Tulip Drainage Improvement Project

Please join us for the Tulip Habitat Restoration Project!

Volunteers are needed to help us plant and beautify this landscape!

Our Phase 1 Planting event: 

FLORIDA ARBOR DAY

Friday, January 19th, 2024

Location: Tulip Pond 

Time: TBD

This is Phase one of our multi-part planting series. During this event, we will be planting 8 new trees and their companion plants! Not only will this improve the aesthetics of the landscape, it will help to improve the function of the pond as part of our stormwater conveyance system, and will help to support local wildlife. 

More details are forthcoming. 

Total Project Time Frame: May 2022-May 2023

The City of Sebastian has received a cost-share grant from the Indian River Lagoon Council (IRLC) to complete a habitat restoration project at the Tulip Stormwater Pond. In partnership with the UF/IFAS Extension of Indian River County, the City aims to incorporate Florida-Friendly Landscaping Principles into this site. See below for more information about the project completed in 2016 to create the Tulip Stormwater Pond.  

Tulip Drainage Improvement Project

Completed  12/3/2016
Funded with FDEP Section 319
Retention Pond and Neighborhood Pocket Park

The project was funded in part by a Section 319 Nonpoint Source Management Program Implementation grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through an agreement/contract with the Nonpoint Source Management Section of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

This project was part of a Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP), which is a plan that aims to reduce nutrient loadings from stormwater runoff into the Indian River Lagoon, in Sebastian, FL.  In addition to reducing nutrient loads into the Indian River Lagoon, the intent was to reduce the total nutrient load into the Saint Sebastian River watershed. The project area is residential with recreation fields. Runoff from surrounding yards and recreation fields will be held in the on-site wet retention pond, allowing time for nutrients to be filtered out of the runoff water through percolation instead of directly flowing to impaired watersheds.

Tulip Drainage Improvement

The drainage project involved the installation of a retention pond which has been identified in the City’s Stormwater Master Plan as a required retention basin to retain stormwater during storm events. The drainage system for the City’s central area of the Sebastian Highlands is unable to handle the flow of runoff during heavy storm events and typically several streets like Tulip Drive will flood for a short period. Due to the need to improve storm water runoff and to help improve water quality, the City received funds from FDEP Section 319 Grant to help in the construction, monitoring and education. A retention pond is a best management practice (BMP) to help reduce storm water pollutants as well as reduce Nitrogen and Phosphorous from the City’s Stormwater system and to help improve the Indian River Lagoon. The retention pond is comprised of drainage pipes, a box structure, grassy swales and a control flap gate.

Environmental monitoring of the Tulip wet retention pond was conducted by trained staff for the purpose of determining the reduction of pollutants within the system.  Before commencement of monitoring, the City developed an approved Environmental Protection Agency Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP).  The monitoring plan specified the sampling locations, sampling instruments, and parameters to be sampled.  The parameters include, but are not limited to: TN (Total Nitrogen)(lbs./yr.), TP (Total Phosphorous)(lbs./yr.), Total Suspended Solids (lbs./yr.) and nitrite/ nitrate (NO2/NO3) from rainfall and runoff flow.  Monitored events included 7 – 10 discrete rain events, generally greater than 0.20 inches and less than 1.5 inches.  Monitoring was performed at inflow and outflow locations of the retention pond in accordance with the approved QAPP.

Engineering Department is responsible for the routine inspections and monitoring of all storm water facilities to ensure these drainage systems are well maintained and operating to avoid any flooding. City staff will investigate any citizen complaints or concerns regarding any storm water violations or illicit discharge. Any illicit discharge violations will be required to clean-up the incidents immediately or the violator will be fined for the cost of clean-up and the cost of inspections.

What is a Retention Pond?

A retention pond or “basin” is used to manage stormwater runoff and to prevent flooding and down-stream erosion. These basins are designed to allow relatively large flows of stormwater to enter, but only discharges through a control structure that functions only during very large storm events. These basins also improve water quality by retaining the runoff and allowing sediments, debris and other nutrients and pollutants to settle. Retention ponds are sometimes called a “wet pond” or wet detention basin or stormwater management pond. It is basically an artificial lake with vegetation around the perimeter and includes a permanent pool of storm water in the design of the system. It is different from a detention pond, sometimes called a "dry pond," which will temporarily store water after a storm or rain event, but eventually empties out at a controlled rate to a downstream water body. It is also different from an infiltration pond or basin which is designed to direct Stormwater or rain water into the ground water through permeable soils.

The Tulip Pond was designed for retainage, to improve water quality and to enhance the area by making it a neighborhood pocket park. In addition, the City is testing and monitoring the drainage discharges to evaluate the amount of Nitrogen and Phosphorous.

City Inspections

Engineering staff will assist in educating the community regarding water quality improvement measures and to report any illicit discharges of pollutants into the storm water system. They will conduct routine site inspections to ensure proper water quality and erosion control measures are in place and functioning. Staff will also inspect storm water facilities within the public right-of way to ensure these systems are proper maintained and operating.

Link To A Brochure on the improvements: Tulip Drainage and Water Quality Improvement