THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE DIVISION RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTION.
Approval of this item supports the Board’s Value of “Encouraging investments in renewable energy, sustainable practices and environmental protection” and Goal 1: Seek funding for, implement policies and pursue projects promoting, the use of alternative energy, and sustainable practices, and Goal 3: Increase water quality protection efforts and lead creative approaches to water storage and aquifer recharge, as well as diversification of water supplies, regionally.
The City of Hollywood is installing new salinity wells in order to maintain and increase local monitoring of saltwater intrusion. The County has been a long time supporter in the preservation and maintenance of a regional saltwater intrusion monitoring network to monitor and predict changes in groundwater quality associated with water management activities, land use, climate conditions, and sea level rise, which may threaten coastal drinking water supplies. Although this regional network originally included a total of 18 wells, the progressive movement of the saltwater front has reduced the total number of active monitoring wells to just five wells. In support of restoring the regional network, approval of this interlocal agreement (Exhibits 1 and 2) will provide funds to the City of Hollywood to install an additional saltwater monitoring well in a priority location (Exhibit 3).
On June 28, 2016, the County held a joint workshop with local drinking water utilities, the United States Geological Survey, the South Florida Water Management District, and local consultants, with the goal of identifying priority investments needed to improve saltwater intrusion analyses, address data gaps, and refine data coverage in sensitive areas, in conjunction with forthcoming investments by municipal water providers. The results of the Regional Saltwater Monitoring Network Workshop was the identification of three priority reaches for regional investments with recommended installation of additional saltwater intrusion monitoring wells in central and southern Broward County. The salinity monitoring well that the County proposes to fund through this local agreement is located near TY Park in Hollywood and falls into one of the priority regions. The County desires to partner with the City as part of a coordinated investment that addresses both regional and local monitoring needs. The City of Hollywood has demonstrated commitment to municipal investment in the saltwater monitoring network and is installing a total of four new salinity wells.
This agreement has been provided legal review and approved as to form by the County Attorney’s Office. |