FWC-23054_GrantAgreement_EXECUTED.pdf

This is a Recipient/Subrecipient Agreement between the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the Walton County Board of County Commissioners for the Walton County Artificial Reef Construction project for 2023-2024. The agreement, funded through the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Program, tasks the recipient with constructing a marine artificial reef complex by deploying at least 23 pre-fabricated concrete modules creating four patch reefs within the Fort Panic Fish/Dive Reef permitted area. The project must be completed by September 1, 2024, with a potential short-term extension possible under specific conditions such as documented hazardous weather or unexpected delays.

The total contract value is $60,000, which will be reimbursed on a cost basis, with funds sourced from federal (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) and state (Florida Artificial Reef Program) grants. The recipient must comply with numerous federal and state regulations, including environmental protection, historic preservation, and non-discrimination requirements. The modules must meet specific technical specifications, such as being made of marine-grade concrete with a minimum strength of 4,000 pounds per square inch, having multiple openings for water circulation, and being designed to allow turtle escapement. The recipient is responsible for all liability related to handling, transporting, and deploying the reef materials and must provide comprehensive documentation, including a Materials Placement Report and GPS coordinates of the deployed modules.