State officials said contractors may have allowed dirt to erode into the lagoon, and may not have complied with the project plans.

By Suzanne Wentley and Diana Moskovitz
staff writers
February 4, 2005

St. Lucie County officials this week stopped work on the controversial Indian River Drive restoration work after state officials raised concerns about water quality problems and possible permit violations along the 14-mile-long project.

Contractors weren't working Wednesday or Thursday after inspectors with the South Florida Water Management District found dirt may have eroded into the Indian River Lagoon because protective fencing and barriers were in disrepair.

Allowing dirt to enter the lagoon smothers seagrass beds and degrades water quality.

"The fact the turbidity barriers had just been wrecked by the wind and a lack of upkeep, that in itself is a key problem for us," said district spokesman Randy Smith. The district maintains the state permit for the $30 million restoration project, which is designed to repair hurricane damage to the drive.

State officials also questioned whether county contractors complied with the project plans approved in October.

Specifically, contractors covered the concrete blocks along the waterline with dirt, even though state officials said original plans did not call for sod or dirt that close to the lagoon.

In response, county contractors stopped adding dirt on top of the erosion-control concrete, will remove the dirt already added and will add a liquid mulch to promote grass growth inside the holes of the concrete mat, according to state documents.

"South Florida Water Management District asked us to make the extra effort," said Michael Powley, St. Lucie County's engineer. "We're in the tail end. We don't want any problems."

When work resumes, contractors will stop laying blocks and add more sod in an effort to stop erosion, he added.

The latest inspection of the work — on Jan. 31 in a state helicopter — was in response to residents' concerns that contractors seemed to allow dirt to erode into the lagoon to meet the county's tight March 24 deadline.

One of the three St. Lucie County contractors, Stuart-based Dickerson Florida, faces fines up to $80,000 a day for allegedly allowing dirt and pollution to erode into the lagoon. Next Thursday, state officials from Tallahassee plan to meet with Dickerson to discuss the potential violations.

A spokeswoman with the Department of Environmental Protection said state inspectors next week also will be monitoring the other two St. Lucie County contractors for compliance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System law.

Despite the hold, Powley said the project should be completed by the deadline — after which the county would have to pay 20 percent of the cost.

Smith said the most recent inspection by the state won't be the last.

"It is safe to say that there will be constant monitoring and communication about the project," he said. "This one generated quite a bit of interest."

- suzanne.wentley@scripps.com

- diana.moskovitz@scripps.com

Copyright 2005, Scripps Treasure Coast Publishing Co. Click for permission to reprint

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