R2003-115 AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT - Laserfiche WebLink

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,, '� DEPARTMENT OF WATER MANAGEMENT Memorandum No. 2003-14 July 22, 2003 TO: Honorable Mayor Osborne and City Council FROM: Steve Garman, City Manager John A. Smith, Assistant City Manager for Public Services Keith D. Alexander, Director of Water Management � SUBJECT: Lake Decatur Watershed Resource Management Plan Finley Creek Resource Plan Funding and Administration SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION: Council adopts the attached Resolution authorizing an Intergovernmental Agreement between the City and the Macon County Soil & Water Conservation District (District) for Finley Creek Resource Plan Funding and Administration. BACKGROUND: The Lake Decatur Watershed Resource Management Plan consists of producing and implementing resource plans for the numerous Lake subwatersheds. They are accomplished by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in cooperation with the District. In 2000, Council financially supported implementing the Sand Creek Watershed Resource Plan with $75,000. The project was extremely successful, and is projected to prevent 25,070 tons of soil from entering Lake Decatur over a 15 year time period. It was also a financial success as the District does not charge the City additional administrative expenses for these types of projects. With the $75,000 provided by the City, the District was able to obtain $38,645 in Federal cost share funds and $6,380 in State cost share funds. The Finley Creek Watershed Resource Plan was completed last year and distributed to Council in August. As discussed in the Plan, the District and the NRCS recommend the implementation of several cost share items to improve the Finley Creek watershed. To provide funding for these projects, $75,000 was designated in this fiscal year's Lake Capital Projects budget. The funds will be used to construct grass waterways, terraces, WASCOBS (water and sediment control basins), grade stabilization structures, buffer strips and streambank erosion control measures. They may also be used to provide incentives for nutrient management and conservation tillage practices. When possible, the funds will "piggyback" with existing Federal and State cost share funds. All construction will be designed and constructed to NRCS standards. The funds will be administered by the District since the NRCS cannot directly accept local government funds for these types of projects. The entire $75,000 will be used exclusively for cost share items, as the District is providing all administrative and support functions at no charge. The project is scheduled to begin within twenty calendar days of Council approval and end no later than December 31, 2005.