State of State Expenditure Plan

Initial SEP Program RESTORE Act Compliance

SANTA ROSA COUNTY Water Quality Improvement Program Public Participation

PROJECT NO. 2-1

Project Description OVERVIEW AND LOCATION Financial Integrity The Santa Rosa Sound Water Quality Improvement Program comprises three components that will directly contribute to the restoration of water quality in Santa Rosa Sound by reducing loads of nutrients, bacteria, and heavy metals delivered to the sound. The frst two components of the program will expand the existing

centralized sewer system to allow for the abandonment Overall Consistency of 758 septic systems in two areas on the . The third component involves the relocation of the effuent outfall from the Navarre Beach Wastewater Treatment Facility (NBWWTF) to eliminate the discharge of up to 900,000 gallons per day (gpd) of treated effuent into Santa Rosa Sound. This program will be implemented in southeastern Santa Rosa County (see

Figure 2-1A). Proposed Projects

NEED AND JUSTIFICATION Santa Rosa Sound is about 35 miles long, connecting the estuary to . It is bordered along much of its northern edge by the Fairpoint

Peninsula and is separated from the Gulf of Mexico by Figure 2-1A. Location of Santa Rosa Sound Water Quality Santa Rosa Island to the south. Santa Rosa Island is part Improvement Program components in Santa Rosa County. of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, and the associated Implementation waters of the sound are designated Outstanding Florida Waters. Santa Rosa Sound supports seagrass beds, which are important habitat and foraging areas for numerous fsh and invertebrate species, including many of commercial and recreational signifcance. The sound is currently listed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) as an impaired waterbody for bacteria under Section 303(d) of the federal Clean Water Act. Although the sound is not listed as impaired for nutrients, a recent review of water quality data from a portion of Santa Rosa Sound shows that nutrient and chlorophyll-a concentrations exceed established regulatory threshold values. Recent declines in seagrass coverage have been documented in the sound and may be linked to these water quality issues.

51 SECTION V: Proposed Projects, Programs, and Activities

Figure 2-1B. Soundside septic to sewer conversion area - Soundside B is the easternmost sections.

This program will address two signifcant sources of pollutant loading to Santa Rosa Sound: (1) old and failing septic systems in coastal residential areas; and (2) effuent from the NBWWTF. Two areas on the Fairpoint Peninsula have been prioritized for expansion of an existing centralized sewer system and the abandonment of septic systems: Soundside Drive and Holley by the Sea (HBTS). NBWWTF was originally constructed in the early 1970s and has a capacity to treat 900,000 gpd of domestic wastewater, although actual fows range from 200,000 to 500,000 gpd depending on the season. Santa Rosa County has been working toward the goal of eliminating the discharge of NBWWTF’s effuent from the sound since the late 1990s. After assessing various alternative discharge options, the Board of County Commissioners approved a plan to eliminate the NBWWTF discharge into the sound by conveying the effuent to a land application disposal site located on (AFB) property.

PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES The purpose of this program is to reduce pollutant loadings to Santa Rosa Sound from known sources. The objectives of the program are to: (1) improve water quality in Santa Rosa Sound; and (2) restore marine habitats and living resources in the sound that may have been degraded by poor water quality.

PROJECT COMPONENTS The Santa Rosa Sound Water Quality Improvement Program comprises three components, which are summarized below.

Soundside Drive B Septic to Sewer The Soundside residential community does not currently have a centralized sewer system and uses septic systems for wastewater treatment and disposal. This proposed program component will expand Santa Rosa County’s existing sewer system into the Soundside B area (see Figure 2-1B) and allow for the conversion of approximately 163 septic systems to a low-pressure sewer system. The system design is in the beginning stages.

Holley by the Sea Septic to Sewer The HBTS residential community currently has centralized sewer service in only some areas (see Figure 2-1C). The proposed program component includes expanding the existing sewer system, allowing for the abandonment of 595 existing septic systems. The program component is currently being studied to identify the most suitable sewer system for the area (low-pressure system or gravity system). .

52 State of Florida State Expenditure Plan RESTORE Act Compliance NBWWTF Effuent Relocation and Reuse The effuent discharge of the NBWWTF will be permanently relocated from Santa Rosa Sound to a land application site located on

200 acres of Eglin AFB property. The Public Participation project will include construction of 35 2.5-acre, rapid-rate infltration basins (RIBs) for groundwater recharge; upgrades to NBWWTF so that the effuent meets FDEP requirements for public reuse; installation of new effuent flters and an effuent pump station; approximately 9 miles of Financial Integrity Figure 2-1C. HBTS subdivision septic to sewer conversion project area. force main ranging in diameter from 6 to 18 inches to convey the effuent from NBWWTF to the rapid-rate infltration basins site; and an intermediate pump station. In addition to discharging the effuent to a dedicated land application site, the project will include provisions for distributing reuse water to various residential and commercial customers in the area. It will also include provisions to accept treated effuent from the other utilities in the area. See Figure 2-1D for project features. Overall Consistency Proposed Projects Implementation

Figure 2-1D. Santa Rosa regional reuse system program map.

