New Baffle Box Initiative Nearing Completion, Will Help Keep Pollution Out of Indian River Lagoon

baffle box chambers trap debris, trash and other pollutants from stormwater

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA — Construction of a new baffle box at Cherry Street and U.S. 1 is nearing completion. It is the latest in a series of baffle boxes being installed at points throughout the City of Melbourne in an effort to reduce the amount of pollution going into the Indian River Lagoon.

Baffle boxes are underground structures made up of chambers that trap debris, trash, and other pollutants from stormwater that flows off streets and into storm drains after heavy rains.

The Cherry Street baffle box has an added feature that also removes the two most harmful pollutants going into the Indian River Lagoon, nitrogen and phosphorus.

Once operational, it will remove approximately 1,017 pounds of nitrogen and 161 pounds of phosphorus a year from stormwater that drains from an approximately 138-acre basin located roughly within the boundaries of Babcock Street to the Florida East Coast Railroad right of way from Babcock Street to Oak Street.

This area was previously developed as commercial land use with very little stormwater treatment.

The Save Our Indian River Lagoon Program was created with the ½ cent sales tax that Brevard County residents voted to impose on themselves in 2016.

The program is designed to address excess nitrogen and phosphorus pollution to the Indian River Lagoon through various projects to reduce pollution inputs, remove legacy loads of pollution, and restore natural filtration systems.

It is estimated that the plan will bring in up to $586 million in revenue over 10 years to fund projects that will reduce or remove over 1.3 million pounds of excess nitrogen and 106 thousand pounds of phosphorus annually from the Indian River Lagoon.

The projects being completed by the Save Our Indian River Lagoon Program are just one part of restoring the Indian River Lagoon.

The National Estuary Program, St Johns River Water Management District, Brevard County and the cities have been working on stormwater improvements since the 90s.

Currently, new technologies are being incorporated to improve stormwater and wastewater utilities. The lagoon will also need the assistance of the community to help reduce the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus created by homes and businesses.

Learn more about how to reduce your impact by visiting the Lagoon website.

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