Catfish Creek Watershed Management Plan Grant Application
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Grant Application for Catfish Creek Watershed Management Plan
DATE: September 20, 2012
Planning Services Manager Laura Carstens and City Engineer Gus Psihoyos are
recommending submittal of a grant application to the Iowa Department of Natural
Resources for the Catfish Creek Watershed Management Plan.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
/7AAh kt1&1
Michael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager
Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager
Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Michael Van Milligen, City Manager
Dubuque
hittid
All America Cityy
2012
FROM: Laura Carstens, Planning Services nage ,‘S
Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer
SUBJECT: Grant Application for Catfish Creek Watershed Management Plan
DATE: September 20, 2012
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memo is to request approval of the City's application to the Iowa
Department of Natural Resources (SWCD) for Phase 2 grant funds to create a Catfish
Creek Watershed Management Plan. The draft application, a resolution, and the IDNR
request for proposals are enclosed. The grant application is due September 24, 2012.
DISCUSSION
In June of 2011, the City of Dubuque entered into a 28E agreement with the Dubuque
Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and Dubuque County for the purpose of
preparing and implementing a Catfish Creek Watershed Management Plan. Formation
of a Watershed Management Authority was determined to be advantageous for
securing grant funding to develop this plan.
In June of 2012, the Cities of Dubuque, Asbury, Peosta, and Centralia, Dubuque
County, and the SWCD entered into a 28E agreement to create the Catfish Creek
Watershed Management Authority (CCWMA) and establish a Board of Directors. The
City received a $24,500 Phase 1 grant to create the CCWMA.
The City of Dubuque, in partnership with the CCWMA Board, now can compete more
successfully for grant funding for a watershed management plan. This plan is a critical
step in securing future funding for improvements throughout the watershed.
BUDGET IMPACT
The requested $187,000 Phase 2 grant will cover most of the costs to prepare the
watershed management plan. In kind funds provided by the City of $60,000 would be
used for facility / administration and other monitoring duties. The matching funds are
already budgeted by the SWCD and the Engineering Department for the NPDES
program. No cash match is needed.
Grant Application for Catfish Creek Watershed Management Plan
The Engineering Department and the SWCD will prepare the grant and administer the
project. The Planning Services Department will assist with grant administration and
facilitation of partners as was done with the Phase 1 grant for the CCWMA.
RECOMMENDATION
The recommendation is for City Council approval of the enclosed resolution authorizing
grant submittal to IDNR for "Developing a Smarter Watershed Plan for the Catfish Creek
Watershed ".
Since grant applications are due September 24, 2012, the proposal will be submitted
subject to City Council approval.
Enclosures
cc: Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager
Deron Muehring, Civil Engineer
Dean Mattoon, Engineering Assistant
T: \Planning \Watershed \Memo Watershed Mgmt Plan.doc
2
Prepared by: Laura Carstens, City Planner Address: City Hall, 50 W. 13th St, Dubuque, IA 52001 Telephone: 589 -4210
Return to: Kevin Firnstahl, City Clerk Address: City Hall, 50 W. 13th St, Dubuque, IA 52001 Telephone: 589 -4121
RESOLUTION NO. 264 -12
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING GRANT APPLICATION TO IOWA DEPARTMENT OF
NATURAL RESOURCES FOR CREATION OF A WATERSHED PLAN FOR THE
CATFISH CREEK WATERSHED MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY
Whereas, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources has grant funds for creation of
watershed plans for watershed management authorities; and
Whereas, the City of Dubuque has signed the 28E agreement forming the Catfish Creek
Watershed Management Authority that includes an objective for creation of a watershed plan for the
Authority.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
DUBUQUE, IOWA:
Section 1. The Planning Services Manager hereby is authorized to sign and the City
Engineer is hereby authorized to submit an application to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources
for "Developing a Smarter Watershed Plan for the Catfish Creek Watershed ".
Section 2. That in the event said application is approved, the City Council hereby provides
its written assurance that the completed project will be adequately maintained for its intended use in
accordance with state requirements.
Passed, approved and adopted this October 2012.
Attest:
Kev' S. irnstahl, City C
T: \Planning \Watershed \Watershed Plan Resolution.doc
1st day of
1641/
Roy I, Buol, Mayor
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
RFP COVER SHEET
Administrative Information:
TITLE OF RFP:
Watershed Management Authority
Planning Grants
RFP
Number:
WMA- PH2 -JB
IDNR:
Department of Natural Resources
IEDA:
Iowa Economic Development Authority
State seeks to
solicit
applications for:
Proposals for the
creation of watershed
plans for Watershed
Management Authorities
Available to Political
Subdivisions?
Cities and
Counties
Number of mos. or ry
18 months
Number of possible
annual extensions:
One
of the initial term of the
contract:
Initial Contract term
beginning:
Date: TBD
Ending:
Date: 18 months from start date
State Issuing Officer:
Name: Jeff Berckes
Phone and e-Mail: 515- 281 -4791 Jeff.Berckes(a?dnr.iowa.gov
Mailing Address:
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Wallace State Office Building
502 East 9th St, Des Moines, Iowa 50319
PROCUREMENT TIMETABLE —Event or Action:
Date /Time (Central Time):
State Posts Notice of RFP on TSB website
Not Applicable
State Issues RFP
June 21, 2012
Pre - Proposal Conference Location and Address:
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Wallace State Office Building
502 East 9th St, Des Moines, Iowa 50319
Pre - Proposal Time and Date: July 25, 2012 at 1:00 pm
Is Pre - Proposal Conference mandatory? No
If a map is needed, contact the Issuing Officer.
Vendors must submit questions regarding the Pre - Proposal conference by: July 24, 2012
Questions and answers from Pre - Proposal Conference sent to Applicants by: August 3,
2012
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RFP written questions, requests for clarification, and suggested
changes from Applicants due:
IDNR's written response to RFP questions, requests for
clarifications and suggested changes due:
Date: August 1, 2012
Date: August 10, 2012
Proposals Due Date:
Proposals Due Time:
Date:
September 24, 2012
Time: 4:00 PM CST
Anticipated Date for IDNR to forward Recommendations to IEDA:
October 8, 2012
Anticipated Date for IEDA to issue Notices of Intent to Award:
Date: October 15,
2012
Anticipated Beginning Date for Contracts:
November 5, 2012
Relevant Websites:
Web- address:
Internet website where Addenda
to this RFP will be posted:
http : / /bidopportunities.iowa.gov/
Number of Copies of Proposals Required to be Submitted:
1 (electronic)
2
Table of Contents
Title
Page
Section 1 — Introduction
4
Section 2 — Administrative Information
10
Section 3 — Format and Content of Proposals
15
Section 4 — Scope of Work Requirements
17
Section 5 — Evaluation of Proposals
19
Section 6 — Contractual Terms and Conditions
21
Attachment 1 — Certification Letter
3
Section 1
Introduction
1.1 Purpose
The purpose of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to solicit proposals from
Responsible Applicants to provide the services identified on the RFP cover sheet and
further described in Section 4 of this RFP to the IEDA. The IEDA intends to award a
Contract(s) beginning and ending on the dates listed on the RFP cover sheet, and the
IEDA, in its sole discretion, may extend the Contract(s) for up to the number of annual
extensions identified on the RFP cover sheet. As a result of this RFP, it is anticipated
that the IDNR will submit recommendations for funding awards to the IEDA by
September 7, 2012.
1.2 Definitions
For the purposes of this RFP and the resulting contract, the following terms shall mean:
"Applicant" means any eligible City or County acting as the lead entity for a Watershed
Management Authority that submits a Responsive Proposal to the IDNR in response to
this RFP. The Applicant must act as the fiscal agent for any Contract resulting from this
RFP and will be responsible for any reporting requirements and work products.
"Authority" or "Watershed Management Authority" or "WMA" means a watershed
management authority created pursuant to an Iowa Code Chapter 28E agreement that
has completed all of its required filings with the Iowa Secretary of State pursuant to the
provisions of Iowa Code section 28E.8.
"Board" means a board of directors of a proposed watershed management authority.
"Contract" means the contract(s) entered into with the successful Applicant(s)
pursuant to this RFP.
"Eligible Applicant" means any Applicant (City or County acting as the lead entity for a
Watershed Management Authority) located in one of the 85 Iowa counties that were
declared a federal disaster area in 2008 as a result of flooding: Adams, Adair,
Allamakee, Appanoose, Audubon, Benton, Black Hawk, Boone, Bremer, Buchanan,
Butler, Carroll, Cass, Cerro Gordo, Cherokee, Clinton, Davis, Decatur, Des Moines,
Chickasaw, Cedar, Clarke, Clayton, Crawford, Dallas, Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette,
Floyd, Franklin, Fremont, Greene, Grundy, Guthrie, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardin,
Harrison, Henry, Howard, Humboldt, Iowa, Jackson, Jasper, Johnson, Jones, Keokuk,
Kossuth, Lee, Linn, Louisa, Lucas, Lyon, Madison, Mahaska, Marion, Marshall, Mills,
Mitchell, Montgomery, Monona, Monroe, Muscatine, Page, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Polk,
Pottawattamie, Poweshiek, Ringgold, Scott, Story, Tama, Taylor, Union, Van Buren,
Wapello, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Webster, Winnebago, Winneshiek, Worth, and
Wright Counties.
"Hydrologic Unit" means a watershed in the United States that has been delineated
by the U.S. Geological Survey using a national standard hierarchical system based on
surface hydrologic features and are classified into the following types of hydrologic
units:
4
First -field (region)
Second -field (sub- region)
Third -field (accounting unit)
Fourth -field (cataloguing unit)
Fifth -field (watershed)
Sixth -field (sub- watershed)
"Hydrologic Unit Code" means a system by which each hydrologic unit is identified by
a unique code, thus called a hydrologic unit code (HUC) consisting of two to twelve
digits based on the six levels of classification:
2 -digit HUC - Region
4 -digit HUC - Subregion
6 -digit HUC — Accounting Unit
8 -digit HUC — Cataloguing Unit
10 -digit HUC — Watershed
12 -digit HUC — Subwatershed
"Iowa Code Chapter 28E Agreement" or "Agreement" means an Agreement entered
into by qualifying Political Subdivisions to form a Watershed Management Authority.
