North Beach Stormwater Improvement Project

Residents in North Clearwater Beach and other low-lying areas of the city are feeling the impacts of increased flooding. 

Why Is This Happening?

• In recent years, several coastal communities in Florida -- including Clearwater -- are seeing higher tides and are feeling the impacts of stronger storms and flooding impacts, due to climate change and other factors.
• When the North Beach stormwater system was designed decades ago, it was not designed for the current tidal elevations and storm events that we are now experiencing.
• Lower tides of the past meant the stormwater system could operate using gravity to move along its stormwater flows.
• Rising seas, higher tides and increased rainfalls are driving the need for more advanced stormwater infrastructure along North Clearwater Beach and in other low-lying areas of Clearwater.
• Infrastructure needs include upsized stormwater pipe sizes, additional stormwater pumps, and tidal valves throughout the stormwater system.
• This issue is not unique to Clearwater. Several coastal cities and barrier islands across the state and nation are experiencing the same thing.

The Path Forward for North Beach

Clearwater Stormwater Manager Edward Wilmes tells us what the city of Clearwater is doing to help the North Beach community's stormwater effort.

• Since the hurricanes of 2023 and 2024, the city of Clearwater has installed temporary stormwater pumps to help mitigate flooding along North Beach.
• North Beach has one permanent stormwater lift station, which continues to be operational.
• Crews have been working hard to perform stormwater maintenance along North Beach to improve operational efficiency of the stormwater system.
• New tidal valves have been installed on stormwater laterals and outfalls in the neighborhood. Tidal valves have been installed on numerous outfalls, and that work will continue as conditions continue to change.
• The original stormwater design was gravity flow with no tidal valves, and it had limited debris management design features. Debris that flows into and collects in the stormwater system can result in operational failures and flooding.
• Maintenance has been occurring on North Beach over the years. Current conditions require that the stormwater system must be maintained at a higher, more frequent level than in the past, in order to keep up with the rain demand. There is no question that crews were out working on the system, and the city is increasing the frequency of these efforts to keep the system operating at peak capacity.

Where Are We At Now?

The North Beach Stormwater Improvement Master Plan study was completed to identify potential stormwater system improvements along North Clearwater Beach. This plan identified improvements coupled with knowledge gained from field crews that will help develop a stormwater improvement project:

• The city completed the inspecting, maintaining and cleaning of the entire existing North Beach stormwater system. Additional equipment has been purchased to assist with the continued maintenance efforts.
• The city has installed temporary pumps near outfalls on North Beach to help improve system performance. Temporarily removed during the dry season.
• The city restored and improved stormwater detention basins along Eldorado Ave.
• Stormwater modeling has been performed to look at a variety of storm and sea level conditions to help optimize design solutions.
• Design has started for the permanent stormwater pumps at North Beach outfalls.
• Work to improve the stormwater infrastructure at North Beach will occur in phases over several years.

Design nears completion of six stormwater pump stations

• Sixty-percent design submitted, reviewed and comments shared with EOR (Chen Moore and Associates - CMA).
• EOR (CMA) is working on 90 percent design with an anticipated submittal in mid year 2026.
• EOR (CMA) and city site visits to the proposed pump station locations on Oct. 7.
• A coordination meeting with Public Utilities Electricians and Maintenance was held on Oct. 13.
• Geotech report was submitted to the city.
• Ground Penetrating Radar was used to locate the tiebacks and dead man anchors of the existing seawalls. There are approximately six sites, about 30’ x 50’ (9,000 sf total).

Initiating Phase II Design

• The City is working alongside the design engineer to define the Phase 2 project scope, focused on optimizing stormwater flow and improving drainage from the area.
• Phase 2 will include rehabilitating the existing pipes and the roadway to improve drainage and infrastructure resilience.

Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) 

• The City of Clearwater has procured a qualified firm to provide Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) services for the North Beach Stormwater Improvements Project (Project No. 24-0037-EN) and is currently in the process of negotiating a pre-construction services contract. As part of these services, the CMAR will assist with design development and provide input on the constructability and buildability of the pump stations and stormwater system. This is a multi-phase effort anticipated to extend over approximately five years, with phase two expected to exceed phase one scope and complexity. The overall costs are expected to range between $45 million and $80 million, depending on the final scope.

We Need Our Residents' Help

• Debris is entering the stormwater system from work performed by contractors and homeowners, and we need everyone’s help monitoring and controlling their contractors to help prevent debris from degrading system performance.
• This debris is causing significant damage to our stormwater system and is preventing flows from operating efficiently.
• Often times, this illicit discharge happens due to lack of understanding or carelessness. The city asks that all contractors, yard/lawn care companies, pool repair teams, and homeowners work to prevent everything but stormwater from going into the storm system.
• Ultimately, homeowners should consider elevating their homes and sea walls, as this allows the city to elevate roadways, sea walls, and underground infrastructure for further improvements.
• Without elevating entire communities, residents in low-lying elevations need to understand these conditions exist, and there are design limitations on what can be done.

Report Illicit Discharge When You See It

What To Reasonably Expect

• Coastal flooding, including sunny day flooding, is the new norm across coastal communities like Clearwater.
• This plan, once fully implemented, will not be able to stop flooding on Clearwater Beach. It is a coastal community along a barrier island and therefore is in a low-lying flood-prone area, located in the Level A evacuation zone.

Questions?

This is a dynamic webpage that will change along with the project's phases. If you would like updates, please select "Subscribe for Updates" to get an email every time this webpage is updated.

Visit our webpage at MyClearwater.com/Stormwater, or reach out to us at the city of Clearwater's Public Works Department at (727) 562-4750. 

Location

North Clearwater Beach,  33767  View Map

27.989555270738467, -82.8287085290969

North Clearwater Beach ,  33767

North Clearwater Beach ,  33767

North Beach Stormwater Improvement Project