Agenda 01/27/2015 Item #16A12 1/27/2015 16.A.12.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation to adopt a resolution endorsing collaborative development of a comprehensive,
regional, water management strategy addressing water storage and treatment for all coastal
community watersheds of Southwest Florida.
OBJECTIVE: To develop a regional collaborative approach addressing water management
issues common to all southwest Florida coastal counties working in concert with all adjacent
coastal community governments to enact new legislation which provides adequate and reliable
. long-term funding for local government water infrastructure needs.
CONSIDERATIONS: Freshwater discharges consistently impact southwest Florida's coastal
communities. Stormwater runoff and surface water discharges from associated watersheds affect
the ecology of our waters, the quality of life of our citizens, area businesses, and have a lasting
effect on our local economy. Discharges occur as a result of our man-altered landscape of flood
control projects, channelization, and other land use changes that have occurred throughout the
region over the past century.
The current condition is much different from the original undeveloped state. The system we
have today delivers water to the coast very quickly with little to no water treatment. This has
resulted in our estuaries receiving too much water during the wet season and not enough water
during the dry season. Untreated surface water runoff can be laden with excessive nutrients that
can stimulate harmful algal blooms. The most prevalent southwest Florida example of this is the
surface water discharge from the Caloosahatchee River affecting the beaches of Lee County.
Collier County affected watersheds include Naples Bay, Gordon River/Golden Gate Estates and
Rookery Bay.
Current natural resource protection growth management goals discuss the need to improve the
quantity, quality, timing and distribution of water flowing to the sensitive receiving waters of
coastal Counties of Southwest Florida and to restore historic flows to the Everglades and Florida
Bay. Southwest Florida Coastal Counties and municipalities have developed lists of short-term,
low-cost strategies, as well as lists of longer-term state and federal priorities to address water
storage and treatment. A regional collaborative approach addressing water management issues
common to all southwest Florida coastal counties is the most effective way to pursue enactment
of new legislation to provide adequate and reliable long-term funding for municipal water
infrastructure needs.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact associated with this item.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: This item addresses protection of natural resources,
surface and estuarine water resources, and coastal resources and complies with the goals,
objectives, and policies of the Conservation and Coastal Management Element and Drainage
Sub-element of the Collier County Growth Management Plan.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: This item is approved as to form and legality, and requires
majority vote for Board approval.—SRT
RECOMMENDATION: That the Board adopts and authorizes its Chairman to execute the
attached resolution.
Prepared By: Gerald Kurtz, Principal Project Manager
Attachment: Resolution
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1/27/2015 16.A.12.
COLLIER COUNTY
Board of County Commissioners
Item Number: 16.16.A.16.A.12.
Item Summary: Recommendation to adopt a resolution endorsing collaborative
development of a comprehensive, regional, water management strategy addressing water
storage and treatment for all coastal community watersheds of Southwest Florida.
Meeting Date: 1/27/2015
Prepared By
Name: KurtzGerald
Title:Project Manager,Principal, Transportation Road Maintenance
1/20/2015 2:38:31 PM
Submitted by
Title: Project Manager,Principal,Transportation Road Maintenance
Name: KurtzGerald
1/20/2015 2:38:32 PM
Approved By
Name: PattersonAmy
Title:Manager-Impact Fees &EDC, Business Management&Budget Office
Date: 1/20/2015 2:55:54 PM
Name: MarcellaJeanne
Title: Executive Secretary, Transportation Planning
Date: 1/20/2015 3:13:51 PM
Name: TeachScott
Title: Deputy County Attorney, County Attorney
Date: 1/21/2015 8:31:04 AM
Name: KlatzkowJeff
Title: County Attorney,
Date: 1/21/2015 8:36:19 AM
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1/27/2015 16.A.12.
Name: IsacksonMark
Title: Director-Corp Financial and Mngmt Svs, Office of Management&Budget
Date: 1/21/2015 8:56:47 AM
Name: OchsLeo
Title: County Manager, County Managers Office
Date: 1/21/2015 11:13:23 AM
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1/27/2015 16.A.12.
Resolution No. 2015-
i
A RESOLUTION ENDORSING FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO
WORK IN CONCERT TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT PROVIDES ADEQUATE
AND RELIABLE LONG-TERM FUNDING FOR LOCAL WATER INFRASTRUCTURE
NEEDS TO ADDRESS WATER STORAGE AND TREATMENT WITHIN THE
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA COASTAL COMMUNITY WATERSHEDS.
WHEREAS, the coastal communities of Southwest Florida are consistently impacted by
freshwater discharges from associated watersheds that impact the ecology of our waters, affect the
quality of life of our citizens and area businesses and has a lasting effect on our local economy;and,
WHEREAS, discharges occur as a result of man-altered landscape of flood control projects,
channelization, and other land use changes occurring throughout the region over the past century, all of
which has altered the current condition so that it is much different from the original undeveloped state;
and,
WHEREAS, today's system delivers water to the coast very quickly with little to no water
treatment, which causes our estuaries to receive too much water during the wet season and not enough
water during the dry season;and,
WHEREAS, untreated surface water runoff is laden with excessive nutrients that can stimulate
harmful algal blooms;and,
WHEREAS,tourism and real estate tax revenue in Southwest Florida generates billions of dollars
annually and recent polls by Visitor and Convention Bureaus indicate that over 90% of all visitors to
Southwest Florida identified the area beaches as our most attractive asset; and,
WHEREAS, local water quality can have a tremendous influence on consumer confidence and
can greatly impact tourism and impacts our local economy because too much or too little freshwater
delivered to the coast can affect critical estuarine resources such as seagrasses, oysters and fishes and the
ecology of our waters, which greatly influences the quality of life of Southwest Florida residents and
visitors;and,
WHEREAS, a comprehensive strategy is needed to: (1) address water storage and treatment
within the watersheds of Southwest Florida, and (2) significant land reservations and new infrastructure
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1/27/2015 16.A.12.
necessary to convey excess water south into Everglades National Park and Florida Bay where it is needed;
and,
WHEREAS, Southwest Florida Coastal Counties and local governments have developed lists of
short-term, low-cost strategies, as well as lists of longer-term State and federal priorities to address water
storage and treatment throughout the watersheds of Southwest Florida with the goal to improve the
quantity, quality,timing and distribution of water to the sensitive receiving waters of coastal Counties of
Southwest Florida and restore historic flows to the Everglades and Florida Bay.
NOW,THEREFORE,be it resolved by the County Board of County Commissioners that Federal,
State and local governments,working in concert,enact new legislation that provides adequate and reliable
long-term funding for local water infrastructure needs to help close the funding gaps for such needs and
that such funding shall be used solely to address water infrastructure needs without reliance from
traditional revenue sources,such as a federal tax on water or sewer charges.
This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption.
DULY PASSED AND ENACTED by the Collier County Board of County Commissioners, this
27th day of January 2015.
Attest:
DWIGHT E. BROCK, Clerk BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA
By: By:
,Deputy Clerk Tim Nance,Chairman
Approved as to form and
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Scott R. Teach
Deputy County Attorney
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