Water resources in Palm Beach County are part of a complex, interconnected system, and decisions made at the regional, state and federal levels can dramatically affect local communities.  While Florida averages five feet of rainfall per year, it is essential that we support strategies to store, filter and send water to critical facilities, drinking water resources and wetlands, and reduce what is lost to tide.

​Most of the fresh water we use in South Florida comes from surficial aquifers and the Floridan Aquifer system.  The aquifers are composed of multiple layers of porous rock and supply approximately 90 percent of the State's drinking water, according to the South Florida Water Management District.  Rainfall mainly recharges the aquifers, but they also receive water from lakes, streams and groundwater flows.

The C-51 Reservoir project - 15 years in the making - is under construction on Southern Boulevard near 20-Mile Bend.  This reservoir will store excess stormwater for later distribution during the dry season.  Additional benefits will include enhanced flood protection and water quality, and will help combat saltwater intrusion and provide other environmental benefits. 

Two main environmental initiatives this project will serve are the restoration of the Lake Worth Lagoon and the Loxahatchee River Watershed Restoration Project.  The Northwest Fork of the Loxahatchee River is one of only two rivers in the state and the only river in South Florida with the national designation as a Wild and Scenic River.  These delicate ecosystems are vulnerable to harmful algae discharges from Lake Okeechobee and saltwater intrusion.  Having reservoirs, stormwater treatment areas and flow-ways over wetlands allows us to send clean water east to the Lagoon and gradually north to the Loxahatchee River Watershed.  Sending filtered fresh water in, and keeping saltwater out, is what helps fresh water aquatic species thrive in their habitat.

Palm Beach County is an active partner with the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and local stakeholders in achieving restoration of our critical resources.  The County, along with local districts and municipalities have requested more than $2.8M in appropriations this year from the State Legislature toward projects to benefit the Loxahatchee River, including:

• Sawfish Island Restoration
• Seminole Avenue and Pennock Industrial Park stormwater improvements
• Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area Living Shoreline (erosion control)
• Loxahatchee River Mile 6 Gap Closure and Oxbow Restoration Maintenance (preventing saltwater intrusion)
• Sims Creek Preserve Hydrologic Restoration
• Section 7 Drainage Improvement Project
• Loxahatchee River Sediment Study

In February, the County Commission unanimously passed a resolution urging the State to implement specific activities to help improve the quality of water resources including grant programs, technology, collaboration on the implementation of projects, and supporting SFWMD to identify and prioritize additional funding.  The Commission also approved a resolution urging Congress to fund the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Central and Southern Florida Flood Resiliency Study, and to appropriate funding for the implementation in the Army Civil Works program, in partnership with SFWMD, for flood and storm damage reduction. 

These partnerships are vital to executing sound water strategies and I look forward to reporting on further progress as these projects move forward.

Please contact me if I can assist you at (561) 355-2201 or by email at mmarino@pbcgov.org.​​