"Iowa Economic Development Authority" or "IEDA" means the agency identified on
the RFP cover sheet that is issuing the RFP.
"Iowa Department of Natural Resources" or "IDNR" means the agency soliciting
proposals and submitting recommendations to the IEDA.
"Political Subdivision" means cities, counties, and soil and water conservation
districts according to Iowa Code.
"Proposal" means the Applicant's proposal submitted in response to the RFP.
"Responsible Applicant" means an Applicant that has the capability in all respects to
perform the requirements of the Contract. In determining whether an Applicant is a
Responsible Applicant, the IEDA may consider various factors including, but not limited
to, the Applicant's competence and qualifications to provide the goods or services
requested, the Applicant's integrity and reliability, the past performance of the Applicant
and the best interest of the IEDA and the State.
"Responsive Proposal" means a Proposal that complies with the material provisions
of this RFP.
"RFP" means this Request for Proposals and any attachments, exhibits, schedules or
addenda hereto.
"State" means the State of Iowa and all state agencies, boards, and commissions, and
any political subdivisions as permitted by this RFP.
"Successful Applicant" means an Applicant that was recommended for funding and
subsequently awarded a contract as a result of this RFP.
"Watershed" means a geographic area of land, water, plants and animals within the
confines of a drainage divide. Watershed boundaries define the aerial extent of surface
5
water drainage to a point and always follow the highest ridgeline around the stream
channels and meet at the lowest point of the land where water flows out of the
watershed.
"Watershed Management Authority" or "Authority" or "WMA" means a watershed
management authority created pursuant to an Iowa code chapter 28E agreement or
contract.
1.3 Overview of the RFP Process
Eligible Applicants will be required to submit their Proposals in electronic format to the
Issuing Officer. It is the IDNR's intention to evaluate Proposals from all Responsible
Applicants that submit timely Responsive Proposals, and to make recommendations for
awards to the IEDA, in accordance with Section 5, Evaluation of Proposals.
1.4 Background Information
This RFP is designed to provide Applicants with the information necessary for the
preparation of competitive Proposals. The RFP process is for the IEDA's benefit and is
intended to provide the IEDA with competitive information to assist in the selection
process. It is not intended to be comprehensive. Each Applicant is responsible for
determining all factors necessary for submission of a comprehensive Proposal.
Phase I: In fall 2011, IDNR conducted an RFP process designed to solicit proposals
from Eligible Applicants who wished to apply for financial assistance from the Agency to
establish a Watershed Management Authority (WMA) Subchapter II, by entering into an
Iowa Code chapter 28E agreement with political subdivisions in an identified watershed.
The Watershed Management Authorities were created pursuant to the provisions of
Iowa Code section 455B.5 and Iowa Code chapter 466B, subchapter II. The fall 2011
RFP process and the subsequent grant awards by IEDA comprised Phase I of this
project. At the time of the Phase I RFP, IDNR and IEDA anticipated that Phase II would
commence approximately six months after the beginning date for Phase I contracts and
would begin with a second competitive RFP process.
Phase II:
This program is the first of its kind in the State of Iowa. As a result, there are no
templates available to guide the development of a final product. Successful Applicants
will be expected to work with the IEDA and IDNR to develop a final product that includes
the elements described in Section 4 with the goal of replicating the process in other
watersheds throughout the state.
In order to fulfill the provisions of Iowa Code section 455B.5 and Iowa Code chapter
466B, subchapters II, the IDNR is seeking proposals from Eligible Applicants who wish
to apply for financial assistance from the IEDA to fund watershed planning for an
established Watershed Management Authority (WMA). The purpose of this RFP is to
solicit proposals for evaluation that will allow the IDNR to develop recommendations to
the IEDA for the award of planning money to Eligible Applicants. Total funding for
contracts awarded by the IEDA as a result of this RFP process is anticipated to be at
least $561,990. The IEDA anticipates funding three (3) awards to Eligible Applicants
6
and anticipates that the awards will be approximately $187,330.00. Any unused and
returned funds from Phase I may be added to the total amount available and
redistributed in Phase II. Additionally, if one of the most competitive Applicants requests
less than the amount above, the DNR and IEDA reserve the right to seek additional
information from other competitive Applicants to determine a supplemental award in
addition to the $187,330 or to create an additional award to a fourth Applicant which
may or may not be equal to the already awarded grants. Finally, if the applicant pool
fails to provide at least three competitive applications, the IDNR and IEDA reserve the
right to award funds in addition to the $187,330 to any already chosen competitive
Applicants, or, finding no competitive Applicants, reject all Applicants.
Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan
Details of the final deliverable can be found in Section 4.5 of this RFP. The plan should
include a physical environment inventory, an assessment of a wide variety of relevant
issues, and follow a specific Goals / Objectives / Action Steps approach with
quantifiable estimates and expected results. The final product should then serve the
Watershed Management Authority as an implementation guide to reach the goals
identified by the organization.
Iowa Smart Planning Principles
Iowa Code chapter 18B, "Land Use — Smart Planning," was enacted during Iowa's 2010
legislative session. (2010 Iowa Acts 1184, sections 17 and 18, 83rd General Assembly
Senate File 2389). This law created guidance for Smart Planning principles. Some of
these principles relate to watershed planning and are relevant to the formation and
operation of Watershed Management Authorities. The text of the Smart Planning
legislation can be found at the following:
http: / /rio. urban. uiowa .edu /resources /legislation /2010 SF2389 smart planninci.pdf
Additional Smart Planning information can be found at the following website:
http: / /rio.urban.uiowa.edu /smart planning /index.html
Applicants should show how they plan to embrace Smart Planning principles,
specifically as they relate to:
1. Natural resources and agricultural protection. Planning, zoning, development,
and resource management should emphasize protection, preservation, and
restoration of natural resources, agricultural land, and cultural and historic
landscapes, and should increase the availability of open spaces and
recreational facilities.
2. Sustainable design. Planning, zoning development, and resource
management should promote developments, buildings, and infrastructure that
utilize sustainable design and construction standards and conserve natural
resources by reducing waste and pollution through efficient use of land,
energy, water, air, and materials.
7
Finally, Applicants should be cognizant of the following Smart Planning Elements
contained in Iowa Code chapter 18B and may choose to address how some or all of the
points below will be incorporated into the final document:
1. Land Use and Development: "Objectives, information, and programs that
identify current land uses within the municipality and that guide the future
development and redevelopment of property, consistent with the
municipality's characteristics...The comprehensive plan or land development
regulations may include information on the amount, type, intensity, and
density of existing land use, trends in the market price of land used for
specific purposes, and plans for future land use throughout the municipality.
The comprehensive plan or land development regulations may identify and
include information on property that has the possibility for redevelopment, a
map of existing and potential land use and land use conflicts, information and
maps relating to the current and future provision of utilities within the
municipality, information and maps that identify the current and future
boundaries for areas reserved for soil conservation, water supply
conservation, flood control, and surface water drainage and removal.
Information provided under this paragraph may also include an analysis of the
current and potential impacts on local watersheds and air quality."
2. Infrastructure: "Objectives, policies, and programs to guide future
development of sanitary sewer service, storm water management, water
supply, solid waste disposal, wastewater treatment technologies, recycling
facilities, and telecommunications facilities. The comprehensive plan or land
development regulations may include estimates regarding future demand for
such utility services."
3. Natural Resource Protection: "Objectives, policies, and programs addressing
preservation and protection of agricultural and natural resources."
4. Hazard Mitigation: "Objectives, policies, and programs that identify the natural
and other hazards that have the greatest likelihood of impacting the
municipality of that pose a risk of catastrophic damage as such hazards relate
to land use and development decisions, as well as the steps necessary to
mitigate risk after considering the local hazard mitigation plan approved by
the federal emergency management agency."
5. Multi- Jurisdictional Planning: "Objectives, policies, and programs for joint
planning and joint decision making with other municipalities or governmental
entities, including school districts and drainage districts, for citing and
constructing public development regulations may identify existing or potential
conflicts between the municipality and other local governments related to
future development of conflicts. The comprehensive plan or land development
regulations may also identify opportunities to collaborate and partner with
8
neighboring jurisdictions and other entities in the region for projects of mutual
interest."
Phased Approach
This RFP serves as Phase II of a two -phase RFP process. The total amount of funding
available in Phase II is estimated to be $561,990 plus any unused and returned funds
from Phase I grant awards. Phase II will award funds to already established Watershed
Management Authorities for the purposes of developing a watershed management plan
that addresses water quantity and quality issues. Again, as in Phase I, in Phase II the
IDNR will make recommendations to the IEDA regarding the award of funding. Previous
selection for Phase I funding does not in any way guarantee funding for Phase II nor
does the Applicant need to be a Phase I grant recipient. To be eligible for Phase II
funding, the Applicant must by a city or county representing a Watershed Management
Authority created pursuant to and in compliance with the requirements of Iowa Code
chapters 28E and 466B.
9
Section 2
Administrative Information
2.1 Issuing Officer
The Issuing Officer identified in the RFP cover sheet is the sole official point of contact
regarding the RFP from the date of issuance until the IDNR forwards recommendations
to the IEDA.
