Satellite Beach needs the community’s help creating “bioswales” with native plants along 18,000 square feet of Desoto Parkway to slow the flow of polluting stormwater into the Indian River Lagoon.
A bioswale is a linear, vegetated ditch which allows for the collection, conveyance, filtration and infiltration of stormwater. Also called filter strips, the deep-rooted grasses and plants enhance water quality by ponding the stormwater between berms and allowing pollutants to settle out of the water. When the swale becomes full, the cleaner surface water will spill over the berm and slowly run into a local body of water.
Coquina rock will replace the grassy borders of 2,500 square feet of the ditches in the project area, also including portions of Jamaica Boulevard, and help nutrients to be absorbed by the soil and vegetation.
The project is expected to reduce the nutrient input into the lagoon from the estimated 389 million gallons of stormwater annually collected in the 296-acre Desoto Stormwater by an estimated 1,000 pounds of nitrogen and phosphorous. The new swales will allow for a minimum stormwater retention of 21,563 gallons.
“It’s a great project to show what is possible and it’s a community effort. We will be asking for volunteers to help us with the plantings,’’ said Satellite Beach Environmental Programs Coordinator Nick Sanzone.
The scope of work identifies five site locations, or work days, where phases of the project will be completed. First up is the creation of education signs for the site showing residents the scope and purpose of the project.
Sanzone said he is particularly interested in the results of data collected by city staff before and after the project to see it if helped create a measurable impact.
The project is being partially funded by the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program (IRLcouncil.org) headed up by its Executive Director Duane DeFreese, who toured the Desoto site.
He described Satellite Beach as having a very proactive approach to a Lagoon Friendly community, serving as a model for other communities looking to address sustainability and coastal resiliency. The problem for many beachside communities is that they are almost built out, leaving little opportunity to improve stormwater management, he said.
“This is a creative project that works with the existing stormwater infrastructure to make improvements that can address both flooding issued and stormwater discharges into the lagoon,’’ he said.
The Desoto project – also including trails, informational signage and other outreach efforts – may become a model for what can be done, but there are no easy answers when it comes to improving stormwater facilities in built-out beachside communities, DeFreese said.
“There is no boilerplate for these types of projects. Every location is different. Each project must consider site constraints and opportunities carefully, with design and engineering considerations targeted to deliver the desired outcomes,’’ he said.
Added Sanzone about the Desoto plans: “It will be a blend of form, because it will look nice, and function because it will help reduce the nutrient load into the lagoon.”
For more information, contact Nsanzone@satellitebeach.org or ddefreese@irlcouncil.org.