State and Federal Legislative Program

Martin County has a robust stormwater treatment area program implemented to support the St. Lucie River Basin Management Action Plan, often referred to as the BMAP. The BMAP is a strategic plan to reduce the nutrient load in the local waterways and engages federal, state and local governments as well as other stakeholders.

The BMAP addresses our known sources of pollutants and future nutrient loads associated with population growth and land use changes in our local stormwater basin. The county utilizes the BMAP to implement water quality projects that are the most effective at reducing the nutrients in the water and improving water quality. 

Additionally, the county has actively participated in the St. Lucie River Issues Team. This team has focused its efforts on funding projects that align with and accelerate implementation of the St. Lucie River BMAPs. It is the team’s belief that this will assist local governments in planning, budgeting, and executing projects, while simultaneously monitoring and conducting studies to better understand the water quality dynamics in the watershed.

To date, the issues team has received $6.7 million from the Florida Legislature, and an additional $2 million from the federal government. The program has funded over 131 individual projects in Martin and St. Lucie counties and their municipalities.

The Martin County Board of County Commissioners is also one of 16 members of the County Coalition for the Responsible Management of Lake Okeechobee. These counties comprise one-third of the population of Florida and meet four times annually to discuss the watershed that comprises the Everglades ecosystem. Martin County has adopted the coalition’s fiscal year 2019 priorities. 

Annually, this coalition will travel to Washington D.C. to advocate for the Everglades ecosystem and participate in the Everglades Caucus. 

THE MARTIN COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SUPPORTS:

  • Continued and increased dedicated funding for the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP).
    • Long-term funding from both the state and federal government to finance the completion of the water quality improvement projects on the Integrated Delivery Schedule (IDS). 
    • The prioritization of the Indian River Lagoon-South (IRL-S) Project including funding for the C-23/24 and C-25 reservoirs and stormwater treatment areas (STAs), and acquisition of land in the natural lands component.
  • Continued funding to complete the construction of the C-44 Reservoir, a critical component of the IRL-S Project and asks that this funding match the maximum capability of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
  • Funding at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers capability level for the design work for the C-23 and C-24 south reservoirs be included in the fiscal year 2019 budget.
  • Continued funding of projects identified through the Loxahatchee River Preservation Initiative (LRPI), a partnership of governmental agencies brought together for the common goal of the restoration and enhancement of the Loxahatchee River.
  • The St. Lucie River Issues Team.