2.2 Restriction on Communication
From the issue date of this RFP until the IDNR forwards recommendations to the IEDA,
Applicants may contact only the Issuing Officer with official questions with regards to the
RFP. The Issuing Officer will respond only to written questions regarding the
procurement process. Questions related to the interpretation of this RFP must be
submitted as provided in Section 2.6. Oral questions related to the interpretation of this
RFP are not considered official and will not be accepted. However, Applicants seeking
general information or answers to unofficial questions regarding the RFP can
communicate with State employees other than the Issuing Officer.
2.3 Downloading the RFP from the Internet
The RFP and any addenda to the RFP will be posted at
http : / /bidopportunities.iowa.gov /.
2.4 Procurement Timetable
The dates provided in the procurement timetable on the RFP cover sheet are provided
for informational and planning purposes only. The IDNR reserves the right to change
the dates. If the IDNR changes any of the deadlines for Applicant submissions, the
IDNR will issue an addendum to the RFP.
2.5 Optional Pre - Proposal Conference
A pre - proposal conference will be held in conjunction with this RFP at the date, time,
and location listed on the RFP cover sheet. The purpose of the pre - proposal
conference is to discuss with prospective Applicants the work to be performed and allow
prospective Applicants an opportunity to ask questions regarding the RFP. Informal
questions and help with interpretation of the RFP will be provided by designated State
agents present at the pre - proposal conference. Oral discussions at the pre - proposal
conference shall not be considered part of the RFP unless confirmed in writing by the
IDNR and incorporated into this RFP. The conference may be recorded. Questions
asked at the conference that cannot be adequately answered during the conference
may be deferred. A copy of the deferred questions and answers will be posted in the
form of an addendum at:
http : / /bidopportunities.iowa.gov /.
2.6 Questions and Requests for Clarification
Applicants are invited to submit written questions and requests for clarifications
regarding the RFP. The questions and requests for clarifications must be in writing and
received by the Issuing Officer before the date and time listed on the RFP cover sheet.
10
Oral questions will not be permitted. If the questions and requests for clarifications
pertain to a specific section of the RFP, the Applicant shall reference the page and
section number(s). The IDNR will send written responses to questions and requests for
clarifications received from Applicants on or before the date listed on the RFP cover
sheet. The IDNR's written responses will become an addendum to the RFP.
The IDNR and the IEDA assume no responsibility for oral representations made by
officers or employees thereof unless such representations are confirmed in writing and
incorporated into the RFP through an addendum.
2.7 Amendment to the RFP
The IDNR reserves the right to amend the RFP at any time using an addendum. The
Applicant shall acknowledge receipt of all addenda in its Proposal. If the IDNR issues
an addendum after the due date for receipt of Proposals, the IDNR may, in its sole
discretion, allow Applicants to amend their Proposals in response to the addendum.
2.8 Amendment and Withdrawal of Proposal
An Applicant may not amend its Proposal at any time after the Proposal is submitted.
Applicants must notify the Issuing Officer in writing prior to the due date for Proposals if
they wish to completely withdraw their Proposal.
2.9 Submission of Proposals
The IDNR must receive the Proposal at the Issuing Officer's electronic mail address
identified on the RFP cover sheet before the "Proposals Due Date" and time listed on
the RFP cover sheet. This is a mandatory requirement and will not be waived by
the IDNR. Any Proposal received after this deadline will be rejected and returned
unopened to the Applicant. It is the Applicant's responsibility to ensure that the
Proposal is received prior to the deadline.
Applicants must furnish all information necessary to enable the IDNR to evaluate the
Proposal. Proposals that fail to meet the mandatory requirements of the RFP will be
rejected. Oral information provided by the Applicant shall not be considered part of the
Applicant's Proposal unless it is reduced to writing.
2.10 Proposal Opening
The IDNR will open Proposals after the deadline for submission of Proposals has
passed. The announcement of Applicants who timely submitted Proposals does not
mean that an individual Proposal has been deemed technically compliant or accepted
for evaluation.
2.11 Costs of Preparing the Proposal
The costs of preparation and delivery of the Proposal are solely the responsibility of the
Applicant.
2.12 No commitment to Contract
11
The IDNR and the IEDA reserves the right to reject any or all Proposals received in
response to this RFP at any time prior to the execution of any Contract(s). Issuance of
this RFP in no way constitutes a commitment by the IDNR or the IEDA to award any
contract.
2.13 Rejection of Proposals
The IDNR and the IEDA may reject outright and not evaluate a Proposal for reasons
including without limitation:
2.13.1 The Applicant fails to deliver the cost proposal.
2.13.2 The Applicant acknowledges that a mandatory requirement of the RFP
cannot be met.
2.13.3 The Applicant's Proposal changes a material requirement of the RFP or
the Proposal is not compliant with the mandatory requirements of the
RFP.
2.13.4 The Applicant's Proposal limits the rights of the IEDA.
2.13.5 The Applicant fails to include information necessary to substantiate that it
will be able to meet a requirement of the RFP as provided in Section 3 of
this RFP.
2.13.6 The Applicant fails to timely respond to the IDNR's or the IEDA's request
for information, documents, or references.
2.13.7 The Applicant fails to include and signature, certification, authorization,
stipulation, disclosure or guarantee as provided in Section 3 of this RFP.
2.13.8 The Applicant presents the information requested by this RFP in a format
inconsistent with the instructions of the RFP or otherwise fails to comply
with the requirements of this RFP.
2.13.9 There is insufficient evidence (including evidence submitted by the
Applicant and evidence obtained by the IDNR or the IEDA from other
sources) to satisfy the IDNR or the IEDA that the Applicant is a
Responsive Applicant.
2.14 Nonmaterial Variances
The IDNR reserves the right to waive or permit cure of nonmaterial variances in the
Proposal if, in the judgment of the IDNR, it is in the State's best interest to do so.
Nonmaterial variances include but are not limited to: minor failures to comply that do not
affect overall responsiveness, that are merely a matter of form or format, that do not
change the relative standing or otherwise prejudice other Applicants, that do not change
the meaning or scope of the RFP, or that do not reflect a material change in the
requirements of the RFP. In the event the IDNR waives or permits cure of nonmaterial
variances, such waiver or cure will not modify the RFP requirements or excuse the
12
Applicant from full compliance with RFP specifications or other Contract requirements if
the Applicant is awarded a Contract. The determination of materiality is in the sole
discretion of the IDNR.
2.15 Information from Other Sources
The IDNR and the IEDA reserve the right to obtain and consider information from other
sources concerning an Applicant, such as the Applicant's capability and performance
under other contracts, the qualifications of any subcontractor identified in the Proposal,
and other publicly available information.
2.16 Evaluation of Proposals Submitted
Proposals that are timely submitted and are not rejected will be reviewed in accordance
with Section 5 of the RFP. This RFP is not a contract and does not require the IEDA to
enter into a contract with the applicant. The IEDA, in its discretion, may at any time for
any reason decline to fund an applicant whose proposal has been submitted and
reviewed pursuant to this section.
2.17 Award Notice and Acceptance Period
Notice of Intent to Award the Contract(s) will be sent by the IEDA to all Applicants
submitting a timely Proposal and may be posted on the IEDA website. It is the intent of
the IEDA to negotiate and execute contracts not later than 30 days from the day of the
Notice of Intent to Award. However, the IEDA may negotiate and execute such
contracts at a later date as the IEDA deems necessary. Applicants whose proposals
are approved will be required to negotiate with the IEDA and to deliver an executed
copy of the contract in a timely manner, as determined by the IEDA. Any Applicant who
fails to execute and deliver the contract risks having its award cancelled and the funds
awarded to another Applicant at the IEDA's sole discretion.
2.18 No Contract Rights until Execution
No Applicant shall acquire any legal or equitable rights regarding a Contract unless and
until a Contract has been fully executed by the successful Applicant and the IEDA.
2.19 Choice of Law and Forum
This RFP contemplates the execution of contracts that provide for the disbursement of
federal moneys. As such, successful Applicants will be required to conform to all
applicable federal requirements, statutes, and regulations.
2.20 Restrictions on Gifts and Activities
Iowa Code Chapter 688 restricts gifts which may be given or received by State
employees and requires certain individuals to disclose information concerning their
activities with State government. Applicants are responsible to determine the
applicability of this Chapter 68B to their activities and to comply with its requirements.
In addition, pursuant to Iowa Code section 722.1, it is a felony offense to bribe or
attempt to bribe a public official.
2.21 No Minimum Guaranteed
13
The IEDA does not guarantee any minimum level of award under the Contract(s).
14
Section 3
Format and Content of Proposals
3.1 Instructions
These instructions prescribe the format and content of the Proposal. They are designed
to facilitate a uniform review process. Failure to adhere to the proposal format may
result in the disqualification of the Proposal.
3.1.1 The Proposal shall be typewritten on 8.5" x 11" paper with 1" margins in font
size 11 Arial submitted as an Adobe PDF. If the Applicant does not have
access to Adobe PDF, the proposal may be submitted in Microsoft Word.
3.1.2 The Proposal must be submitted to the Issuing Officer via electronic mail by
the closing date.
3.2 Certification Letter
An individual authorized to legally bind the Applicant shall sign the Certification letter,
attached to this RFP as Attachment 1. The letter shall include the Applicant's mailing
address, electronic mail address, fax number, and telephone number addressed to the
Issuing Officer.
3.3 Table of Contents and Pagination
The Applicant is encouraged to include a table of contents of its Proposal and number
all pages.
3.4 Executive Summary
The Applicant shall prepare an executive summary and overview of the goods and
services it is offering, including all of the following information:
3.4.1 An overview of the Applicant's plans for complying with the requirements
of this RFP.
3.4.2 Any other summary information the Applicant deems pertinent.
3.5 Scope of Work and Technical Requirements
The Applicant shall address each requirement in Section 4 of the RFP as provided for in
that Section and explain how it will comply with each requirement. Proposals must be
fully responsive to each requirement. Unless otherwise noted, merely repeating the
requirements may be considered non - responsive and may disqualify the Applicant.
