RESTORE Act

Latest Updates

May 3, 2023

At its May 16 meeting, the Bay County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) will hold a public hearing on the proposed fourth amendment and will consider approving the amendment.

The proposed amendment would add Project Aqua and seagrass impacts, waterbody impairments, and benthic communities projects.  The draft amendment can be downloaded at https://tinyurl.com/BayRESTOREamend4DRAFT.  The current plan and amendments are available at https://tinyurl.com/RESTOREpot1MYIPs

RESTORE Act funds are proposed to provide some of the funds to buy the Project Aqua property ($10 million RESTORE funds), a proposed industrial park. The seagrass project ($300,000) will increase seagrass coverage by reducing direct and indirect impacts to seagrass beds including prop damage, nutrient loading, and turbidity. The waterbody impairments project ($500,000) will determine the primary sources of water quality impairments and lead to the creation of focused action plans to reduce the number of waterbodies impaired by nutrients and bacteria.  The benthic (bottom-dwelling) communities project ($500,000) will assess benthic communities as an indicator for habitat condition of the St. Andrew Bay that can inform recommended actions to improve habitat condition.  The seagrass, waterbody impairments, and benthic communities projects will be managed by the St. Andrew & St. Joseph Bays Estuary Program.

The BOCC meeting can be viewed at https://www.baycountyfl.gov/326/Meeting-Videos.  After the taking into account public comments, the Board will consider approving the amendment. If approved, the amendment will be submitted to Treasury for acceptance. After review and acceptance by Treasury, Bay County will prepare grant applications for each project that reflect the amended plan.

Comments on the draft amendment may be submitted by email to RESTOREproposals@baycountyfl.gov or may be mailed to: RESTORE Act Direct Component, c/o County Manager’s Office, 840 W. 11th St., Panama City, FL 32401.  The comment period closes on May 5.  Public comments may be made during the public hearing at the May 16 Board of County Commissioners meeting starting at 9 a.m. CT at 840 W. 11th St., Panama City, FL.

You can subscribe to alerts about Bay County RESTORE Act calendar events by going to https://www.baycountyfl.gov/list.aspx?Mode=Subscribe#calendar, sign in with your email address, scroll down to Calendar, and select RESTORE Act & Gulf Restoration Events.  You will receive an email 7 days before events that are posted on the RESTORE Calendar.  This includes meetings related to the Bay County RESTORE Act process, as well as SASJBEP Policy Board and Management Council meetings, Gulf Consortium Board meetings, and Triumph Gulf Coast Board meetings.

March 10, 2023

Bay County is proposing a fourth amendment to its RESTORE Act Direct Component (Pot 1) Multiyear Implementation Plan to add Project Aqua and seagrass impacts, waterbody impairments, and benthic communities projects.   The current plan and amendments are available at https://tinyurl.com/RESTOREpot1MYIPs

RESTORE Act funds are proposed to provide some of the funds to buy the Project Aqua property ($10 million RESTORE funds), a proposed industrial park. The seagrass project ($300,000) will increase seagrass coverage by reducing direct and indirect impacts to seagrass beds including prop damage, nutrient loading, and turbidity. The waterbody impairments project ($500,000) will determine the primary sources of water quality impairments and lead to the creation of focused action plans to reduce the number of waterbodies impaired by nutrients and bacteria.  The benthic (bottom-dwelling) communities project ($500,000) will assess benthic communities as an indicator for habitat condition of the St. Andrew Bay that can inform recommended actions to improve habitat condition.

The Bay County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) is holding a public hearing on the plan amendment and opening a 45-day public input period at its March 21 meeting.  The BOCC meeting can be viewed at https://www.baycountyfl.gov/326/Meeting-Videos.  The plan will then come back to the Board in a second public hearing forum. After the taking into account public comments, the Board will consider approving the amendment. If approved, the amendment will be submitted to Treasury for acceptance. After review and acceptance by Treasury, Bay County will prepare grant applications for each project that reflect the amended plan.  The draft amendment can be downloaded at https://tinyurl.com/BayRESTOREamend4DRAFT

Comments on the draft amendment may be submitted by email to RESTOREproposals@baycountyfl.gov or may be mailed to: RESTORE Act Direct Component, c/o County Manager’s Office, 840 W. 11th St., Panama City, FL 32401

A quick update on active Bay County RESTORE Act Direct Component (Pot 1) projects.  The Bay County Board of County Commissioners selects projects.  RESTORE Act Direct Component funds are administered by the US Department of the Treasury.  

