October 8, 2026 – Recently, Brevard County commissioners unanimously approved drafting an amendment to the Save Our Indian River Lagoon project plan, adding a new Green Stormwater Infrastructure Grant program. For the first time, the program would make SOIRL funding available to private property owners.
Eligible projects under consideration: rain barrels, bioswales, rain gardens, French drains, tree plantings, vegetation buffers, aquatic plants and floating wetlands, all intended to slow, capture, infiltrate or filter stormwater and reduce nutrient pollution before it enters the watershed.
This initiative was put forward by SOIRL’s Citizen Oversight Committee, with the recommendation that the county add green stormwater infrastructure as a new project type under the 2027 project plan and expand eligibility to private landowners.
If this initiative becomes a reality next year, a homeowner could complete an eligible project on their own property, then apply to be reimbursed by the county for some or all of the cost. Reimbursement would be capped at either the amount actually spent or a maximum cost-share set for that project type, whichever is lower.
“I think this is going to go a long way toward addressing some stormwater issues while still following science-driven decision making and it’s not going to compromise any key projects that are already planned,” District 3 Commissioner Kim Adkinson said. “A lot of SOIRL projects are in the ground, they’re under the water so we don’t see them. This will make things a little more visible for people,” she added.
Virginia Barker, director of Brevard County government’s Natural Resources Management Department, said the program will help with freshwater surges after storm events and could alleviate flooding concerns if utilized properly.
The 2026 SOIRL plan was approved in February and directed $233 million toward sewage treatment and septic-to-sewer conversion projects, revising three projects and adding 11 new projects.
In 2016 62.3% of Brevard County Voters approved a half-cent sales tax to fund a 10-year, $302 million lagoon restoration plan. Voters will be given the chance to extend this funding for another decade when they vote in this year’s election.
Read the full Florida Today article here.