6.0 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE
The recommended implementation schedule for each component of the Lake
Tarpon Drainage Basin Management Plan is shown in Table 6-1. This table also lists the
issues addressed and the responsible entities for each recommended component of the Plan.
Due to the documented concerns regarding the advancing trophic state of
Lake Tarpon, it is recommended that most components of the Plan be initiated in some
manner during 1999. For some Plan components, additional studies and monitoring are
recommended prior to full implementation. These include: Structural Component 5 -
Construct
Pump Stations and Distribution Lines for the Storage and Beneficial Reuse of Lake
Discharge Water, and Management Component 2 - Increase Lake Flushing and
Dilution.
Due to their high capital costs, it is recommended that property
acquisition and design activities for the major structural components of the Plan be
intiated in 1999, but that construction be extended over a 10-year period. The major
structural components of the Plan include: Structural Component 1 -
Convert
All On-site Wastewater Treatment Systems (Septic Tanks) in the Lake Tarpon Basin to
Central Sewer Systems; and Structural Component 2 - Construct
and Maintain Enhanced Stormwater Treatment Facilities in the Priority MHUs and Individual
Sub-basins. For the latter management action, it is
recommended that the land acquisition for all six facilities be completed by 2000, and
that at least one facility be fully constructed and operational in 2002. Design and
construction of the other five facilities should be staggered over a 10-year period based
on available funding and trends in lake water quality. If warranted by continued poor
water quality trends, it is recommended that the construction of all six facilities be
completed by 2009.
Table 6-1. Summary of recommended management components of the Lake
Tarpon Drainage Basin Management Plan, and the proposed implementation schedule for each.
Management Plan
Component |
Issues Addressed |
Responsible
Entities |
Implementation
Schedule |
Structural
Component 1
Convert All On-site Wastewater Treatment
Systems (Septic Tanks) in the Lake Tarpon Basin to Central Sewer Systems |
Water Quality |
Pinellas County
Utilities Department
City of Tarpon Springs Utilities Department |
Initiate design in
1999; complete construction by 2009. |
Structural
Component 2
Construct and Maintain Enhanced Stormwater
Treatment Facilities in the Priority MHUs and Individual Sub-basins. |
Water Quality |
Pinellas County
Engineering Department |
Initiate property acquisition and design in
1999; complete construction of one facility by 2002; complete construction of the other
five facilities by 2009. |
Structural Component 3
Construct Wildlife Crossing Structures at Strategic Locations
Within the Lake Tarpon Basin |
Wildlife and
Associated Habitat |
Pinellas County
Engineering Department |
Select priority
crossings and initiate design in 1999; complete construction of priority crossings by
2001. |
Structural
Component 4
Install Stage and Flow Measurement Devices
at the Lake Tarpon Outfall Canal Control Structure |
Water Quality;
Flood Control |
Southwest Florida
Water Management District |
Install equipment in
1999. |
Structural
Component 5
Construct Pump Stations and Distribution
Lines for the Storage and Beneficial Reuse of Lake Discharge Water |
Water Quality;
Aquatic Vegetation;
Fisheries;
Flood Control |
Pinellas County
Utilities Department |
Complete beneficial
reuse and ASR feasibility study in 1999; monitor effects of Management Component 1
in 1999 and 2000; initiate design and construction in 2001 if warranted; complete
construction by 2004. |
Management
Component 1
Implement an Enhanced Lake Level Fluctuation
Schedule |
Water Quality;
Aquatic Vegetation;
Fisheries;
Flood Control |
U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers
Southwest Florida Water Management District |
Implement in 1999. |
Management
Component 2
Increase Lake Flushing and Dilution |
Water Quality;
Aquatic Vegetation;
Fisheries;
Flood Control |
Pinellas County
Utilities Department |
Complete beneficial
reuse and ASR feasibility study in 1999; monitor effects of Management Component 1
in 1999 and 2000; initiate design and construction in 2001 if warranted; complete
construction by 2004. |
Management
Component 3
Implement a Mechanical Harvesting Program
for Nuisance Aquatic Vegetation |
Aquatic Vegetation;
Fisheries;
Wildlife and Associated Habitat;
Recreation and Aesthetics |
Pinellas County
Department of Environmental Management
Pinellas County Mosquito Control |
Implement in 1999.
