Project Funding Application

The Save Our Indian River Lagoon Project Plan is being adaptively managed to ensure that the projects implemented are as cost-effective as possible. This form must be filled out completely to provide information on each potential project for inclusion in the next annual update to the plan. Projects should deliver comparable nutrient removal benefits at similar costs as those projects listed in the plan for each sub-lagoon. Projects submitted will be reviewed by the Citizen Oversight Committee to evaluate the potential for inclusion in the plan. The projects recommended by the Citizen Oversight Committee for inclusion in the plan will be presented to the Brevard County Board of County Commissioners for approval.

This form includes a separate page for each of the project types listed in Table 1. Please only submit one project per form, and note which project type is being submitted in Table 1.

The estimated total nitrogen and total phosphorus reductions should be calculated using the efficiencies provided on the "Removal Efficiencies" page to be consistent with the plan. The total nitrogen and total phosphorus load reduction calculations are built into the forms for all project types except for stormwater. For stormwater projects, the total loading from the treatment area to the project should be determined using the Pollutant Loading Screening Model for the Indian River Lagoon Basin or Spreadsheet Tool for Estimating Pollutant Loads. Then, the appropriate efficiencies from the "Removal Efficiencies" table should be applied. The fields highlighted in gray are calculations based on information provided in the other cells.

In order for a new project to be added to the plan, the requesting partner must complete and submit this “Save Our Indian River Lagoon Project Plan Project Submittal Request Form” to Brevard County. To determine the amount of project funding that would be eligible for Save Our Indian River Lagoon Trust Fund contributions, the estimated total nitrogen reductions from the project are multiplied by the allowable cost per pound per year of total nitrogen shown below in Table 2 for that project type. For the stormwater projects, the cost per pound per year of total nitrogen varies by area and the allowable cost per pound per year for each area are shown in Table 3. The resulting amount is entered on the project form for the item “Eligible Tax Funding Cost Share.”

*The costs shown in Table 2 are an average of the cost per pound of total nitrogen removed from the projects listed in the plan.

Please submit the following information with the subject “SOIRL Application Supplement for (Insert Project Name)” to Terri Breeden at Terri.Breeden@BrevardFL.gov after completing the project submission.

Please submit the following information with the completed form:

1. Geographic Information System map showing the project location and drainage basin (or Portable Document Format if Geographic Information System is not available).
2. Calculations using the DEP Load Estimation Tool to determine the starting loads and estimated load reductions for stormwater projects. 
3. Exhibit or conceptual drawing of the project, if available.
4. Site-specific sampling data, if available.
5. ArcGIS-Based Nitrate Load Estimation Toolkit loads for septic system projects.

The completed form and supplemental information should be submitted to Terri Breeden at Terri.Breeden@BrevardFL.gov.

To calculate the benefits of sewer extension/connection or septic upgrade projects, the ArcGIS-Based Nitrate Load Estimation Toolkit model developed for Brevard County must be used to determine the total nitrogen load. The shapefiles and supporting reports for this model can be found in the Brevard County ShareFile Portal at: https://brevardcounty.sharefile.com/d-se47ec41c36114ab49475417a3fdd5f8d 

At this location, there is the original shapefile titled Septic_Priority_v17 and a simplified version titled Septic_Priority_v17_Simplified. The simplified shapefile includes only property identification and nitrogen loading values. The property information included within those shapefiles is Tax Account, titled TaxAcct, and Parcel ID, titled Name. The mean nitrogen loading data is titled TN_Load_Me.

After loading the shapefile into ArcGIS, a quick method of totaling the nitrogen loading is to select the parcels to be included within a proposed septic system connection or upgrade project. Then open the Statistics tool under the Selection menu. Within the Statistics tool, select the correct Layer and Field. The Sum value will be a total of mean nitrogen loading for all selected parcels.

ArcGIS-Based Nitrate Load Estimation Toolkit is a Florida Department of Environmental Protection approved modeling software that allows us to estimate nitrate and ammonia loading to groundwater from septic systems. This tool models nitrogen movement and denitrification within the vadose zone and groundwater. Brevard County contracted Applied Ecology, Inc., to execute and calibrate the model based on local soil type and groundwater data.

For any questions about calculating the loads for septic system projects, please contact Anthony Gubler at Anthony.Gubler@BrevardFL.gov.

Please ensure the following information, as available, is provided for each project. Email it with the subject “SOIRL Application Supplement for (Insert Project Name)” to Terri Breeden at Terri.Breeden@BrevardFL.gov after completing the project submission. Incomplete submittals will not be considered by the Citizen Oversight Committee.

1. Fully completed online application.
2. Geographic Information System map showing the project location with drainage basin for stormwater projects (or Portable Document Format if Geographic Information System is not available).
3. Stormwater calculations to determine the starting loads and estimated load reductions.
4. Exhibit or conceptual drawing of the project, if available.
5. Site-specific sampling data, if available.
6. ArcGIS-Based Nitrate Load Estimation Toolkit loads for septic and sewer projects.