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What is a watershed?
An area of land that drains water, sediment and dissolved materials to a common receiving body or outlet. The term is not restricted to surface water runoff and includes interactions with subsurface water. Watersheds vary from the largest river basins to just acres or less in size.
- What is stormwater runoff?
Rainwater or melted snow that flows or drains from the land; it may contain pollutants.
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Where does stormwater go after it hits the ground?
It drains into a series of storm drains, swales, ditches, ponds, lakes, and canals. In Indian River County, some of these waterways lead into our three main canals, which drain directly into the Indian River Lagoon.
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How do swales function?
Swales are designed to hold water for up to 72 hours before percolating into our groundwater system or evaporating into the atmosphere.
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Who’s responsible for the care and maintenance of swales?
The property owner is responsible for the every day care and maintenance of the swales located within the easements around their property. The Indian River County Road and Bridge Division is responsible for the care and maintenance of swales on County owned property.
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What is the difference between proper and improper drainage?
Depending on the type of drainage system, one should see water draining within 72 hours. However, with certain types of stormwater management systems such as a wet detention system or pond, water may never drain out completely.
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What is the difference between a retention pond and detention pond?
A retention system is designed to store runoff for about 72 hours. A dry detention system is normally dry and holds stormwater runoff long enough for it to be slowly released into an adjacent water body. A wet detention system or pond is designed to allow material to settle and be absorbed. After a storm, water slowly drains from the pond through a pipe in the “out flow” structure. Part of the pond – known as the permanent pool – is always below the level of the drain structure. Sometimes aquatic plants are planted around the pond’s perimeter to help filter sediment in stormwater runoff.
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What’s the best way to care for my pond?
The best way to care for your pond is to clear or clean inflow/outflow structures, remove nuisance and excess vegetation, repair eroded slopes, clean up trash and yard waste in your yard and gutters and around storm drains. The use of shoreline vegetation can reduce erosion and trap pollutants in stormwater runoff before the runoff reaches the water in the pond.
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Where does stormwater go after it drains into the swales and ponds?
Some of the water evaporates into the atmosphere, some percolates into the ground, and some flows into a series of ditches and canals that lead directly in Indian River Lagoon.
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How many canals do we have in Indian River County and where are they located?
We have 3 canals and they are known as the South, Main, and North Relief Canals. Where does the stormwater go once it flows into the canals? Once stormwater flows into the canals it enters the Indian River Lagoon.
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Is the stormwater clean when it enters the Lagoon?
No. A large portion of the trash and garbage left out on our streets, chemicals from agriculture, industry, and households, sediments from construction sites, and petroleum products end up in the Lagoon after it rains.
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What can I do to help keep stormwater clean?
Use fertilizers and pesticides according to the directions on the label, dispose of animal waste properly, dispose of trash and garbage in receptacles and recycle, use native Florida plants in landscaping, and report runoff from construction sites and illegal dumping and discharging to the Stormwater Division.
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Who do I call if I see someone polluting our stormwater by dumping garbage or other harmful contaminants?
Call your local police or sheriff’s department and they will investigate your complaint. You may also call the Public Works Department and Code Enforcement Division between the hours of 8:30 am and 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday.
- Where can I volunteer to help keep my community clean?
There are many organizations that promote a clean environment. Below is a short list of local organizations you may want to contact:
Keep Indian River Beautiful
Pelican Island Audubon Society
University of Florida/Indian River County IFAS Extension
Environmental Learning Center
- Where can I go for more information on stormwater management?
Environmental Protection Agency
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
St. Johns River Water Management District