|
Table 6-1 Continued
| Management
Component 4
Inventory
Permitted MSSW Facilities in the Lake Tarpon Basin and Develop Facility Improvement Plans |
Water Quality |
Pinellas County
Department of Environmental Management
Pinellas County Engineering Department |
Implement program in 1999.
|
| Management Component 5
Develop and Implement a Comprehensive Lake Tarpon Habitat
Improvement Program (LT/HIP) |
Aquatic Vegetation;
Wildlife and Associated
Habitat |
Pinellas County
Department of Environmental Management |
Implement program in 1999. |
Legal Component 1
Amend the Florida Statutes to Specifically Define the Limits of the Lake Tarpon Outstanding Florida Waters
(OFW) to Include "All Tributaries Thereto" |
Water Quality |
Pinellas County
Board of County Commissioners
Local delegation of the Florida Legislature |
Effect legal
amendment in 1999. |
Legal
Component 2
Adopt a Resolution Designating the Lake
Tarpon Basin as a "Nutrient Sensitive Watershed" |
Water Quality |
Pinellas County
Board of County Commissioners
City of Tarpon Springs Board of Commissioners |
Adopt resolution in
1999. |
Legal
Component 3
Strengthen and Standardize Local Ordinances
for Regulating Stormwater Treatment for Redevelopment in the Lake Tarpon Basin |
Water Quality |
Pinellas County
Board of County Commissioners
City of Tarpon Springs Board of Commissioners |
Complete and adopt
ordinance amendments in 2000. |
Policy
Component 1
Establish a Lake
Tarpon Watershed Management Area (WMA) via Amendments to the Pinellas County and City of
Tarpon Springs Comprehensive Plans |
All |
Pinellas County
Board of County Commissioners
City of Tarpon Springs Board of Commissioners |
Amend Comprehensive
Plans in 2000. |
Compliance
& Enforcement Component 1
Assign a Full-time Pinellas County Marine
Unit Sheriff to Enforce Restricted Speed Zones on Lake Tarpon |
Recreation and
Aesthetics |
Pinellas County
Sheriff’s Department
Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission |
Implement in 1999. |
Compliance
& Enforcement Component 2
Install Additional Buoy Markers For, and
Post the Allowable Activities Within, the 200' Perimeter Restricted Speed Zone |
Recreation and
Aesthetics |
Pinellas County
Department of Environmental Management |
Implement in 1999. |
Social &
Recreation Component 1
Investigate the Establishment of a Spatially
Segmented Management Scheme for Recreational Uses of Lake Tarpon as a Means of Reducing
User Conflicts |
Recreation and
Aesthetics |
Pinellas County
Department of Environmental Management
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Department |
Perform recreational user survey in 2000
after monitoring effectiveness of Compliance and Enforcement Components 1 and 2 for
two years. |
Social & Recreation Component 2
Establish a Public
Pedestrian Fishing Trail along the West Side of the Lake Tarpon Outfall Canal |
Recreation and
Aesthetics |
Pinellas County
Engineering Department
Pinellas County Parks Department |
Implement in 2000; to be coordinated with
results of Social & Recreation Component 1. |
Table 6-1 Continued
| Social &
Recreation Component 3
Provide for Night Access to Public Boat Ramps at Anderson Park |
Recreation and
Aesthetics |
Pinellas County
Parks Department |
Implement in 1999. |
Public Education Component 1
Develop and
Implement a Comprehensive Public Involvement Program for the Lake Tarpon Watershed |
Public Education |
Pinellas County
Department of Environmental Management
Pinellas County Public Information Department |
Implement program in
1999. |
Public
Education Component 2
Develop and Implement a Local Citizens Lakewatch Program on Lake
Tarpon |
Public Education |
Pinellas County
Department of Environmental Management |
Implement program in
2000. |
Operation
& Maintenance
Perform Ongoing Operation and Maintenance
Activities for Recommended Structural and Management Components of the Plan |
All |
Pinellas County
Utilities Department
Pinellas County Engineering Department |
Ongoing. |
Monitoring and
Success Evaluation
Implementation of a Comprehensive Monitoring Program |
All |
Pinellas County
Department of Environmental Management |
Implement full program in 1999. |
7.0 FINANCING
REQUIREMENTS AND OPTIONS
7.1 FUNDING
REQUIREMENTS
An estimate of
the total cost of financing the recommended Lake Tarpon Drainage Basin Management Plan is
summarized in Table 7-1 below. The cost of implementing the Plan over a 10-year period has
been estimated at $19,087,000. It should, however, be noted that design plans and
specification have not been prepared for the major structural components of the Plan, and
market-driven unit costs can vary significantly due to many factors. Nonetheless, the
estimate of the total cost to implement the Plan was prepared with the best information
available to date.
