Title
Resolution - A Resolution of the City of Mansfield, Texas Approving an Interlocal Agreement with the Trinity River Authority for the Joe Pool Lake Watershed Protection Plan; and Authorizing Funding for an Amount Not to Exceed $60,000 (Drainage Utility Funds)
Requested Action
The approval of a resolution to enter an Interlocal Agreement with TRA for the Joe Pool Lake Watershed Protection Plan, and authorization of funding.
Recommendation
The Environmental Staff recommends the approval of the resolution to enter the Interlocal Agreement.
Description/History
The section of Walnut Creek that flows through the City has been on the TCEQ Integrated Report of Surface Water Quality as impaired since 2006. The data for this report were collected during 2004, and shows that this section of Walnut Creek regularly has bacteria levels that the State has determined exceed a threshold for safe primary contact recreation. Primary contact recreation is considered to be full recreational use, including activities such as swimming, diving, etc…
Because the impairment exists, and because of the length of time of the impairment, the TCEQ and EPA want to see the local communities make efforts to improve the water quality. The Watershed Protection Plan is generally less than rigid than other avenues for achieving regularity compliance requirements and all participating agencies endorse this approach.
The purpose of a WPP is to develop a detailed report for the condition of the existing issues related to water quality throughout the watershed, and then create a plan for interested stakeholders to implement management practices to improve water quality. Stakeholders include other local agencies, large land owners, ranchers, environmental groups, and others who are interested in assisting to develop the plan. It is a different pathway than a Total Maximum Daily Load, and has specific advantages to that process that make it more appealing to staff.
Rather than the impairment of Walnut Creek being dealt with by Mansfield alone, TRA has an interest in having a plan developed for the full extent of the watershed for Joe Pool Lake, and will seek grant funds to supply 60% by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the other 40% split evenly with the participating agencies. The City’s participation is capped at a total of $60,000. Final contribution will likely be less, but is dependent on the number of participants. Currently, Mansfield, Dallas, Cedar Hill, Grand Prairie, Duncanville, and Midlothian are the identified partner communities. If all communities continue support, Mansfield participation is estimated at $13,300 per year for three years. TRA will be the lead agency, supplying the staff, collecting and analyzing data, preparing the report, and meeting any grant requirements. City staff will have input into any management practices developed during the planning process.
This will allow the City to leverage limited funds and staff time, but receive a quality document. Any action items developed out of this process would also apply to all participating jurisdictions, and not be local just to Mansfield. If TRA is unsuccessful in securing grant funds, the project does not happen. If TRA is successful, the City’s participation in the project is capped at $60,000 over the course of the anticipated 3 year period from beginning the planning process to the final plan being delivered to the other participating communities and TCEQ.
Specific management practices developed in the JPLWPP may be eligible for grant funding to implement in the future. It is impossible for staff to state unequivocally at this time that grant funds will be sought, or that any additional actions from existing stormwater activities will be included in the final plan.
Justification
Participating in the Joe Pool Lake Watershed Protection Plan Partnership will be the most cost effective means of achieving compliance with EPA and TCEQ expectations for dealing with the Walnut Creek impairment. It allows the cost burden to be shared among all parties, is substantially paid for through grant funds, and shares the responsibility for implementation to agencies outside of Mansfield alone.
The JPLWPP will be a much stronger document than a similar plan the City would be able to achieve by itself. Regardless of participation in the JPLWPPP, a similar plan will need to be developed for Walnut Creek, with similar management practices and requirements to achieve water quality improvements. The JPLWPP has an advantage that action items developed within its framework are also grant eligible.
TRA staff has extensive experience in developing similar plans, including the Village Creek-Lake Arlington Watershed Protection Plan directly adjacent to the northern border of the Joe Pool Lake watershed. Staff has attended many of the Village Creek-Lake Arlington Plan meetings to stay informed about the overall process, and feels confident the result of this partnership will be a benefit to the City of Mansfield.
The planning process and initial invoice will not be submitted until after the beginning of FY18. TRA needs to have the supporting resolutions in order to complete the grant application process due to the TCEQ by July 2017.
A Resolution is attached for Council’s consideration.
Funding Source
The funding source will be the Drainage Utility Fund.
Prepared By
Howard Redfearn, Environmental Manager 817-276-4240