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Bay County approves $500,000 FSU subaward to study water-body impairments in St. Andrew Bay
Summary
Bay County authorized a $500,000 subaward to Florida State University using Restore Act funds to conduct water-quality surveys of 39 water bodies in St. Andrew Bay to identify impairment sources and recommend improvements; the grant award came from the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
The Bay County Board of County Commissioners approved a subaward of $500,000 to Florida State University to fund surveys and analysis of 39 water bodies in St. Andrew Bay.
Public works staff said Bay County amended its Restore Act multiyear implementation plan to include a project to identify water-body impairments and determine actions to improve water quality. The U.S. Department of the Treasury issued a grant award to Bay County on May 28, 2025; the chairman accepted the award on June 12, 2025. The county’s subaward to Florida State University will fund collection and analysis of water-quality data and provide recommendations for improvement.
Keith Bryan, who presented the item, told the board the study is expected to identify sources of leachate and runoff, with primary attention to septic systems and dirt-road runoff. Commissioners asked whether the report would include remedies; staff said the deliverable includes recommendations for improvements. Commissioners also asked staff to coordinate data-sharing between FSU and MRD & Associates (the firm working on East Bay permitting) so that both entities can use common data.
Staff confirmed the project will be managed by FSU and will report to the estuary board. The motion to approve the subaward and authorize the chairman to execute the agreement passed on a roll call with affirmative votes from Commissioners Crosby, Raffield, Carroll, Peace and Chairman Moore.
