City Manager's Annual Report 2017 | A Year In Review | Page 45

E N V I R O N M E N T A L S T E W A R D S H I P | 45 FISH FOR ALL Residents in eastern PSL fishing opportunities after Works Department stocked created in the Eastern Improvement Project with fish. have new the Public the ponds Watershed After the creation of the ponds several years ago, the City had to wait as they filled in with native vegetation. That was necessary to provide protection from predators and allow the fish to have a natural food supply. In 2017, the time was finally right. The stormwater treatment areas are flourishing with mostly native vegetation and are in good standing with the South Florida Water Management District, which has stringent requirements to ensure a high level of maintenance. The City stocked these areas with Coppernose Bluegill, Black Crappie and Redear Shellcracker. These fish species will help manage an invasive mollusk called the Island Apple Snail that consumes native flora within these stormwater treatment areas. OTHER IMPORTANT WATER PROJECTS The City is seeking funding for the third phase of the Veterans Memorial Water Quality Retrofit project. The first two phases are under construction. This project will improve water quality in an area of the City that currently has uncontrolled stormwater discharges into the North Fork of the St. Lucie River. It would ultimately bring an older area of CITY OF PORT ST. LUCIE Port St. Lucie up to current state water quality standards. The Sagamore Canal Water Quality Project also is under design. This project calls for the construction of a treatment area to help reduce stormwater pollutants. The City is currently seeking funding for the construction of this project. A N N U A L R E P O R T 2017