Agenda 09/24/2019 Item #16A15 (MOU to Improve Hydroligic Conditions along Wagon Wheel Road)09/24/2019
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation to approve a Memorandum of Agreement between Collier County and the Big
Cypress National Preserve detailing the terms of a combined effort to improve hydrologic
conditions within the wetlands and watersheds of a portion of the Big Cypress National Preserve,
near and along Wagon Wheel Road.
OBJECTIVE: To assist staff of the National Park Service’s Big Cypress National Preserve with the
Ochopee Sheet Flow Restoration Plan, specifically the Upper Wagon Wheel Sheet Flow project.
CONSIDERATIONS: The Ochopee Sheet Flow Restoration Plan consists of multiple restoration phases
which encompasses an area generally bounded by U.S. 41 on the south, Turner River Road on the east,
Wagon Wheel Road on the north, and Birdon Road on the west. This area is located approximately four
miles east of State Road 29 within the boundary of the Big Cypress National Preserve. The stated goal of
the Restoration Plan is to restore the freshwater sheet flow to the water-starved wetlands which in turn
feed estuaries in downstream Everglades National Park. The Restoration Plan generally consists of
installing culverts under Turner River, Wagon Wheel, and Birdon Roads; removal of farm and tram roads
and restoration to wetland grade; and, infilling canals with earthen plugs. The National Park Service’s Big
Cypress National Preserve has been working on an effort to restore natural surface water flows to the area
since the 1980s.
Construction of area roads and adjacent canals many years ago altered the sheet flow pattern within the
restoration area, blocking freshwater from recharging wetlands and reaching estuaries downstream. Many
of the existing culverts under these roads are undersized and restrict flow. Installation of additional
culverts will increase surface water conveyance capacity under Upper Wagonwheel Road, reconnect
wetlands south to their upstream headwaters, and decrease the potential of peak canal stages overtopping
these County-maintained roads. During the rainy season, water from the canals washes out sections of the
lime rock roadways creating water quality issues and costly maintenance repairs for the County Road and
Bridge Division.
The first and second phases of the overall restoration project were previously approved, and the Cou nty
completed its in-kind portions of these projects, which consisted of the installation of culverts under
Turner River and Birdon Roads. This project phase will require the County to install five (5) new sets of
triple-barreled culverts along Wagon Wheel Road.
Big Cypress National Preserve received funding in the amount of $100,000 from the South Florida
National Parks Trust for the proposed restoration effort. Combined with Big Cypress National Preserve’s
in-kind contribution, these funds have and will cover all materials and other costs, except for the County’s
in-kind contribution to furnish all labor and equipment needed to install the five (5) sets of culverts. The
main details of this restoration project partnership are listed in the Memorandum of Agreement. Big
Cypress National Preserve staff is responsible for completing the design and permitting work. Collier
County will be the co-permittee for the necessary environmental resource permits.
FISCAL IMPACT: The value of in-kind culvert installation services provided by the County Road and
Bridge Division for this project is estimated to be $125,000.
Once installed, the new culverts will have a life cycle exceeding 50 years. Recurring annual operation
and maintenance costs are estimated to be approximately $100 per culvert set each year. The new
culverts will be maintained by the Road and Bridge Division, Fund 101. Additionally, there is the cost of
recording the Agreement in the Official Records of Collier County.
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09/24/2019
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: Restoration of surface water flows on the wetlands and
watersheds within the Big Cypress National Preserve is in accordance with the Goals, Objectives and
Policies of the Stormwater Management Sub-element of the Growth Management Plan. Further, these
lands are designated Conservation on the Future Land Use Map and are within the Big Cypress Area of
Critical State Concern. The implementation of the Restoration Plan helps fulfill the purpose of the
Conservation Designation, which is to conserve conservation lands and their natural functions.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: This item has been reviewed by the County Attorney, is approved as to
form and legality, and requires majority vote for approval. -JAK
RECOMMENDATION: To approve the attached Memorandum of Agreement between the National
Park Service’s Big Cypress National Preserve and Collier County; and, direct the Board Chairman to
execute the agreement.
Prepared By: Michele Mosca, AICP, Principal Planner, Capital Project Planning, Impact Fees and
Program Management Division
ATTACHMENT(S)
1. Memorandum of Agreement (PDF)
2. Wagon Wheel Road Project Scope (PDF)
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09/24/2019
COLLIER COUNTY
Board of County Commissioners
Item Number: 16.A.15
Doc ID: 9914
Item Summary: Recommendation to approve a Memorandum of Agreement between Collier
County and the Big Cypress National Preserve detailing the terms of a combined effort to improve
hydrologic conditions within the wetlands and watersheds of a portion of the Big Cypress National
Preserve, near and along Wagon Wheel Road.
