In 1981, Florida first proposed stormwater rules with the presumption that future development complying with the rules would not harm Florida’s water resources. However, this presumption has proven false, as 58 out of 67 Florida counties now have nutrient-impaired waterbodies. The original rules have not been revised since their adoption in 2013.
In 2020, the Florida Legislature passed the Clean Waterways Act with unanimous, bipartisan support. The Act directed DEP to update stormwater regulations using the latest scientific information. DEP undertook rulemaking, establishing a technical advisory committee that conducted 13 meetings between 2020 and 2021 and published its recommendations in March 2022. The new regulations are complex and rely on performance-based standards, which are expected to be more effective at reducing pollution of Florida’s water resources. The 2024 Florida Legislature ratified the Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) revisions to its stormwater rules for Outstanding Florida Waters (OFW) but added exemptions and lowered the required reduction of Total Nitrogen for redevelopment in Impaired Waters from 80%—as recommended by DEP—to 45%.
Here are the key components of the new rules:
Increased water quality treatment standards that discontinue “BMP presumptive” treatment and impose specific performance criteria to significantly reduce post-development total nitrogen and total phosphorus loads—as identified in the table below;
Broadened and more flexible criteria for compensatory and off-site treatment;
Enhanced requirements for inspections, monitoring, and reporting to demonstrate performance;
Provisions for inspector training and certification; and
Requirements for more comprehensive documentation of stormwater systems—including as-built plans, operation and maintenance plans, cost estimates, and financial assurance that the system can be effectively operated and maintained.
These new regulations will affect development applications for DEP individual and general Environmental Resource permits, which are deemed complete after December 28, 2025. DEP’s Statement of Estimated Regulatory Costs concluded that the proposed rules will likely increase stormwater treatment costs by $1.21 billion (or $2,600 per acre developed) in the aggregate within five years after the rules’ implementation.
These comprehensive changes aim to significantly reduce the levels of harmful pollutants contained in stormwater runoff from entering Florida's waterways.
Local Stormwater Issues
On Vero Beach's Stormwater Utility
Vero Beach established a stormwater utility a few years ago but has not fully funded it. Instead, it relied on temporary funds like COVID relief money. That funding is no longer available. Proper funding is critical to ensure a dedicated source for new capital projects, separate from general budget constraints. With over 200 stormwater outfalls to the Indian River Lagoon, the city needs to support full funding of the Stormwater Utility, which would provide the following:
Dedicated Funds: Ensuring consistent investment in water quality projects without competing for general funds.
Grant Eligibility: Matching funds from the utility make the city eligible for state and federal grants, maximizing financial resources.
Improved Infrastructure: Addressing the huge backlog of unfunded projects and implementing new initiatives to reduce pollution and prevent flooding.
Sustainable Management: Promoting green infrastructure and sustainable stormwater practices.
Sebastian: Addressing Stormwater Challenges
Sebastian faces a significant $200 million challenge to fix its canal system and improve stormwater storage, with current funding far below what is needed. The outdated drainage system, built in the 1950s, struggles to meet modern standards. Consultants recommend raising the annual stormwater fee to ensure basic maintenance and enhanced capabilities. Community involvement is encouraged through surveys and public meetings to prioritize projects. Properly addressing these challenges will help mitigate flooding, improve water quality, and protect the local environment and economy.
Conclusion
Florida's updated stormwater management rules mark a pivotal step toward improving the state's water quality and protecting its ecosystems. By shifting to performance-based standards, the new regulations ensure that stormwater treatment systems are held to measurable and impactful criteria. These changes, while potentially increasing costs, promise long-term benefits for both the environment and public health.
For communities like Vero Beach and Sebastian, the importance of fully funding stormwater utilities and addressing outdated infrastructure cannot be overstated. Vero Beach's commitment to securing a dedicated funding source would enable it to leverage matching grants and effectively manage its extensive stormwater outfalls. Meanwhile, Sebastian's approach to raising funds and engaging the community highlights the critical need to modernize its drainage systems to reduce flooding and improve water quality.
