Agenda Item Name:
Title
Support for Alachua Conservation Trust’s North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) - Phase 4 Grant Application to obtain Funds for Land Conservation in Alachua CountyEnd
title
Presenter:
Andi Christman 352-264-6803
Description:
Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT) is applying for North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) Grant from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) that, if awarded, will provide funding for the acquisition of conservation land to protect wetlands within Alachua County. This is the fourth Phase of NAWCA funding sought by ACT in Alachua County, and each phase has included reimbursement of acquisition dollars expended by the County as a component of the grant. Staff requests the Board to authorize the Chair to sign the attached Partner Contribution Statement and the Matching Contribution Plan, which staff will forward to ACT for use in ACT’s NAWCA (Phase 4) grant application.
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Authorize the Chair to sign the attached Partner Contribution Statement (Exhibit #1) and the Matching Contribution Plan Statement (Exhibit #2) for Alachua Conservation Trust’s NAWCA grant application. End
Prior Board Motions:
On May 26, 2020, the Board authorized the County Manager or her designee to sign and submit the 2020 partner contribution letters for Alachua Conservation Trust’s federal grant applications for RCPP (Regional Conservation Partnership Program through the United States Department of Agriculture) and NAWCA (Phase 1).
On February 23, 2021, the Board authorized the Chair to sign the Partner Contribution statement for Alachua Conservation Trust’s Phase 2 NAWCA grant application.
On August 24, 2021, the Board authorized the Chair to sign a revised Partner Contribution statement letter for Alachua Conservation Trust’s July 2021 NAWCA (Phase 2) grant application.
On December 14, 2021, the Board authorized the County Manager or her designee to approve changes to the Partner Contribution Forms when are a reduction in funds requested in order to efficiently adjust applications as the need arises.
On June 28, 2022, the Board authorized the Chair to sign the Partner Contribution Statement for Alachua Conservation Trust’s NAWCA (Phase 3) grant application for the Lochloosa Creek Flatwoods - Brown tract.
Fiscal Consideration:
Fiscal Consideration
The attached Partner Contribution Statement under NAWCA states that the County will contribute up to$2,204,000 to the NAWCA Phase 4 project, including: $1,528,784 in total for the planned fee-simple purchase of the Watermelon Pond - Lebowitz and Poucher property, the Cross Creek - Rimes property, and the Lochloosa Creek Flatwoods area - Sherouse and Flowers property, and also provide $250,000 towards appraisals, due diligence, and other acquisition costs as match, and $425,216 of previous expenditure for the acquisition of the Santa Fe River - Bell property (closed on 1/31/23). The new expenditures will be presented to the Board for consideration for each property. The Board may authorize the expenditures through exercise of Option Contract for each property. If any of these acquisitions are not able to be completed, the County will not retain financial obligation through this grant for that property’s portion of the grant, as this is a reimbursement grant.
These grants are used to leverage additional funding sources for the Alachua County Forever program’s land conservation acquisitions and save funding resources.
Sufficient budget exists in the Wild Spaces Public Places Land Allocation for these costs.
Project 6184160- WSPP-General Operating & Due Diligence: 021.41.4160.537.31.00
Project 6194101-WSPP-Land Acquisition: 021.41.4160.537.61.00
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Strategic Guide:
Strategic Guide
Environment
End
Background:
Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT) is preparing its latest application for a North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) grant which awards funds through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to protect wetland habitat. ACT’s NAWCA application includes identified wetland areas in Alachua County to be used as new match, specifically the following:
• Watermelon Pond - Lebowitz and Poucher property fee simple acquisition (est. 162 acres)
• Cross Creek - Rimes property fee simple acquisition (est. 268 acres)
• Lochloosa Creek Flatwoods area - Sherouse and Flowers property fee simple acquisition (est.154 acres)
• In addition, ACT is submitting the Forrest Path property, (est. 320 acres) in the Watermelon Pond area in Levy County as match for this regional grant.
If approved, the grant would reimburse the County for an estimated $1.5 million in acquisition costs for the project (approximately 50% of the requested grant award). In addition, ACT would receive reimbursement for the acquisition of the Forrest Path property.
Partner Contribution Statement: This application requires evidence that ACT is supported by a partner entity that is already committed to the conservation of land and water resources within the NAWCA grant region and that the grant awards will complement those existing conservation efforts in the same region. The Alachua County: Watermelon Pond - Lebowitz and Poucher property, the Cross Creek - Rimes property, and the Lochloosa Creek Flatwoods area - Sherouse and Flowers property acquisition projects would satisfy this requirement. In addition, $425,216 from the County’s recent acquisition of the Santa Fe River - Bell property (closed on 1/31/23) will also be used as match for this application.
Matching Contribution Plan: Previous phases of the ACT NAWCA grant applications have established a Matching Contribution Plan for the Phase 1-3 of the NAWCA grants. This plan reflects funds committed as “old” match by Alachua County in previous NAWCA phases which exceeded the match amount needed for the previous phase, and therefore are available for match in this phase. $2 million from the Matching Contribution Plan will be used in this application as well, classified by NAWCA as “old” match.
Comp Plan Reference:
Alachua County Comprehensive Plan (2019-2040):
• Conservation and Open Space Element: 6.0 LAND CONSERVATION PROGRAM; Objective 6.4 “Other Acquisition Programs,” states:
“Coordinate with other programs for the acquisition and management of natural areas and open space for recreational, open space and conservation purposes.”
Policy 6.4.1 states:
“The County shall seek to maximize the effectiveness of local revenue sources by using them to leverage funds available from federal, state, municipal, private non-profit, and Water Management District programs, such as Florida Forever, Florida Communities Trust (FCT), Conservation and Recreation Lands (CARL), and Save-Our-Rivers (SOR).”
Policy 6.4.2 states:
“The County shall provide support, in the form of information, coordination, assistance in obtaining grants, and other support activities to organizations and agencies that acquire and protect natural areas and open space for conservation, open space, and recreational purposes.”