• The Bay County Stormwater Master Plan and Capital Improvement Strategic Plan have been updated.  Bay County Public Works will present the plans to the Board of County Commissioners in the near future.
• Participants in the St. Andrew & St. Joseph Bays Estuary Program are making great progress on the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan for the watershed.  The Policy Board, Management Council, committees and general public are providing input for the plan.  The Estuary Program is funded by RESTORE Act funds and a grant from The Nature Conservancy and hosted by FSU Panama City.  More information is at https://pc.fsu.edu/sasjbep   
• At its Jan. 18 meeting, the BoCC approved the recommended option for advancing the East Pass Environmental Impact Statement and Inlet and Beach Mgmt Plan project, funded by RESTORE Pot 1 funds.  The project will proceed with permitting, environmental study and continued coordination with Tyndall Air Force Base (AFB).  Bay County Public Works is the project manager.
• The permitting process for the Artificial Reefs project is underway and a bid package for services needed for reef materials transportation and deployment is being drafted.  Bay County Extension Service staff are managing the project.
• Bay County Utilities is waiting on the facility permit renewal from the State related to the North Bay Wastewater Reuse project.  The permit will then be modified, followed by on-site improvements for water reuse.  End users will include the Southport Sports Complex.
• The grant award is in place for the East Bay Living Shoreline and Seagrass Project, near Tyndall Air Force Base.  The Nature Conservancy is managing the project and scopes of work are being finalized.

An update on Bay County projects funded by the RESTORE Act Spill Impact Component (Pot 3).  Pot 3 funds are administered by the Gulf RESTORE Council and flow through the Florida Gulf Consortium to the County.  Bay County projects are decided by the Board of County Commissioners.

• The five-year project for St. Andrew Bay Watch to continue and augment its water quality monitoring and reporting efforts continues.  Information from this project and the Estuary Program will be used to recommend priorities for protection and restoration of our bay system and watershed.
• The Deerpoint Septic-to-Sewer project grant application, prepared by Bay County Utilities, is being reviewed by Gulf RESTORE Council staff

Completed RESTORE Act Direct Component (Pot 1) projects

• The Porter Park Improvements project in Lynn Haven – provides recreational opportunities for residents and visitors
• The Carl Gray Park Boat Ramp in Panama City - provides a popular launching spot for the bay and Gulf.
• The AMIkids PCMI Dock project – supports community coastal environmental service projects.

 Bay County Emergency Management is coordinating preparation of a Vulnerability Assessment for Bay County, funded by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Resilient Florida Program.  With the cooperation of municipalities in Bay County, the assessment will identify critical assets vulnerable to the impacts of climate change – including sea level rise, intensified storms and flooding.   

This project will provide seamless, county-wide comprehensive data layers and analyses that our communities will use to prepare for and adapt to these changes.  The Florida State University Resilient Infrastructure and Disaster Response (RIDER) Center is preparing the assessment.

You can subscribe to alerts about Bay County RESTORE Act calendar events by going to https://www.baycountyfl.gov/list.aspx?Mode=Subscribe#calendar, sign in with your email address, scroll down to Calendar, and select RESTORE Act & Gulf Restoration Events.  You will receive an email 7 days before events that are posted on the RESTORE Calendar.  This includes meetings related to the Bay County RESTORE Act process, as well as SASJBEP Policy Board and Management Council meetings, Gulf Consortium Board meetings, and Triumph Gulf Coast Board meetings.

September 14, 2022

Update on Bay County RESTORE Act projects

Most RESTORE Act projects were recommended by a citizens advisory committee.  The Bay County Board of County Commissioners selects projects.  RESTORE Act Direct Component (Pot 1) funds are administered by the US Department of the Treasury.  Pot 3 funds are administered by the Gulf RESTORE Council and flow through the Florida Gulf Consortium to the County. 

 RESTORE Act Direct Component (Pot 1)

