Clean Water SRF WATER RESOURCE RESTORATION Sponsored Projects APPLICATION FOR THE CITY OF BUFFALO, IOWA Patti Cale-Finnegan, DNR State Revolving Fund Coordinator, 515-725-0498 [email protected]. INVESTING IN IOWA’S WATER www.iowasrf.com 1 Sponsored Project Application Wastewater utilities interested in conducting a sponsored project will use the standard CWSRF Intended Use Plan application for the infrastructure project. The separate CWSRF sponsored project application must also be completed and submitted, along with the following attachments: Authorizing resolution passed by the wastewater utility’s governing board for the sponsored project application; If there is a third-party entity involved, the 28E agreement between the utility and the qualified entity; Letters of support from project partners; Letter from the wastewater utility’s bond counsel indicating concurrence with the sponsored project concept; Project conceptual plans, including: o Assessment of the impacted waterbody and its watershed with data that supports the identification of the water quality problems to be addressed o Discussion of project goals and objectives o Evaluation of alternatives considering the unique demographic, topographic, hydrologic, and institutional characteristics of the planning area o Description of practices to be implemented with the expected water quality outcomes o Discussion of project locations, land ownership, and any plans for acquiring properties or easements o Identification of any other organizations or resources to be involved in the project and their expected contributions o Proposed project schedule with major milestones Proposed evaluation procedures and measures INVESTING IN IOWA’S WATER www.iowasrf.com 2 3 Section 3: Brief Summary of Proposed Water Resource Restoration Sponsored Project Describe the reasons or the needs for the proposed project (i.e. water quality problem or issue). Do not exceed 100 words. The project, which is Phase 1 of the larger Memorial Park Streambank Stabilization Project detailed in the attached study & report, will provide water quality benefits by stabilizing the streambank, and additionally by providing water quality treatment for runoff from the site area above the streambank. This project is intended to be the first piece, phase 1, of a larger riparian corridor and water quality improvement effort. Watersheds improved include: HUC_10 Mississippi River- Muscatine Slough, HUC_12 Mississippi – Coal Creek, HUC _8 Copperas – Duck. Describe the scope of the proposed project (i.e., specific solution to the water quality problem). Do not exceed 100 words. This project includes removal of small diameter volunteer trees, as well as brushy, low growing vegetation, followed by soil excavation and grading both above and below the normal water level, placement of rip rap, placement of turf reinforcing mat (TRM), and establishment of low- growing native plantings both within and above the rip-rap areas. Section 3: Qualified Entity Information Is the applicant proposing to enter into an agreement with a qualified third party entity to implement the sponsored project? No Organization: Yes Mailing Address: City, State, Zip + 4 Contact Person: Title: Phone Number: E-Mail: Page | 3 4 Section 4: Sponsored Project Cost Cost Category Total Estimated Costs to be Costs to be Project Costs Covered from Allocated from Other Funds 1% of SRF Loan Interest Land and Easements 0 0 0 Relocation Expenses 0 0 0 Professional Planning Fees 0 0 0 Professional Design Fees 5,888 0 5,888 Professional Construction Fees 00 0 Construction 29,440 0 29440 Equipment 0 0 0 Interest During Construction 0 0 0 Miscellaneous 0 0 0 Contingencies TOTAL = $35,328 Section 5: Attachments Attachments must be submitted with the application. Applications will not be considered complete unless all required attachments are included. Please complete the checklist below. Required Attachment Attached Authorizing resolution passed by the wastewater utility’s governing board for the sponsored project application Letters of support from project partners N/A Letter from the wastewater utility’s bond counsel indicating concurrence with the sponsored project concept Project conceptual plans, including: Assessment of the impacted waterbody and its watershed with data that supports the identification of the water quality problems to be addressed Discussion of project goals and objectives Evaluation of alternatives considering the unique demographic, topographic, hydrologic, and institutional characteristics of the planning area Description of practices to be implemented with the expected water quality outcomes Discussion of project locations, land ownership, and any plans for Page | 4 5 acquiring properties or easements Identification of any other