Martin and St. Lucie counties are home to the St. Lucie River and Estuary and southern portions of the Indian River Lagoon, the most diverse estuarine environment in North America with more than 4,000 plant and animal species. The South Florida Water Management District is working with local, state and federal partners to improve water quality, water storage and habitat for these two vital resources for the economy and way of life on the Treasure Coast.
The Okeechobee Service Center offers local assistance with Environmental Resource and Consumptive Water Use permitting while providing regulatory oversight for St. Lucie County. Residents and businesses in Martin County can receive the same services from District headquarters in West Palm Beach. Outreach and Intergovernmental Representatives develop partnerships with local governments and drainage districts, utilities, community groups and other stakeholders in Martin and St. Lucie counties and create a better understanding of local water resource issues through outreach and education activities.
GOVERNING BOARD MEMBERS
Kevin Powers, Vice Chairman and an at-large appointee representing areas including Martin and St. Lucie counties
Timothy Sargent, an at-large appointee representing areas including Martin and St. Lucie counties
Task Force and Coordination Teams
Florida Envirothon: An education program that helps high school students learn to use critical thinking skills, work as a team and develop problem-solving and communications skills to answer written questions or conduct hands-on investigations about environmental issues.
Indian River Lagoon Envirothon: The local Treasure Coast regional chapter of the state-wide Florida Envirothon program.
Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program: Dedicated to improving the quality of the Indian River Lagoon estuary through the development of a Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan for the lagoon.
Keep Martin Beautiful: Provides sustainable solutions for volunteers to make a direct impact in their communities through their own individual actions.
Loxahatchee River Management Coordinating Council: Advises the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the South Florida Water Management District on matters that affect administration of the Loxahatchee River, identifies and resolves inter-governmental coordination problems and to enhance communications.
Martin County IFAS Florida Yards & Neighborhoods: Promotes Florida Friendly Landscaping practices focusing on water conservation and sustainable gardening practices.
Martin County Local Mitigation Strategy Committee: Developing a unified approach among County and municipal governments for dealing with identified hazards and hazard management problems in Martin County.
Pal-Mar Water Control District: An independent water control "298" district located in western Palm Beach and Martin counties.
St. Lucie County Local Mitigation Strategy Committee: Developing a unified approach among County and municipal governments for dealing with hazards and hazard mitigation challenges in St. Lucie County.
St. Lucie Estuary Basin Management Action Plan Development Team: Developing the "blueprint" for restoring impaired waters by reducing pollutant loadings to meet the allowable loadings established in a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL).
St. Lucie River and Indian River Lagoon Issue Team: Develops federal, state and stakeholder consensus on an action plan that would accelerate progress toward improving water and habitat quality in the St. Lucie River Estuary and Indian River Lagoon.
Sustainable Martin Alliance Inc.: Provides information and education regarding community design, development and growth management.
Careers
