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Board backs Nature Conservancy pilot to retrofit stormwater ponds, approves ELAP land purchases
Summary
The BOCC approved a letter of support for a Nature Conservancy pilot to install adaptive controls on HOA stormwater ponds to reduce nutrient runoff into the Indian River Lagoon, and moved forward on several Environmental Lands Acquisition Program purchases including a 36.99-acre Winter Beach site and a Tier 1 property ranking list.
The Board unanimously approved a county letter of support for The Nature Conservancy’s runoff-and-resilience pilot project that would retrofit homeowner-association stormwater ponds with Continuous Monitoring Adaptive Control (CMAC) systems.
James Byrne, director of strategy and policy for The Nature Conservancy in Florida, told commissioners the group modeled ponds across the Indian River Lagoon and identified connected pond networks in Indian River County as ideal pilot sites. ‘‘We’re looking at starting this pilot project here… we want to deploy these systems…and see if we can actually get even more nutrient reductions,’’ Byrne said. The project would be largely funded by private dollars with a legislative infrastructure request to support deployment and university-led monitoring of outcomes.
Separately, staff presented the Environmental Lands Acquisition Program (ELAP) process and a pending purchase of 36.99 acres in Winter Beach using bond funds approved by voters in 2022. Staff explained the county has access to the first $25 million tranche of the $50 million bond and intends to pursue Tier 1 ranked properties. The board approved the Winter Beach sale agreement and the ELAP final ranking and directed staff to begin negotiations on Tier 1 properties.
Commissioners stressed leveraging grant matches to extend bond dollars and noted the importance of public engagement during acquisition and stewardship planning.