Table 7-1
Summary of costs for implementing the recommended Lake Tarpon Drainage Basin Management
Plan.
* The total of
construction costs plus five years of annual O&M and administrative costs.
In developing the
cost estimates shown in Table 7-1, the total annual O&M and administrative costs
represent estimates for annual recurring costs for these activities associated with the
entire suite of projects and programs recommended in the Plan. Therefore, for the
estimated total cost through year 2008, it was assumed that all recommended construction
projects would be completed by the year end 2003, and that all facilities and recommended
programs would be fully operational for a period of five years (from 2004 through 2008).
It should, however, be noted that many matching fund grant programs, and other public
funding sources, exist to defray the cost of Plan implementation. The various funding
options for the Plan are briefly discussed below.
7.2 FUNDING
OPTIONS
Based on the
information obtained during this study, the following conclusions and recommendations can
be made regarding funding options for the Plan.
Funding
available from the EPA Clean Lakes Program has been underutilized in Florida in past
years, and current funding cuts now threaten the viability of the entire program.
Political support of the Clean Lakes Program by Pinellas County is recommended.
Federal grants
under the EPA 319 program could be used to fund the proposed stormwater rehabilitation
projects. In addition, funds made available under Section 319(C) of the program could also
potentially be used to connect those residences currently using OWTS to a central sewage
collection and treatment system. Pinellas County and the City of Tarpon Springs should
further pursue this grant program.
Cooperative
funding from the Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board should continue to be sought to the
greatest extent feasible. This funding source, being generated by ad valorem taxes,
represents perhaps the single most stable and predictable funding source for water
resource and lake management initiatives in Pinellas County.
Currently, the
funding of District SWIM programs is dependent upon a yearly appropriation from the
Florida Legislature. Funds generated by FDOT contributions to the Ecosystem Management
Trust Fund for mitigation purposes are being evaluated as a potential long-term funding
source for the District SWIM programs. Such funds are to be used for aquatic weed control
programs, habitat restoration planting programs, and other remediative programs associated
with eutrophication. Pinellas County should continue to closely track the rulemaking for
this legislation to determine if such funds will be available through District cooperative
funding programs in the future.
Pinellas County
should consider the creation of a stormwater utility to provide a long-term, stable
funding source for drainage and water quality improvement projects. In addition to the
"Penny for Pinellas" sales tax, a stormwater utility could provide the County
with a long-term and stable source of needed funding for continuing the watershed
management initiatives already underway.
Pinellas County
should undertake a survey of lakefront and watershed property owners to determine if a
Municipal Service Taxing Unit (MSTU) would be supported. If initial support is indicated,
Pinellas County should give strong consideration to this management option in lieu of
general revenues or a stormwater utility.
A local boat
registration fee is considered to be the most cost-effective and equitable approach to
collecting user fees; however additional manpower will be needed to administer and enforce
such a program.
Table 7-2 below
provides a summary of the various components of the Plan and potential funding sources for
each.
Table 7-2.
