2010-252A (17) - Laserfiche WebLink

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The service areas of the county's potable water plants now include substantial portions of the urban area of the county. Currently, water lines extend to much of the urban area of the county, including all three of the commercial/industrial nodes along I-95. Stormwater Management Stormwater management is the process of controlling runoff from rainwater to minimize water quantity and water quality impacts. Because of the lack of natural drainage systems in the county, stormwater management plays an important role in land development in Indian River County. Within Indian River County, stormwater is managed by a system of detention and retention ponds, drainage ditches, and canals. That system is operated by several independent agencies created by the State of Florida. A permit from one of those agencies is required prior to commencing development that increases the amount of stormwater discharged into the system. Within the urban service area, the Indian River Farms Water Control District and the St. Johns River Water Management District have stormwater discharge permitting jurisdiction. In addition to the man-made stormwater management system, soils and topography also greatly impact the drainage capabilities of the land. The county's stormwater management system is discussed in greater detail in four other plan elements. Those elements include the Stormwater Management Sub -Element of the Infrastructure Element and the Capital Improvements Element. Additionally, the Conservation Element discusses water quality issues related to stormwater runoff, and the Coastal Management Element summarizes stormwater management within the designated "Coastal Zone". The Coastal Zone includes most of the developed portion of the county. Generally, Indian River County can be characterized as a ditched and drained community. In the county, early drainage systems consisted of canals to drain the land for agriculture. Those canals, which drain most of the eastern portion of the county, are still managed by water control districts, which are special governmental units created by the legislature. Despite the existence of those canals, state and federal regulations require that new development control the quantity and quality of runoff through on-site stormwater management facilities. A review of the various drainage basins in the county indicates that existing facilities can accommodate existing development if current standards are maintained. Those standards include on-site detention of runoff from the 25 year/24 hour storm event, consideration of minimum floor elevations as determined by FEMA, and drainage limitations. Besides mitigating flood hazards, county regulations provide for higher quality stormwater. The regulations also have the effect of reducing the amount of pollutants entering receiving bodies, notably the Indian River. Finally, the county participates in the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Community Rating System. Through that program, building owners within jurisdictions that adopt certain permitting and information distribution procedures are charged reduced flood insurance premiums. Future Land Use Element 65