Promises are continuously made by politicians that they’ll protect our resources and our community, including the promise for clean available water.
There have been a number of articles lately including an article from Grist asking “People are flocking to Florida. Will there be enough water for them?”
Even before it was state-mandated, Martin County was leading the way in managing growth, focusing on sustainable, smart, controlled growth. In fact, the Comprehensive Plan was an award-winning one. In 1983, Martin County won an award from Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association Award of Merit for protection of agriculture.
Other awards have since followed.
- 1991: Florida Department of Community Affairs Growth Management Award for protection of rural lands
- 1999: National Association of Counties for Enhanced Wetland Mapping Through Composite Wetland Data Management
- 2006: National Association of Counties Rural Heritage Award for “no net loss” policy for commercial waterfront land
- 2008: International County Managers National Award for school siting component
Martin County was seen as the gold standard for not just monitoring growth, but also ensuring natural resources were prized and appreciated, prompting many to refer to these things as “the Martin County difference.”
But is Martin County any different?
A brief history of Martin County and the Comp Plan
Martin County was officially established on May 30, 1925 from segments of Palm Beach County and St. Lucie County.
The first census was for Martin County was taken in 1930. At that time, the reported number of residences was 5,111 people. For context, the population for the entire state was recorded at 1,468,211 people.
As of 2024, Martin County had an estimated population of 164,853 compared to an estimated 23,372,215 residents in the state of Florida. These are year-round residents and do not include seasonal residents.
The State of Florida requires that municipalities include in their comprehensive plans a calculation to account for the number of people moving to Florida.
Florida State Statute 163.3177 states “The comprehensive plan shall be based upon permanent and seasonal population estimates and projections, which shall either be those published by the Office of Economic and Demographic Research or generated by the local government based upon a professionally acceptable methodology.”
However what is never accounted for in any State statute, legislation, or comprehensive plan, is the requirement that development be approached holistically.
The argument is that we can’t “punish” developers for any project that may be built, even if it’s been approved, is in the process of being constructed, or even if it’s built… it can only be counted or considered if it has a Certificate of Occupancy.
So we get siloed reports for things like traffic and school concurrency.
A perfect example of this is when the Kanner CPUD (Costco) was being considered.
Across the street is Bridgeview, now known as Indigo of Stuart.
The traffic consultant who provided the report for the projected activity for the Kanner CPUD was the same consultant used by Bridgeview. However the report neglected to include the approximate 339 cars from Bridgeview. When asked why they weren’t included, the City confirmed all approvals are done in silos. Clearing had begun by the time of at least the second hearing. It was obvious this parcel would be occupied and would contribute to the traffic on Kanner Highway.
The project was literally being built and yet it was not part of any decision making.
Traffic is an observable impact of development, but what about things you can’t see, like water availability?
Water
Water is always moving. And so is the target for municipalities to project population and the water needed to support this population.
So how does a municipality determine how much water they need and how do they secure it?
Larger municipalities, like Martin County, have a hydrologist on staff. They are salaried employees who are working to ensure the resources needed are available to maintain a quality of life. And water is a necessary resource for any quality of life.
But the City of Stuart does not have a hydrologist on staff. They rely on an outside consultant to provide this information.
On November 14, 2022, TischlerBise gave an Impact Fee Study presentation to the City Commission.
This presentation was created to share with the Commissioners and staff what the City could look like in the coming years. One of the main considerations of the report was population projections.
Source: TischlerBise presentation to the City Commission – November 14, 2022
Because population drives almost every aspect of a growth management plan, it is included in virtually every section of the report.
Population is also used to determine water needs.
Where do we get water?
All municipalities and projects draw from the same source.
In Florida, all applications are received and processed by the respective Water Management Districts. For Martin County, applications are submitted for consideration to South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD).
The applications are available on the SFWMD website but it’s not just one application.
There is an application for Martin County as a whole. There are also applications for the Village of Indiantown and the City of Stuart, even though they are in Martin County.
There are also water consumption permit applications for large developments like Newfield in Palm City and Terra Lago in Indiantown.
But there are none for developments within the City of Stuart.
The applications are based on projected populations.
The applications are presented by City or County Staff on behalf of developers. Developers give their presentation. In and amongst these presentations are those siloed projections of traffic and school concurrency.
Yet in none of the presentations by developers or by County or City staff or by the developers is there ever a mention of water consumption, projected or real.
So how do we determine if there is enough water?
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection reviews water availability.
Under their Office of Water Policy and Ecosystems Restoration is the Office of Water Policy which states as part of the Alternative Water Supply: “By 2040, public supply’s statewide water demand is projected to increase by 22% to 3,166 mgd, and is expected to account for 43% of the total water demand. By contrast, agriculture is predicted to grow by only 1% (33 mgd) statewide during the same period. Public supply’s projected growth makes continued water conservation critical to meeting our state’s future water needs.
Analyses conducted by the water management districts indicate that ground water resources are insufficient to fully meet future demands in large areas of the state. To do so would result in unacceptable environmental impacts including saltwater intrusion, reduction in spring flows, lowered lake levels and loss of wetlands.”
