IRLNews:Cape Canaveral Provides Lagoon Friendly Sustainability Model
“In an effort to protect residents both now and in the future from increasing environmental challenges, set an example for coastal municipalities in Florida and across the nation, and in keeping with the tenets of its guiding Vision Statement, the City of Cape Canaveral is implementing numerous sustainability and resilience-based initiatives. The City is committed to delivering policies that are effective, efficient, and forward-thinking; taking into consideration the latest in cost-saving sustainable development, clean energy technologies, and zero-emissions transportation.” Excerpt from City of Cape Canaveral Sustainability.
Of the many Cape Canaveral sustainability initiatives, the following are the most beneficial to the Banana River lagoon environment:
Herbicide Ban - On February 16, 2021 the City Council unanimously passed Resolution 2021-03, which banned all applications of glyphosate-based herbicides in favor of less impactful non-glyphosate alternatives at all City of Cape Canaveral-owned facilities and properties by both staff and contractors.
Fertilizer Ban - City Code of Ordinances Chapter 92 requires the use of best management practices that provide guidelines to minimize negative environmental effects associated with the misuse of fertilizers. The Chapter regulates the proper use of fertilizers by any applicator; requires proper training of commercial and institutional fertilizer applicators; establishes training and licensing requirements; establishes a prohibited application period; specifies allowable fertilizer application rates and methods; fertilizer-free zones; low maintenance zones; and exemptions. No one is allowed to apply fertilizers containing nitrogen and/or phosphorus to turf and/or landscape plants from June 1 thru September 30.
Low Impact Development - The City is integrating low impact development (LID) practices that retain rainwater on-site and encourage it to soak into the ground rather than allowing it to run off into ditches, stormwater drains, and the Banana River lagoon. The goal is to develop building practices that do a better job of mimicking natural processes in order to lessen the impact of storm events.
In 2016 the City completed a stormwater improvement project that installed 4,000 stormwater filtration chambers beneath Canaveral City Park baseball fields. The filtration system allows stormwater to percolate into the ground rather than flow directly into the Banana River, preventing approximately 931,000 gallons of stormwater from entering the lagoon.
In 2019 the Canaveral City Park filtration system was modified to accept the city’s excess reclaimed water, which has reduced the amount of nutrient rich discharge to the Banana River lagoon by approximately 39 million gallons to date.
The City has also developed a Low Impact Development (LID) design guide for interested residential property owners in the community.
Baffle Boxes - Cape Canaveral has installed baffle boxes on all major stormwater outfalls throughout the City.
The City’s largest baffle box, on West Central Blvd, was upgraded in December 2017 with funds from the Save Our Indian River Lagoon (SOIRL) project.
Floating Vegetative Islands - Cape Canaveral has enhanced the nutrient removal effectiveness of three wet detention ponds by adding Floating Vegetation Islands (FVIs). The floating plant mats store nutrients until pulled ashore and harvested, preventing re-suspension of nutrients when the plants die.
Adopt-A-Mangrove Program - provides interested property owners with the opportunity to “adopt” mangrove trees that provide wave attenuation, water filtration, and marine habitat.
Resiliency Plan - The City of Cape Canaveral Resiliency Action Plan was unanimously adopted by the City Council on June 22, 2021. The resiliency plan utilized the findings from a 2019 Vulnerability Assessment as well as input from the community, numerous government, academic, and private agencies to propose forward-thinking, real-world, science-based solutions to combat future environmental conditions.
Let’s congratulate the City of Cape Canaveral for it’s forward thinking and encourage Brevard County and it's municipalities to follow their example.
