NBV awarded $2 million in state funding for Harbor Island Stormwater Outfall Improvements

North Bay Village has been awarded $2 million dollars in funding through the Biscayne Bay Water Quality Improvement Grant Program. The Village applied to the Water Quality Improvement Grant for the Harbor Island Outfall Improvement Project. On Thursday, Governor Ron DeSantis awarded $20 million through the program to strengthen ongoing efforts to restore water quality in the Bay. The Village was selected to receive $2 million of that funding for Harbor Island.

The Village proposes to design and install baffle boxes at 13 outfall locations on Harbor Island. Baffle boxes are underground structures used in stormwater management systems to capture debris, sediment, and pollutants from stormwater runoff. This helps prevent pollution from reaching natural water bodies and reduces the negative environmental impact of stormwater runoff. This project would allow NBV to meet two objectives: (1) immediately improve the water quality of the stormwater discharge and (2) assess the effectiveness of baffle boxes in capturing and removing pollutants from stormwater runoff. NBV is undertaking significant stormwater improvements throughout the community and because Harbor Island is at a higher elevation than other areas, stormwater improvements are slated to occur later than those in other portions of the community. This project will result in immediate water quality improvements.

As we know, our community is surrounded by the Bay, and all stormwater discharged through outfall goes directly into Biscayne Bay. Harbor Island will be the first portion of the community to see baffle box installation as a pilot for the rest of the Village. This project will provide the Village with an opportunity to measure and assess the effectiveness of baffle boxes before they are installed on all islands. By implementing baffle boxes, NBV aims to reduce the levels of pollutants, sediment, and suspended solids in the stormwater discharge, ultimately enhancing the overall water quality and health of Biscayne Bay’s ecosystem.

NBV recently completed a comprehensive stormwater master plan, identifying key community improvements. The plan included a focus on water quality as part of those improvements.