July 1, 1998 - June 30, 1999 Grant Cycle

PROJECT: CHNEP Newsletter Production and Printing

CONTACT:
Melissa Upton, Public Involvement Specialist
Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council
Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program
4980 Bayline Drive, 4^th Floor
North Ft. Myers, FL 33917-3909
(941) 995-1777

FCMP FUNDING AMOUNT: $14,000

DESCRIPTION: The production and distribution of a quarterly program newsletter is an effective way to inform people of the programs and activities of the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program (CHNEP). Stewardship of Charlotte Harbor can be created and fostered through solicitation of articles and information for the newsletter from individuals, agencies and organizations both inside and outside of the CHNEP study area. The CHNEP produced and distributed a quarterly newsletter. The newsletter was coordinated with similar publication to include a calendar of events held by other organizations throughout the watershed.

 

PROJECT: Intergovernmental Liaison for Coastal/Ocean Resources

CONTACT:
Carliane Johnson, Governmental Analyst III
Executive Office of the Governor
The Capitol, Suite 1501
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
(850) 488-5551

FCMP FUNDING AMOUNT: $82,000

DESCRIPTION: Because many different agencies are responsible for laws and regulations within Florida’s coastal zone, effective coastal management can only be accomplished through the coordination and cooperation among agencies charged with administering the laws and regulation which are part of the Florida Coastal Management Program established by the Florida Coastal Management Act of 1978. Through staff support, this project provided improved interagency coastal staff coordination, internal agency staff communication and coordination on coastal program issues, and a single point of contact in the Governor’s Office for coastal program staff actions.

 

PROJECT: Beach Water Quality Monitoring: A Pilot Project

CONTACT:
Eric Grimm, Chief
Florida Department of Health
Bureau of Facility Programs
1317 Winewood Boulevard
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0700
(850) 487-0004

FCMP FUNDING AMOUNT: $50,000

DESCRIPTION: This grant allowed the Department of Health to select five representative coastal counties for participation in the pilot program based on location, capabilities and desire to participate in the program. These counties included Broward, Okaloosa, Pinellas, Sarasota and Volusia. Following their selection, each county health department choose either a State Laboratory, or a local county laboratory to conduct an Environmental Protection Agency approved laboratory analyses, Method 1600, for enterococci using a 24-hour Membrane Filter Test Method. County health department staff were then required to sample the eight sites on Mondays or Tuesdays, following the Beach Water Sampling Protocol developed. These results were then shown in the local newspaper as well as on the Department of Health website.

 

PROJECT: Miami River Greenway Phase I - Inventory

CONTACT:
William W. Abberger, Director of Conservation Services
The Trust for Public Land
306 North Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32301
(850) 222-7911

FCMP FUNDING AMOUNT: $25,000

DESCRIPTION: The first step in the greenway master planning process was to inventory the existing conditions within the proposed Miami River Greenway corridor. Information for the inventory was collected in several ways. First, an exhaustive search was conducted for all past plans, studies, and reports conducted by various government agencies with jurisdiction over the Miami River. These reports were collected and reviewed by Trust staff. Trust for Public Land staff worked with the Miami-Dade County Department of Environmental Resources Management to produce computer generated, digital Geographic Information System (GIS) maps for various sets of data. These maps included Landownership, Existing Land Use, Zoning, Contaminated Sites, Transportation systems (including roadways, proposed improvements and mass transit) Historic sites, Archaeological Sites, Parks and Recreation, and Special Jurisdictions. Information depicted on these maps was confirmed and checked by a driving tour of adjacent roads and properties and boat tours of the River Study Area. The result of this analysis was presented in the Inventory Report. In addition, the Greenway Subcommittee of the Miami River Commission, serving as the "citizens advisory committee" for the master planning process, reviewed the maps and this report.

 

PROJECT: Florida Blueways: An Exercise in Marine Ecosystem Management (formerly known as: Ocean Issue Analysis Using S.O.R.I.)