Proposals must identify any deviations from the requirements of this RFP or
requirements the Applicant cannot satisfy. Any deviations from the requirements of the
RFP or any requirement of the RFP that the Applicant cannot satisfy may disqualify the
Applicant. In addition to addressing the Technical Requirements, Section 4 requires the
Applicant to provide a work plan describing how the Applicant would accomplish the
project.
15
3.6 Financial Assistance Request
A Financial Assistance Request portion of the Proposal shall contain an itemized
description and associated costs of all activities required to successfully fulfill the
requirements of a Contract resulting from this RFP. This request also shall contain any
estimated in -kind services or financial contributions the Applicant anticipates providing
in order to fulfill the activities of a Contract resulting from this RFP. The Applicant must
demonstrate that it has a positive cash flow, as any Contract entered into as a result of
this RFP will be on an expense reimbursement basis.
16
Section 4
Scope of Work Requirements
4.1 Overview
The Applicant shall address each requirement in this Section and indicate whether
or not it will comply with the requirement. If the context requires more than a yes or
no answer or the section specifically indicates, the Applicant shall explain how it will
comply with the requirement. Proposals must address each requirement. Merely
repeating the requirements may be considered non - responsive and may disqualify
the Applicant. Proposals must identify any deviations from the requirements of this
RFP or requirements the Applicant cannot satisfy. If the Applicant deviates from or
cannot satisfy the requirement(s) of this section, the IDNR may reject the Proposal.
4.2 Definitions
For a full list of definitions used in this section and throughout the RFP, please
review Sectionl.2.
4.3 Applicant Qualifications
Successful Applicants shall be a city or a county acting as the lead entity for an
established Watershed Management Authority located in the State of Iowa and shall
be located within the 85 Iowa counties declared federal disaster areas during and
after the 2008 floods. The range of the eligible watersheds must be no larger than a
HUC 8 watershed and no smaller than a complete HUC 12 watershed (no sub -HUC
12 watershed applicants).
If an Applicant wishes to apply for funding for a Watershed Management Authority
Planning Grant in a watershed that includes one or more Political Subdivisions
located in one of the 14 Iowa counties not declared a federal disaster area in 2008,
then the Applicant must demonstrate how the ineligible Political Subdivisions will not
receive any Pub. L. 110 -329 funds awarded in response to this RFP.
4.4 Statement of Work
Each Applicant shall submit a plan demonstrating that the Applicant has funding,
personnel, and legal authority to fulfill each of the following requirements before the
end of the anticipated Ending Date of any Contract resulting from this RFP.
The Applicant must explain in writing how it qualifies for funding and how it plans to
meet the obligations of the RFP in a narrative. The narrative should also detail how
the Applicant plans to utilize funding to create a watershed plan for its Watershed
Management Authority within the limits of the requested time period, including a work
plan describing how the Applicant would accomplish the project. The Applicant must
identify what HUC watershed it is focusing on including the size and name of the
HUC and a watershed map. Additionally, the Applicant must include a funding
request of no more than $187,330.00 and estimate the projected use of those funds
by the type of work necessary to create a watershed plan for its Watershed
Management Authority. This estimate should include any in -kind or cash matching
17
funds dedicated to the project. While there is no requirement for matching funds,
Applicants who can demonstrate a level of financial and / or in -kind support may be
considered as more competitive. Finally, the Applicant must fill out and sign the
Certification Letter (Attachment 1) included in this RFP.
Additionally, the Applicant should affirm its understanding of Smart Planning
principles, and how it plans to incorporate them into the comprehensive watershed
plan. The complete smart planning principles can be found online at
http : / /rio.urban.uiowa.edu /smart planning /index.html. Some elements are highlighted
in Section 1.4 of this RFP. The following table represents the major tasks required to
complete the obligations of a Phase II award:
Obligation
Task Milestone Date
Task 1: Develop a comprehensive watershed plan: Each
Successful Applicant shall produce a comprehensive watershed
plan, including a focus on Smart Planning principles. The plan
should include but not be limited to the following elements:
1. Executive Summary
2. Physical Environment Inventory: Land use,
precipitation, topography, watersheds, soils, monitoring
information, impaired waters, floodplain information,
recreational areas, and fish and wildlife habitat.
3. Assessment of Issues: Flood control, water quality,
erosion and sediment control, agricultural and urban
drainage, wetlands, groundwater, land use management,
public education, social dynamics and demographics, and
funding.
4. Goals, Objectives and Actions: Plans for addressing
the issues listed above including a detailed
implementation schedule of activities including
identification of practices and the number of practices
required to achieve stated goals and expected results.
Action steps must be specific and identify a responsible
party.
5. Implementation Program: Funding details, types of
projects, responsibilities of involved parties.
Due at end of the contract
period
Task 2: Regular Status Updates
Description: Each Successful Applicant shall provide the IEDA
and IDNR with written quarterly status updates, which shall
include, but not be limited to, a specific description of how the
Applicant has worked toward developing a comprehensive plan
including the utilization of funds awarded to the Applicant for
purposes of watershed planning.
Quarterly for the duration of
the Contract resulting from
this RFP.
Task 3: Final Narrative Report
Description: Each Successful Applicant shall provide a final
report to IEDA and IDNR. This final report shall include a
narrative of the process used to create the watershed plan,
including what activities took place, successes and obstacles
(and if and how they were overcome), and a final financial
statement.
Due at end of the contract
period
18
Section 5
Evaluation of Proposals
5.1 Introduction
This section describes the evaluation process that will be used to determine which
Proposal(s) provides the greatest benefit.
5.2 Evaluation Committee
The IDNR intends to conduct a comprehensive, fair, and impartial evaluation of
Proposals received in response to this RFP. The IDNR will use an evaluation
committee to review and evaluate the Proposals.
5.3 Overview of Evaluation Process
The IDNR will conduct a preliminary evaluation of all submitted Proposals to determine
if they comply with the Format and Content requirements described in Section 3 (i.e. to
determine if the Applicant is a responsible Applicant submitting a Responsive Proposal).
Proposals that do not comply with the Format and Content requirements may be
rejected as unresponsive by the IDNR, without further scoring of the technical proposal.
Proposals that are deemed responsive by the IDNR will be forwarded to the members of
the IDNR evaluation committee for scoring. The Proposals will be ranked relative to
one another with the top ranking Applicants recommended to receive funding until
funding is depleted. Total funding available for distribution to Applicants submitting
Proposals pursuant to this RFP is expected to be $561,990 plus and returned funds
from Phase I grants. The maximum amount of funding an individual Applicant may
request pursuant to this RFP is $187,330.
5.4 Preferences
Preferences required by applicable statute or rule shall be applied, where appropriate.
5.5 Evaluation Criteria
Evaluation of Proposals may include, but will not be limited to, the following criteria,
which are not listed in any particular order of importance.
Criterion:
5.5.1 Whether the Proposal will add value to watershed management.
5.5.2 Whether the Proposal demonstrates long -term sustainability (at least 20
years) and considers planning beyond demonstration projects
5.5.3 The manner in which the Proposal encourages inclusivity among Political
Subdivisions. Proposals that provide more inclusivity of Political Subdivisions will
be given priority.
5.5.4 The manner in which the Proposal will utilize moneys made available to
the Applicant
19
5.5.5 Cost of goods and /or services
5.5.6 Creativity and proposed innovative techniques used in process
5.5.7 Whether the Proposal encourages a comprehensive, multi- objective
planning approach to watershed management
5.5.8 Whether the Proposal designated a watershed of a minimum HUC -12 size
(typically 10,000- 40,000 acres), but no larger than a HUC -8 size, and is identified
with accompanying map.
5.5.9 Whether the Proposal includes compliance with the applicable provisions
of law, including Iowa Code Chapter 4666, Subdivision III.
5.5.10 Additional consideration will be given to larger and /or more complex
watersheds.
5.5.11 Level of in -kind and / or financial match contributions pledged to the
project.
5.5.12 Demonstrated understanding of Smart Planning principles and a clear
plan of how they will be incorporated.
5.5.13 Discussion of how support (political, technical, public) for the plan will be
generated and maintained within each of the participating jurisdictions
5.5.14 Whether the Applicant might expand its watershed entity or assist in the
establishment of, or serve as a model for, new watershed entities
5.5.15 Whether and how the Applicant plans to leverage funding, in -kind
services, leadership and networks.
20
Section 6
Contractual Terms and Conditions
6.0 Preface
This RFP is not a contract and does not give rise to any contractual rights, benefits, or
obligations. If a contract is executed with a successful Applicant, such a contract shall
represent the entire agreement between the parties, and no term or provision of this
RFP shall be construed as part of the formally executed contract. To the extent that this
RFP describes requirements and provisions with which a successful Applicant may later
be required to comply, such terms or provisions will be included in the executed
contract.
Any resulting contract shall be available to the public as part of the public record in
accordance with applicable law.
21
Appendix A
Iowa Code Chapter 466B, Subchapter III
Sec. 3. NEW SECTION. 466B.21 Definitions.
As used in this subchapter, unless the context otherwise
requires:
1. "Authority" means a watershed management authority
created pursuant to a chapter 28E agreement as provided in this
subchapter.
2. "Board" means a board of directors of a watershed
management authority.
3. "Political subdivision" means cities, counties, and soil
and water conservation districts.
Sec. 4. NEW SECTION. 466B.22 Watershed management
authorities created.
1. Two or more political subdivisions may create, by chapter
28E agreement, a watershed management authority pursuant to
this subchapter. The participating political subdivisions
must be located in the same United States geological survey
hydrologic unit code 8 watershed. All political subdivisions
within a watershed must be notified within thirty days prior to
organization of any watershed management authority within the
watershed, and provided the opportunity to participate.
