Bayou Grande Watershed Management Plan

Overview

Escambia County is requesting proposals from qualified professional firms or multi-disciplinary teams to produce the Bayou Grande Watershed Management Plan (WMP). The selected consultants will work with Escambia County, community members, technical experts, and project partners to develop a comprehensive, community-informed Watershed Management Plan.

The project tasks shall be coordinated so that watershed findings and community priorities inform the entirety of the project. The chosen consultant will be responsible for coordinating with NAS Pensacola to ensure successful project implementation.

Project Description

The project is intended to develop a comprehensive Watershed Management Plan for Bayou Grande and its surrounding watershed. The planning process shall be informed by public engagement, stakeholder collaboration, participatory planning, Best Available Science (BAS), Best Management Practices (BMPs), and the identification and prioritization of implementable projects.

The WMP shall synthesize available data to identify watershed vulnerabilities, opportunities, and potential projects to address stormwater, water quality, habitat, shoreline erosion, coastal resiliency, public access, and community resiliency.

Purpose and Objectives

This project is intended to:

• Address the unique challenges of the Bayou Grande Watershed.
• Develop a transparent, data-driven, community-informed list of prioritized implementation projects.
• Develop conceptual designs, cost estimates, funding strategies, permitting considerations, property needs and implementation timelines for prioritized projects.
• Develop a funding and implementation strategy to help the County diversify funding.
• Protect critical assets and natural resources.
• Reduce vulnerability of public and private infrastructure.
• Address flooding and stormwater vulnerabilities, including compound flooding.
• Establish monitoring, maintenance, and adaptive management recommendations.