CONTACT:
Christopher Friel, Research Administrator II
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
100 Eighth Avenue SE
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(813) 896-8626

FCMP FUNDING AMOUNT: $75,000

DESCRIPTION: Florida Blueways addresses both the science and human use aspects in the environment, and their subsequent impacts/roles within ocean management. Florida Blueways also attempts to evaluate existing management scenarios and programs in order to assess their strengths and weaknesses, fill in gaps, and ultimately string existing management programs together under a single, unified management plan. This network of marine protected areas will be linked via wildlife, human use, and management corridors. These corridors or components of the marine ecosystem (ecological, human use and management) and how they connect or interrelate are the foundation of Florida Blueways. This project is envisioned as a working model to develop a statewide marine ecosystem management program by exploring and expanding the Florida Blueways concept into surrounding estuarine and offshore waters.

 

PROJECT: FGOC Meeting Facilitation/Steering Committee

CONTACT:
Julia Magee, Planning Director
1000 Friends of Florida
925 East Park Avenue
Tallahassee, FL 32314-5948
(850) 222-6277

FCMP FUNDING AMOUNT: $60,000

DESCRIPTION: 1000 Friends of Florida served as art of the staff for the Florida Governor’s Ocean Committee over the course of its work. The staff partnership consisted of Florida Coastal Management Program staff, 1000 Friends of Florida, the Florida Conflict Resolution Consortium, and the Institute of Science and Public Affairs at Florida State University.

 

PROJECT: Mayport Waterfront Revitalization Plan

CONTACT:
Edward D. Lukocovic, Senior Planner
City of Jacksonville
4453 Ocean Street
Mayport, FL 32233
(904) 630-7285

FCMP FUNDING AMOUNT: $62,500

DESCRIPTION: Mayport was designated a Working Waterfront by the Waterfront Florida Program. One of the tasks as a Working Waterfront community was to develop a Special Area Management Plan called the Mayport Waterfront Revitalization Plan. This grant was utilized to pay for two important studies, an Ecotourism Study and Design Guidelines for Mayport Village. The grant was also used to conduct three visioning workshops conducted in July of 1998 and set the tone and established goals as to what the Mayport Waterfront Partnership should focus attention on in revitalizing the Mayport area.

 

PROJECT: Coastal Resources Access Enhancement Plan

CONTACT:
Khurshid Mohyuddin, Transportation Planner
Palm Beach County
Palm Beach County Planning & Zoning
100 Australian Avenue
West Palm Beach, FL 33406
(561) 233-5351

FCMP FUNDING AMOUNT: $40,000

DESCRIPTION: The boundaries of this study area included all of eastern Palm Beach County, from the Atlantic coastline west to "Twenty Mile Bend." Generally, the three goals of the project are to increase mobility, suitability and access for bicyclists and pedestrians between western Palm Beach County and the coast, through connections between natural and recreational areas. The inventory process, which comprised the bulk of the project, was broken into two components, the resources inventory and the bicycle/pedestrian facilities inventory. Project task force members and staff determined that all major parks, natural areas and nature centers would be included within the resource inventory. Amenities of interest (i.e., restrooms, drinking water, nature trails, shade/shelter) to bicyclists and pedestrians, to be inventoried were determined by the task force.

 

PROJECT: The Gulf Coast Heritage Trail

CONTACT:
Mark Alderson, Executive Director
City of Sarasota
Sarasota Bay National Estuary Program
5333 N. Tamiami Trail, Suite 104
Sarasota, FL 34234
(941) 359-5841

FCMP FUNDING AMOUNT: $50,000

DESCRIPTION: The Sarasota Bay National Estuary Program (SBNEP) has initiated a heritage development program for Manatee and Sarasota counties. The heritage trail system currently under development will be a fully integrated system incorporating environmental, cultural, historical points of interest (including blueways, bikeways and greenways); and will be the first comprehensive trails system in this state. Funds provided through this grant were used to implement Phase I on the system including locator signage to the top 150 points of interest, staging areas for biking and walking areas, and canoe/kayak trails demarcated throughout the area.