Summary of recommended management components of the Lake Tarpon Drainage Basin Management
Plan, and potential funding sources for each.
Management Plan
Component |
Issues Addressed |
Responsible
Entities |
Estimated
Cost |
Potential Funding Sources |
Structural Component 1
Convert All
On-site Wastewater Treatment Systems (Septic Tanks) in the Lake Tarpon Basin to Central
Sewer Systems |
Water
Quality |
Pinellas
County Utilities Department
City of Tarpon
Springs Utilities Department |
$9,265,000
for construction;
$ 208,000 for annual
O&M |
EPA
319(C) grant funds
Impact Fees
County and City
general operating funds |
Structural Component 2
Construct
and Maintain Enhanced Stormwater Treatment Facilities in the Priority MHUs and Individual
Sub-basins. |
Water
Quality |
Pinellas
County Engineering Department |
$1,342,000
for construction;
$140,000 for annual
O&M |
EPA
319 grant funds
SWFWMD Basin Board
matching funds |
Structural Component 3
Construct
Wildlife Crossing Structures at Strategic Locations Within the Lake Tarpon Basin |
Wildlife
and Associated Habitat |
Pinellas
County Engineering Department |
$200,000
for construction |
County
general operating funds |
Structural Component 4
Install
Stage and Flow Measurement Devices at the Lake Tarpon Outfall Canal Control Structure |
Water
Quality;
Flood Control |
Southwest
Florida Water Management District |
$15,000
for construction |
SWFWMD
general operating funds |
Structural Component 5
Construct
Pump Stations and Distribution Lines for the Storage and Beneficial Reuse of Lake
Discharge Water |
Water
Quality;
Aquatic Vegetation;
Fisheries;
Flood Control |
Pinellas
County Utilities Department |
$2,000,000
for construction;
$410,000 for annual
O&M |
County
general operating funds and SWFWMD Basin Board matching funds |
Management Component 1
Implement an
Enhanced Lake Level Fluctuation Schedule |
Water
Quality;
Aquatic Vegetation;
Fisheries;
Flood Control |
U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers
Southwest Florida
Water Management District |
$10,000
for annual O&M |
SWFWMD
general operating funds |
Management Component 2
Increase
Lake Flushing and Dilution |
Water
Quality;
Aquatic Vegetation;
Fisheries;
Flood Control |
Pinellas
County Utilities Department |
Included
in Structural Component 5 above |
County
general operating funds and SWFWMD Basin Board matching funds |
Management Component 3
Implement a
Mechanical Harvesting Program for Nuisance Aquatic Vegetation |
Aquatic
Vegetation;
Fisheries;
Wildlife and
Associated Habitat;
Recreation and
Aesthetics |
Pinellas
County Department of Environmental Management
Pinellas County
Mosquito Control |
$180,000
for annual O&M |
County
general operating funds |
Table 7-2
Continued
Table 7-2
Continued
| Compliance & Enforcement Component 2
Install
Additional Buoy Markers For, and Post the Allowable Activities Within, the 200' Perimeter
Restricted Speed Zone |
Recreation
and Aesthetics |
Pinellas
County Department of Environmental Management |
$15,000
for construction |
County
general operating funds |
Social & Recreation Component 1
Investigate
the Establishment of a Spatially Segmented Management Scheme for Recreational Uses of Lake
Tarpon as a Means of Reducing User Conflicts |
Recreation
and Aesthetics |
Pinellas
County Department of Environmental Management
Pinellas County
Sheriffs Department |
$5,000
for implementation |
County
general operating funds |
Social & Recreation Component 2
Establish a
Public Pedestrian Fishing Trail along the West Side of the Lake Tarpon Outfall Canal |
Recreation
and Aesthetics |
Pinellas
County Engineering Department
Pinellas County
Parks Department |
$50,000
for construction |
SWFWMD
Basin Board matching funds
County general
operating funds |
Social & Recreation Component 3
Provide for
Night Access to Public Boat Ramps at Anderson Park |
Recreation
and Aesthetics |
Pinellas
County Parks Department |
$5,000
for construction |
County
general operating funds |
Public Education Component 1
Develop and