2. The chapter 28E agreement shall include a map showing the
area and boundaries of the authority.
3. A political subdivision may participate in more than one
authority created pursuant to this subchapter.
4. A political subdivision is not required to participate in
a watershed management authority or be a party to a chapter 28E
agreement under this subchapter.
Sec. 5. NEW SECTION. 466B.23 Duties.
A watershed management authority may perform all of the
following duties:
1. Assess the flood risks in the watershed.
2. Assess the water quality in the watershed.
3. Assess options for reducing flood risk and improving
water quality in the watershed.
4. Monitor federal flood risk planning and activities.
5. Educate residents of the watershed area regarding water
quality and flood risks.
6. Allocate moneys made available to the authority for
purposes of water quality and flood mitigation.
7. Make and enter into contracts and agreements and execute
all instruments necessary or incidental to the performance of
the duties of the authority. A watershed management authority
shall not acquire property by eminent domain.
Sec. 6. NEW SECTION. 466B.24 Board of directors.
1. An authority shall be governed by a board of directors.
Members of a board of directors of an authority shall be
22
divided among the political subdivisions comprising the
authority and shall be appointed by the respective political
subdivision's elected legislative body.
2. A board of directors shall consist of one representative
of each participating political subdivision. This subsection
shall not apply if a chapter 28E agreement under this
subchapter provides an alternative board composition method.
3. The directors shall serve staggered terms of four years.
The initial board shall determine, by lot, the initial terms
to be shortened and lengthened, as necessary, to achieve
staggered terms. A person appointed to fill a vacancy shall be
appointed in the same manner as the original appointment for
the duration of the unexpired term. A director is eligible for
reappointment. This subsection shall not apply if a chapter
28E agreement under this subchapter provides an alternative
for the length of term, appointment, and reappointment of
directors.
4. A board may provide procedures for the removal of a
director who fails to attend three consecutive regular meetings
of the board. If a director is so removed, a successor shall be
appointed for the duration of the unexpired term of the removed
director in the same manner as the original appointment. The
appointing body may at any time remove a director appointed by
it for misfeasance, nonfeasance, or malfeasance in office.
5. A board shall adopt bylaws and shall elect one director
as chairperson and one director as vice chairperson, each for a
term of two years, and shall appoint a secretary who need not
be a director.
6. A majority of the membership of a board of directors
shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of holding a meeting
of the board. The affirmative vote of a majority of a quorum
shall be necessary for any action taken by an authority unless
the authority's bylaws specify those particular actions of the
authority requiring a greater number of affirmative votes. A
vacancy in the membership of the board shall not impair the
rights of a quorum to exercise all the rights and perform all
the duties of the authority.
Sec. 7. NEW SECTION. 4666.25 Activities coordination.
In all activities of a watershed management authority, the
authority may coordinate its activities with the department
of natural resources, the department of agriculture and land
stewardship, councils of governments, public drinking water
utilities, and soil and water conservation districts.
23
Attachment # 1
Certification Letter
[Date]
Jeff Berckes, Issuing Officer
Department of Natural Resources
Wallace State Office Building
502 East 9th Street
Des Moines, IA. 50319
Re: Request for Proposal Number WMA - PH2 -JB
PROPOSAL CERTIFICATIONS
Dear Jeff Berckes:
I certify that the contents of the Proposal submitted on behalf of [Name of
Applicant] (Applicant) in response to the
Department of Natural Resources Request for Proposal Number WMA - PH2 -JB for
the creation of a watershed plan for a Watershed Management Authority are true and
accurate. I also certify that Applicant has not knowingly made any false statements in
its Proposal.
Certification of Independence
I certify that I am a representative of Applicant expressly authorized to make the
following certifications on behalf of Applicant. By submitting a Proposal in response to
the RFP, I certify on behalf of the Applicant the following:
1. The Proposal has been developed independently, without consultation,
communication or agreement with any other Applicant or parties for the purpose
of restricting competition.
2. Unless otherwise required by law, the information found in the Proposal has not
been and will not be knowingly disclosed, directly or indirectly prior to IEDA's
issuance of the Notice of Intent to Award the contract.
3. No attempt has been made or will be made by Applicant to induce any other
Applicant to submit or not to submit a Proposal for the purpose of restricting
competition.
4. No relationship exists or will exist during the contract period between Applicant
and the IDNR or the IEDA or any other State agency that interferes with fair
competition or constitutes a conflict of interest.
Certification Regarding Debarment
24
6. I certify that, to the best of my knowledge, neither Applicant nor any of its
principals: (a) are presently or have been debarred, suspended, proposed for
debarment, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from covered transactions
by a Federal IEDA or State Agency; (b) have within a three year period preceding
this Proposal been convicted of, or had a civil judgment rendered against them
for commission of fraud, a criminal offense in connection with obtaining,
attempting to obtain, or performing a public (federal, state, or local) transaction or
contract under a public transaction, violation of antitrust statutes; commission of
embezzlement, theft, forgery, falsification or destruction of records, making false
statements, or receiving stolen property; (c) are presently indicted for or
criminally or civilly charged by a government entity (federal, state, or local) with
the commission of any of the offenses enumerated in (b) of this certification; and
(d) have not within a three year period preceding this Proposal had one or more
public transactions (federal, state, or local) terminated for cause.
This certification is a material representation of fact upon which the IEDA has
relied upon when this transaction was entered into. If it is later determined that
Applicant knowingly rendered an erroneous certification, in addition to other
remedies available, the IEDA may pursue available remedies including
suspension, debarment, or termination of the contract.
Certification Regarding Registration, Collection, and Remission of Sales and Use
Tax
7. Pursuant to Iowa Code sections 423.2(10) and 423.5(8) (2009) a retailer in Iowa
or a retailer maintaining a business in Iowa that enters into a contract with a state
agency must register, collect, and remit Iowa sales tax and Iowa use tax levied
under Iowa Code chapter 423 on all sales of tangible personal property and
enumerated services. The Act also requires Applicants to certify their
compliance with sales tax registration, collection, and remission requirements
and provides potential consequences if the certification is false or fraudulent.
By submitting a Proposal in response to the (RFP), the Applicant certifies the
following: (check the applicable box)
Applicant is registered with the Iowa Department of Revenue, collects, and
remits Iowa sales and use taxes as required by Iowa Code Chapter 432; or
Applicant is not a "retailer" or a "retailer maintaining a place of business in this
state" as those terms are defined in Iowa Code subsections 423.1(42) and
(43).
Applicant also acknowledges that the IEDA may declare the Applicant's Proposal
or resulting contract void if the above certification is false. The Applicant also
understands that fraudulent certification may result in the IEDA or its
25
representative filing for damages for breach of contract in additional to other
remedies available to IEDA.
Certification Regarding Federal Rules and Regulations
8. The Applicant certifies that the Proposal and any resulting contract will adhere to
all federal rules and regulations, specifically as it pertains to Community
Development Block Grant funding. This includes, but is not limited to, rules as it
relates to using a subcontractor.
Sincerely,
[Name and Title]
Address:
E -Mail:
Telephone:
Fax:
26
IOWA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES — Watershed Management Authority
Grant
Project Title: Developing a Smarter Watershed Plan for the Catfish Creek Watershed
Organization Submitting Application: City of Dubuque
Contact Person:
Laura Carstens
City Planner
50 West 13`" St
Dubuque, IA 52001
(563) 589 -4270
Ica rste n acityofdu buq ue. o rq
Total Funding Requested for Phase I: $187,000
Eric Schmechel
Urban Conservationist
210 Bierman Rd
Epworth, IA 52045
(563) 876 -3418 x3
eric.schmecheIc dubuqueswcd.orq
Table of Contents
Project Executive Summary 3
Watershed Background 4
Dubuque County Smart Plan 6
Statement of Work 7
Project Costs, In -Kind, and Projected Budget 15
Support from the Watershed 16
Schedule of Events 17
Conclusions 18
2
Project Executive Summary:
The Catfish Creek Watershed Management Authority (CCWMA) Board was formed in June of
2012. Currently, the Board consists of the representatives of the cities of Dubuque, Asbury,
Peosta, Centralia, the Dubuque Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), and Dubuque
County. Each political organization on the Board is excited to consider the new opportunities,
challenges, and collaborations that lie ahead in the Catfish Creek Watershed and beyond. The
CCWMA will be the lead organization and play a significant role in the development of the
Catfish Creek Watershed plan. Currently, their top priority is the development of a watershed
management plan.
The City of Dubuque, Dubuque County, and the Dubuque SWCD have established a successful
urban conservation program, which is now in its second year, and continue to partner with
landowners and other municipalities to implement sustainable watershed principles, investigate
flooding problems, and monitor water quality throughout the Catfish Creek watershed. The
successful addition of the CCWMA Board creates an important dynamic that will only strengthen
watershed policies, regulations, education, outreach and management planning efforts. The
CCWMA Board recognizes the needs and benefits of working within watershed limits as
opposed to corporate or political boundaries, and strongly believes the next step is developing a
complete watershed management plan for Catfish Creek.
Another relevant partnership that Dubuque County and several of its communities are working
on is the Dubuque County Smart Plan. The Dubuque County Smart Plan will foster cooperation
among communities, help the region attract economic development, protect and preserve
community resources, improve resiliency to disasters, and encourage a strong community
identity. The completed plan will address the Smart Planning elements and principles adopted
by the State of Iowa, the City of Dubuque's eleven sustainability principles, and watershed
planning principles established by the CCWMA Board. Partners in developing the Smart Plan
will implement the goals and objectives of the regional plan by incorporating the regional
planning elements into their local planning documents, ordinances, and policies.
Over the next 18 months, the City of Dubuque, and the CCWMA are planning on using the
available Phase II grant dollars to complete a watershed management plan that addresses both
the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) nine elements of a watershed plan (IDNR
Guidebook) and the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) available resources to complete
our plan. The CCWMA intends to work with the IDNR Section 319 staff, to ensure the
completed watershed management plan will be accepted by the EPA.
