MANATEE COUNTY – The Manatee Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) is continuing their funding of important initiatives across the county, including transportation, natural resources, parks and recreation.

$15,602,024 was appropriated to fund the Emerson Point Land Expansion acquisition project as approved by the BOCC on May 28. An additional $6,668 will go toward funding a new Ranger at Emerson Point. The board also approved $696,500 in funding for improvements at the newly acquired Crooked River Ranch Preserve.

Manatee County has been awarded a grant through the Tampa Bay Environmental Restoration Fund (TBERF) for the Lake Manatee Watershed Improvement Project on Duette Preserve in the amount of $172,709. This will go to match County funds in projects along the north fork of the Manatee River.

Public Works will use $173,500 from reserves in the Stormwater Management fund to engineer a Real-Time Flood Forecasting (RTFF) and Early Warning System for the coastal fringe areas of Manatee County.

For up-to-date information about Manatee County Government, visit mymanatee.org or call (941) 748-4501. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @ManateeGov.