Implement a Comprehensive Public Involvement Program for the Lake Tarpon Watershed |
Public
Education |
Pinellas
County Department of Environmental Management
Pinellas County
Public Information Department |
$30,000
for annual admin. |
County
general operating funds |
Public Education Component 2
Develop and
Implement a Local Citizens Lakewatch Program on Lake Tarpon |
Public
Education |
Pinellas
County Department of Environmental Management |
$2,000
for annual admin. |
County
general operating funds |
Operation & Maintenance
Perform
Ongoing Operation and Maintenance Activities for Recommended Structural and Management
Components of the Plan |
All |
Pinellas
County Utilities Department
Pinellas County
Engineering Department |
$913,000
for annual O&M |
County
general operating funds |
Monitoring and Success Evaluation
Implementation
of a Comprehensive Monitoring Program |
All |
Pinellas
County Department of Environmental Management |
$50,000
for annual admin. |
County
general operating funds |
8.0 REFERENCES
Cited References
The following
technical references are cited in the above sections of this document. Numerous other
information sources and technical references are cited in the series of interim task
reports listed below.
Bartos, L.F.,
T.F. Rochow and W.D. Courser. 1978. Lake Tarpon fluctuation study 1973-1978. Southwest
Florida Water Management District; Environmental Section Technical Report 1978-6.
Champeau, T.R.
1992. Lake Tarpon fisheries investigations. 1987-91 Completion Report, South Regional
Fisheries Management. Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission. Lakeland, FL.
Champeau, T.R.
1996. Lake Tarpon fisheries investigations. Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission.
Lakeland, FL.
Coastal
Environmental, Inc. 1995. Review of pollutant loading sources and the selection of
priority drainage areas. Task 3.2.4 interim task report of the Lake Tarpon Drainage Basin
Management Plan prepared for the Pinellas County Department of Environmental Management.
Coastal
Environmental, Inc. 1997. Watershed management model for optimal allocation of best
management practices - user’s guide and case study. Tampa Bay National Estuary
Program Technical Publication #07-96.
Dames &
Moore, Inc. 1992. Lake Tarpon aquatic weed harvesting and revegetation project. Final
report submitted to the Southwest Florida Water Management District, Tampa, Florida.
Environmental
Research & Design (ERD), 1994. Lake Maggiore restoration stormwater pre-treatment
ponds/ alum treatment systems. Final report submitted to the City of St. Petersburg and
the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
Gremillion, P.T.,
C.E. Mericas and H.S. Greening. 1988. Lake Okeechobee aquatic weed harvesting
demonstration project. Final report prepared for the South Florida Water Management
District, West Palm Beach, Florida.
Hicks, D. 1995.
Spring-1995 Lake Tarpon Users' Survey. Volume 1 Analysis. Pinellas County Department of
Environmental Management Report No. 95-004/WRM.
Huber, W.C., P.L.
Brezonik, J.P. Heany, R.E. Dickinson, S.D. Preston, D.S. Dwornik, and M.A. DeMaio. 1983. A
classification of Florida lakes. University of Florida Water Resources Research Center.
Publication No. 72. Gainseville, Florida.
Johnson, M. 1972.
Lake Tarpon Regulation Schedule. Southwest Florida Water Management District. Brooksville,
Florida.
King Engineering
Associates, Inc. (KEA). 1992. Final Comprehensive Report: Lake Tarpon
Diagnostic/Feasibility Studies. Final report submitted to the Pinellas County Department
of Environmental Management.
Leasure, P.S., D.
Hicks, D. Moores, T.R. Cuba, and E.G. Quinn. 1992. Conductivity and pH responses to lower
lake levels observed in Lake Tarpon during the drought of 1990. Pinellas County Department
of Environmental Management.
Leasure, P.S.,
1995. Lake Tarpon water quality monitoring report, data years May 1988-April 1995 Pinellas
County, Florida. Pinellas County Department of Environmental Management, Report No.
