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INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA <br />MEMORANDUM <br />TO: Jason E. Brown, County Administrator <br />THROUGH: Richard B. Szpyrka, P.E., Public Works Director <br />FROM: Eric Charest, Natural Resources Manager <br />SUBJECT: Approval of Amendment No. 3 — FDEP Grant Agreement No. S0839 for <br />Construction of an Oyster Reef Along Foot Island in the Indian River Lagoon <br />DATE: May 23, 2022 <br />DESCRIPTION AND CONDITIONS <br />On March 8, 2016, Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) entered into grant <br />Agreement No. 50839 with Indian River County, committing up to $50,000 on a cost <br />reimbursement basis for construction of an oyster reef project in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL). <br />No local match is required. The intent of the grant was to construct an oyster reef project as a <br />way to improve water quality conditions of discharges from the 45th Street drainage ditch into <br />the Indian River Lagoon and to construct new potential habitat for marine animals. <br />Upon closer investigation, the 45th Street site was deemed unsuitable to support the proposed <br />oyster reef and the project was relocated to Foot Island, a small island in the IRL a short distance <br />south of the S.R. 60 Bridge and west of the Fire Rescue Station 2. The project has also become a <br />partnership with the City of Vero Beach, with the City providing bathometric survey services and <br />a seagrass survey and the County providing design drawings, permitting, bidding, and <br />construction management services. <br />Due to on-going delays experienced with obtaining the necessary permits and/or permit <br />exemptions for the Foot Island Oyster Reef project, the County had requested an extension to <br />the current grant terms identified in Amendment No. 2 which required the project be completed <br />by March 31, 2022. <br />As a result of the County's extension request, FDEP issued Amendment No. 3 which extends the <br />construction completion date to June 30, 2024 and the Agreement expiration date to December <br />31, 2024. The purpose of this agenda item is to request Board of County Commissioner approval <br />of Amendment No. 3 to FDEP grant 50839. <br />FUNDING <br />The grant requires the County to construct the project prior to reimbursement. Funding for the <br />grant revenue and expense has been budgeted for $50,000 in the General Fund/Indian River <br />Lagoon Division. <br />141 <br />