• The St. Andrew & St. Joseph Bays Estuary Program (SASJBEP) is coordinating with nonprofits and businesses to celebrate National Estuaries Week, Sept 17-24.  Visit https://pc.fsu.edu/sasjbep to find out how you can participate in the Bay Cleanup Day and Urchin Roundup, and support the Estuary Program by enjoying local seafood.  The SASJBEP Management Council will meet on Sept. 27; the public is welcome.  Details are under Events at https://pc.fsu.edu/sasjbep.  And you still have time to say what is important to you about our bays in the Estuary Program survey https://uwf.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3Wz099E8LQrppaK?Q_CHL=qr.  The Estuary Program is funded by RESTORE Act funds from Bay County and a grant from The Nature Conservancy; FSU Panama City is the program host.
• Bay County Public Works is reviewing the draft Bay County Stormwater Master Plan and Capital Improvement Strategic Plan Update, prepared by a contractor.  The update will be completed in early 2023.  
• The preparation of planning documents required in the decision as to whether the East Pass (Old Pass) can be re-opened is being conducted by a contractor.  Alternatives are being evaluated.  Environmental review and permitting will follow, and public comments will be solicited during that phase.   Bay County Public Works manages the project, with a scheduled completion date of June 2025.
• Bay County Extension Service staff coordinating the Artificial Reefs project had a permit pre-application meeting with the Army Corps of Engineers; a Corps staffer was assigned to the permitting project.  The scope for the contract for services for reef materials transportation and deployment is being drafted.  The project is scheduled to be completed by October 2023.
• The U.S. Department of the Treasury approved an amendment for the North Bay Wastewater Reuse project.  The grant will be used for pumps and infrastructure to provide reuse water to the new Southport Sports Complex, the Bay County Emergency Operations Center and the Gulf Coast Community College North Campus.  Bay County Utilities is the project manager.
• The grant application for the East Bay Living Shoreline and Seagrass Project, near Tyndall Air Force Base, is being reviewed by the US Treasury.  Funds will be passed through to The Nature Conservancy, which will manage the project.

RESTORE Act Spill Impact Component (Pot 3) projects

• The five-year project for St. Andrew Bay Watch to continue and augment its water quality monitoring and reporting efforts continues.  Bay Watch and the St. Andrew & St. Joseph Bays Estuary Program are cooperating to produce a State of the Bay report to recommend priorities for protection and restoration of our bay system and watershed.
• The Deerpoint Septic-to-Sewer project grant application is under review by the Gulf RESTORE Council and the grant award is anticipated to be awarded in October.

 Completed RESTORE Act Direct Component (Pot 1) projects

• The Porter Park Improvements project in Lynn Haven – provides recreational opportunities for residents and visitors
• The Carl Gray Park Boat Ramp in Panama City - provides a popular launching spot for the bay and Gulf.
• The AMIkids PCMI Dock project – supports community coastal environmental service projects.

Bay County Emergency Management is coordinating preparation of a Vulnerability Assessment for Bay County, funded by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Resilient Florida Program.  With the cooperation of municipalities in Bay County, the assessment will identify critical assets vulnerable to the impacts of climate change – including sea level rise, intensified storms and flooding.   

This project will provide seamless, county-wide comprehensive data layers and analyses that our communities will use to prepare for and adapt to these changes.  The Florida State University Resilient Infrastructure and Disaster Response (RIDER) Center will prepare the assessment.

You can subscribe to alerts about Bay County RESTORE Act calendar events by going to https://www.baycountyfl.gov/list.aspx?Mode=Subscribe#calendar, sign in with your email address, scroll down to Calendar, and select RESTORE Act & Gulf Restoration Events.  You will receive an email 7 days before events that are posted on the RESTORE Calendar.  This includes meetings related to the Bay County RESTORE Act process, as well as SASJBEP Policy Board and Management Council meetings, Gulf Consortium Board meetings, and Triumph Gulf Coast Board meetings.

July 26, 2022

Here's your chance to say what you value about the St. Andrew and St. Joseph Bays watershed and what you think needs to be done to restore and protect it.  Residents and visitors are asked to complete a survey to help guide the actions of the St. Andrew & St. Joseph Bays Estuary Program.

The St. Andrew & St. Joseph Bays Estuary Program (SASJBEP) is modeled on the National Estuary Program (NEP).  SASJBEP policy is set by local elected officials with the participation of agencies.   A broad representation of local government, businesses, community organizations and conservation groups makes recommendations.  The SASJBEP is funded by Bay County RESTORE Act funds and The Nature Conservancy, and hosted by Florida State University Panama City.  

The survey is at https://uwf.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3Wz099E8LQrppaK?Q_CHL=qr.  Please share and encourage others to take the survey.  Thanks to the University of West Florida for conducting the survey.

 Additional information on the SASJBEP is at https://pc.fsu.edu/sasjbep.   

