2005/2006 Accomplishments

Design and Construction Related Activities

• Completed design of the vortex stormwater treatment systems for the North Relief Canal, Main Relief Canal, and South Relief Canal, all within the Indian River Farms Water Control District.  These projects were not bid because the one hundred percent construction cost estimate significantly exceeded the project budget.  The high construction cost estimate is due to rapid escalation of concrete and stainless steel prices together with abnormal increases in general construction activity.
• The Stormwater Division began an in-house design of an alternate stormwater treatment system for the North Relief Canal, Main Relief Canal, and South Relief Canal that will replace the originally proposed vortex treatment system.  The alternate system is expected to reduce the vortex treatment system construction cost by approximately one-half and reduce operation and maintenance expenses by an even larger percentage.
• Received a $241,600 Indian River Lagoon License Plate Cost-Share Grant from the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) for the Main Relief Canal stormwater treatment system.
• Revised a Memorandum of Understanding between Indian River County and SJRWMD to include $1.5 million toward construction of a stormwater treatment system in the North Relief Canal.  We are now asking SJRWMD to transfer those funds to the Main Relief Canal stormwater treatment system.
• Applied for a $750,000 SJRWMD Cost-Share Grant for the Main Relief Canal but did not receive it.
• Began communications with the Sebastian Inlet Taxing District regarding that entity contributing funds toward the construction of the Main Relief Canal stormwater treatment system.
• Began communications with the City of Vero Beach regarding that entity contributing funds toward the construction of the Main Relief Canal stormwater treatment system.
• Completed design of the Egret Marsh Regional Stormwater Park.
• Prepared an in-house deduct design for the Egret Marsh Regional Stormwater Park’s influent pumping station that is expected to save almost one-half million dollars in construction cost and significantly reduce operation and maintenance expenses.
• Advertised the Egret Marsh Regional Stormwater Park for construction and held a pre-construction meeting.
• Received a $2 million legislative appropriation for the Egret Marsh Regional Stormwater Park.
• Began designing the Rockridge Surge Protection Project.
• Began soliciting a proposal from an engineering firm to complete Phase II and III stormwater improvements for the Vero Lake Estates subdivision.

STORMWATER DIVISION

Stormwater Education Related Activities

• Established partnerships with Keep Indian River Beautiful, Indian River Soil and Water Conservation District, Institute Food and Agricultural Sciences, Indian River County Solid Waste Disposal District, Indian River County School Board, Environmental Learning Center, the Vero Beach and Sebastian Inlet Power Squadrons, and the Pelican Island Audubon Society.
• Elected President of the Board for Keep Indian River Beautiful.
• Attended NPDES Workshops and FSA 2005 Annual Conference.
• Sponsored special series of environmental education news inserts for the Press Journal. 
• Provided presentations and educational materials on the topic of stormwater run off to citizens ranging in age from Pre-K to adult.
• Participated in or exhibited at local environmental venues.
• Developed a section on Stormwater Pollution Prevention for the County’s website.
• Developed Microsoft Access database containing over 150 homeowner’s association names, addresses and other contact information.
• Provided presentations to and prepared articles for homeowners associations located within Indian River County.
• Provided our government channel with 6 educational videos related to water quality, water conservation, and stormwater run off.  The educational videos are airing daily.
• Participated in local neighborhood and coastal clean up events.
• Trained County employees on the topic of Municipal Stormwater Pollution Prevention.
• Promoted Florida’s Clean Boater Program to the citizens of Indian River County.

Stormwater Enforcement Related Activities

• Developed Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Program.  Inspected and enforced regulation on several sites under construction in Indian River County.
• Hired and trained a Senior Stormwater Inspector for our Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Control Program.
• Implemented changes to the County’s permitting and review process to improve the quality of stormwater entering our waterways.
• Provided the 2-day course titled the Florida Stormwater Erosion, and Sedimentation Control Inspector’s Course to County employees, construction industry and engineering professionals.
• Encouraged County employees to become trained as Stormwater Management Instructors.  Four County employees attended the training and are certified.
• Provided construction and engineering industry personnel with the latest information on NPDES requirements and stormwater management.
• Started developing our Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination Program.
• Formed partnerships with the State of Florida Department of Environmental Health and Code Enforcement to enforce regulations related to illicit discharge.
• Implemented stormwater hotline for citizens to call and report incidents of illicit discharge or receive information on the topic illicit discharge.
• Posted and published the hotline on our website and in the phone book.
• Began investigating complaints related to illicit discharge, conducting field investigations, and referred them to the proper agencies for handling

Stormwater Enforcement Related Activities (Cont’d)

• Provided citizens with informational and educational materials related to illicit discharge.
• Published the website, information on illicit discharge, and the County’s hotline in the local newspaper.
• Responded to, investigated, and satisfied citizen’s complaints concerning erosion and sedimentation control and illicit discharge.