LAKE OKEECHOBEE LEARNING COLLABORATIVE

Transcription

1 LAKE OKEECHOBEE LEARNING COLLABORATIVE SEPTEMBER 7, 2016

2 PROGRAM BACKGROUND 1994: City created Stormwater Utility. April 1998: Extensive fish kills in St. Lucie River tied to discharges from Lake Okeechobee and local stormwater runoff. August 1998: St. Lucie River Initiative commissioned and donated Poppleton Creek Basin Study to City, showing where and how much water quality treatment could be constructed to meet modern standards for the entire basin.

3 November 1998: Martin County voters approved Healthy Rivers referendum (one-cent sales tax for three years). 1999: State legislature funded the St. Lucie River Issues Team for turn dirt stormwater projects. 1999: City obtained grants from Florida Communities Trust (Haney and Poppleton Creeks) to purchase native lands and Issues Team for project construction.

4 2000: Local engineer and surveyor volunteers delineated watersheds in and connected to City and donated Master Watershed Map to City. 2000: City created Watershed Planning and Improvement Program to incorporate stormwater treatment improvements with native habitat restoration, preservation, and passive recreation; Resolution

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6 Frazier Creek Weir & Bruner Pond Park

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8 Completion of the Haney Creek Trail

9 The Haney Creek Trail is used as an environmental education tool.

10 HEART OF HANEY CREEK Joint City County Purchase

11 2010 Poppleton Creek Park Watershed Restoration Project opens to the Public

12 Pavilions with Picnic Tables Racing model sailboats on retention lake in background.

13 Restrooms, fenced bark parks, and water fountains.

14 Standard City Information Kiosk

15 City begins Award-Winning community-wide Stormwater Baffle Box Program Today all 37 outfalls into the St. Lucie River are protected.

16 SUMMARY OF ALLOCATIONS Haney Creek Watershed Project $4,831,411 Frazier Creek Watershed Project $1,702,000 Poppleton Creek Watershed Project $4,371,250 North Fork Watershed Project $155,000 Krueger Creek Watershed Project $432,000 Airport Ditch Watershed Project $766,756 Anchorage Watershed Project $766,500 Crescent Basin Watershed Project $180,000 Heart of Haney Creek Watershed Project $4,000,000 Baffle Box Projects $500,000 Other Stormwater Projects & Reserve $1,554,434 TOTAL ALLOCATIONS $19,259,351

17 SEPTIC TO SEWER PROGRAM

18 Stuart closes unregulated mooring field and opens Sunset Bay Marina and Anchorage, designated by FDEP as a Florida Clean Marina.

19 OYSTER SHELL RECYCLING PROGRAM City of Stuart joins the Florida Oceanographic Society (FOS) in Treasure Coast Shell Recycling Program. Participating restaurants serving oysters, clams, & mussels. Restaurants are provided: Collection buckets, serviced weekly Drink coasters Awareness handouts for customers After the required isolation period, shells are bagged, and placed in the St. Lucie River to build oyster reefs.

20 COMMUNITY BENEFITS Provides material for oyster restoration. Reduces landfill waste. Involves and engages local businesses. Supports community efforts in habitat restoration. Leads to improved ecological resource and water quality.

21 (Adopted June 11, 2013)

22 Additional Existing Projects Submitted to DEP for Review in 2013 Projects Currently Being Reviewed by FDEP City Exceeds 15 Year Goal if Credits are Granted

23 Successful Watershed Plans Are Comprehensive Established a stormwater utility funding source for leveraging grants-perpetual maintenance Land acquisition and preservation Water quality treatment projects Stormwater retrofit projects Reduce runoff improve groundwater recharge Public Outreach & Education utility bills & biennial calendar Public access to stormwater parks Adopt regulations pet waste ordinance- fertilizer ordinance-encourage LID Street sweeping program stormwater maintenance program Committed to a Septic-to-Sewer Program Provide alternatives to unregulated mooring areas Free Hazmobile Collection of household hazardous waste to prevent dumping Free monthly neighborhood clean-ups with public education on Pointless Personal Pollution For Stuart, having done all this, and having met our 15 year BMAP nutrient reduction goal established by FDEP Something must be done about the quantity & quality of the Lake Okeechobee discharges!

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