June 23, 2022

Check out the status of Bay County’s RESTORE Act projects selected for funding – visit the story map at https://tinyurl.com/BayRESTOREprojectstory 

June 20, 2022

A quick update on active Bay County RESTORE Act Direct Component (Pot 1) projects:

• The St. Andrew & St. Joseph Bays Estuary Program is now staffed and has a Policy Board and Management Council.        Public workshops to receive your input on important bay resources and future management will be held the evenings of June 21 in PC and June 23 in Port St. Joe.  The Estuary Program is funded by RESTORE Act funds from Bay County and a grant from The Nature Conservancy; FSU Panama City is the program host  https://pc.fsu.edu/estuaryprogram    
• The Bay County Stormwater Master Plan and Capital Improvement Strategic Plan is being updated by a contractor; Bay County Public Works is the project manager.  The project is scheduled to be completed by September 2022.
• The preparation of planning documents required in the decision as to whether the East Pass (Old Pass) can be re-opened is being conducted by a contractor.  Bay County Public Works is the project manager, with a scheduled completion date of June 2025.
• The Florida Department of Environmental Regulation permit is in hand for the Artificial Reefs project.  Discussions are underway with the Army Corps of Engineers about a permit.  A contract for services needed for reef materials transportation and deployment is being drafted.  The project is scheduled to be completed by October 2023.
• An amendment for the North Bay Wastewater Reuse project is under review by Treasury.  Gulf Power no longer plans to use the reuse water for the Lansing Smith Power Plant.  The reuse water will instead be provided to the new Southport Sports Complex, the Bay County Emergency Operations Center and the Gulf Coast Community College North Campus.  Bay County Utilities is the project manager.

 Bay County amended its RESTORE Act Multiyear Plan to add a project for the East Bay Living Shoreline and Seagrass Project, near Tyndall Air Force Base.   The grant application is being reviewed by US Treasury.  Funds will be passed through to The Nature Conservancy, which will manage the project.

 Completed Direct Component (Pot 1) projects

• The Porter Park Improvements project in Lynn Haven – provides recreational opportunities for residents and visitors
• The Carl Gray Park Boat Ramp in Panama City - provides a popular launching spot for the bay and Gulf.
• The AMIkids PCMI Dock project – supports community coastal environmental service projects.

 An update on Bay County projects funded by the RESTORE Act Spill Impact Component (Pot 3, in Florida managed by the Gulf Consortium); Bay County projects are decided by the Board of County Commissioners.

• The five-year project for St. Andrew Bay Watch to continue and augment its water quality monitoring and reporting efforts continues.  Information from this project and the Estuary Program will be used to recommend priorities for protection and restoration of our bay system and watershed.
• The funds originally budgeted for Bay County Utilities’ Raw Water Line project are instead being re-directed to enhance the Deerpoint Septic-to-Sewer project.         The Deerpoint grant application is under review by the RESTORE Council.

December 3, 2021

Florida’s State Expenditure Plan describes the programs and projects that the 23 Florida Gulf coastal counties will fund with Deepwater Horizon-related RESTORE Act Spill Impact Component funds (Pot3).  Proposed changes to the plan must be made available for public comment.

The Draft Florida State Expenditure Plan (SEP) Amendment #4 has been made available for public comment at: https://link.edgepilot.com/s/14fd720d/JnEywzQvXkONuoErcIhx9A?u=https://www.gulfconsortium.org/draft-sep-amendment-4.   The comment period closes January 16, 2022.

The SEP amendment as whole makes changes or clarifications to projects in the following counties:

• Bay
• Citrus
• Hillsborough
• Okaloosa
• Pinellas
• Taylor
• Wakulla

At the link above you can find the Draft SEP Amendment #4 and a link to a form to submit comments.

For Bay County, the proposed amendment eliminates the Raw Water Line component of Bay County’s 5-1 Program and shifts construction funds to septic-to-sewer construction within Program 5-1. Raw Water Line project partner Florida Power and Light Company (FPL) determined that the construction of the Raw Water Line would not be the best option to replace cooling water from North Bay due to the higher operational costs of utilizing raw water for cooling water.

August 26, 2021

Bay County is proposing to amend its RESTORE Act Multiyear Plan to add a project for the East Bay Living Shoreline and Seagrass Project, near Tyndall Air Force Base.

 A RESTORE Act grant will fund marsh and seagrass enhancement on state-owned sovereign lands to restore and protect natural resources.   RESTORE Act funds will restore approximately 10 acres of a larger 600-acre complex of marsh and seagrasses.   The project includes planting of sea grass, marsh grass, and possibly the introduction of mangroves to improve sediment capture allowing natural systems to migrate and adapt to sea level rise over time.  Funds will be passed through to The Nature Conservancy, which will manage the project. The County will enter into a subrecipient agreement with The Nature Conservancy to complete the scope of work.

