St. Lucie County staff brief commissioners on wet‑season readiness, NPDES obligations and culvert assistance

St. Lucie County public works officials told the Board of County Commissioners on May 20 that the county is preparing for the upcoming wet season and is carrying out obligations under its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) permit.

The briefing reviewed how county crews and contractors inspect and maintain critical drainage infrastructure, deploy two large emergency pumps, coordinate with local water management districts and implement homeowner programs such as the culvert assistance program. Commissioners later approved the assessment resolution that enables a special assessment to pay for culvert improvements.

The presentation matters because St. Lucie County averages about 54 inches of rain a year and county engineers say short, intense storms can overwhelm drainage systems. The NPDES/MS4 permit imposes monitoring, education, construction‑site inspection and other duties the county must show it is performing to state regulators.

Patrick Diane, St. Lucie County public works director, told the board that the wet season and hurricane season preparations include frequent inspections of "critical infrastructure"…