Commissioner asks staff to draft policy allowing waterfront pavers to reduce canal pollution

A Pasco County commissioner asked staff and the county attorney to draft a policy allowing waterfront homeowners to install pavers or other impervious surfaces that abut canals, saying the change could reduce grass clippings and nutrient runoff into waterways.

The commissioner presented photos of debris and grass clippings in local canals and cited examples such as Heritage Springs, where pond edges have been reworked with rock rather than grass. "Every canal home in the backyard should be able to put all the impervious they want," the commissioner said in the meeting, arguing that removing grass at the water's edge can reduce nutrients that harm water quality. The speaker asked staff to work with the county attorney to return a proposed policy to the board.

County staff acknowledged the request and said they would bring proposed language back for board consideration. The transcript indicates this has been discussed previously; the commissioner said it had been about seven to nine years since he first asked for changes to canal-edge standards.

Why it matters: regulators and homeowners balance shoreline design, erosion control, environmental protections and stormwater rules. Allowing impermeable surfaces at the water's edge could reduce organic debris entering canals, but would require legal and technical review to ensure compliance with state environmental rules and local ordinances.

Next steps: the county attorney's office and staff were asked to draft policy alternatives and return them to the board for future consideration.