 The Bay County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) is holding a public hearing on the plan amendment and opening a 45-day public input period at its September 8 meeting.  The BOCC meeting can be viewed at https://www.baycountyfl.gov/326/Meeting-Videos.  The plan will then come back to the Board in a second public hearing forum. After the taking into account public comments, the Board will consider approving the amendment. If approved, the amendment will be submitted to Treasury for acceptance. After review and acceptance by Treasury, Bay County will prepare a grant application for the SASJBEP Project that reflects the amended plan.  The draft amendment can be downloaded at https://tinyurl.com/RESTOREmyipAmend3

 Comments on the draft amendment may be submitted by email to RESTOREproposals@baycountyfl.gov or may be mailed to: RESTORE Act Direct Component, County Manager’s Office, 840 W. 11th St., Panama City, FL 32401

 A quick update on active Bay County RESTORE Act Direct Component (Pot 1) projects:

• The Porter Park Improvements project in Lynn Haven is complete and providing recreational opportunities for residents and visitors
• In Panama City, the Carl Gray Park Boat Ramp project is complete and is a popular launching spot for the bay and Gulf.
• The AMIkids PCMI Dock project is complete and is used to support community coastal environmental service projects.
• The Bay County Stormwater Master Plan and Capital Improvement Strategic Plan is being updated by a contractor; Bay County Public Works is the project manager.
• The management organization for the St. Andrew & St. Joseph Bay Estuary Program, funded by RESTORE Act funds and a grant from The Nature Conservancy, is being set up and an executive director is now on board. FSU Panama City is the program host.  The Policy Board will meet on Sept. 15.  https://pc.fsu.edu/estuaryprogram   
• The preparation of planning documents required in the decision as to whether the East Pass (Old Pass) can be re-opened is being conducted by a contractor.  Bay County Public Works is the project manager.
• The permitting process for the Artificial Reefs project is underway and a contract for services needed for reef materials transportation and deployment is being drafted.
• The grant award has been issued for the North Bay Wastewater Reuse project.  Bay County Utilities is the project manager.

An update on Bay County projects funded by the RESTORE Act Spill Impact Component (Pot 3, in Florida managed by the Gulf Consortium); Bay County projects are decided by the Board of County Commissioners:

• The five-year project for St. Andrew Bay Watch to continue and augment its water quality monitoring and reporting efforts continues.  Information from this project and the Estuary Program will be used to recommend priorities for protection and restoration of our bay system and watershed.
• Bay County Utilities’ Raw Water Line grant application was submitted to the RESTORE Council recently.
• Public Works is preparing a Pot 3-funded stormwater outfall retrofit grant application to the RESTORE Council
• Bay County Utilities is preparing the Deerpoint septic to sewer grant application.

August 26, 2020

After approval by the Bay County Board of County Commissioners, the County submitted the Estuary Program amendment of the County’s RESTORE Act Direct Component (Pot 1) Multiyear Plan to the U.S. Department of the Treasury.  The amendment is to provide $720,000 to FSU to further support the St. Andrew/St. Joseph Bays Estuary Program (SASJBEP).  Treasury is suggesting minor edits to the amendment, and then Bay County will prepare the grant application for these funds.

As host of the Estuary Program, FSU Panama City will use these funds to start the Estuary Program.  Together with the $1 million grant from The Nature Conservancy, FSU Panama City will establish the program and prepare the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) for the St. Andrew/St. Joe bays watershed.  The plan will align and build consensus on both conservation and economic priorities.  Guided by the CCMP, the Estuary Program will implement projects to improve the bays, and continually monitor outcomes and adapt strategies to better manage the watershed.  The FSU FCRC Consensus Center is coordinating preparation of the CCMP.  FSU now has an Estuary Program web page at https://pc.fsu.edu/estuaryprogram.

Other RESTORE Act-funded projects approved by the Bay County Board of County Commissioners are progressing.  Thanks again to the RESTORE Act Advisory Committee, who volunteered their time and expertise to evaluate and recommend projects to the Board.  An online storyboard of Bay County RESTORE Act projects can be viewed at https://tinyurl.com/BayRESTOREprojectstory.  

Bay County Stormwater Master Plan Update – the update is being prepared, supervised by Bay County Public Works.  The updated plan will guide actions to improve stormwater treatment, essential for the improvement and protection of our bays and the Gulf.

Porter Park Improvements – the performance and picnic pavilions and new restrooms are complete.  Playground, parking and lighting improvements are in place.  With the new boat ramps provided from other funding sources, Porter Park is a popular amenity in the City of Lynn Haven and a gateway to the bays and Gulf.

Carl Gray Park Boat Ramp – new boat ramps with docks are in place and open to the public, and the parking has been improved, using funds from the RESTORE Act and other funds provided through the City of Panama City.  Access to the bays and Gulf is improved for residents and visitors.

AMIkids Panama City Marine Institute Dock – the old dock was removed and the new dock is nearly complete.  The dock will be used to facilitate bay management and conservation activities.

