Page 6 - Jupiter Spotlight - April '21

Page 6, Jupiter Spotlight
Commissioner’s Update

Sound Water Strategies drinking water resources Palm Beach County is an active partner with the
and wetlands, and reduce South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD),
By Commissioner Maria Marino what is lost to tide. the Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Water resources in Palm Beach County are part of a Most of the fresh water and local stakeholders in achieving restoration of our
complex, interconnected system, and decisions made at we use in South Florida critical resources. The county, along with local districts
the regional, state and federal levels can dramatically comes from surficial aquifers and municipalities, has requested more than $2.8M in
affect local communities. While Florida averages five and the Floridan Aquifer appropriations this year from the State Legislature toward
feet of rainfall per year, it is essential that we support system. The aquifers are projects to benefit the Loxahatchee River, including:
strategies to store, filter and send water to critical facilities, composed of multiple layers • Sawfish Island Restoration
of porous rock and supply • Seminole Avenue and Pennock Industrial Park
stormwater improvements
approximately 90 percent
Northern Notes of the state’s drinking water, • Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area
according to the South Florida Water Management District.
Living Shoreline (erosion control)
Rainfall mainly recharges the aquifers, but they also receive • Loxahatchee River Mile Six Gap Closure and Oxbow
Hurricane Season May Start water from lakes, streams and groundwater flows. Restoration Maintenance (preventing saltwater intrusion)
The C-51 Reservoir project – 15 years in the making –
• Sims Creek Preserve Hydrologic Restoration
Earlier In The Future is under construction on Southern Boulevard near 20 Mile • Section Seven Drainage Improvement Project
Bend. This reservoir will store excess storm water for later • Loxahatchee River Sediment Study
By Katie Roundtree, distribution during the dry season. Additional benefits will In February, the county commission unanimously
Finance Director, include enhanced flood protection and water quality, and passed a resolution urging the state to implement specific
Northern Palm Beach will help combat saltwater intrusion and provide other activities to help improve the quality of water resources
County Improvement environmental benefits. including grant programs, technology, collaboration on
District Two main environmental initiatives this project will the implementation of projects, and supporting SFWMD
In February, it was serve are the restoration of the Lake Worth Lagoon and to identify and prioritize additional funding. The
announced that a committee the Loxahatchee River Watershed Restoration Project. The commission also approved a resolution urging Congress
within NOAA (National Northwest Fork of the Loxahatchee River is one of only to fund the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Central
Oceanic and Atmospheric two rivers in the state and the only river in South Florida and Southern Florida Flood Resiliency Study, and to
Administration) is with the national designation as a Wild and Scenic River. appropriate funding for the implementation in the Army
determining whether These delicate ecosystems are vulnerable to harmful algae Civil Works program, in partnership with SFWMD, for
hurricane season should discharges from Lake Okeechobee and saltwater intrusion. flood and storm damage reduction.
begin on May 15 rather Having reservoirs, stormwater treatment areas and flow These partnerships are vital to executing sound water
than June 1, as is the current internationally recognized start ways over wetlands allows us to send clean water east to strategies and I look forward to reporting on further
date. This is in response to weather patterns over the past the lagoon and gradually north to the Loxahatchee River progress as these projects move forward.
decade and tropical activity starting earlier than June 1 over Watershed. Sending filtered fresh water in, and keeping Please contact me if I can assist you at (561) 355-2201
the past six consecutive years. Since 2000, 11 storms have saltwater out, is what helps fresh water aquatic species or by email at mmarino@pbcgov.org.
been named prior to the official start of the season. It is a trend thrive in their habitat.
that they believe will continue into the future.
In response, NOAA may begin issuing daily tropical WE SERVICE Locally Owned & Operated
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of the Atlantic hurricane season to May 15, matching the
first day of hurricane season in the eastern Pacific. June 1 is
an arbitrarily chosen date; some think it’s time to change the
definition to reflect reality.
Even though there is discussion about moving the
hurricane season start date to May 15, the ending date of Nov.
30 has not changed. The height of hurricane season is August
through mid-October, later in the season. Typically, August
has more than three times more storms than July or double
the amount of June and July combined. As the oceans heat
up, activity increases. Storms form more frequently and are
much more intense than storms earlier in the season.
So, what does this mean to those of us in South Florida?
Not much. Hurricanes will not suddenly decide to form earlier
because of a shift in dates. This doesn’t give a green light to
the atmosphere to stir up storms prior to June 1. It simply
means that we need to be more vigilant, prepare early and
pay attention to weather trends and forecasts a bit sooner in
the year than in the past. Hurricane season is a long stretch,
but it’s the price we pay to live in paradise.
NPDES Tip: Hurricane season begins officially on June
1. Make sure your yards and trees are trimmed early to avoid
flying debris during a storm. Dispose of your trimmings and
clippings properly. Do not put them into storm drains or lakes!

Hurricane Wilma – NOAA