Welcome

The Sebastian River Improvement District will hold an Emergency Meeting of the Board of Supervisors on March 17^th, 2023 at 10:00am in the offices of the Indian River County Administration Complex, Bldg. A, Room A1-102, 1801 27^th Street, Vero Beach, Florida 32960. The purpose of the Emergency Meeting is for the Board to consider repairs to 82^nd Avenue any other business which may properly come before it.  A copy of the Agenda may be obtained from the District’s website or at the offices of the District Manager, Special District Services, Inc., 10807 SW Tradition Square, Port St. Lucie, Florida, during normal business hours.  The meeting is open to the public and will be conducted in accordance with the provisions of Florida law.  The meeting may be continued as found necessary to a time and place specified on the record. One Supervisor may participate by telephone; therefore, a speaker telephone may be present at the meeting location so that the Supervisor may be fully informed of the discussions taking place. In accordance with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations or an interpreter to participate at this meeting should contact the District Manager at (772) 345-5119 and/or toll free at 1-877-737-4922, prior to the date of the meeting. If any person decides to appeal any decision made with respect to any matter considered at this Emergency Board Meeting, such person will need a record of the proceeding and such person may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceeding is made at their own expense and which record includes the testimony and evidence on which the appeal is based.

About the District

The Sebastian River Improvement District (SRID) is responsible for drainage, flood control and protection, water management, and reclamation of lands within District boundaries.

Mission

To acquire, purchase, construct, improve, operate and maintain the system surface water in order to prevent damage of property, and to improve the public health, welfare, and safety.

The SRID is responsible for surface water management within its jurisdictional boundaries. Primary surface water activity includes stormwater discharge by gravity.

District Statutory Powers

The Sebastian River Water Control District was renamed the Sebastian River Improvement District in June, 2007 per Governor’s signature as per unanimous recommendation of the State legislation. In addition to Chapter 298, the other primary governing document of the Improvement District is Chapter 189, Florida Statutes. The Sebastian River Improvement District is organized and exists under the provisions of Chapter 189 and 298, Florida Statutes. Districts organized under Chapter 189 and 298 are commonly referred to as “189 and 298 Districts”. The Sebastian River Improvement District, aka Sebastian River Drainage District was created by Decree of Incorporation entered by the Circuit Court in 1927.

The initial vision of the 1927 Plan of Reclamation encompassed all lands now lying within what is now identified as the Sebastian River Improvement District. As common throughout early historic readings identified with special taxing districts (water control districts within the State of Florida), the earlier or initial versions of the present day Water Control Districts were referred to as Drainage Districts.

The original SRID Plan of Reclamation was modified in 1939 as a result of the hardships attributed to the depression period following 1929 economic bust. The initial Plan of Reclamation encompassed approximately 50,000 acres and extended to Fellsmere.

District Responsibilities

The District is responsible for stormwater drainage by gravity within District boundaries. Pursuant to Florida Statutes, Chapter 298 and 189, its Water Control Plan, and any prior Plan of Reclamation, the District owns, constructs, operates and maintains works of the District, regulates their use by others, and as applicable, acquires maintains and sells surplus machinery and equipment, contracts for the construction, operation and maintenance of the works of the District by others and controls, condemns or otherwise acquires lands.

Works of the District include but are not limited to, rights of way for canals, laterals, sub-laterals, flow ways, levees, dikes, gated structures, culverts, facilities, weirs and assorted equipment. Plenary powers to acquire, maintain and manage District works are granted by Florida Statues.