Interoffice Memorandum
DATE: November 21, 2025
TO: Mayor Jerry L. Demings and County Commissioners
THROUGH: N/A
FROM: Tanya Wilson, AICP, Director, Planning, Environmental, and Development Services Department
CONTACT: Renée H. Parker, LEP, Manager, Environmental Protection Officer
PHONE: (407) 836-1420
DIVISION: Environmental Protection Division
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Approval and execution of State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection Standard Grant Agreement Agreement Number: NS118 Siplin Pond 6749 Retrofit Project between the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Orange County. A match in the amount of $92,363.52 is required. District 1. (Environmental Protection Division)
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PROJECT: Florida Department of Environmental Protection Grant Agreement Number NS118 Siplin Pond 6749 Retrofit Project
PURPOSE: The purpose of this Consent Item is to request that the Board approve a grant agreement between Orange County and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to provide funding for the construction of a water quality improvement project in the Wekiwa Spring and Rock Springs, Wekiva River, and Upper Ocklawaha River Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP) areas. The total amount of funding awarded by FDEP Grant Number NS118 is $140,000 with $92,363.52 match funds pledged by Orange County towards the total project construction costs. The funding will be made available through a cost reimbursement grant, which requires execution of a grant agreement with the FDEP. The grant agreement start date was July 1, 2024, when the state received the funding. The grant agreement expires August 31, 2028 which allocates four years from the grant begin date to complete project related tasks including time for the grant award recipients to be selected and notified, time for the project to be bid for construction, contracts to be executed, construction of the project to be completed, and for the post construction report to be prepared and sent to FDEP for final acceptance. The construction has been contracted. When the Preconstruction Meeting is scheduled, the contractor will then provide the preconstruction submittals and the notice to proceed will be issued commencing construction.
As background, the current Wekiwa Spring and Rock Springs, Wekiva River, and Upper Ocklawaha River BMAPs were finalized in 2018, 2025, and 2025 by the FDEP, and Orange County was identified as a stakeholder. The BMAPs laid out Orange County pollutant reductions allocations. To assist in meeting the pollutant reduction removal goal for nitrogen and/or phosphorus, FDEP is providing funding assistance for the construction of structural projects that will specifically target the reduction of pollutants in impaired watersheds.
The Siplin Pond 6749 Retrofit Project aims to enhance stormwater management and improve water quality in the Wekiwa Spring and Rock Springs, Wekiva River, and Upper Ocklawaha River BMAP areas. The project will add filtration through a biosorption activated media (BAM) on the sidebank of an existing wet retention pond. The BAM filter will remove nitrogen and phosphorus and significantly enhance the pond’s pollutant removal capabilities. The project has an approved permit (Number 181442-2) from the St. Johns River Water Management District to construct the improvements. The grant funding will go towards the construction of the project. This project represents a comprehensive approach to addressing nonpoint source pollution and promoting sustainable stormwater management practices. The Grant Agreement is included as Attachment 1.
This Agreement was reviewed by the County Attorney’s Office and approved as to form. The Environmental Protection Division presented this grant opportunity to the Grant Review Committee, who were supportive.
BUDGET: N/A