Meeting Date: 09/24/2019
Prepared by:
Title: Planner, Principal – Capital Project Planning, Impact Fees, and Program Management
Name: Michele Mosca
08/21/2019 2:56 PM
Submitted by:
Title: Division Director - IF, CPP & PM – Capital Project Planning, Impact Fees, and Program
Management
Name: Amy Patterson
08/21/2019 2:56 PM
Approved By:
Review:
Growth Management Department Judy Puig Level 1 Reviewer Completed 08/22/2019 9:58 AM
Capital Project Planning, Impact Fees, and Program Management Gino Santabarbara Additional Reviewer Completed 08/28/2019 11:13 AM
Capital Project Planning, Impact Fees, and Program Management Amy Patterson Additional Reviewer Completed 09/03/2019 1:48 PM
Growth Management Department Thaddeus Cohen Department Head Review Completed 09/05/2019 11:03 AM
Road Maintenance Albert English Additional Reviewer Completed 09/05/2019 2:44 PM
Office of Management and Budget Laura Wells Level 3 OMB Gatekeeper Review Completed 09/10/2019 4:17 PM
County Attorney's Office Jeffrey A. Klatzkow Level 3 County Attorney's Office Review Completed 09/12/2019 10:50 AM
Office of Management and Budget Laura Zautcke Additional Reviewer Completed 09/13/2019 2:49 PM
County Manager's Office Nick Casalanguida Level 4 County Manager Review Completed 09/14/2019 12:35 PM
Board of County Commissioners MaryJo Brock Meeting Pending 09/24/2019 9:00 AM
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Packet Pg. 981 Attachment: Memorandum of Agreement (9914 : Wagon Wheel Road Sheet Flow Project)
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Packet Pg. 982 Attachment: Memorandum of Agreement (9914 : Wagon Wheel Road Sheet Flow Project)
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Packet Pg. 983 Attachment: Memorandum of Agreement (9914 : Wagon Wheel Road Sheet Flow Project)
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Packet Pg. 984 Attachment: Memorandum of Agreement (9914 : Wagon Wheel Road Sheet Flow Project)
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Packet Pg. 985 Attachment: Memorandum of Agreement (9914 : Wagon Wheel Road Sheet Flow Project)
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Packet Pg. 986 Attachment: Memorandum of Agreement (9914 : Wagon Wheel Road Sheet Flow Project)
Proposed Upper Wagon Wheel
Sheet Flow Project
Summary and Scope: June 2019
Problem Statement:
• Upper Wagon Wheel Road functions as a barrier to the regional movement and
distribution of sheet flow in Big Cypress National Preserve, and in particular to the
SWAMP outdoor classroom located.
• Under current conditions, water discharge under the three-mile long road is restricted to
four (4) single barreled culverts and a single (1) box culvert which undesirably discharges
directly into a downstream “getaway” canal.
• The result of this conveyance deficiency is that water regularly accumulates on the
northern “upstream” side of the road on an annual basis (i.e. every wet season) where it is
preferentially circumvented to into canals, thus bypassing the wetland flow way to the
south.
• The severity of this disruption became especially highlighted in June 2017 when upwards
of 15 inches of rainfall fell in a single day. A mammoth pool formed on the north side of
Upper Wagon wheel which rose an estimated foot higher than to the south. This
condition contributed to overtopping of Lower Wagon Wheel during this period.
Photo 1: View of water backing up behind Upper Wagon Wheel
Road following record rainfall in June 2017
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Packet Pg. 987 Attachment: Wagon Wheel Road Project Scope (9914 : Wagon Wheel Road Sheet Flow Project)
Project Scope:
• Installation of five (5) new sets of triple barreled culverts
• Improvement of existing canal plugs network in Upper Wagon Wheel Canal
• Installation of a new plug in Birdon (i.e. the “get away”) canal
Photo 2: Photograph showing the proposed location of the new plug in the Birdon “Getaway”
Canal. Strategic infilling of the canal at this location will have the beneficial effects of (1)
reducing channelized drainage downstream and (2) creating a more natural hydrologic regime
(i.e. seasonally attenuated) at the site of the SWAMP outdoor classroom.
Primary Project Goals:
1. Improve seasonal distribution of sheet flow in Big Cypress National Preserve.
2. Increasing water conveyance capacity under Upper Wagon Wheel Road.
3. Reconnect wetlands south of Upper Wagon Wheel Road to their upstream headwaters.
4. Help prevent road overtopping on downstream Turner River and Lower Wagon Wheel
Roads.
5. Reduced the conveyance capacity of the “get away” (i.e. Birdon) canal.
6. Establish a more natural hydrology in the outdoor classroom (i.e. dome, prairie, and
pinelands) used by the SWAMP educational program on Birdon Road.
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Packet Pg. 988 Attachment: Wagon Wheel Road Project Scope (9914 : Wagon Wheel Road Sheet Flow Project)
Educational Outreach Component:
Just to expand upon the sixth (6th) goal of the project, as listed above, because it’s so important.
This project is not just about getting more water into the wetlands on the other side of the road
(a worthy cause in itself), it’s about getting the hydrology right in local catchment that includes
one of the outdoor classroom used by the Preserve’s SWAMP educational program. Each year,
every 6th grade student in Collier County spends a day in a cypress dome, marl prairie, and
pineland mosaic. Under current conditions, the flow restriction at Upper Wagon Wheel Road
disrupts the natural hydrology of the outdoor classroom, and thus shortening the seasonal
window in which flowing and standing water are present. The classroom provides a much more
authentic, educational and immersive (no pun intended) when water is visibly present across
the landscape, not just in the canal. Additionally, the story of the proposed restoration action
and its outcome (i.e. data collection, more water on landscape, less water loss in the canal) can
become integrated into the educational program in a number of ways.
Time Frame:
• Complete agreement (MOA) with Collier County –Jun to Nov, 2019
• Complete permits with SFWMD/USACE – Jun to Nov, 2019
• Install culverts on Upper Wagon Wheel Road, Feb to Apr, 2020
• Install headwalls to new culverts, Mar to May, 2020
• Install plugs on Upper Wagon Wheel and Birdon Road, Feb to May, 2020
Project Funding:
Big Cypress National Preserve received$100,000 in funding from the South Florida National
Parks Trust.
Primary Contact:
Bob Sobczak, Hydrologist, Big Cypress National Preserve 239-340-0200 cell
Tony Pernas, Botanist, Big Cypress National Preserve 239-695-1111
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Packet Pg. 989 Attachment: Wagon Wheel Road Project Scope (9914 : Wagon Wheel Road Sheet Flow Project)