Artificial Reef Construction and Monitoring – site selection and permitting are underway.  The reefs will expand Bay County’s system of artificial reefs and contribute to the fishing enjoyment of residents and visitors.

East Pass Environmental Impact Statement and Inlet and Beach Management Plan – Bay County Public Works and Purchasing have issued a Request for Qualifications for preparation of these plans.  The plans are required as part of the process to determine the feasibility of re-opening East Pass/the Old Pass.

St. Andrew Bay Watch - Water Quality Monitoring – Bay Watch water quality monitoring and reporting efforts are continued and expanded with RESTORE Act Pot 3 funds provided through the Bay County Board of County Commissioners.  Information from this work will help guide priority actions to restore and protect our bay.

May 28, 2020

At its May 19, 2020 meeting, the Bay County Board of County Commissioners approved three items directly tied to the establishment of the St. Andrew/St. Joe Bays Estuary Program.  The Board approved an agreement with The Nature Conservancy of Florida to accept almost $1 million over three years to support establishment of the Estuary Program and development and approval of a Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan for the watershed.

The Board also approved an agreement to pass these funds through to the Florida State University.  FSU Panama City will serve as host to the Estuary Program, providing a robust scientific and administrative infrastructure for the program.  FSU’s FCRC Consensus Center will initiate the Estuary Program stakeholder engagement and management structure.

The Bay County Commissioners also approved a draft amendment to the County’s RESTORE Act Direct Component (Pot 1) Multiyear Plan to provide $720,000 to FSU to further support the Estuary Program and plan development.  The Board initiated a 45-day public input period for the community to comment on the addition of the Estuary Program as a project in the Multiyear Plan.  The Bay County Chamber of Commerce spoke in favor of the Estuary Program at the meeting.

The Commissioners also passed a resolution to Embrace the Gulf in 2020, recognizing the environmental, economic and cultural importance of the Gulf of Mexico.  This recognition is an initiative of the Gulf of Mexico Alliance.

The draft amendment to the County’s RESTORE Plan can be downloaded at https://tinyurl.com/BayMYPamend2.  The public is encouraged to provide comments on the draft amendment via email to RESTOREproposals@baycountyfl.gov, or mailing comments to RESTORE Act Direct Component, 840 W. 11th Street, Panama City, FL 32401.

If you would like to subscribe to Bay County’s RESTORE Act interested parties list, send an email to jmuller@baycountyfl.gov with SUBSCRIBE in the subject line.  If you would like to subscribe to Bay County’s Estuary Program email list, send an email to BayEstuaryProgram@baycountyfl.gov with SUBSCRIBE in the subject line.

May 18, 2020

Bay County is proposing to amend its RESTORE Act Multiyear Plan to add a project for the St. Andrew/St. Joe Bays Estuary Program Project (SASJBEP) to establish the Estuary Program and to prepare and implement a Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) for the watershed.  The program will be modeled on National Estuary Programs.

An Estuary Program is a locally-driven, non-regulatory effort to identify and solve issues facing a bay and watershed, based on objective, scientific information. The program provides stakeholders with a permanent forum for reviewing information, agreeing on issues, and collaborating to develop action plans, solutions, and funding to address those issues.  Florida State University-Panama City will host the Estuary Program.

The Bay County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) is holding a public hearing on the plan amendment and opening a 45-day public input period at its May 19 meeting.  The BOCC meeting can be viewed at https://www.baycountyfl.gov/326/Meeting-Videos.  The plan will then come back to the Board in a second public hearing forum. After the taking into account public comments, the Board will consider approving the amendment. If approved, the amendment will be submitted to Treasury for acceptance. After review and acceptance by Treasury, Bay County will prepare a grant application for the SASJBEP Project that reflects the amended plan.  The draft amendment can be downloaded at https://tinyurl.com/BayMYPamend2

Comments on the draft amendment may be submitted by email to RESTOREproposals@baycountyfl.gov or may be mailed to: RESTORE Act Direct Component, County Manager’s Office, 840 W. 11th St., Panama City, FL 32401

A quick update on active Bay County RESTORE Act Direct Component (Pot 1) projects:

• Bay County has a firm under contract to complete the Bay County Stormwater Master Plan and Capital Improvement Strategic Plan Update.
• The Porter Park Improvements project in Lynn Haven is well underway.
• In Panama City, the Carl Gray Park Boat Ramp project construction is starting.
• The AMIkids PCMI Dock project has been bid and construction will start shortly.
• The permitting process for the Artificial Reefs project is underway.
• Grant awards for the East Pass Study project and the North Bay Wastewater Reuse project are expected within the next month or so.

