Implementation Costs & Sources of Funding Lucas Gregory, PhD Texas Water Resources Institute
Implementation Costs for WPPs in Texas 21 EPA Accepted WPPs in Texas Minimum = $1,167,000 Maximum = $112,696,000 Mean = $21,243,421 Median = $9,601,900
COSTS FOR KEY MANAGEMENT MEASURES
Urban Stormwater Management Measures Variable measures and costs included in most plans Work with individual cities to develop watershed specific measures and costs Common urban stormwater measures & costs Urban Stormwater Management Measures N Average Median Pet Waste Collection Stations Installation ($/station) 8 $ 575 $ 620 Pet Waste Collection Stations Annual Maintenance ($/station) 8 $ 114 $ 85 Initiate Street Sweeping Program ($/sweeper) 1 $ 240,000 $ 240,000
OSSF Management Measures OSSF Management Measures N Average Median Septic System Inspection/Enforcement Position ($/yr) 5 $ 46,400 $ 50,000 Septic System Repair ($/OSSF) 7 $ 5,000 $ 5,000 Septic System Replacement ($/OSSF) 9 $ 9,722 $ 10,000 Septic System Connection to Sewer ($/OSSF) 8 $ 2,213 $ 2,000 Septic systems for hunting camps ($/OSSF) 2 $ 3,750 $ 3,750
Wastewater Infrastructure Management Measures Variable measures and costs included in most plans Work with individual cities to develop watershed specific measures and costs Example measures/costs from other WWTF Upgrade (TSS Reduction) - $500,000/1 mgd facility WWTF Upgrade (Phosphorus Removal) - $60,000/facility Voluntary Monthly E. coli Monitoring ($22/sample) Voluntary Monthly Phosphorus Monitoring ($25/sample) Lift Station SCADA Installation ($12,000/station) Sanitary Sewer Pipe Replacement ($60-1250/ft) Manhole replacement ($38,000/manhole) Manhole cover replacement ($2,000/cover) Prepare & submit SSO Plan to TCEQ ($75,000/plan)
Ag Management Measures Ag Management Measures N Average Median SWCD Technician ($/yr) 7 $ 70,714 $ 75,000 WQMP ($/WQMP) 13 $ 14,615 $ 15,000
Feral Hog Control Feral Hog Control N Average Median Feral Hog Control Position ($/yr) 4 $ 86,250 $ 90,000 Feral Hog Management Equipment ($/trap) 4 $ 1,625 $ 500 Fence off deer feeder ($/feeder) 6 $ 205 $ 200
Other key costs Watershed Coordinator ($85,000 90,000/yr) Education Monitoring
KEY FUNDING SOURCES
Key Funding Sources Urban BMPs / LID Cities TCEQ 319(h) Nonpoint Source Grant Program Private funds (i.e. development community) OSSFs TCEQ & TSSWCB 319(h) Nonpoint Source Grant Program Supplemental Environmental Project Program (SEP) Clean Water Act State Revolving Fund (SRF) - TWDB Local funds Cities, Counties, Private WWTF & Infrastructure Local Funds Cities, Counties, Utility Districts, Private Clean Water Act State Revolving Fund (SRF) - TWDB Economically Distressed Area Program (EDAP) TWDB Regional Water Supply & Wastewater Facility Planning Program - TWDB
Key Funding Sources Ag BMPs TSSWCB SB503 Water Quality Management Plan Program TSSWCB 319(h) Nonpoint Source Grant Program NRCS EQIP, CSP, HFRP, ACEP, RCPP Programs FSA Cropland Reserve Program Private funds Feral Hogs Texas Department of Agriculture Feral Hog Abatement Program Private funds & local donations USDA-APHIS National Feral Swine Damage Management Program Local Funds sometimes Counties or Cities Wildlife TPWD Landowner Incentive Program (LIP) Private funds
Key Funding Sources Education TSSWCB & TCEQ 319(h) Nonpoint Source Grant Program Section 106 State Water Pollution Control Grants EPA Environmental Education Grants Watershed Coordinator TSSWCB & TCEQ 319(h) Nonpoint Source Grant Program Local funds Cities, Counties, Private Monitoring Texas Clean Rivers Program (CRP) TSSWCB & TCEQ 319(h) Nonpoint Source Grant Program Section 106 State Water Pollution Control Grants Wetlands Texas General Land Office (GLO) Coastal Counties Only NRCS Cities Private funds
Other Funding Sources Foundations Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation Dixon Water Foundation Meadows Foundation Industry/Corporate MillerCoors (i.e. Trinity watershed efforts) Coastal counties GLO CMP Funds RESTORE Act $ Others Supplemental Environmental Project Program (SEP)
EPA Federal Funding Sites EPA has developed Guidebook of Financial Tools: Paying for Sustainable Environmental Systems, which is available for download at http://www2.epa.gov/envirofinance. More information on funding sources for watershed programs is posted at EPA s Sustainable Finance Web site at http://water.epa.gov/grants_funding/. To view EPA Watershed Funding Programs visit http://water.epa.gov/grants_funding/shedfund/waters hedfunding.cfm. This interactive Web site helps match watershed project needs with funding sources.
