INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Indian River County in partnership with the cities of Sebastian and Vero Beach will host a free “Know the Flow” Stormwater Management System Workshop for residents, property management companies, and others on Thursday Dec. 8.
The workshop will be held from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Indian River Fairgrounds, 7955 58th Ave., Vero Beach.
Workshop presentations will be conducted from 9 a.m. – Noon and displays featuring “Property Owner Pollution Prevention Practices” will be open from 8 – 9 a.m. and 12 – 1 p.m.
Online registration is required by Dec. 2 at http://knowtheflowindianrivercounty.eventbrite.com .
This workshop is designed to help association leaders and professional association managers understand how stormwater management systems work, methods to enhance stormwater ponds, and how to prevent pollution from entering local waterways and harming the Indian River Lagoon.
Participants will learn ways to reduce maintenance costs, reduce flooding potential, and improve the quality of stormwater runoff.
While saving money, time, and resources through learning proper maintenance and operation techniques for community stormwater systems, association leaders and managers can enhance the value of a community by learning how to motivate homeowners to use stormwater runoff prevention practices.
This event is aligned with the Clean Water Goal of local governments to reduce the amount of visible and invisible (chemical and bacterial) pollutants washed off land and carried by rainwater runoff into residential ponds, roadside canals, and the Indian River Lagoon.
Citizens can help achieve this goal by voluntarily making simple behavioral changes that reduce the amount of, and improve the quality of water that runs off their properties.
Stormwater runoff is damaging to the lagoon for two reasons: because it carries a number of damaging pollutants, and because the large volumes of fresh water discharged during storm events can dilute the lagoon’s normal salt levels, potentially harming sea grasses and organisms.
Common pollutants in stormwater include eroded soils, excess nutrients from fertilizers, pesticides, household chemicals, pet waste, motor oil and fuel leaked from vehicles, septic tank leakage, etc.
When it rains, any of these materials may easily be swept along as water begins running off our streets and into the nearest canal – all of which eventually drain into the Indian River Lagoon.
Polluted stormwater runoff is also potentially damaging to retention ponds and may reduce a pond’s capacity, which could cause neighborhood flooding. Polluted runoff also contributes to algal blooms and fish kills, both of which harm water quality in the lagoon, and make for unsightly and odiferous conditions in shoreline communities.
Unfortunately many people are not aware that pollution from their neighborhoods is reaching the Lagoon. Clubs and organizations are encouraged to contact Indian River County’s Stormwater Education Coordinator, Diane Wilson, at [email protected] to schedule a presentation on ways that homeowners can reduce potential pollutants in the runoff that leaves their properties.
To report pollution and learn ways to prevent stormwater runoff pollution from leaving your property, visit www.ircStormwater.com . Pollution reports can also be made anonymously by calling the Indian River County Pollution Hotline during working hours, Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. After hours report pollution to municipal police or call 911.
Workshop Agenda
- 8 a.m. – Doors Open, Sign-in, Tour Educational Displays
- 9 a.m. – Welcome & Program Overview – Diane Wilson – The Path of Water
- 9:15 a.m. – Stormwater Runoff and How It Affects the Health of the Indian River Lagoon – Kathy Hill
- 9:35 a.m. – The Flow of Water from Our Homes to the Lagoon – Bill Messersmith
- 9:50 a.m. – How Local Governments Convey Stormwater – Matt Mitts
- 10:05 a.m. – Suggested Stormwater System Practices for HOAs – Ginny Sieferd
- 10:20 a.m. – BREAK
II. Implementing Successful Best Management Practices:
- 10:45 a.m. – Proper Landscaping Practices for HOAs & Homeowners – Christine Kelly-Begazo
- 11 a.m. – Runoff Prevention Practices for Homeowners – Diane Wilson
- 11:15 a.m. – Proper HOA Maintenance Practices of a Stormwater Pond – Matt Mitts
- 11:30 a.m. – Water Conservation: The Waterwise Program – Ed Garland
- 11:45 a.m. – Wrap up & Prize Drawing – Diane Wilson
- 12 – 1 p.m. – Education Display Tables open
Presenters:
- Diane Wilson, Indian River County Stormwater Education Coordinator
- Kathy Hill, Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program Education Contractor
- Bill Messersmith, City of Vero Beach Assistant City Engineer
- Matt Mitts, City of Vero Beach Civil Engineer II
- Ginny Sieferd, City of Sebastian Environmental Technician
- Ed Garland, St. Johns River Water Management District Public Communications Coordinator
- Christine Kelly-Begazo, Indian River County Extension Director
