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11.G.2. STORMWATER COST -SHARE GRANT AGREEMENT WITH ST. JOHNS RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT FOR ROADWAY PAVING AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS - CONTRACT NO. SF620AA The Board reviewed a Memorandum of July 8, 2002: TO: James Chandler, County Administrator THROUGH* James W. Davis, P E , Public Works Director FROM W. Keith McCully, P.E., Esq., Stormwater Engineer SUBJECT: SUMMARY ATE: July 8, 2002 STORMWATER COST -SHARE AGREEMENT BETWEEN ST. JOHNS RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT AND INDIAN RIVER COUNTY FOR ROADWAY PAVING AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS — CONTRACT NO. SF620AA On November 15, 2001, the Stormwater Engineering Division applied fora Cost -Share Grant with St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD), to pave approximately 7.2 miles of roads between the One -Mile Ridge and the Indian River Lagoon (Lagoon). In Indian River County, stormwater runoff containing huge amounts of suspended solids regularly flows into the Lagoon The draft East Indian River County Master Stormwater Management Plan Interim Report estimates that over 2,427 tons of suspended solids are carried into the Lagoon each year from just the Indian River Farms Water Control District s (IRFWCD) Main and South Relief Canals Studies by Joel Steward (SJRWMD) and others, indicate that the presence of high quantities of suspended solids in the Lagoon is a leading factor in the decline of the Lagoon's seagrass coverage. The suspended solids reduce the penetration of Tight through the water column, and when they settle, the solids cover the seagrass leaves and the Lagoon bottom on which the seagrass grows. Boat propellers and wind/wave action can cause the settled solids to re -suspend, increasing turbidity. Seagrass coverage is an important focal point in estimating the Lagoon's health. In fact, the goal of the East Indian River County Master Stormwater Management Plan is to return the seagrass coverage in the County's section of the Lagoon to pre -1943 levels. More seagrass coverage corresponds to clearer, cleaner water and is an indicator of a healthy, diverse ecosystem. Therefore, one way to create a more favorable environment for seagrass growth is to eliminate the sources of the suspended solids present in the stormwater runoff entering the Lagoon. A notable source of these suspended solids are unpaved Indian River County roads from which stormwater runoff collects fine silty material such as marl Indian River County maintains approximately 238.4 miles of unpaved roads. The Indian River July 23, 2002 74 7