 

PROJECT: Deering Estate at Cutler Coastal Trail Project

CONTACT:
Nancy Dufau, Grants Manager
Metropolitan Dade County
Park and Recreation Department
275 N.W. 2^nd Street
Miami, FL 33128
(305) 755-7947

FCMP FUNDING AMOUNT: $50,000

DESCRIPTION: The Deering Estate at Cutler Coastal Trails project was completed by the Miami-Dade Park and Recreation Department, a branch of county government servicing over 2 million residents and 8 million visitors to Miami-Dade annually. The Department operates the Deering Estate at Cutler, a state-owned property managed through a sub-lease agreement. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the 420 acre Estate has a coast line over one mile long and is a noted environmental, historical, and archaeological preserve. The project resulted in the construction of chirt pathways that provide access to the Estate’s coastal resources. Visitors to the Deering Estate at Cutler can use the pathways for environmental education and passive recreation. Through the use of chirt pathways, the trails are fully accessible while providing a country road appearance in keeping with the overall ambience of the Deering Estate. This project provides an important contribution to the other amenities available at this important public facility.

 

PROJECT: Development of Remarkable Coastal Places Program

CONTACT:
Jim Egan, Executive Director
Marine Resources Council of East Florida
Post Office Box 2893
Melbourne, FL 32902-2892
(407) 504-4500

FCMP FUNDING AMOUNT: $11,218

DESCRIPTION: This project was created to assist communities in the identification of a remarkable coastal place, a program definition was developed. To further assist the Florida Coastal Management Program in establishing parameters for the selection of potential remarkable coastal places, criteria were developed by the research team. The criteria, in conjunction with the program definition should serve to guide administrators in the selection process. A remarkable coastal place is broadly defined as a unique community, feature or location with the jurisdiction of the Florida Coastal Management Program recognized and supported by a community with the ability to sustain the designation process, project development, and maintenance. A remarkable coastal place is not limited to this definition, but is open for interpretation by communities throughout Florida. Remarkable features may include cultural, historical, archaeological, natural, recreational, or economic resources that lend character and/or value to the people of a particular region or culture.

 

PROJECT: Waterfronts Florida

CONTACT:
Dan Pennington, Community Planner
1000 Friends of Florida
926 East Park Avenue
Tallahassee, FL 32301
(850) 222-6277

FCMP FUNDING AMOUNT: $230,000

DESCRIPTION: In its Section 309 program area assessment and multi-year strategy, the State of Florida has identified the Special Area Management Planning (SAMP) enhancement area as a high priority. This strategy to address SAMPs focuses on the use of SAMPs to manage the coastal resources of Florida. A program designed to provide assistance and training to communities undergoing waterfront revitalization will result in the completion of Special Area Management Plans for participating communities to use for guidance and direction during their redevelopment efforts.

 

PROJECT: Cultural Resource Protection in the Coastal Zone

CONTACT:
Dr. James Miller, Chief
Florida Department of State
Division of Archaeological Resources
R.A. Gray Building, 500 South Bronough Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0250
(850) 487-2299

FCMP FUNDING AMOUNT: $105,000

DESCRIPTION: This project focused on identifying significant and threatened Florida historic properties (i.e. archaeological sites and historic standing structures), the specific threats to those historic properties, and the formulation of new preservation tools to protect them. Significant and threatened sites identified by the project served as a study sample in developing three protection initiatives designed to complement existing state preservation programs. These initiatives, which concentrate on preserving privately owned historic properties, are as follows: (1) educational and interpretive literature, i.e., two brochures on public access and interpretation, three brochures and a pamphlet on conservation easements, a best management practices handbook, and two stabilization guides; (2) site stewardship; and (3) archaeological conservation easements.

 

PROJECT: Developing a Comprehensive Ocean Policy in Florida

CONTACT:
James May, Senior Research
Associate Florida State University
C2200 University Center
Tallahassee, FL 32306-4016
(850) 644-2870

FCMP FUNDING AMOUNT: $85,000

DESCRIPTION: The goal of this project has been to aid the state in developing a comprehensive ocean resources management strategy that would allow the state to address conflicts between legitimate ocean activities and uses, recognizing the connectedness of natural systems and our dependence on their continued health and vitality. Inherent in creating a comprehensive ocean resources management strategy is the understanding that the ocean and all of its resources are inextricably linked. The development of a comprehensive ocean resources management strategy would allow the state to execute its stewardship, protection, and development responsibilities in a thoughtful manner, and prepare it to speak proactively. Such a position is much preferable to the alternative of reacting to events that have affected ocean resources without carefully evaluating all issues.