Together, these efforts underscore the importance of sustainable stormwater management at the state and local levels, ensuring that Florida's waterways remain vibrant and healthy for generations to come.
To engage with the community and ensure informed voting in the upcoming County Commission election, the Indian River Neighborhood Association (IRNA) and the Clean Water Coalition of Indian River County (CWC) reached out to all candidates with a comprehensive set of questions. These questions focused on critical issues such as water quality, sustainable growth, and intergovernmental relations.
We emphasized the importance of transparency and detailed responses, asking candidates to limit their answers to 300 words per question. Each candidate received the same set of questions simultaneously, ensuring a fair and unbiased process. (The text of the email that was sent to every candidate is available here.) The aim was to provide voters with clear insights into each candidate's stance on vital local issues without endorsing any specific candidate, adhering to our status as 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations.
This initiative underscores our commitment to educating the electorate on the positions and plans of those running for office, thereby fostering a well-informed voter base ahead of the election.
For your information, the document with questions that was sent to all the candidates is available here. Every candidate was emailed at least twice if we did not receive a response from them. Further, we left a voicemail with any candidate who did not respond back.
We have organized the responses we received below for you. If there is no link in their name, it means we did not receive answers from them. The file that was returned to us was uploaded with no edits, other than to convert it to a PDF for standardized viewing.
District 1
District 3
District 5 (Only Republicans can vote in this race)
Keith Ridings
TCPalm has also released their Editorial Board recommendations and you can find it here.
We encourage all voters to review the candidates' responses carefully and participate in the upcoming election to ensure their voices are heard.
Join Coastal Connections for a Turtle Dig and Learn About Sea Turtle Conservation!
Ever wonder why scientists collect reproductive data on sea turtle nests? During nesting season, you may notice nests protected with wooden stakes, tape, and signs. These nests are monitored daily until they hatch, tracking key survival factors.
Three days after hatching, Coastal Connection’s permitted Turtle Team evaluates each nest, recording vital information that contributes to sea turtle recovery plans. Join the team on the beach for a Turtle Dig and learn how you can help protect sea turtles. Sometimes, hatchlings are left behind in the nest, and we remove and release them into the ocean.
RSVP and learn more from Coastal Connection by clicking here.
Photo by Steven Martine. © Vero Beach Magazine.
Mark Yanno, a longtime supporter of the Clean Water Coalition (CWC) and former board member, continues to share his passion for the Indian River Lagoon through his work as a fishing guide. In Vero Beach Magazine's "A Day on the Water with Captain Mark Yanno," Mark offers an intimate look at the lagoon's natural beauty and rich biodiversity while highlighting the environmental challenges and successes of the area. Join Mark on a journey through one of the healthiest parts of the Indian River Lagoon, and experience the magic of fishing in this unique estuary. Read more about his adventures and insights here.
There's still time to sign up!
The Indian River Lagoon is an important component of the vitality of tourism and real estate along the Treasure Coast. We need a healthy Lagoon to have a thriving economy.
The Lagoon has suffered in recent years from water quality problems caused by rapid growth in Florida without adequate infrastructure to protect our waters.
The cost to build the improvements is high. One of the funding agencies that help local governments is the St. Johns River Water Management District (District). However, the District has been reducing their tax rate each year. It’s time to stop rolling back the millage rate to provide additional funding for water quality improvements. Our quality of life along the Indian River Lagoon depends on it.
If you agree that a strong business community is dependent on a clean Lagoon, please sign the letter to the Governor by clicking here or the link below.
The graph below illustrates seagrass coverage from 2003 to the present, alongside the St. Johns River Water Management District's millage rate. Notably, a decline in the millage rate correlates with reduced seagrass coverage. Perhaps additional project funding would improve water quality more quickly to restore this vital ecosystem.
While the total area of seagrass expanded in 2023, the density remains low, with gains concentrated in the northern Indian River Lagoon (IRL) and Mosquito Lagoon, offset by losses in the central and southern IRL. Indian River County is located within the Central Indian River Lagoon.
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