TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: Peter D. Lear, CPA, CGMA, City Manager
TITLE: Approve the Utilization of Mote Marine Laboratory for the Hydrobiological Monitoring Program Triennial Report for an Additional Cost of $35,000.00, for a Total Encumbrance of $134,972.00 for Fiscal Year 2021.
Recommended Action
Approve the Utilization of Mote Marine Laboratory for the Hydrobiological Monitoring Program Triennial Report for an Additional $35,000.00, for a Total Encumbrance of $134,972.00 for Fiscal Year 2021.
Background Information
The City of North Port's Water Use Permit No. 20 002923.013, as regulated by the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD), requires that the City maintain a compliant Hydrobiological Monitoring Program (HBMP). The HBMP includes the continuous monitoring of temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, specific conductivity and pH of samples obtained by permanently fixed equipment in one location in the Myakkahatchee Creek as well as monthly analysis of water samples taken twice each month from ten independent sampling stations throughout the Cocoplum Waterway, Myakkahatchee Creek and the Myakka River.
Mote Marine Laboratory assisted in the development of this program with SWFWMD and has been performing the monthly testing since 2004 in association with County ambient monitoring program and the monitoring program for SWFWMD of the Myakka River minimum flows and levels. Since 2011, Mote Marine Laboratory has also performed the continuous monitoring portion of the program for the City. Other regional entities, including Sarasota County, also utilize Mote Marine's services which enables more complete data collection and analysis, providing crucial information on not only the region's aquatic ecosystems, but also the hydrological and biological composition of the region to state and federal agencies as needed.
In addition to the monitoring, sampling and analysis for the HBMP Program, the City is also...
Click here for full text