City staff say tides, not just rain, drive recurring flooding on North Clearwater Beach; pump stations proposed

Summary

Public works staff told the Environmental Advisory Board that repeated street flooding on North Clearwater Beach is primarily caused by tides overtopping seawalls. City engineers described plans for stormwater pump stations and other measures, estimated costs, timing and limits of what the city can achieve without shoreline and seawall upgrades.

Sam Riley, a public works staffer, told the Environmental Advisory Board on July 16 that frequent street flooding at North Clearwater Beach is largely caused by tides overtopping seawalls rather than only by rainfall. “NOAA defines nuisance flooding as water in streets or yards at about 2.73 feet, NAVD88,” Riley said, and he presented tide-gauge data showing multiple overtopping events since 2012 and a cluster of high water days in 2023–24.

Riley and Marcus Lawrence, the city’s public works director, said the city is proposing stormwater pump stations to speed drainage when tides are high. Lawrence said the stormwater pump stations are a separate project from sanitary sewer lift-station work and “provide immediate relief” by allowing stormwater to be pumped out when tidal valves prevent gravity drainage. City staff estimated a single pump-station installation would likely fall in a $1 million to $2 million range once final designs are complete.

City staff say tides, not just rain, drive recurring flooding on North Clearwater Beach; pump stations proposed

Summary

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