The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), as implementing Trustee, executed an agreement with the Northwest Florida Water Management District (NWFWMD) to oversee the work. NWFWMD funded Phase I and executed an agreement with the city who contracted the work.
FDEP is providing approximately $3.2 million in funding for the project which will directly improve water quality in watersheds injured by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill by reducing the discharge pollutant loading that otherwise would impact the health and quality of estuarine habitats in receiving waters. The project will also help to reduce the potential for beach closures, restrictions on shellfish harvesting, and human health impacts from microbial pathogens. Additionally, nitrogen loading to St. George Sound and Apalachicola Bay from the Lighthouse Estates area will be reduced due to the significantly improved water quality treatment achieved by the city’s wastewater plant as compared with that provided by the individual septic systems.