organizations or resources to be involved in the project and their expected contributions Proposed project schedule with major milestones Proposed evaluation procedures and measures If there is a third-party entity involved, the 28E agreement between the utility and N/A the qualified entity Page | 5 6 7 8 9 c~a~:>~~r e l~~~ii-~~v i ~~; JOHN DANOS [email protected] July 17, 2013 VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL State Revolving Fund Iowa Department of Natural Resources c/o Patti Cale-Finnegan 401 SW 7th Street, Suite M Des Moines, IA 50309 Re: Water Resource Restoration Project/City of Buffalo, Iowa Our File No. 441420-7 To the Iowa Department of Natural Resources: Dorsey &Whitney LLP serves as bond counsel to the City of Buffalo, Iowa and we have been asked to submit this correspondence to you as an accompaniment to the City's Water Resource Restoration Sponsored Project Application. As bond counsel, we have reviewed the application and the provisions of Chapter 384 of the Code of Iowa related to the financing of water resource restoration projects. For purposes of our review, we have assumed that the project (the "Project') described by the City in Section 3 of the application, meets the statutory definition of "water resource restoration project" as set forth in Section 384.80(15). Based upon our review, we concur that the City will have legal authority to approve financing for the Project either through the issuance of general obligation debt or sewer utility revenue debt. As is typical, in order to become vested with the legal authority to borrow money, the City will need to follow the procedures set forth in Chapter 384. We hope that you will contact us if you have any questions regarding our correspondence. We are looking forward to working with you on the City's behalf to complete the proposed financing transaction. Sincerely, ~- h P anos .. .,. ~ ... .,,, r r i r ~ ..~ .. .,, ..,, .. i S.Kk, ~ .,.~ i, ~ .... .. ,F'.,. ~ ,,, . ~_ ~,. G✓ ..- r -.. h ~<I~A i" s 13:3A ~::". ~'k.IV AC::?/e E;LJ 3'~7i:;:}G'>E: ASIA-i-~!'a.GiK~'tiC: 10 Buffalo, Iowa Sponsored Project Application Assessment of Impacted Waterbody The impacted waterbody is the Mississippi River and the impacted watershed is the Copperas- Duck Watershed. The streambank in this location along the Mississippi River is prone to erosion due to unprotected slopes with the result that suspended solids can enter the Des Moines River. See attached Memorial Park Streambank Stabilization Report. Discussion of Project Goals and Objectives This project includes removal of small diameter volunteer trees, as well as brushy, low growing vegetation, followed by soil excavation and grading both above and below the normal water level, placement of rip rap, placement of turf reinforcing mat (TRM), and establishment of low- growing native plantings both within and above the rip-rap areas. Some additional site grading may also need to take place to blend the existing park turf area into the newly planted area. This project is intended to be phased into four parts, to be completed as funds allow. These phases include upstream and downstream bank stabilization and water quality benefits through the use of an integrated approach of rip-rap placement and native riparian plantings, followed by a sidewalk and step project near the Veterans Memorial, and finally the addition of a downstream walkway parallel to the river and a fishing jetty or pier. The initial objective of this project is to armor and stabilize the upstream section of the bank in a way that will allow the future additions to be added easily. After securing the grant and permits, the design of this project could be completed during the winter, with construction to begin in late winter to early spring of 2014. See attached Memorial Park Streambank Stabilization Report. Evaluation of Alternatives Several streambank stabilization options were considered in light of grant requirements, available funding, and the improvements depicted on the 2001 Waterfront Park Concept Plan. Four options, including a recommended option, were presented to the City Council on June 3, 2013. Alternative B in the attached study, Integrated Bank Stabilization is the recommended alternative. Integrated bank stabilization consists of vegetated rip-rap and a native planting buffer strip. This alternative is more aesthetically pleasing than just placement of rip rap, and provides a higher level of water quality treatment as well as habitat improvement. See attached Memorial Park Streambank Stabilization Report. Implementation and Expected Water Quality Outcome MSA investigated the project site and discovered that the bank is sparsely vegetated with volunteer riparian trees and woody underbrush. There is a significant amount