Both the City of Dubuque and the CCWMA will be working closely with the consortium members
of the Dubuque County Smart Plan, making sure the Catfish Creek Watershed Management
Plan and the Dubuque County Smart Plan are integrated together. Currently, the City of
Dubuque and its partners have completed a preliminary assessment of the stream corridors,
have a collective network of monitoring locations and data, and have begun starting to
categorize pollutant loads in the watershed. Continuing to build upon successful relationships,
the CCWMA is excited and ready to characterize the watershed in detail, set goals and identify
solutions, and begin designing an implementation program for Catfish Creek.
3
Watershed Background
The Catfish Creek Watershed is a 46,300 acre (HUC 10 - #0706000501) watershed that
includes industrial centers, residential neighborhoods, rolling cropland, steep bluffs and rock
outcrops, and dense forests. About half of the City of Dubuque lies in the watershed as well as
parts of Asbury, Peosta and Centralia. The majority of the watershed is dominated by
agriculture, however as seen in Table 1.Catfish Creek flows southeast, beginning near the City
of Peosta, and enters the Mississippi River on Dubuque's south side in the Mines of Spain state
park. There are five sub - watersheds (or HUC 12's) within the Catfish Creek Watershed. These
include: the North Fork, Middle Fork, South Fork, Granger Creek, and Catfish Creek (main
stem). These sub - watersheds can be seen in Figure 1. Along with the urban areas through
which the stream flows, the creek meanders through three significant parks and preserves
within the watershed: Swiss Valley Park, the Swiss Valley Nature Preserve, and the Mines of
Spain state park. These areas are managed by either the Dubuque County Conservation Board
or the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and attract over 380,000 users per year.
According to DNR's 305(b) report, a portion of the creek within the park and preserve is
classified as a Class B (CW) stream. This section of stream is cold -water and has naturally
reproducing trout (one of only 30 streams in Iowa with this capability). The recreational
activities in the Catfish Creek watershed from fishing and other water- oriented activities are
abundant and vital to the local economy. Forming an official watershed management authority
board will continue to allow public and private stakeholders and policy leaders to effectively
create sustainable watershed management policies and practices.
Table 1. Catfish Creek Watershed
Land Usage, 2011
Land Use
Number of Acres
Percentage of Watershed
Residential
12,500
26
Commercial
3,900
8
Agricultural
27,300
59
Industrial
1,200
2
Parks /Preserves
1,400
3
Total
46,300
100
Roughly 18 months ago, the Dubuque SWCD completed a series of activities in a watershed
project on the upper portions of Catfish Creek. This project implemented a great deal of
conservation practices in the ground, but also raised awareness and levels of interest in both
public and private sectors.
While the Upper Catfish Creek project was a very successful watershed project, its main focus
was the sub - watershed of the cold -water section of Catfish Creek, (or the headwaters of Catfish
Creek), which is approximately 9,300 acres. With information and education that was provided
to the community from this project, the City of Dubuque feels it is ready to begin working on a
larger watershed scale and believes public support for further work in the watershed was
created.
4
Figure 1. The Catfish Creek watershed
Catfish Creek Watershed
Maps
Below are the five branches
that make up Catfish Creek.
From top to bottom they are:
1. North Fork
2. Middle Fork
3. South Fork
4. Catfish Fork
5. Granger Creek
Little Maquoketa River
�STB? rI
oi.
bury 89N1202E
Dub
r-
7---
4 1 Catfish Creek
LDUBUQUE.
t 1
T88NROIEJ �`}I TR4ui!t..-
5
The Dubuque County Smart Plan
In January 2011, the community leaders formed a consortium that would guide the two -year
Smart Planning Process. The Smart Planning Consortium consists of Dubuque County and the
seven largest cities within the county. The Smart Planning Consortium Members are:
• Dubuque County • City of Farley
• City of Dubuque • City of Epworth
• City of Asbury • City of Dyersville
• East Central
Governmental Agency
• Dubuque Soil and
Water Conservation
District
• City of Peosta • City of Cascade
Community engagement forms the foundation of the planning process. The Smart Planning
Consortium has worked to engage community leaders, private sector stakeholders, and citizens
in the planning process. The Consortium used information provided by these groups to identify
community needs and develop strategies to address these needs in the future. The
Consortium, with staff support from East Central Intergovernmental Association (ECIA), is
utilizing the Sustainable Dubuque plan and the Iowa Smart Planning legislation's recommended
format for comprehensive plans to create the Dubuque County Smart Plan as a model for other
local governments. Following the completion of the Smart Plan in November 2012, Consortium
members will use the implementation process provided in the plan to incorporate smart planning
principles into their local plans and continue to collaborate in the future.
The consortium developed a set of regional comprehensive planning goals and objectives
based on the regional vision. Project goals are the desired outcomes of the project, and the
objectives are the steps that need to be taken to achieve those goals. One of the first objective's
the Smart Planning Consortium discussed and began analyzing was water quality and flood
control in the Catfish Creek Watershed and beyond. Originally, watershed management was
going to be included in the natural resource chapter, however after discussions with the
consortium, all members agreed that this topic is important enough to have its own stand alone
chapter. Working with the Soil and Water Conservation District, the consortium began setting
goals and objectives for the watershed chapter. One of the first goals that were discussed was
the need for a complete watershed management plan. Eric Schmechel presented information
on watershed challenges and green infrastructure practices at each city council meeting during
the public hearing sessions in the fall of 2011. Ultimately, this helped initiate and create the
CCWMA, while at the same time, began discussing the need for a complete, detailed,
watershed management plan.
Having an established and approved watershed chapter incorporated into the region's smart
plan has initiated and began laying the groundwork for watershed policy's that will implement
the regional vision, goals, and objectives and guide future development within the Catfish Creek
Watershed. The watershed management plan will be closely tied with the regional smart plan,
and will allow community leaders, landowners, and citizens to begin implementing the goals and
objectives sought out in both the smart plan and the future watershed management plan.
6
Statement of Work
Dubuque County was declared a disaster area during and after the 2008 flooding events, thus
enabling the City of Dubuque to qualify for phase 11 of this grant opportunity.
The City of Dubuque, Dubuque County, the City of Asbury, and the Dubuque Soil and Water
Conservation District currently have a 5 -year 28e agreement in place to fund an urban
conservationist, who implements policies and programs, as well as watershed- related projects
throughout the Dubuque County communities. The City of Dubuque also has an engineering
technician that dedicates hours each week to work on CCWMA related topics and incorporates
topics and concerns with the City of Dubuque. Work related to the CCWMA and the
development of the watershed management plan would primarily be done by the urban
conservationist and watershed technician positions, and would be considered partial in -kind
contributions to this grant. The City of Dubuque's engineering technician and the Dubuque
SWCD's urban conservationist will be responsible for the following:
• Setting CCWMA meetings and agendas
• Overseeing the Watershed Management Plan creation
• Assisting with water quality data collection
• Assisting with water quantity data collection
• Assisting with public involvement and educational outreach
A 28e agreement has been fully executed to form the CCWMA Board this past June (Phase I).
In the formation of the CCWMA we choose the confines of a HUC -10 watershed (Catfish Creek
watershed), for a couple of reasons. The first reason this watershed boundary was chosen was
to build upon the Upper Catfish Creek Watershed Project in the headwaters of Catfish Creek
and continue to harness its support, development, and success throughout the community.
Both citizens and community leaders expressed interest in researching and continuing
watershed efforts in the entire Catfish Creek watershed. The second reason for choosing the
HUC -10 boundary had to do with geographical location. The HUC -08 watershed (Apple -Plum
watershed) has a significant area of land located in the state of Illinois, with parts of its
boundaries extending into Wisconsin. This would greatly inhibit our ability to monitor and
perform duties with state dollars. Although we would like to extend into the HUC -8 boundary in
the future, we feel that this is an appropriate starting location, and that progress and the
achievement of goals will be more manageable and will have direct, obtainable, and visible
results. The lessons learned and successes achieved at the HUC -10 level could then be
expanded to the HUC -08 boundaries, much as those in the Upper Catfish Creek Watershed
Project have been expanded to this project.
A considerable amount of relevant data pertaining to the Catfish Creek watershed has been
collected throughout the past few years. There are still substantial needs, including further data,
organization, monitoring, modeling, and documentation in order to complete a watershed
management plan for the entire watershed and the CCWMA. Working the CCWMA, the
authority board would like to hire ecological /engineering consultants to work on relevant and
missing elements to the Catfish Creek Watershed management plan. Currently, some of the
known parameters that need to be addressed in the management plan are:
• Additional and continual water quality monitoring throughout the entire watershed
• Assessment of land use practices based upon the regional smart plan
• Assessment of water quantity flows, velocities, and rates
• Prioritization of sub - watersheds concerns and challenges
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• Prioritization of implementation projects and programs which address pollutant loading
and flood prone areas
• Future modeling of additional infrastructure and impervious areas
The proposed watershed management plan will collaborate with the current Dubuque County
Smart Plan, and will address the smart planning principles and obligations under this RFP within
the 18 -month timeframe. Each element in the Plan of Work (listed below) will be closely
connected to the Dubuque County Smart Plan, allowing for successful collaborations.
Currently, the following Plan of Work has been projected to complete the CCWMA watershed
management plan:
CCWMA Watershed Management Plan of Work - Objectives and Goals
A) Public Outreach and Input Sessions
Task 1. Project Meetings and Goal & Objectives Development
The CCWMA will host a kick -off meeting with the Technical Committee Of appointed) to
discuss the project in its entirety and develop a realistic plan for efficiently completing the
watershed plan report on schedule. Report style and figure formats will also be agreed upon
during the kick -off meeting. The CCWMA will meet throughout the planning process, and
present findings of the watershed inventory, recommended Management Measures, and
final presentation of findings at stakeholder meetings. Setting goals and objectives should
be the focus of the first stakeholder meeting. CCWMA will work with the Dubuque SWCD
Urban Conservationist and the City of Dubuque's Engineering Technician (Also known as
the CCWMA "administers ") to develop and finalize goals and objectives.