95-001/WRM.
National Research
Council, 1990. Managing Troubled Waters. Washington, D.C; National Academy Press,
Wash. D.C., 125pp.
New York State
Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). 1990. Diet for a small lake - a New
Yorker’s guide to lake management. Albany, NY.
Pribble and
Janicki, 1998. Atmospheric deposition contributions to nitrogen and phosphorus loadings in
Tampa Bay: intensive wet and dry deposition data collection and analysis. Final report
submitted to the Tampa Bay National Estuary Program. St. Petersburg, FL.
Reddy, K.R. and
T.A. DeBusk. 1987. State-of-the-art utilization of aquatic plants in water pollution
control. Wat. Sci. Tech. 19(10): 61-79.
SDI, Inc. 1998.
Evaluation of potential hydrologic effects of short-term water releases from Lake Tarpon.
SDI Project No. PCF-110. Final report submitted to the Pinellas County Department of
Environmental Management.
Souza, S.J., J.D.
Koppen, and R. Conner. 1988. Aquatic weed harvesting: a cost-effective means of improving
the recreational, aesthetic and water quality conditions of Lake Hopatcong. Lake and
Reservoir Management Vol. IV, North American Lake Management Society, Washington, D.C.
Tampa Bay
National Estuary Progam. 1997. Charting the Course - The Comprehensive Conservation
Management Plan for Tampa Bay. St. Petersburg, FL.
U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 1990. Lake and Reservoir Guidance Manual. Second
Edition 440/5-88-002. Washington, D.C.
U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers (ACOE). 1987. Four River Basins Project: Regulation Manual for Lake Tarpon.
ACOE, Jacksonville, Florida.
U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers (ACOE). 1961. Comprehensive Report of Four River Basins, Florida. ACOE,
Jacksonville, Florida.
Upchurch, S. B.,
1998. Lake Tarpon Ground-Water Nutrient Study. Final report submitted to the Southwest
Florida Water Management District. Prepared by ERM-South.
Wetzel, R.G.,
1983. Limnology. Second Edition. Saunders College Publishing.
Interim Task
Reports
The interim task
reports listed below were prepared and submitted for review and comment during the
development of the Lake Tarpon Drainage Basin Management Plan. These interim work products
contain extensive technical analysis and planning information, and form the basis for the
final recommended Plan components. Copies of the interim task reports are available from
the Pinellas County Department of Environmental Management.
Task 3.2.1 Review
and Consideration of the Work and Recommendations of the Lake Tarpon Management Committee
Task 3.2.2
Characterization of Upland and Wetland Habitats and the Development of Recommendations for
Improvement
Task 3.2.3 Review
and Evaluation of Local Ordinances and State Codes and Laws
Task 3.2.4 Review
of Pollutant Loading Sources and the Selection of Priority Drainage Areas
Task 3.2.5
Priority Drainage Area Modeling
Task 3.2.6 Review
and Evaluation of Existing Local and State Management Programs
Task 3.2.7 Review
and Evaluation of Enforcement Programs
Task 3.2.8 Review
of Policy Guidance Documents and the Development of Recommendations for Improvement
Task 3.2.9
Evaluation of Social Benefits and Uses
Task 3.2.10
Development of Operation and Maintenance Programs
Task 3.2.11
Development of Monitoring Programs
Task 3.2.12
Evaluation of Potential Funding Sources and Recommendations for Funding of the Plan
Task 3.2.13
Development of Field Data for SWMM and LTMC Model Calibration
9.0 RESPONSES TO PUBLIC COMMENTS
This section contains the public comments and written correspondence
provided in response to the draft Plan document dated June, 1997, and the final draft Plan
document dated August, 1998. In addition, a verbatim transcript of the Public Information
Meeting held on September 9, 1997 is contained herein. Responses to public comments are
provided following each item of written correspondence or public commentary indicating
those revisions that were made in the final Plan document, if any.
[These documents were not available in electronic form. Please contact DEM for a
copy.]