Nature Conservancy launches smart-pond pilot to test AI-coordinated stormwater control in the Indian River Lagoon

The Nature Conservancy on Feb. 14 outlined a five‑year pilot in the Indian River Lagoon that would link automated “smart” stormwater ponds into a network using real‑time sensors, weather forecasting and machine‑learning models to optimize detention, improve water clarity and reduce nutrient pulses into the lagoon.

The presentation, led by James Byrne and Valerie Strasburg of The Nature Conservancy, described a hypothesis that retrofitting ponds with continuous monitoring and adaptive control (CMAC) valves and connecting them in a “digital twin” could increase detention time across a watershed and improve both water quality and flood protection.

The proposal would begin with a modeling phase to scan the lagoon’s nearly 14,000 ponds, prioritize locations with the largest potential uplift and then deploy pilot installations in the northern lagoon. The Nature Conservancy said it has identified roughly a dozen candidate locations and assembled a technical team including Arup, Jones Edmonds, Opti and university partners at the University of Florida and University of Michigan. Amazon Web Services’ nonprofit AI group was listed as an advisor on building the digital twin.

Why it matters: presenters said the project could be replicated across Florida and nationally if the pilot shows measurable reductions in nutrient export and improved flood buffering. The presenters emphasized this is not a silver‑bullet solution for large storms but a technology that could reduce nutrient loads and protect communities during frequent, mid‑size rain events.

Project details and limits: the Nature Conservancy said the pilot is privately funded to date; staff told the council the group has not requested public dollars for the initial work. The pilot will avoid, at least for the initial sites, ponds that receive reclaimed irrigation water or contain other complicating inflows so the team can isolate stormwater effects. Monitoring and evaluation will include pre‑ and post‑installation sampling by University of Florida partners. The group said it expects ground installation of a first pilot to take roughly 12–18 months after the modeling and permitting phases.

Board discussion: council members asked about nutrient sources that ponds collect (fertilizers, septic leakage and reclaimed water) and whether the system would coordinate releases to reduce local flooding. Valerie Strasburg said CMAC devices use weather forecasts and real‑time flow data to raise or lower outflow valves, creating coordinated detention across connected ponds; she said the technology is effective on the frequent, mid‑scale storms that drive chronic water‑quality decline and can increase the time water is held for settling and biological processing.

Several members urged the team to coordinate with local regulators and permitting programs; presenters said they are working with local agencies and will prefer pilot sites that can proceed under existing ERP (environmental resource permitting) processes. Presenters also noted they are building models and tools intended to be open source for county planners.

Next steps: The Nature Conservancy team said modeling is underway, site prioritization is in progress and the council can expect updates through the year. Staff and presenters requested input from county and agency staff on candidate sites, and indicated the earliest field installations would occur after permitting and another year or more of preparatory work.

What presenters said (selected quotes): "If we can connect those smart ponds together, we can create kind of air traffic control for water," said Valerie Strasburg of TNC's Brightstorm team. "We're starting a pilot project in the Indian River Lagoon," said James Byrne, who identified himself as director of strategy and policy for TNC's Florida business unit.

Ending: presenters invited council and county staff to continue engagement during the modeling phase and to participate in site selection and permitting discussions as the pilot moves toward the field phase.