TIPS FOR FUNDING ACQUISITION
Research Grant and Funding Opportunities What specifically will the program fund? START EARLY Research web sites Read funder generated handouts/materials Ask other resource people Look at other projects that have been funded Know timelines for each funding opportunity Match up implementation activities with potential funding
Implementation Plan Actions that need to be taken (including any special coordination, education, or public outreach needed to improve the chances of implementation) The responsible party(ies) for the action/education Time frame for implementing the actions Time frame for operation and maintenance requirements Estimated total cost and annual cost for each action Funding mechanism(s) for each action Measures or tracking indicators
Leverage Existing Resources Some of the costs of implementing your watershed plan can be defrayed by leveraging existing efforts and seeking in-kind services. Some examples follow. Use existing data sources. State and local agencies and Universities may have data. Use existing studies. Many agencies have reports of previous analyses, providing useful baseline information and data, such as delineated subwatersheds or a historical stream monitoring record. Use partnerships. State, county, or federal agencies working as technical assistance providers and implementing natural resource program initiatives can offer computer services and expertise, such as performing GIS analysis and local knowledge. Cover incidental/miscellaneous costs through contributions. For example, staff time to assemble needed elements, supplies, and meeting rooms for a stakeholder or meeting can all be donated.
A Local Perspective (Cities, Co.) CONCERNS Cost What we are getting ourselves into Additional Enforcement What is realistic How the process works TOOLS Community Support Council Support Staff Advocate Partnerships Toolbox
Matching the Grant Matching in many instances does not mean cash Leveraging existing resources Leveraging other water quality projects that are using state and local funds key to know about city, county, and partners projects Staff time to administer the grant or conduct other implementation activities Street Sweeping and Equipment Maintenance Education on storm runoff, pollution, recycling, etc. Donation of Meeting space It is important to work through these issues and create realistic budgets with local partners for success.
The estimate of financial and technical assistance should take into account the following : Administration and management services, including: 1. salaries, regulatory fees, and supplies, as well as in-kind 2. services efforts, such as the work of volunteers and the 3. donation of facility use 4. I/E efforts
Don t Forget the O&M Costs Improper maintenance is one of the most common reasons for failure of water quality controls to function as designed. It s important to consider: who will be responsible for maintaining permanent management practices, what equipment is required to perform the maintenance properly, and the long-term cost involved in maintaining structural controls.
Know What You Want to Fund Proposals and Applications Be clear and concise Confidence that the project warrants funding Answer the question: Why should my project be funded? Develop a detailed budget How much do you need? Exactly how will it be spent? Account for all items. Some funders don t allow or want contingencies funded.
Proposals and Applications Get forms Know the deadlines & stick to them Fill out all forms completely and accurately in clear and concise manner Answer ALL questions Ask questions if you don t understand something Start as early as possible; don t wait until it s due Be clear about the budget Make sure what is on the application matches what the funder will fund View the project in the funder s eyes, not the project s; Give the people what they want
Golden Rule Make it as easy as possible for the reader to understand and evaluate your proposal. From Handbook for Writing Technical Proposals that Win Contracts An application is similar to a proposal and needs to be clear, concise, and authoritative in its writing and be organized exactly as requested
Key Funding Review Maximize Use of Partners Understand the Funding Organization s Goals and Objectives Pursue Multiple Opportunities If not Awarded a Grant, Follow up and Re-submit