 

PROJECT: Governor’s Council for Sustainable Florida Public Outreach & Sustainable Florida Standards

CONTACT:
Karen Matthews, Administrative Assistant
Post Office Box 10688
Tallahassee, FL 32302
(850) 922-1733

FCMP FUNDING AMOUNT: $50,000

DESCRIPTION: During 1997-98, the Council developed a set of six core Sustainable Florida Standards through a public participation process comprising 15 statewide community forums involving over 1,000 Florida leaders from all walks of life. The goal of the Standards is to stimulate voluntary leadership and advance best management practices for sustainability in all sectors. In 1998-99 the Council undertook a demonstration project to test the applicability of the Sustainable Florida Standards in two highly diverse Florida communities: one large inland urban center (Orlando) and one small coastal community (Apalachicola). The Council examined and compared the structures for citizen involvement, consensus processes, and measurements of progress in the two communities with the goal of identifying practical guidelines and best practices for sustainability that are transferable to other cities and towns.

 

PROJECT: Resource Toolkits For Clean Marina Program

CONTACT:
Jan R. De Laney
Operations and Management consultant Manager
Department of Environmental Protection
3900 Commonwealth Boulevard MS 630
Tallahassee, FL 32399-3000
(850) 488-5600

FCMP FUNDING AMOUNT: $80,000

DESCRIPTION: Florida's reliance on ocean resources to fuel its recreational ecotourism and serve its growing population is evident from the marine industry comprising over 2,000 marinas, 794,000 registered motorized boats, approximately 300,000 visiting vessels annually, and 8,400 miles of shoreline. No matter where you stand in Florida, you can never be more than 75 miles from the sea. Eighty percent of Florida's population lives on the coast and more move to it at a rate of 800 people per day. Each day hundreds of thousands of boaters take advantage of our waterways for transportation, commercial or recreational fishing, swimming, skiing, diving and cruising. Currently, the regulatory process for existing marinas (a primary interface between the boating public and the services and operations required) is reactive. Operational and environmental problems are addressed after they happen rather than anticipated. This proposal suggest a proactive approach, which is part of a larger multi-agency and private industry initiative known as the "Clean Marina Program". This program is non-confrontational and non-adversarial providing a level of compliance not available under current regulatory processes. The proposed project will be the development and implementation of a "Resource Toolkit" for marina operators and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) staff. The Resource Toolkit will consist of manuals, forms, videos for marinas and boaters, and resource tools that will lead to Action Plans to be used by marinas to implement best management practices (BMP's) which are multimedia, emphasize a "whole" facility approach and are ecosystem-based. The intended result is a cleaner ocean environment to sustain ecotourism for Florida and profitable marina operations. Initially, DEP district staff will provide technical assistance to 100 marinas to develop BMP Action Plans. The expected outcomes of the proposed project are voluntary participation, stronger compliance with existing state regulatory and proprietary processes and creation of a strong environmental ethic among marinas and the boating public.

 

PROJECT: Coastal Program Support

CONTACT:
Lynn Griffin, Environmental Manager
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
3900 Commonwealth Boulevard
Tallahassee, FL 32399-3000
(850) 487-2231

FCMP FUNDING AMOUNT DESCRIPTION: $40,000

DESCRIPTION: The Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Office of Intergovernmental Programs is understaffed to meet the significant workload assigned to it. In particular, coordination of clearinghouse-federal consistency reviews for the department is a considerable task now that DEP is responsible for 18 of the FCMP’s 23 enforceable policies. In addition, this coordination has become a key element of the Department’s ecosystem management initiatives. Conducting consistency reviews, facilitating policy development, program activity tracking and monitoring federal and state review timelines are demanding tasks. The Department received financial assistance to meet these challenges and complete its coastal management program responsibilities.

 

PROJECT: Indian Rocks Beach Nature Preserve

CONTACT:
Dean A. Scharmen, Public Services Director
City of Indian Rocks Beach
1507 Bay Palm Boulevard
Indian Rocks Beach, FL 33785
(813) 595-6889

FCMP FUNDING AMOUNT: $50,000

DESCRIPTION: The City of Indian Rocks Beach is a coastal community in Pinellas County that is more than 95 percent built-out on Sand Key barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico. There are very few sizable, undeveloped tracts of land remaining with the potential for passive and active recreational use. The site contains approximately 13 acres and consists of submerged lands, a mangrove forest, and uplands. The land provides an opportunity for all residents of Indian Rocks Beach and Pinellas County to enjoy one of the last natural coastal parcels of property in southern Pinellas county. The City’s intent is to create a perception of isolation in an undisturbed Florida wetland. Educational programs will be offered through coordination with a diversity of groups which promote conservation and education. Preservation of the site’s valuable natural resources will be a primary development consideration fulfilling a goal of the Coastal and Conservation Element of the City’s Comprehensive Plan. The project will help conserve the biologically productive ecosystems of the mangrove forest by preserving and enhancing the estuary and protecting surface waters.