B) Review Existing Studies and Collect Data
Task 2. Data Gathering
Gather and analyze existing GIS data and other information relevant to Catfish Creek
Watershed. Data sharing agreements will be completed as part of this task, as necessary.
We understand there is a large amount of existing information to be gathered from the City
of Dubuque, Dubuque County, Comprehensive Plans, and County and municipal officials.
CCWMA will also consult with local experts, engineers and researchers who have worked
within the watershed to gather information.
C) Watershed Resource Inventory
Task 3. Watershed Management Measure /Best Management Practice (BMP) Inventory
Conduct a windshield survey to accurately document various reaches of the watershed and
to verify land use and wetland mapping. Both the CCWMA administers, and its consultants
will spend on- the - ground time looking for potential Management Measure projects (BMPs)
that primarily address water quality but with secondary benefits for flood protection and
natural resource improvement. We will look specifically at projects such as stream /riparian
corridor projects, detention basin retrofits, and open space restoration/ acquisitions. "Critical
Area" projects, as defined under the USEPA 9 Elements, will also be identified during this
process. Project details will be noted on location maps and corresponding datasheets that
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will be included in the Appendix of the Watershed- Based Plan. The CCWMA and its
consultants will also contact municipalities and other stakeholders requesting information
about potential project locations and to obtain needed data such as detention basin
locations in the watershed. It is important to note that this is not a complete inventory of all
the stream reaches, detention basins, etc. in the watershed but a means to identify potential
projects that will be included in the Action Plan section of the final Watershed -Based Plan.
Task 4. Summarize Introduction, Climate, Topography, Geology, Soils
The CCWMA and contracted consulting firm will summarize information relevant to the
Introduction Section of the plan including scope and project approach, USEPA Watershed
Based Plan requirements (9 Elements), planning process, and how to use the Watershed
Plan.
The geologic history of Catfish Creek Watershed and climate of the study area will be
described and discussed and related back to the formation of the watershed. Available
topographic data (2 -foot LIDAR) will be used to create a Digital Elevation Model of the
watershed and to delineate watershed and sub - watershed boundaries.
Soils provide the key to the wetland restoration potential, water holding capacity, infiltration
capabilities and erosion potential of a site. Hydric soils are important because they indicate
the presence of existing or drained wetlands. The CCWMA will map and summarize
available Dubuque County Soil Survey data in the watershed related to hydric soils /wetland
restorations and hydrologic soil groups related to groundwater recharge. Soil types will also
be evaluated and used when determining pollutant reductions resulting from implementation
of potential Management Measures.
Task 5. Summarize Jurisdictions & Demographics
The CCWMA will map municipal, township, forest preserve, and park district boundaries
(where available in GIS) and discuss the roles of each in protecting the watershed. These
results will be used in the Action Plan section when discussing potential areas for inter -
jurisdictional cooperation /coordination to complete recommended BMPs.
The CCWMA will use the Dubuque County Smart Plan 2040 forecast data to assist in
mapping and summarizing the demographics data within the watershed. Maps will be
created that show population, households, and employment change projected to occur
through 2040.
Task 6. Open Space (Green Infrastructure) and Natural Area Inventories
The CCWMA and the City of Dubuque will identify and map (via GIS) open and partially
open space parcels (Open Space Inventory) in the watershed. An open parcel is one that is
not developed and is often set aside for conservation or recreation purposes while partially
open parcels include minimally developed land. The Open Space Inventory is the basis for
developing a Green Infrastructure Network for the Catfish Creek Watershed. The Open
Space Inventory will be completed early on in the project schedule as many other
components of the plan are linked to this data.
Open space is expected to include large tracts of remaining vacant agricultural land, riparian
greenways, corridor connections, wetlands, and public land including forest preserves,
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Dubuque County Parks and IDNR parks. The mapping and /or data for this task can be done
at many levels depending on available time and budget. The parcel -based Open Space
Inventory results and associated parcel data will include:
• General Map On GIS) showing the results of the parcel based Open Space Inventory;
• Maps On GIS) identifying private versus public and protected versus unprotected status
of open space parcels;
• Map On GIS) identifying prioritized open space, potential greenway connections, and
trails as a Green Infrastructure Network.
As part of the open space identification process, we envision personalized GIS parcel
prioritization model specific to Catfish Creek Watershed that will assess current and
potential quality of open space parcels (identified above) for improving water quality with
secondary benefits to reduce flooding and enhance natural resources. This will be based on
applying values /points to each open space parcel based on how important each parcel is in
meeting a set of green infrastructure criteria.
Task 7. Existing and Future Land Use and Transportation Network Summary
Careful completion of this task is important as the resulting data is used in various other
sections of the watershed plan including the assessment of existing and future impervious
cover impacts on water quality and pollutant loading /reduction. The CCWMA envisions
working with a consultant to complete this task as described below:
a) Use approved land use maps to produce a current land use map /data for the watershed.
Uncertainties in current land use will be verified through the most recent aerial
photography available in Dubuque County or via field inspections. Municipal
comprehensive plan documents and stakeholder knowledge will also be used to refine
land uses.
b) Collect future development plans from municipal comprehensive planning documents
and Dubuque County's Smart Plan 2040 land use projections to accurately map
projected future land use in the watershed and how it compares to existing land use.
c) Map the existing and any proposed transportation networks (roads, trails, etc.) in the
watershed. This information is useful to determine how the natural features of the
watershed are or may be fragmented and how existing trails can be connected to other
existing or planned trails.
d) Compute percent impervious coverage for existing and future land use conditions at the
sub - watershed scale using GIS data created in a and b above. The CCWMA proposes
to calculate imperviousness based on USDA's TR55 land use data and associated
impervious rates. The results of this analysis ultimately lead to the creation of a future
land use vulnerability map revealing the location of Priority Protection Areas and other
potential Management Measures. In addition, discuss how increased impervious
surfaces impacts water quality, hydrology, flooding, and aquatic habitat.
Task 8. Streams, Lakes, Detention Basins, Wetlands Summary
Assess and map all streams, lakes, detention basins, and wetlands in the watershed using
existing data and data gathered under Task 3. The condition of these resources will be
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characterized on maps and summarized. The results will lead to the identification of
potential stream and riparian corridor restoration projects, lake projects, and detention basin
retrofit projects. It is likely that additional stakeholder input will be required in order to obtain
the best information to complete this task.
The CCWMA will obtain the majority of wetland data from agencies and use it to summarize
and map the existing locations and conditions of wetlands. As part of this wetlands
inventory, the CCWMA and the consultants will also analyze Dubuque County soil surveys
to estimate the historical extent of wetlands and amount of wetlands that have been lost as
a result of human activities. We envision our consultant will then map potential wetland
restoration and /or wetland mitigation sites by using an overlay method in GIS. Each
potential wetland restoration /mitigation site will then be included in the Action Plan section of
the report.
Task 9. Water Quality Inventory
The CCWMA administers will obtain all water quality data available for the Catfish Creek
Watershed. The CCWMA administers will assist in this task by meeting with individuals such
as municipal representatives or lake associations to obtain additional information. The
CCWMA will then analyze and summarize all available water quality data. Data is expected
from local stakeholders, permit and discharge records, Iowa DNR, Dubuque County
Conservation Board, the City of Dubuque, and EPA water quality & biological records.
The results of the water quality inventory and watershed characterization will be used to
identify potential causes and sources of problematic pollutants to water quality and
impairments to "Designated Uses" of aquatic resources such as Aquatic Life Support.
"Critical Areas" for application of Management Measures will be determined using the water
quality analyses, stakeholder input, and information gathered via the watershed inventory.
Critical Areas will likely include critical stream reaches, critical pollutant load sub -
watersheds, critical drained wetlands, critical detention basins, and critical priority protection
areas. The Action Plan section of the Watershed Based -Plan will include detailed
information and specific locations where water quality Management Measures would most
likely benefit the watershed's water quality and reduce pollutant loads to target values.
Task 10. Groundwater Summary
The CCWMA and the City of Dubuque understand that groundwater issues are not the
primary focus of this watershed plan but that groundwater recharge is becoming an
important topic in northeast Iowa, especially for counties that rely on groundwater for public
use. The CCWMA will gather and use existing data from agencies such as the Iowa State
University, University of Iowa, and Dubuque County to map and describe important recharge
areas in the watershed. The Action Plan section of the report will ultimately include
recommendations aimed at promoting the infiltration of stormwater such as open space
protection and incorporating open space into new development. The CCWMA administers
will also be asked to help gather information related to groundwater issues.
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D) Pollutant Loading Analysis
Task 11. Pollutant Loading Model
Many different pollutant loading models are available to identify pollutant loading in
watersheds. Several different ecological consulting firms have experience with several
pollutant loading models from simple spreadsheet analyses to complex spatially- distributed
models. The CCWMA plans to use a modeling tool called STEPL (Spreadsheet Tool to
Estimate Pollutant Loads) to estimate the existing nonpoint source load of nutrients
(nitrogen & phosphorus) and sediment of the Catfish Creek Watershed. The results of this
analysis will be used to; 1) estimate the total watershed load for nitrogen, phosphorus, and
sediment and identify and map pollutant load "Critical Area" SMU's. The STEPL model
satisfies USEPA's 9 Element requirements for pollutant load and removal projections.
