City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: FEBRUARY 8, 2017
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
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Consideration of a Grant Application to the Virginia Stormwater Local Assistance Fund for Up to $670,000 for Lucky Run Stream Restoration.
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ISSUE: Consideration of a Grant Application to the Virginia Stormwater Local Assistance Fund (SLAF) for Lucky Run Stream Restoration project.
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council:
1. Approve the submission of the $670,000 grant application to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality due February 17, 2017 to restore Lucky Run and generate pollution reduction credits towards meeting the City’s Chesapeake Bay water quality compliance mandates; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute the necessary documents that may be required.
BACKGROUND: To reduce nonpoint source pollution from stormwater runoff and help localities meet Chesapeake Bay cleanup mandates, the Virginia General Assembly has created the Stormwater Local Assistance Fund (SLAF). This fund consists of bond proceeds authorized by the General Assembly to serve as matching grants available to local governments. The grants can be used by localities to fund the planning, design, and implementation of the stormwater best management practices (BMPs) key to meeting water quality compliance targets. Proposed BMPs must be cost efficient and directly address commitments related to reducing water quality pollutant loads. This fund is administered by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).
DISCUSSION: The Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), a calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant that a water body can receive and still safely meet water quality standards, assigns nutrient and sediment loading reductions to each locality. These very stringent stormwater mandates require Virginia localities, including the City, to reduce stormwater pollution flowing to the Chesapeake Bay. These Bay cleanup mandates are regulated through the City's Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit. Considerable investment of potentially greater than $60 million over 15 years will be required to improve stormwater quality infrastructure to meet these mandates. Staff continues to actively pursue grant opportunities to help finance some of these largely unfunded mandates. During the first round of SLAF grant funding in January 2014, the City applied for and was awarded a $1.2 million SLAF grant for the Lake Cook Retrofit project to enhance water quality benefits of the pond. During the second round of SLAF grant funding in January 2015, the City applied for and was awarded a $1.7 million SLAF grant for the Ben Brenman Park Pond at Cameron Station retrofit project to enhance treatment for the stormwater management pond.
This next round of SLAF grant funding provides the City with an opportunity to receive matching grant funding for the planned Lucky Run Stream Restoration, which is located in the Stonegate Scenic Easement off of Braddock Road. This stream was identified for restoration by T&ES staff in collaboration with our partner City departments as the City's preferred stormwater project for which to pursue SLAF grant funding due to the amount of erosion that has already occurred, coupled with the opportunity to prevent future erosion. Restoration of Lucky Run will provide water quality benefits along approximately 1,000 linear feet of the stream, thereby enhancing the riparian habitats to increase aquatic health for fish and other organisms and protecting infrastructure along the stream. This request is consistent with City Council's Strategic Plan Goal #2, "Maintain and improve the quality and sustainability of Alexandria's Environment" through initiatives to "enhance the ecological integrity of waterways by maintaining and improving storm water and sanitary infrastructure and stream system health to minimize environmental impacts." It complies with the City’s “Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Action Plan for 5% Compliance,” which calls for the use of urban stream restoration as a strategy for the City to address Bay cleanup mandates. This request is also consistent with the water goals in the Eco-City Charter and Eco-City Action Plan. Finally, stream restoration projects are specifically identified as eligible for funding in the grant guidelines.
DEQ notified Virginia localities of this SLAF grant opportunity on December 15, 2016, with grant applications due on or before February 17, 2017. Since this notification, staff has reached out to The Hamptons at Stonegate Home Owners Association and Aventine of Alexandria Apartments to meet and informally discuss this opportunity so that members of this and other adjoining communities can be informed of the planned project.
FISCAL IMPACT: T&ES is requesting SLAF grant funds in the amount of $670,000 or 50% of the estimated $1,340,000 required to plan, design and construct the Lucky Run Stream Restoration project. Since this 1:1 match grant is distributed as a 1:1 reimbursement, staff has identified $670,000 available in the Stream and Channel Maintenance CIP account intended for stream and channel maintenance projects such as this; therefore, no additional funding is requested at this time.
ATTACHMENTS: None.
STAFF:
Emily A. Baker, Deputy City Manager
Yon Lambert, Director, T&ES
Morgan Routt, Director, OMB
William J. Skrabak, Deputy Director, T&ES, Infrastructure & Environmental Quality
Jesse E. Maines, Division Chief, T&ES, Stormwater Management
Megan Cummings, Division Chief, T&ES, Strategic Management Services