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Comprehensive Plan - Shoreline Erosion Conservation Element Within Indian River County, soil erosion by water occurs as a result of the natural processes of the Atlantic Ocean on the shoreline beaches and dunes. Along the county shoreline, the Sebastian Inlet impedes the natural southerly downdrift of sand. While the littoral process continues to remove sand from this area, the physical boundary of the inlet prohibits new deposits, resulting in net erosion. Figure 8.5 depicts the FDEP-designated "Areas of Critical Beach Erosion" in Indian River County. One of these critically eroded areas is Ambersand Beach, a ±2.9 mile section of the unincorporated County that extends from permanent reference monument (PRM) R-1 to PRM R-16. The two other areas of critical erosion include: Wabasso Beach, a f0.6 mile segment in the unincorporated County extending from PRM R-37 to R-40, and the beachside central business district (CBD), a ±3.1 mile segment extending from PRM R-70 to R-86. In the past few years, Indian River County completed two large-scale beach restoration projects. One project was undertaken in 2003 when 500,000 cubic yards of sand were placed along 2.2 miles of beach in the northern end of the county. The other project was undertaken in 2007 when 375,000 cubic yards of sand were distributed along 2 miles of beach in the southern end of the county. - Erosion Control on Development Sites In 2006, the Indian River County Public Works Department created a new stormwater division. The stormwater division participates in the design of stormwater systems, educates the public on relevant stormwater topics, educates individuals involved in the design/construction of stormwater control systems, and enforces stormwater and erosion control standards. The stormwater division's objective is to improve water quality in the Indian River Lagoon system by reducing the amount of pollution reaching the lagoon. Water Resources Water resources in Indian River County consist of both surface water and groundwater systems. While water is an essential resource for the sustenance of people (and other living communities), an abundance of water is at times considered an obstacle to human habitation. In Indian River County and throughout Florida, alteration is evident in a history of land drainage, mosquito impoundments, and shoreline modifications. Water supplies in the form of surface water and groundwater have a common link as part of nature's overall hydrologic cycle. As precipitation occurs in the county, some water will evaporate directly back into the atmosphere. Other water is utilized by plants and returns to the atmosphere as result of Community Development Department Indian River County 12