53 SECTION V: Proposed Projects, Programs, and Activities

Contributions to the Overall Economic and Ecological Recovery of the Gulf This program will improve water quality and the biological integrity of Santa Rosa Sound by allowing for the abandonment of 758 septic systems and eliminating the NBWWTF effuent discharge from the sound. These projects will result in the elimination of signifcant sources of nutrients, bacteria, and heavy metals to the sound, which will have a positive impact on seagrass, fsh and shellfsh populations, and recreational use of the sound and adjacent waters. These efforts are in line with many state and federal agency actions to reduce pollutant loads, improve surface water quality, and restore degraded habitats and living marine resources. The Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners has made the restoration of Santa Rosa Sound a top priority, and the implementation of these program components will contribute signifcantly to meeting this goal.

This program will also contribute to economic growth in Santa Rosa County, especially tourism and fshing industries. The sewer expansion will increase property values for the parcels it will ultimately serve, and sewer availability will encourage development on currently unimproved parcels in the area. This will, in turn, grow Santa Rosa County’s tax base. The proposed project will also increase workforce development and job creation in both the public and private sectors.

Eligibility and Statutory Requirements This project is consistent with, and addresses, the following RESTORE Act eligible activity:

• Eligible Activity 1: Restoration and protection of the natural resources, ecosystems, fsheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches, and coastal wetlands of the Gulf Coast region.

Comprehensive Plan Goals and Objectives This project is consistent with, and addresses, the following Comprehensive Plan Goals:

• Goal 2: Restore Water Quality and Quantity (primary) • Goal 1: Restore and Conserve Habitat • Goal 3: Replenish and Protect Living Coastal and Marine Resources.

This project is consistent with, and addresses, the following Comprehensive Plan Objectives:

• Objective 2: Restore, Improve, and Protect Water Resources (primary) • Objective 1: Restore, Enhance, and Protect Habitats • Objective 3: Protect and Restore Living Coastal and Marine Resources.

Implementing Entities Santa Rosa County will be the sole implementing entity and grant sub-recipient responsible for the design, permitting, construction, operation and maintenance, and monitoring of this project. Santa Rosa County has coordinated with numerous agencies, including Holley Navarre Water System (HNWS), South Santa Rosa Utility (SSRU), and Eglin AFB, in the development of these wastewater projects and may collaborate with other entities in the implementation of the project through leveraging of other potential funds.

54 State of Florida State Expenditure Plan RESTORE Act Compliance Best Available Science and Feasibility Assessment Signifcant work has been done to assess and characterize water quality in Santa Rosa Sound and to implement water quality improvement and protection programs. In addition, the Santa Rosa Sound Water Quality Improvement Program is consistent with numerous coastal resource management plans. Recent applicable citations include the following:

• Lewis, M. J. et al., 2016. Environmental Quality of the Pensacola Bay System: A Retrospective Review for Public Participation Future Resource Management and Rehabilitation. United States Environmental Protection Agency.

• Northwest Florida Water Management District (NWFWMD), 2017. Pensacola Bay System Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) Plan.

The program components described above are considered to be feasible based on the available information and best professional judgement. A preliminary design report has been completed for the NBWWTF component.

Risks and Uncertainties Financial Integrity No signifcant risks or uncertainties have been identifed during a review of the available information for this program. It is, however, possible that risks and uncertainties will be identifed during the preliminary design phase.

Success Criteria and Monitoring This program will affect water quality in an estuarine system. Specifc success criteria will be developed in the program grant request. It is anticipated that quantitative success criteria will be developed for the following: Overall Consistency

• Number of septic systems taken off-line • Estimated annual nitrogen load reductions to Santa Rosa Sound • Changes in ambient water quality (nutrient and bacterial concentrations) in Santa Rosa Sound.

In the program grant request, a detailed monitoring program design will be described that addresses data collection and assessment methodologies for the above-listed criteria. Santa Rosa County is committed to implementing the necessary monitoring program and coordinating with other regional water quality monitoring entities to quantify project benefts. Proposed Projects Implementation

55 SECTION V: Proposed Projects, Programs, and Activities

Milestones and Schedule The total estimated time horizon of this program is approximately 15 years. It is expected to start in 2018 and to end in 2033. The Soundside Drive and HBTS program components are expected to require approximately 6 years from feasibility study through construction. Preliminary design for the NBWWTF effuent relocation will be conducted in Year 1; however, fnal design and construction -will occur in later years because of the anticipated timing of right-of-way acquisition, the need for interagency agreements, and the complexity of constructing several interconnected components. Implementation of this program has been divided into the three components, as shown in the milestone chart below.

