St. Lucie County tackles persistent flooding with new stormwater plan

ST LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) —Flooding has long plagued residents of St. Lucie County, but local officials say help is on the horizon. During a virtual public meeting Wednesday night, county leaders unveiled an updated Stormwater Master Plan aimed at addressing the region’s most flood-prone areas. 

From stalled vehicles and soggy lawns to knee-deep water in residential streets, flooding has become a familiar—and frustrating—reality for many. Valerie Slack, a longtime resident of White City, shared her experience. 

“In the 23 years that I’ve lived in White City on the river, we’ve had the river come up well into our property and in fact go over the street into the neighbors across the way,” Slack said. 

The new master plan maps out every drain, ditch, and culvert across the county, identifying areas most vulnerable to flooding and proposing sustainable solutions to manage stormwater runoff before it becomes a disaster. 

Patrick Dayan, Public Works Director for St. Lucie County, explained the challenges. 

“Areas may have issues with an undersized pipe. They may have issues based on future growth where today’s land use might be adequate for that infrastructure to handle the runoff,” Dayan said. 

Focus areas include Northeast County, Upper Ten Mile Creek, and White City—where Slack and many others have voiced concerns. A detailed map presented during the meeting highlights these priority zones. 

Residents were invited to participate in the discussion and learn more about the county’s approach. Slack appreciated the opportunity. 

“I’m grateful to be a part of the conversation. I always feel that the more people that are involved in designing something, the more points of view you get and the better ultimately the design will be,” she said. 

While construction projects like widening ditches, upgrading culverts, and building retention ponds are still years away, officials emphasized that planning is already underway. Implementation will be phased over two decades, with projects prioritized based on urgency and impact. 

County leaders hope this long-term strategy will finally bring relief to residents and build a more resilient infrastructure for future generations.