This action provides funding in the amount of $480,822 to mote marine laboratory incorporated

Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4, through the Geographic Programs - South Florida Geographic Initiatives Program (CFDA 66.484), awarded $480,822 to Mote Marine Laboratory, Inc. for a three-year project period from September 1, 2025, through August 31, 2028. The project focuses on comprehensive water quality monitoring across 11 restoration sites in Florida's coastal waters to assess the effectiveness of ecosystem restoration efforts and capture seasonal and episodic variations in environmental conditions.

The primary deliverables include collection and analysis of water quality parameters (including nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, phosphate, silica, nitrogen compounds, organic carbon, phosphorus, chlorophyll a, turbidity, light, and current velocity measurements) at coral restoration sites in the Florida Keys, with initial focus on 6 sites in the Lower Keys and proposed expansion to the Middle and Upper Keys. Mote Marine Laboratory will produce performance and final reports, a quality assurance project plan, and integrated data assessments comparing near- and offshore sites across depth profiles. The project directly benefits Florida citizens through improved understanding of restoration site performance and water quality conditions critical to the South Florida region's aquatic ecosystems. No subawards are included in this assistance agreement.

Description

This action provides funding in the amount of $480,822 to mote marine laboratory incorporated. The purpose of this project to effectively capture both episodic events and seasonal changes in water quality at 11 restoration sites. Activities include collect and analyze water quality parameters such as nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, phosphate, silica, total nitrogen, dissolved inorganic nitrogen, total organic carbon, dissolved organic carbon, total organic nitrogen, total phosphorus, chlorophyll a, turbidity, light, and current direction and speed at surface and bottom and integrate this data into assessments of the effectiveness of restoration sites as well as comparisons of near- to offshore sites to capture cross-shelf transects of dominant habitats. Anticipated deliverables include performance and final reports, quality assurance project plan, and analyzation of water quality parameters in the florida keys. Expected outcomes include measuring water quality and carbonate chemistry parameters at 6 coral restoration sites in the lower keys and a proposal for work in the middle and upper keys. Direct beneficiaries include state of florida citizens.activities:-subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:-