Funded by the RESTORE Act Spill Impact Component (Pot 3) managed by the Gulf Consortium, the five-year project for St. Andrew Bay Watch to continue and augment its water quality monitoring and reporting efforts is underway.  Information from this project and the Estuary Program will be used to recommend priorities for protection and restoration of our bay system and watershed

November 4, 2019

Concerned about algal blooms, rising sea level, and conservation and management of our coastal resources?  Want to influence what we do about these issues?  The Florida Ocean Alliance is working with stakeholders to prepare a strategic plan to help ensure that Florida’s coastal and ocean resources remain healthy and economically viable for future generations.

At the direction of the Florida Legislature and working closely with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Alliance is holding public workshops across Florida to hear from all interested stakeholders.

The first workshop, and the only one to be held in the Panhandle, will be November 5th from 6 to 8 PM Central Time at Gulf Coast State College, Student Union East (SUE) 232.  Come learn about the issues we face, and help decide what we do about them.     

As a reminder, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection is hosting the Florida Deepwater Horizon Summit November14 at Fort Walton Beach.  There is no registration fee.  It will be a good opportunity for an overview of projects and initiatives and to network with those involved with Gulf restoration in Florida.  Agenda and information at  https://floridadep.gov/wra/deepwater-horizon/content/2019-deepwater-horizon-restoration-summit

The Summit will also serve as the annual meeting of the Florida Trustee Implementation Group of the Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) Trustees.  https://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/restoration-areas/florida

Before the Summit, you might want to check out the Deepwater Horizon-Funded Project Story Map.  https://fdep.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Shortlist/index.html?appid=d8198b64b53145539b68b044a7e7b813

And the Florida Gulf Consortium board will meet November 20in Fort Lauderdale.  The board is made up of one representative from each of Florida’s 23 Gulf Coastal Counties plus six non-voting Governor’s appointees. The Consortium prepares Florida’s State Expenditure Plan for the RESTORE Act Spill Impact Component (Pot 3) funds. The Consortium is also responsible for managing Pot 3 grants for Florida.  https://www.gulfconsortium.org/ 

August 23, 2019

Bay County has received grant awards for five of the projects included in its Multi-Year Plan for RESTORE Act Direct Component (Pot 1) projects. Work is underway by the City of Lynn Haven on the Porter Park Improvements project, and the City of Panama City will start the Carl Gray Park boat ramp improvements soon. The Panama City Marine Institute is soliciting bids to replace its dock used for bay restoration activities. Bay County will issue a Request for Qualifications soon for its stormwater master plan update. And the County is progressing on a new artificial reef project.  A status table of Bay County’s Pot 1 projects can be downloaded.

The Florida Gulf coastal counties Consortium will meet at 2:00 pm CT September 25 at the newly-reopened Sheraton Panama City Beach Golf & Spa Resort. The meeting is open to the public, with opportunities for comments at the start and end of the meeting. The Gulf Consortium, made up of one representative from each Florida Gulf coastal county and six non-voting Governor appointees, is tasked by the RESTORE Act with preparing and implementing Florida’s State Expenditure Plan for the Oil Spill Impact Component, also known as Pot 3. The funds are from Deepwater Horizon disaster Clean Water Act fines. Meeting materials will be available at the Consortium web page https://www.gulfconsortium.org/.

The Consortium prepared the initial State Expenditure Plan, which was then approved by the Gulf RESTORE Council. Projects in the plan are phased over 15 years, the settlement payout time. A grant application must be submitted for each project in the plan. Bay County has submitted its first grant application, support for St. Andrew Bay Watch water quality monitoring and reporting. The Gulf RESTORE Council is reviewing the application.

Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc. has made great progress awarding Deepwater Horizon economic damage settlement funds for the recovery, diversification, and enhancement of the eight Northwest Florida counties disproportionately affected by the oil spill. Sixteen grants have been awarded, including for three projects in Bay County. The Board also provided funds in response to Bay County’s request for assistance with Hurricane Michael’s projected impact on ad valorem tax receipts. The full list of grant awards is at https://www.myfloridatriumph.com/proposals/board-approved-grants/.

May 14, 2018

The Florida Gulf coastal counties Consortium will meet at 10:00 am CT, Thursday, May 17, at the Edgewater Beach & Golf Resort, 520 Richard Jackson Blvd., Panama City Beach. The meeting is open to the public, with opportunities for comments at the start and end of the meeting. The Gulf Consortium, made up of one representative from each Florida Gulf coastal county and six non-voting Governor appointees, is tasked by the RESTORE Act with preparing Florida’s State Expenditure Plan for the Oil Spill Impact Component, also known as Pot 3. The funds are from Deepwater Horizon disaster Clean Water Act fines.