 

PROJECT: Chapter 163 Consistency

CONTACT:
Beth Elrod, Senior Management Analyst
Florida Department of Community Affairs
2555 Shumard Oak Boulevard
Tallahassee, FL 32399-2100
(850) 488-2358

FCMP FUNDING AMOUNT: $40,000

DESCRIPTION: The Florida Coastal Management Program continued a program of coordination and review to assist local governments and regional agencies in dealing with the cumulative and secondary impacts of coastal development, primarily through the federal consistency process. Through the federal consistency process, direct federal activities, federally permitted or licensed activities, Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lands Act exploration, development and production activities, and federally funded state and local government activities are reviewed for consistency with Florida’s Coastal Management Program. This effort will focus on service delivery through the Department of Community Affairs, the 11 regional planning councils (RPCs), and the five water management districts (WMDs). This effort will also provide an opportunity for local governments to focus on the concerns regarding cumulative and secondary impacts as they begin the evaluation and appraisal process for local comprehensive plans.

 

PROJECT: Coastal Greenway in Dixie & Taylor Counties

CONTACT:
Joe Flanagan, Director of Administration
Suwannee River Water Management District
9225 County Road 49
Live Oak, FL 32060
1-800-226-1066

FCMP FUNDING AMOUNT: $50,000

DESCRIPTION: This project was to study the feasibility of a coastal greenway in Dixie and Taylor counties. The study began with the formation of a project review committee of local citizens representing the four project sponsors and two technical advisors. Technical studies completed by the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission that inventoried the biodiversity of the coastal region of Dixie and Taylor counties provided the background data relative to areas of environmental sensitivity. These became the framework of sustainability. Maps were assembled. Extensive field investigations followed, some of which were guided by State and Federal land managers. A preliminary network of trails, recreation areas, trailheads, water access locations were identified from the background studies, maps and field investigations.

 

PROJECT: Options for Development of the Florida Maritime Heritage Trail (formerly known as Scoping Project for Florida Coastway Initiative)

CONTACT:
Patricia M. Schapley, Senior Research Associate
Florida Atlantic University
220 S.E. 2^nd Avenue, Suite 709
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301
(954) 762-5255

FCMP FUNDING AMOUNT: $44,132

DESCRIPTION: The Florida Maritime Heritage Trail is an initiative intended to promote the state’s coastal recreation and heritage resources and tie them together under a common theme. It is an educational and promotional effort to teach Floridians and visitors about the various cultural, historical, and environmental features of Florida’s coast. The trail will consist of information, rather than a marked route or sign system, that will be supplied in the form of a web-site incorporating maritime and heritage information with additional relevant Internet links. Being designated as a part of the Florida Maritime Heritage Trail is merely a symbolic gesture to indicate to residents and visitors that the site has historical value to the state’s maritime heritage.

 

PROJECT: Governor’s Commission For A Sustainable South Florida

CONTACT:
Mollie Palmer, Special Assistant
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
3900 Commonwealth Boulevard
Tallahassee, FL 32399-3000
(850) 488-1554

FCMP FUNDING AMOUNT: $100,000

DESCRIPTION: The water quality of the many surface waters of the Everglades Ecosystem has been degraded, or is in danger of degradation, and the natural systems associated with the Everglades , such as Florida Bay, have been altered so that they no longer fulfill the important function they once performed. Yet the south Florida economy is dependent on these very systems. The project supported the efforts of the Governor’s Commission for a Sustainable South Florida, which serves as a coordination mechanism to focus the many competing interests in south Florida. The commission works to develop restoration and management solutions that will provide for sustainable economic development that can coexist with a healthy Everglades Ecosystem.