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 Hurricane Idalia flooded our city in August 2023, the city of Clearwater has installed eight 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.
• Less than two years ago, the city began installing new tidal valves 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.
• The city has developed a communication plan to increase communication with North Beach residents and has planned campaigns and communication tactics.

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.
• The city has installed eight temporary pumps near outfalls on North Beach to help improve system performance.
• Further down the road, the city will install permanent stormwater pumps at North Beach outfalls.
• Work to improve the stormwater infrastructure at North Beach will occur in phases over several years.
• The city is in the process of selecting a design team for the North Beach stormwater improvement project, for which design and construction is expected to be complete in five to seven years.

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.