Board accepts watershed master plan; staff to draft ordinance to boost flood‑insurance benefits

The Okeechobee County Board on Monday accepted a completed watershed management/master plan and asked staff to return with an ordinance to memorialize the plan and pursue Community Rating System (CRS) credits that could lower flood‑insurance premiums for residents.

Craig Fuller of Civil Served Design Group (speaker 20) summarized the modeling work funded by a $200,000 HMGP/FDEM grant that included detailed surveys and hydrologic modeling of roughly 80,000 linear feet of county canals in multiple watersheds. Fuller told commissioners the plan could net the county roughly 300 additional CRS points — enough to move Okeechobee into a higher class and produce measurable annual savings for policyholders in special‑flood‑hazard areas.

"This will get you at least... 300 additional points," Fuller said during the presentation, adding that the plan documents existing conditions, identifies priority projects and creates a framework for capital improvements and grant applications.

Why it matters: Fuller and county staff said a higher CRS class can reduce flood‑insurance costs for residents and improve the county’s standing for resilience grants. The plan also inventories unengineered systems and recommends prioritized capital projects, maintenance schedules and coordination with the water management district.

Action taken: The board unanimously voted to accept the final report and directed the county attorney to prepare an ordinance for future consideration to adopt the plan formally, which staff said would strengthen the county’s case for CRS credit when filed.

Next steps: Staff will prepare the ordinance language and pursue the administrative steps needed to file for additional CRS credits and to seek funding for prioritized projects.

On the record: The consultant made the presentation and answered commissioners’ questions; the plan will be posted on the county website for public review per staff.