Manatee County Stormwater Management

Manatee County Stormwater Management

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Take Action for Flood Protection & Clean Water in Manatee County!

Manatee County’s stormwater infrastructure is outdated and underfunded, leaving our homes, businesses, and waterways vulnerable to worsening storms and increased flooding. Unlike other essential services, stormwater management lacks a dedicated funding source—jeopardizing our safety and water quality.

By establishing a Stormwater Utility fee, we can ensure equitable funding for necessary upgrades, improved drainage, and long-term resilience. Every other municipality in our region has taken this step—it’s time for Manatee County to do the same.

Sign the petition today to urge the County Commission to take action for cleaner water, stronger infrastructure, and a safer future for all residents!

Click HERE to learn more about why this matters and the BOCC commissioned study on the topic published in 2020.

Take Action for Flood Protection & Clean Water in Manatee County!

Manatee County’s stormwater infrastructure is outdated and underfunded, leaving our homes, businesses, and waterways vulnerable to worsening storms and increased flooding. Unlike other essential services, stormwater management lacks a dedicated funding source—jeopardizing our safety and water quality.

By establishing a Stormwater Utility fee, we can ensure equitable funding for necessary upgrades, improved drainage, and long-term resilience. Every other municipality in our region has taken this step—it’s time for Manatee County to do the same.

Sign the petition today to urge the County Commission to take action for cleaner water, stronger infrastructure, and a safer future for all residents!

Click HERE to learn more about why this matters and the BOCC commissioned study on the topic published in 2020.

Sign Our Petition to Manatee County Commission

Petition to the Manatee County Commission: Urgent Action Needed for Stormwater Management

We, the undersigned residents of Manatee County, call on the Commission to take immediate action to improve stormwater quality and resilience. We urge you to establish a stormwater utility and implement fair, equitable fees for landowners to ensure responsible and effective stormwater management.

Legal Authority:

The Board of County Commissioners has the legal authority to establish a stormwater utility in Manatee County as provided by Chapter 403 and Section 197.3632 of the Florida Statutes. These statutes allow communities to create stormwater benefit areas and charge special assessments to fund critical stormwater management improvements.  

We Call on the Commission to:

  1. Create a unified stormwater management program to address maintenance, watershed management plans, and regulatory standards, identify effective stormwater improvements, and reduce flood damage and water pollution caused by future storm events.

  2. Implement an equitable funding mechanism(s) for the stormwater management program by creating a fee structure similar to Sarasota County's that is assessed annually through a non-ad valorem assessment.

  3. Ensure that the stormwater fee structure includes a credit, rebate, or exemption that allows agricultural lands and other entities to subtract from the calculated fee the treatment that occurs on their property based on a runoff coefficient for natural lands and/or stormwater management systems adequately maintained on the property.

  4. Amend Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) with completed Watershed Management Plans (WMP).

  5. Require continuous updates to Watershed Management Plans through permit/plan applications to ensure a cumulative impact analysis of developments in the watershed.

  6. Revise the Stormwater Design Manual to modernize regulatory standards based on the best available science.

  7. Assess stormwater conveyance systems for flood-impacted areas and for opportunities to retrofit systems for water quality improvements..

  8. Acquire Drainage Easements for the perpetual maintenance of drainage systems that convey runoff from public infrastructure for both flooding and water quality benefits.

  9. Continue Vulnerability Assessment and Critical Infrastructure Inventory to enhance flood resilience and water quality.

  10. Utilize LIDAR topographic data and bathymetric surveys for improved stormwater planning and infrastructure assessment.

  11. Maintain transparency and public involvement by continuing work sessions and outreach with the Board of County Commissioners (BCC), citizens, and stakeholders.

  12. Coordinate with Natural Resources on the Water Quality Component of the County’s NPDES-MS4 permit to ensure compliance and effectiveness in stormwater management.

Investing in stormwater management now protects Manatee County residents from future flooding, safeguards our water quality, and builds long-term resilience against stronger storms.

We urge the Commission to support the creation of a dedicated Stormwater Utility and commit to these necessary improvements. Will you champion this issue and secure funding for cleaner water and better flood protection in our community?


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