United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Services Emergency Watershed Projects
From:
Joy D. Blackmon, P.E., Department Director
Organization:
Public Works
CAO Approval:
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation Concerning the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service Emergency Watershed Project Agreement Program - Joy D. Blackmon, P.E., Public Works Department Director
That the Board take the following action concerning the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Emergency Watershed Project (EWP) Agreement Program:
A. Authorize submittal of the following projects and approve Escambia County to serve as the local sponsor:
Project Name
Description
Estimated Cost
Swamphouse Road
Gully west of Davis Highway, which crosses under Smith’s Fish Camp Road has washed out, along with Smith’s Fish Camp Road, and is substantially damaged. The tributary to Escambia Bay and Escambia River is threatened.
$500,000
Gatewood Ditch
Gatewood Ditch is the overflow outfall from Ellyson Industrial Park Pond, located north of Johnson Avenue. The ditch, which runs adjacent to private property parallel to East Johnson Avenue and crosses under East Johnson Avenue near the Olive Road intersection, is substantially damaged. The flow in this ditch washed out the box culvert and roadway at East Johnson Avenue, which is currently under repair. The tributary to Escambia Bay is threatened.
$359,790
Glynn Broc Gully
Located just downstream of the Gatewood Ditch and Johnson Avenue. There is a large concrete flood control structure in the gully, which was originally a 1979 NRCS Project, which is threatened with a large amount of sediment and erosion. Loss of the structure threatens Scenic Highway and Olive Road. The tributary to Escambia Bay is threatened.
$700,000
Olive Road at gully
Parallel to Olive Road, just west of Scenic Highway, this gully threatens Olive Road. The tributary to Escambia Bay is also threatened.
$198,671
Cypress Point
East of Scenic Highway across from the Olive Road intersection, this gully drains Gatewood Ditch, Glynn Broc Gully, and Olive Road. The storm damage threatens several properties located along the Escambia Bay coastline and Escambia Bay.
$300,000
Willowbrook Dam
Controls stormwater flows which then cross Chemstrand Road. Chemstrand Road, properties downstream, swampland, and the tributary to Escambia River are threatened.
$500,000
Ten Mile Creek
Flows have caused the erosion of up to 30 feet of creek banks in some areas between Pine Forest Road and west of Stefani Road. A private pond and large amounts of private property have been eroded and are further threatened. Ten Mile Creek flows into Eleven Mile Creek, which flows into Perdido Bay. Several wetlands and private properties are threatened. The threat to Pine Forest Road Bridge and to local private property is immediate.
$1,400,000
Addison Drive
Flow from the area north of Addison Drive has caused severe erosion adjacent to and into private properties. Scenic Highway and the outfall into Escambia Bay are threatened.
$250,000
Crescent Lake
Dam breach has drained Crescent Lake and allows uncontrolled flows downstream through a large watershed that makes its way to Perdido Bay. Several major roadways and private properties downstream are threatened by water flows.
$674,531
Jackson Lakes
1,800 feet of major slope failure.
$1,000,000
B. Authorize the Chairman to execute any subsequent Agreements and program-related documents from the project list. This program has a very aggressive timeline (220 days from approval through construction) and we need the Board’s authorization for the chairman to execute needed documents for the individual project(s); and
C. Accept, subject to Legal review and sign-off, easements, Hold Harmless Agreements, and other documents of conveyance, as may be required from property owners of Escambia County whose properties are adjacent to designated EWP sites.
[Funding for the 25% match is available in Fund 352, "LOST III"]
BACKGROUND:
The April 2014 storms produced floodwaters throughout Escambia County. Swollen streams caused excessive flooding and erosion that damaged many roadways, dams, culverts, and bridges. Escambia County has applied for a total of ten Emergency Watershed Program Applications for which EWP may provide funding. The work will consist of rebuilding damaged waterway structures, associated roadways, and other items as specified in each Damage Survey Report.
The most critical projects, as listed above, are:
Swamphouse Road
Gatewood Ditch
Glynn Broc Gully
Olive Road at gully
Cypress Point
Willowbrook Dam
Ten Mile Creek
Addison Drive
Crescent Lake
Jackson Lakes
This program reimburses 75% of the actual eligible constructon cost. In addtion, this program also reimburses eligible in-kind technical services not to exceed 7.5% of the actual eligible construction cost.
The Public Works Department, Engineering Divison, has received a Program Application for the Crescent Lake Dam from USDA-NRCS Emergency Watershed Program. Escambia County will serve as a sponsor for the applicant - Crescent Lake Preservaton Association (CPLA). The Damage Survey Report for Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program Application for Crescent Lake/Bayou Marcus will rebuild and remove sediment at the Crescent Lake Dam. Our obligation for this project is estimated at 25% of $1,016,880 which is $254,220.
This program has a very aggressive timeline (220 days from approval through construction) and we need the Board’s authorization for the chairman to execute needed documents for the individual project(s).
BUDGETARY IMPACT:
Funding for the 25% match is available in Fund 352 "LOST III".
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS/SIGN-OFF:
Kristual Hual, Assistant County Attorney, reviewed and approved the project Agreement as to form and legal sufficiency.
PERSONNEL:
N/A
POLICY/REQUIREMENT FOR BOARD ACTION:
N/A
IMPLEMENTATION/COORDINATION:
The Public Works Department will coordinate with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).