly toAlachua Sink•Increased Nutrients onPaynes Prairie due to MainStreet WRF and GainesvilleStormwater•Natural Sheetflow ofSweetwater Branch Lost,Resulting in ShortenedHydroperiod•Estimated Impact Area1,300 acres#061100Project BackgroundPrevious Studies•Paynes Prairie Management Plan (1970s)•Wastewater Polishing Studies (1980s)•Sheetflow Restoration (1990s)•Watershed Management Plans (2003)•Updated Sheetflow Feasibility (June 2006)•Nutrient Removal Alternatives (Dec. 2006)Wetland Solutions, Inc.#061100Sheetflow Conceptual PlanPrincipal Plan ComponentsWetland Solutions, Inc.1.Main StreetWRF Upgrades2.SWBEnhancementWetland3.SheetflowDistribution4.Backfill SWBCanal#061100Sheetflow Conceptual PlanMain Street WRF Upgrades•Chemical (alum) Premoval to TP <0.3 mg/L•N optimization throughmechanical equipmentupgrades to TN <8 mg/LWetland Solutions, Inc.#061100Sheetflow Conceptual PlanSweetwater Branch Enhancement Wetland•Located offline•Channel diversionstructure w/sedimentpond•Four cells in twotrains•122 ac wet area•Emergentmarsh/open waterWetland Solutions, Inc.#061100Sheetflow Conceptual PlanSheetflow Distribution ChannelWetland Solutions, Inc.•Mostly onExisting ChannelFootprint•5,000 ft in Length•40-ft BottomWidth•11 OutletSpillways#061100Sheetflow Conceptual PlanSweetwater Canal RestorationWetland Solutions, Inc.•Backfill about10,000 ft ofexistingSweetwaterBranch Canal•Replant 33 acwith nativewetlandvegetation•Eliminate directconnection toAlachua Sink#061100Environmental Assessment•Water Quality Benefits•Exceeds total N TMDL•Achieves background total N and P on Prairie•Removes suspended sediment loads from Prairie•Hydrologic Restoration Benefits•Restores Sweetwater Branch sheetflow to about1,300 ac•Reduces current water deficit on PrairieWetland Solutions, Inc.#061100Environmental Assessment (cont.)•Wetlands Restoration•Removes 10,000 ft of Sweetwater Branch Canal,restores pre-existing grade, and re-plants nativeemergent wetland vegetation on 33 ac•Removes woody vegetation in vicinity of SheetflowDistribution Channel and re-plants emergentwetland vegetation on about 10 ac•Wetlands Creation•Creates 100+ ac of high-value emergent marshand aquatic habitat in formerly impacted areasWetland Solutions, Inc.#061100Public Use Benefits•Sweetwater BranchWetland Park•Hiking trails•Environmentaleducation•Sheetflow Area•Prairie overviewWetland Solutions, Inc.#061100Comparable Constructed WetlandsOrlando Wilderness ParkWetland Solutions, Inc.•Start 1987•1,200 ac•Reuse to St.Johns River#061100Orlando Wilderness ParkWetland Solutions, Inc.•TN reduced from 2.4 to0.8 mg/L•TP reduced from 0.28to 0.06 mg/L#061100Indian River County WetlandWetland Solutions, Inc.•Start 1996•135 ac•Reuse toIndian RiverLagoon#061100Indian River County WetlandWetland Solutions, Inc.#061100Questions?Wetland Solutions, Inc.#061100Paynes Prairie PreserveState ParkJim Weimer, Park Biologist#061100Sweetwater Branch /Sweetwater Branch /Paynes PrairiePaynes PrairieSheetflow RestorationSheetflow RestorationA Partnership With TheA Partnership With TheSt. Johns RiverSt. Johns RiverWater Management DistrictWater Management DistrictCasey Fitzgerald, Assistant DirectorDepartment of Water Resources#061100PaynesPrairiePrairie•an Outstanding Florida Water, State Park, andan Outstanding Florida Water, State Park, andNational Natural LandmarkNational Natural Landmark•in the Orange Creek Basinin the Orange Creek Basin“Surface WaterSurface WaterImprovement and ManagementImprovement and Management”(SWIM) program(SWIM) program#061100St. Johns RiverSt. Johns RiverWater Management DistrictWater Management DistrictParticipationParticipationCOST-SHARING•To date, obtained $850,000 in legislative appropriationsfor construction of enhancement wetland•Cost-share with City on purchase of land to lease orexchange for enhancement wetland sitePERMITTING•District will review Environmental Resource Permitapplications for project construction in wetlands#061100Project Benefits•Water Quality Benefits•Exceeds total N TMDL•Achieves background total N and P on Prairie•Removes suspended sediment loads from Prairie•Hydrologic Restoration Benefits•Wetlands Restoration•Wetlands Creation•Public Recreation Opportunity#061100Next StepsNext Steps•Develop Land Exchange MOUDevelop Land Exchange MOU•Develop PW / GRU Cost Share MOUDevelop PW / GRU Cost Share MOU•Seek Grants and New Project PartnersSeek Grants and New Project Partners•Begin Consultant Selection for Project DesignBegin Consultant Selection for Project Design#061100Planning-Level Cost EstimateProject ComponentConstructionCost ($)Mobilization,Contingency,Engineering ($)CapitalCost ($)Operation &MaintenanceCosts ($/yr)MainStreetWRF Upgrades1,300,000$650,000$1,950,000$640,000$SweetwaterBranch ChannelImprovements831,600$415,800$1,247,400$-$SweetwaterBranch SedimentForebay/Trashrack/WeirDiversion Structure/SedimentRemoval485,450$242,725$728,175$150,000$SweetwaterBranchConstructed Wetland7,320,600$3,660,300$10,980,900$150,000$Sheetflow Distribution Channel2,898,702$1,449,351$4,348,053$75,000$SweetwaterBranch CanalRestoration657,890$328,945$986,835$-$PublicUse Amenities1,850,000$925,000$2,775,000$150,000$Project Monitoring14,000$7,000$21,000$100,000$Estimated Total15,358,242$7,679,121$23,037,363$1,265,000$Note: Assumes mobilization,contingency,engineering = 0.5 x construction cost#061100