YEARS FROM SEP APPROVAL MILESTONE 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 910 11 12 13 14 15 16 Soundside Drive B Septic to Sewer Feasibility study Preliminary design Final design Construction HBTS Septic to Sewer Feasibility study Preliminary design Final design Construction NBWWTF Effuent Relocation and Reuse Preliminary Design Final Design Construction Program Monitoring Success monitoring

56 State of Florida State Expenditure Plan RESTORE Act Compliance Budget and Funding Sources Santa Rosa County has developed a preliminary program budget which is shown in the table below. The total cost of the program is approximately $45 million. The cost of removal of the existing septic systems is included in the cost of the septic tank to sewer projects. Preliminary design is estimated at 3 percent of the project cost. The estimated cost of the water quality success monitoring is $180,000 ($20,000 per year for 9 years).

Santa Rosa County has not secured any other grants or co-funding for these projects at this time. The cost of Public Participation NBWWTF may be shared by HNWS and SSRU, with the fnal cost sharing depending on the alignment selected. The source of funding for the remaining balance is yet to be determined; however, Santa Rosa County will be seeking other leveraged funding sources such as low interest loans and grants from FDEP State Revolving Fund program. Santa Rosa County is committed to providing additional county funding, as may be needed; however, the program elements are scalable and can be implemented incrementally as funding allows.

ESTIMATED POT 3 MILESTONE ESTIMATED TOTAL DOLLARS ALLOCATION Financial Integrity Soundside Drive B Septic to Sewer Feasibility study $45,465 $45,465 Preliminary design $45,465 $45,465 Planning Subtotal $90,930 $90,930 Final design $324,070 $324,070 Construction $2,595,000 $2,595,000 Implementation Subtotal $2,919,070 $2,919,070

Total $3,010,000 $3,010,000 Overall Consistency HBTS Septic to Sewer Feasibility study $190,000 $190,000 Preliminary design $190,000 $190,000 Planning Subtotal $380,000 $380,000 Final design $1,175,000 $1,175,000 Construction $11,000,000 $2,407,500 Implementation Subtotal $12,175,000 $3,582,500

Total $12,555,000 $3,962,500 Proposed Projects NBWWTF Effuent Relocation and Reuse Preliminary Design $903,000 $903,000 Planning Subtotal $903,000 $903,000 Final Design $2,197,000 $2,197,000 Construction $27,000,000 $2,407,500 Implementation Subtotal $29,197,000 $4,604,500 Total $30,100,000 $5,507,500 Monitoring $180,000 $180,000 Implementation Total $180,000 $180,000 Total Cost $45,845,000 $12,660,000

57 SECTION V: Proposed Projects, Programs, and Activities

COMMITTED FUNDING SOURCES Spill Impact Component $12,660,000 Direct Component $0 Other County funds $0 Total Committed Funding $12,660,000 Budget Shortfall $33,185,000 POTENTIAL LEVERAGED FUNDING SOURCES Gulf Environmental Beneft Fund Natural Resource Damage Assessment State Revolving Loan Fund Florida Rural Water Association Triumph Gulf F.03 Rural Community Development Initiative Grants F.07 Water and Waste Disposal Systems for Rural Communities F.08 Water and Waste Disposal Technical Assistance and Training Grants F.12 Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grant F.13 Community Facilities Guaranteed Loan Program F.27 Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) F.63 Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) S.36 Water Projects S.50 Water Projects Priorities Database

Partnerships/Collaboration The elimination of the septic systems on the Fairpoint Peninsula will require collaboration with HNWS and SSRU to identify priority areas. Both utility systems have expressed interest in a partnership with Santa Rosa County. There are opportunities for cost sharing, and specifc budgets will be identifed during the planning phase of this project.

The relocation of the NBWWTF effuent outfall is proposed to include partnering with the other wastewater utilities within the region because of their need for a reliable, long-term effuent disposal option, and a source of reuse water for irrigation. Although Santa Rosa County has been in discussions with local utilities for many years regarding partnering opportunities, the extent of the utilities’ interest and fnancial commitment remains to be determined.

Santa Rosa County will continue to coordinate closely with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Northwest Florida Water Management District, local utilities, and Eglin Air Force Base in the continued planning and implementation of this program.

58