The major item on the agenda is the Consortium Board approval of the draft final State Expenditure Plan, which outlines how Florida’s RESTORE Act Spill Impact Component funds will be spent. Florida’s allocation is $294 million, paid over a 15-year period. Approximately $12 million will be spent on projects in each of Florida’s 23 Gulf coastal counties. Public comment webinars and meetings regarding the plan were held earlier this year, including one in Panama City.

The Draft Final State Expenditure Plan is available electronically via the following links:

SEP https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/dde1f7_17bacec9dd584d07b1dbe734ce0e1604.pdf (22 megs)

Appendix E https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/dde1f7_d1a7d883ed774af58424dc99d0b1bf9a.pdf (5 megs)

Additional information is available on the Consortium’s web page https://www.gulfconsortium.org/

March 21, 2018

On March 20^th, the Bay County Board of County Commissioners approved an agreement between the County and Panama City Marine Institute (PCMI) to use RESTORE Act Direct Component funds to replace the dilapidated PCMI dock with a new dock. The dock is used by multiple nonprofit organizations and government agencies to access the St. Andrew Bay system for environmental restoration projects.

The project is one of nine projects in Bay County’s RESTORE Act Multi-Year Implementation Plan that was approved by the Board and accepted by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The County also received RESTORE funds to update the Bay County Stormwater Master Plan and Capital Improvement Strategic Plan. An agreement is being drafted between the County and the City of Panama City to use RESTORE funds to refurbish the Carl Gray Park boat ramp.

January 17, 2018

The Florida Gulf Counties Consortium will hold a public review meeting on the draft State Expenditure Plan at 6:30 pm CT on January 22, 2018, in the Bay County Commission Chambers. The Plan outlines how Florida’s RESTORE Act Spill Impact Component funds will be spent. The funds are from Deepwater Horizon disaster Clean Water Act fines.

Florida’s allocation is $294 million, paid over a 15-year period. Approximately $12 million will be spent on projects in each of Florida’s 23 coastal counties. The plan can be downloaded from https://www.gulfconsortium.org/draft-state-expenditure-plan (22 megs). Another public review meeting will be in Tampa on January 23. Two public review webinars will also be held on Feb. 1 and 15. The comment period ends March 2, 2018. 

December 15, 2017

Bay County is proposing an amendment to its RESTORE Act Direct Component Multiyear Implementation Plan. The amendment only affects the Porter Park Improvements project, proposed by the City of Lynn Haven.

The major change is to the scope of this project. Pot 1 funds were proposed to fund a portion of an improvement plan for Porter Park. The City requested RESTORE Act funds to improve the existing ramp, install fixed staging docks and a floating dock, and to replace the failing seawall. The overall improvement plan as described also included facilities such as restrooms, pavilions, parking and playground equipment.

Because of the sequencing of the improvement project, the City made the improvements to the ramp, docks and seawall prior to Treasury approval of the grant application. The City would like to amend its RESTORE Act proposal to have the RESTORE Act funds contribute to the future costs of the restrooms, pavilions, parking and playground equipment rather than the improvements now in place. The amount of RESTORE funds allocated for the project will remain the same.

Because of the change to the project objectives, Treasury considers this a material modification to the Plan and requires an amendment to the Plan, including the opportunity for public comment on the amendment. The Bay County Board of County Commissioners will consider the draft amendment to the Multi-Year Implementation Plan for Bay County’s Direct Component of the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund (RESTORE Act “Pot 1”) at their December 19, 2017 meeting beginning at 9:00 a.m. A public hearing will be conducted during which the public will have an opportunity to comment. After the meeting, the public will have 45 days to comment on the draft Plan amendment. Comments may be submitted by email to RESTOREproposals@baycountyfl.gov or may be mailed to: RESTORE Act Direct Component, County Manager’s Office, 840 W. 11th St., Panama City, FL 32401.

An overview of the process and the proposed amendments are available at https://fl-baycounty.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/2275 and will also be available for viewing at the main Bay County Public Library.

December 1, 2017

The Gulf Consortium is a public entity that includes Florida’s 23 Gulf Coast counties, from Escambia County in the western panhandle of Florida to Monroe County on Florida’s southern tip. Florida’s 23 Gulf Coast Counties formed the Consortium to meet requirements of the RESTORE Act to develop a State Expenditure Plan for economic and environmental recovery of the Gulf coast in Florida following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The plan details how Florida’s portion of the RESTORE Act Oil Spill Impact Component, also known as Pot 3, will be spent....

Find the latest updates to Bay County’s reception of the RESTORE Act on our RESTORE Act Updates - Bay County.