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CONSIDERATION OF ACCEPTANCE OF BUREAU OF RECLAMATION GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $85,500, APPROVAL OF CONTRACT K-2021-36 FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE LAKE THUNDERBIRD WATERSHED PARTNERSHIP (LTWP) AS A FORMAL WATERSHED GROUP AND BUDGET APPROPRIATION FROM THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND BALANCE.
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BACKGROUND: Lake Thunderbird was constructed by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) in 1965 to impound the upper reaches of Little River and several tributaries east of Norman, Oklahoma north of State Highway 9. The watershed drains 256 square miles in Oklahoma and Cleveland Counties including Norman, Oklahoma City and Moore, as well as small parts of unincorporated Oklahoma and Cleveland Counties. The Lake is operated by the Central Oklahoma Master Conservancy District on behalf of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. In addition, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages the flood control elements of Lake Thunderbird. Finally, the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation manages the parks and recreation services at the Lake.
The Lake provides drinking water for the cities of Norman, Midwest City, and Del City. It also provides a myriad of recreational opportunities for citizens of Norman and of the State of Oklahoma as a warm water aquatic community affording quality fishing for a variety of species and as a primary body contact water body providing recreational boating and water sports activities. In order to continue to provide these recreational opportunities and continue to provide quality drinking water, the Lake must meet certain Water Quality Standards. These Standards are set by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board for the purpose of maintaining the beneficial uses of water bodies in the State including lakes and streams.
Stormwater runoff to Lake Thunderbird has increased in both quantity and velocity as the populations of the nearby cities that deliver the vast majority of the stormwater runoff to the Lake have grown. Unintended consequences of strong growth include pollution in the water that runs off of the streets, buildings and lawns of the growing cities. This water flow carries sediment which clouds the water in the Lake and reduces its capacity and depth while also carrying other pollutants and nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus. All three of these pollutants are causing degradation to the water quality in the streams and in turn to the Lake.
In August 2010, the Environmental Protection Agency placed Lake Thunderbird on its 303(d) List of Impaired Waterbodies. This led to the establishment of a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) by the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) in November of 2013.
In September 2019, the BOR released Funding Opportunity Announcement BOR-DO-19-F010, which is for a funding program entitled “WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program. This program provides funding to watershed groups to encourage diverse stakeholders to form local solutions to address their water management needs. On November 12, 2019, City Council approved Resolution R-1920-64, authorizing the submittal of a Financial Assistance Application to the BOR for the WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program Phase I Grant and to potentially enter into a financing agreement under the program.
DISCUSSION: The primary goal of this project is to establish a formalized watershed group for the Lake Thunderbird watershed. The objectives to meet this goal include: 1) establishing the LTWP as a legal entity with the State of Oklahoma and the U.S. Internal Revenue Service; 2) enhancing and expanding the public outreach materials and strategies available for use by LTWP members by engaging stakeholders through a Unified Public Education and Outreach Plan; and 3) conducting pre-planning activities necessary to develop an outline of an Integrated Watershed Management Program. Poor water quality and the continued need for water for multiple beneficial uses makes it critical to plan for the future.
In order to meet these requirements, the project will consist of the following activities:
1. Establish the Lake Thunderbird Watershed Partnership as a Legal Entity
2. Provide visioning and formal organization development for the LTWP
3. Develop goals, objectives and bylaws for the LTWP
4. Develop Watershed Program Management Plan
5. Expand and diversify stakeholders
6. Conduct Stakeholder meetings
7. Compile and analyze information from stakeholder meetings
8. Develop Public Education and Outreach Plan and Templates
9. Complete a desktop assessment of current watershed health including potential high-risk impact areas
On May 5, 2020, the BOR notified staff that the grant application had been selected for funding. This grant provides $85,500 to complete this project. No local cost-share is required. Since the BOR grant is reimbursement only, an additional appropriation is necessary for operating funds but will ultimately be reimbursed.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends acceptance of the BOR WaterSMART grant in the amount of $85,500, approval of Contract K-2021-36 with the BOR, and budget appropriation in the amount of $85,500 from the Special Revenue Fund Balance (22-29000) to Professional Services/Consultant (Account 22550225-44001; Project GS0100). Reimbursed funds will be placed in Other Revenue-BOR Grant (225 - 333313).