The Cost savings on an Ecosystem Restoration project if the area is treated with Microbes First The example used for this comparison was the Stevenson Creek Ecosystem Restoration project in Clearwater Florida. The Project was scheduled to be a one year project. It took 12 years to design, permit and get under contract and it took seven years to complete the work and three contractors were terminated.

COST TO REMOVE ORGANIC MATERIAL PRIOR TO DREDGING Current estimates indicate 80% of the material in the Stevenson Creek project is organic muck which equates to about 105,600 CY of the 132,000 CY in a 29 acre area that could be eliminated prior to dredging. This quantity of material could be eliminated in approximately 1.5 years of treatment at a cost of $137,750. This is a little more than $28,000 / acre to a depth of 2.5 to 3.5 ft. Improvements could be easily noticeable with the first four months. But, lets see what effect this has on cost to complete when the organics are removed first. Remember that our very conservative estimate of cost is $4.9 M.

New Estimated Project Cost Mobilization & De-Mobilization $270,000.00 Construct a Temporary De-Watering Area $0.00 Survey & Layout $32,000 Construct Littoral Shelf $525,000.00 Dredge Est 32,000 CY ($12.50/CY) $400,000.00 Truck Dredge Spoil $0.00 Water Quality $12,000.00 Elimination of Organics $137,750.00 ESTIMATED TOTAL COST $1,376,750.00 Original Contract amount $4,900,000.00 SAVINGS TO TAXPAYERS $3,523,250.00

CONCLUSION In the preceding pages we have shown a cost savings of approximately 72% or $3.5 Million. Even if it is half as much as shown it results in a substantial savings that cannot be ignored. In addition to these savings our microbial technology will significantly reduce COD, BOD and TSS as well as control and eliminate associated odor and assist in the control of algae growth and nearly eliminate fecal coliform in Stevenson Creek. We also are convinced there are many other costs that will be significantly reduced if not eliminated such as real estate that would otherwise be needed for the dewatering process and storage of dredge material. This process can be used in virtually any water body or area that is normally inundated and could be used to reduce organic material in existing spoil areas as well as streams, lakes, rivers, canals and retention ponds.