And from a 2023 DEP Florida Water Plan presentation:
“The water resource development component is where regional water resource management is formulated and implemented. Without these planning efforts, the districts project that existing sources of water will not adequately meet the reasonable-beneficial needs for the next 20 years.”
But as projects are approved in silos, agencies like SFWMD are not allowed to consider any other applications that are being submitted and will affect consumption.
So is there enough water?
According to a September 5, 2024, article from Florida Tax Watch, an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit taxpayer research institute & government watchdog in Tallahassee, wrote a commentary entitled “Florida’s Water Supply: Could Florida Experience a Significant Water Supply Shortage by 2025?”
In the 6-page commentary, they discuss the water projects to support appropriate consumption and usage are “disjointed and inconsistent.”
The report goes on to say “Florida will not be able to sustain the continued level of growth it has seen over the recent years without dramatically improving how it selects and funds water projects.”
This can be extrapolated to encompass how projects are approved and the lack of holistic planning not addressing the consumption of resources.
Is anyone else having a water crisis?
New Mexico has faced a water crisis.
In 2024, recognizing that, generally speaking, New Mexico was experiencing a water crisis due to drought, climate change, and water mismanagement, the state created a 50-year action plan that focuses on water conservation, new water supplies, and water and watershed protection.
This includes collaborating with community members and leaders across all levels of government to effectively manage the available water. This includes limiting the amount of building allowed.
From the Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s letter prefacing the report, “By following the path laid out in this plan, we not only ensure that New Mexicans have clean water now and into the future, but also that an advanced clean energy economy can continue to thrive, farmers and ranchers continue to grow the food that sustains us, and our rivers remain swift and clear. Using the knowledge gained over countless generations and the cutting edge innovation of today, we are rising to meet this moment.”
Another state that realizing the impact development has on water availability is Arizona.
In 1980, the state of Arizona implemented the Groundwater Management Act.
Its goals were simple: provide clean and plentiful water.
In 2023, the city of Phoenix began limiting construction because of a dwindling water supply.
Drought and overuse of ground water has mandated that developers find alternate resources like surface or recycled water.
Developers have been pushing back against this moratorium. Arizona, like Florida, seemingly has a dwindling number of wetlands with a number of them being consolidated to specific areas of the state.
In Florida we have seen a push from developers to build at all costs while they or their compatriots sit on governing boards, like the South Florida Water Management District, raising concerns of conflicts of interest but with little ramifications, if any.
Let’s talk local
Harbor Grove in Stuart is located off Commerce and Indian Street.
It was annexed into the City to be developed so it could be built, but because of it’s location (south of Indian Street), its utilities are with the County.
They’ve had documented water pressure issues in 2024 in April, May, June, August, September, and most recently in December.
There is a pending development application on the City of Stuart’s Land Planning Agency Agenda for a project that will encompass a total of 35.07 acres. The project will include a car lot, commercial properties, and 249 residential units.
Like Harbor Grove, it was annexed into the City of Stuart to be developed. And, like Harbor Grove, as it is south of Indian Street, utilities will be serviced by Martin County and not the City of Stuart.
However there is no agreement regarding the utilities, including water consumption, in the application packet on the City’s website.
That project is due to be presented to the Land Planning Agency at their regularly schedule meeting on 3/13/2025.
I reached out to Martin County over a week ago to inquire if the water pressure issue at Harbor Grove was a result of poor infrastructure, poor construction, or a question of water consumption availability. As of the time this article was published, I did not hear back.
What are our options?
Florida is at a tipping point.
The continued removal of home rule in Florida allowing Tallahassee to determine the personality and population requirements of the 68 counties and the myriad of municipalities would be fine if there was a concerted effort to protect the resources that make Florida, well, Florida.
However the deference to developers has negatively impacted the resources we have and need to survive.
Florida’s water supply is drawn from its aquifers. Naturally, there is saltwater intrusion. But by draining the aquifers at a rate in excess of what can be replenished, the saltwater intrusion increases.
Saltwater intrusion compromises not just the aquifer but also impacts the infrastructure used to support developments, like the water mains, as they corrode as a result.
We make projections for traffic, school concurrency, and other things.
Shouldn’t we also include water consumption as a publicly available report when considering the impact of a development project on a community?
Holistic planning is the only way to fix this. We need to make this a priority for how we develop going forward or there will be no way to sustain any populations, regardless of the numbers.
There is no cut & dry answer (no pun intended.)
The Florida aquifer is basically finite. Yes, it will replenish but the rate of consumption is in considerable excess than the rate it can replenish.
In Florida there is currently a petition to have for a ballot initiative, the Right to Clean Water, on the 2026 ballot. It is a citizen-led effort that “creates an enforceable, fundamental right to clean and healthy waters, authorizing a person to sue for equitable relief when a State executive agency, by action or inaction, allows harm or threat of harm to Florida waters.”
Clean available water is seemingly seen in Florida (and beyond) as a privilege. Shouldn’t it be a right?
Holding our local and state representatives accountable is much needed to protect Florida’s greatest resource.
Water, water everywhere… and there won’t be enough to drink.