At its September meeting in Duck Key, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved rule amendments creating a block grant option within the already established FWC derelict vessel and public nuisance vessel removal grant program.
In collaboration with city and county partners, the FWC Boating and Waterways Section proposed the block grant funding option within the existing program to allow an additional reimbursement option for ongoing vessel removals in areas that remove a substantial number of DVs annually.
The amendment to the guidelines and application will allow block grant funding to be awarded to eligible governments based on the removal data from prior years. Local municipalities will be paid from those funds upon submission of documentation of the removal of eligible vessels. Busy governments will no longer have to wait to apply in advance for each vessel removal project, which should result in less red tape and a quicker removal process.
“Our goal is to keep improving our waterways by removing as many DVs as possible,” said Maj. Bill Holcomb, FWC Boating and Waterways Section Leader. “This amendment will allow local governments that have DV removal experience and are familiar with the process an option to remove these vessels more efficiently. They can remove eligible DVs and submit for reimbursement from their awarded block grant.”