Task 12. Pollutant Reduction Needs/Targets
Develop pollutant load reduction needs & targets for the Catfish Creek Watershed will play
an important element in this plan. Reduction targets will be identified following an analysis
of all the data gathered for the watershed. Some pollutant problems will be identified after
running the Pollutant Loading Model (Task 11 above). Many other pollution problems will be
discovered via the analysis of water quality and other data obtained from various sources.
The key to meeting reduction targets is to identify the "Critical Areas" that are contributing to
high pollutant loading. "Critical Areas" will be identified under various other tasks. Additional
information about "Critical Areas" is discussed under Task 13 below.
Task 13. Selection of Management Measures (BMPs) to Reduce Pollutant Loading
A very important aspect will be to identify and select Management Measures (BMPs) from
the Action Plan section of the plan to reduce pollutant loading from "Critical Areas" then
estimate the amount of pollutant reduction resulting from implementation of selected
measures. Our consultant will be responsible for identifying pollutant load "Critical Areas" via
the pollutant loading model, information provided by stakeholders, and information gathered
during the watershed inventory assessment. The CCWMA plans to evaluate pollutant load
reduction based on efficiency calculations developed for the USEPA's Region 7 Model. This
model uses "Pollutants Controlled Calculation and Documentation for Section 319
Watersheds Training Manual" to provide estimates of sediment and nutrient load reductions
from the implementation of agricultural Management Measures. Estimate of sediment and
nutrient load reduction from implementation of urban Management Measures will be based
on efficiency calculations.
E) Watershed Action Plan
This task involves identifying and describing the Management Measure recommendations
for the Catfish Creek Watershed. The CCWMA will work with the stakeholders to develop a
user friendly Action Plan that can later be used by stakeholders to identify projects and
obtain grant funding to implement these projects. The Action Plan will include a
Programmatic Action Plan and Site Specific Action Plan. We are envisioning the hired
consultants will use its knowledge of the watershed and data collected during the planning
process to outline programmatic and site specific recommendations with tables and
complimentary GIS maps that show the specific location of projects if applicable.
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At a minimum, the Action Plan will identify the costs and funding sources associated with
implementing recommendations, an implementation schedule; units (number, feet, and
acres) for projects, costs of implementation, estimated pollutant reduction, priority, and
responsible entity.
Task 14. Programmatic Action Plan
Programmatic actions (remedial, preventative, & maintenance actions) applicable
throughout the watershed will be developed for each of the plan goals and objectives
developed with input from stakeholders. These actions will be listed in tables that include
the primary goal /objective addressed, priority (H, M, L), lead and supporting entities, and
technical assistance needs.
Task 15. Site - Specific Action Plan
Site specific Management Measures will be developed using information gathered during
the watershed inventory and other information provided by stakeholders. Recommended
measures will be summarized in tables and categorized by municipality and /or other
stakeholder jurisdiction. An example table is shown below. GIS maps that locate the site
specific recommendations will accompany the tables. Site specific measures will primarily
address water quality improvement but also address flooding and natural resource
protection and enhancement.
Site specific Management Measures will likely include guidelines for stabilizing stream
banks and shorelines, riparian corridor /floodplain improvements, restoring wetlands,
retrofitting existing detention facilities, and Priority Protection Area recommendations. Other
potential projects such as rain gardens and habitat restorations will be identified during the
watershed inventory and included in the Action Plan.
F) Plan Implementation and Monitoring Success
Task 16. Water Quality Monitoring Plan & Evaluation Criteria
Develop a basic water quality monitoring plan using environmental (chemical, physical,
biological), social, and programmatic /administrative criteria to track plan progress and
evaluate how implemented Management Measures affect the overall condition of Catfish
Creek's water quality over time. These criteria will be expressed using measurable
indicators and target values that track progress made toward meeting project milestones
and water quality standards developed in other sections of the report. A map of
recommended locations where water quality sampling should occur in the watershed and
discuss who could conduct the sampling and how often it should be conducted should be
included. This will be followed by descriptions of the monitoring protocol used for collecting
specific water quality indicator data.
Task 17. Goal Milestones & Progress Evaluation Report Cards
This task is an integral component needed to evaluate how and if the watershed plan and
recommendations are achieving goals and objectives over time. It is also required under the
USEPA 9 Elements. The CCWMA will develop a list of stakeholder implementation roles and
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coordination responsibilities as well as milestones for each of the major plan goals
developed by the watershed stakeholders.
G) Education Component /Plan
Task 18. Information & Education Plan
The CCWMA board administers, and stakeholders will develop an information / education
component to the Watershed -Based Plan. The education component will enhance public
understanding of the Catfish Creek Watershed and encourage the early and continued
participation in selecting, designing, and implementing non -point source pollution control
measures. The CCWMA will work with as many additional partners in and outside of the
watershed to further increase awareness and education to all citizens in our communities.
The education component will include a brief summary of the educational & outreach
development process and a table that outlines the recommended education actions, primary
goal /objective addressed, recommended target audience, best package (vehicle) for
distributing the message, lead/ supporting agencies involved in assisting with education
efforts, and desired outcome /behavior change expected from the target audience.
H) Watershed -Based Plan Executive Summary and Report Preparation
Task 19. Prepare Draft & Final Executive Summary Document
The CCWMA and its consultants will compile major plan findings and other
information /recommendations into a brief Executive Summary document that will be used to
inform watershed stakeholders and local decision makers.
Task 20. Prepare Draft & Final Watershed Based Plan Report
Both the CCWMA administers, and the hired consultants will summarize all watershed data
and analyses in draft report form including tables, maps, and other graphics where
appropriate. Draft submissions shall be in electronic format. All sources for the reference
section and work for appendices shall also be submitted in electronic form. The final report
will contain appropriate photos, graphics, and maps in an aesthetically pleasing and user -
friendly format using a professional design layout.
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Project Costs, In -Kind, and Projected Budget
The following chart is an estimated budget on how funding will be spent over the 18 month
period. The City of Dubuque and its affiliates have a positive cash flow and any contract
entered with IDNR or IDED will be based on an expense reimbursement basis.
Table 2: Estimated budget
Budget Item
Cost
In -Kind Match
Grant Dollars
Requested
Facilitation /Administration
$70,000
$40,000
$30,000
Information and
Educational Outreach
$25,000
$10,000
$15,000
Monitoring Data
$17,500
$2,500
$15,000
Data Collection /Survey
$10,000
$7,500
$2,000
Modeling Assessments
$15,000
$0
$15,000
Contractual Services*
$110,000
$0
$110,000
Totals
$237,500
$60,000
$187,000
Contractual services will be used to hire ecological /engineering consultants to assist with the
completion of the projected plan of work. The CCWMA and its partners will contribute in -kind
staff, administers, and meeting times to ensure the current goals and objectives are being
completed. The City of Dubuque will work closely with the CCWMA, it's administers, and
consultants hired to ensure the plan is acceptable by both IDNR and EPA.
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Support from the Watershed
Support for and interest to develop a watershed management plan has been outstanding. The
following political subdivisions and /or relevant organizations have been identified to date that
have fully supported the completion of a watershed management plan for Catfish Creek.
• The City of Dubuque (Both Planning Services members and Engineering members)
• Dubuque County (Both Engineering and Planning /Zoning and Board of Supervisors)
• The City of Asbury
• The City of Peosta
• The Dubuque Soil and Water Conservation District
• The Dubuque County Conservation Board
• Friends of the Mines of Spain
• Iowa Department of Natural Resources
• East Central Intergovernmental Association
• National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
• University of Dubuque
• Northeast Iowa Community College
• Dubuque County Smart Planning Consortium
Letters of Support have been included in this grant application from the organizations listed
above as well as from citizens in the watershed.
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Schedule of Events
Task
Projected Completion Date
1. Organize and host educational workshops for the
CCWMA directors and advisory boards to fully
understand watershed management plans and
implementation programs.
1 -31 -13
2. Identify and organize existing data in the Catfish Creek
Watershed
1 -31 -13
3. Begin to draft an RFP for contractual purposes to
complete watershed management plan
1 -31 -11
4. Award RFP to consulting /engineering firm and prioritize
data collection /documentation needed.
3 -1 -13
5. Facilitate /Coordinate meetings between the CCWMA
and the awarded consultant to discuss progress and
challenges that may arise.
On -Going
6. Begin water quality data collection
4 -1 -13 (On- Going)
7. Continue assessing watershed demographics and
RASCAL data
4 -1 -13 (On- Going)
8. Identify main pollutants and sediment deposition
10 -31 -13
9. Analyze watershed assessments and load reductions
12 -31 -13
10. Review implementation plan and schedule with CCWMA
2 -1 -13
11. Analyze and present Watershed Management Plan with
CCWMA and political organizations
2 -1 -13
12. Host public input meetings to go over watershed
management plan with community leaders and
citizens /landowners in watershed
3 -1 -13
13. Begin seeking implementation dollars from both in -kind
sources and various grant opportunities to begin
implementation schedule
3 -1 -13 (On- Going)
14. Host public input meetings to go over watershed
management plan with community leaders and
citizens /landowners in watershed
4 -1 -13
15. Finalize Watershed Management Plan and write final
narrative to IDNR and IEDA
5 -1 -13
16. Being implementation program
5 -1 -13
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Conclusions
The City of Dubuque strongly feels this will be an excellent opportunity and an essential
undertaking to continue addressing watershed challenges throughout the Catfish Creek
watershed. The City and its partners are committed to building a more sustainable, economical,
and environmentally friendly place to live and work. Leading the way in sustainable projects like
the Smart Plan, building upon successful projects of the past, and working within at the HUC -10
watershed scale, we feel we can make a significant impact and achieve measurable and visible
results within a short period of time. Both the City of Dubuque and the CCWMA are enthused
about the process and believe the CCWMA will only continue to grow and expand it's role in
both its current HUC -10 watershed and begin moving to the HUC -8 level.
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