The City of Palm Bay will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the installation of two nutrient separating baffle boxes on Friday, July 22, 2022, at 9:00am followed by the groundbreaking ceremony for the replacement of 22 navigational channel markers at 9:30am. Both ceremonies will be held at Goode Park located at 1300 Bianca Drive NE Palm Bay, FL 32905. The event is open to the public and members of the media.

During the FY2021 State Legislative Session, with the support of Senator Debbie Mayfield and Representative Randy Fine, the City of Palm Bay was awarded $300,000 for the installation of two nutrient separating baffle boxes to reduce pollutant discharge into Turkey Creek and improve water quality for the impaired Indian River Lagoon. The baffle boxes will be installed at the outfall discharge at Goode Park, and within an existing ditch which discharges Basin 11 adjacent to Lipscomb Street.

On June 2, 2022, City Council awarded a bid in the amount of $473,176.25 to Tim Rose Contracting. Construction is anticipated to be complete before the end of the 2022 calendar year. The nutrient baffle boxes will help to reduce the amount of Total Nitrogen (TN) and Total Phosphorus (TP), which will help to improve the City’s stormwater infrastructure and serve as a responsible steward of our local natural resources.

As part of the FY 2021-2022 Waterway Assistant Grant Program, Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND) awarded the City a grant in the amount of $75,000, with a $25,000 match from the City, for the replacement of 22 channel markers along Turkey Creek. The City of Palm Bay’s Turkey Creek Sanctuary conservation area provides a myriad of natural recreational resources for residents and visitors. Turkey Creek offers navigable waters for boaters and kayakers entering from the Indian River and launching from the Creek’s shores, creekfront properties, and ecotourism operations. This activity requires boater safety features along Turkey Creek, which are required to be maintained by the City, and includes navigational signage marking channel location, depth, wake, and speed warnings. This grant will assist in the replacement of these navigational safety aids.