Stormwater Management

North Port is within a large watershed which receives water from the north/northeast and is not in the same watershed as much of the rest of Sarasota County.

What's a watershed? 

It’s a land area that channels rainfall to creeks, streams, and rivers, and eventually to outflow points such as reservoirs or bays.

• North Port is located within the Big Slough Watershed

• Big Slough Watershed is roughly 196 square miles

• Water moves from the north portion of the watershed, through North Port to Charlotte Harbor

• The Myakkahatchee Creek is the waterway to watch for stormwater-related impacts in North Port

The permitted stormwater system was designed with a full build out plan at a 5-day, 10-year storm.

• Both how much rain and how quickly it falls make a difference in stormwater management.

Commercial development is required to retain water onsite and cannot impact the permitted stormwater drainage system.

New commercial, industrial and planned residential subdivisions are required to put in a stormwater pond system. The outfall of these systems must be equal to or less than the outfall from the same area when it was undeveloped. This is done through extensive calculations and water flow systems. 

Roads are part of the stormwater system. During heavy rains, water on the roads keeps water away from flooding houses and buildings.

The City's stormwater system is designed so that it takes time for water to make its way from the street into swales, ditches and canals to allow for proper filtration of harmful pollutants. This water will recede, but it will take some time after a sustained heavy rainfall.

Stormwater routed to the Myakkahatchee Creek and Cocoplum waterway supply North Port Utilities drinking water.

• Vegetation helps to slow, filter and cleanse stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces.

The stormwater drainage system is actively maintained within available budget.

There are many different components of the stormwater system, each with their own schedules for maintenance and rehabilitation.

The vegetation in retention ditches (R-ditches) is mowed to maintain proper hydraulic function:

• Six mowing cycles per year for R- ditches accessible with traditional mowing equipment

• Two mowing cycles per year for those not accessible with traditional equipment

R-ditch bottoms are treated with herbicide and rehabilitated as needed to maintain proper elevations to efficiently move stormwater to the drainage canal. 

Roadside swales are also mowed by the City:

• Swales on local roads are cut six times a year
• Swales on arterials and collector roads are cut 8 times a year

We also rehabilitate about 30 miles of roadside swales a year, in addition to addressing customer complaints as they are received.

Water Control Structures need to be replaced as funding is available.

• 64 Water Control Structures

• The 23 gated Water Control Structures receive daily maintenance including greasing all moving parts, checking for any structural issues, confirming the operation of the gates and clearing any aquatic vegetation or debris from the structure and gate areas

• Quarterly inspection and maintenance of the remaining Water Control Structures

• Annual in-depth inspection of all structures

The City moves water to prepare for weather events based on science and data.

• 2024 is currently tracking higher accumulated precipitation rates than the previous highest year on record (1922)

• Increased storm intensity results in high water tables and slower drainage

Public Works monitors water levels within the City and to our north using the USGS Water Gauge Dashboard, and makes adjustments as needed. They add as much capacity to the system as possible whenever we are expecting storms.

They did the same thing ahead of Hurricane Ian in September 2022 by lowering levels as much as possible before the storm hit.

It takes time for water to move. The more rain we get in a short amount of time, the longer it takes for water to recede.

• Water held in swales for up to 72 hours allows vegetation to clean the stormwater to protect the natural environment and reduce erosion

• Water may pond in areas while working through the system. This is normal and expected and is not actually flooding

You can help!

• Clear or clean inflow/outflow structures on your property, including driveway pipes
• Remove nuisance and excess vegetation
• Repair eroded swales on your property
• Clean up trash and yard waste in your yard and gutters and around storm drains
• Limit / avoid fertilize use to protect habitat

Report blocked or damaged swales, pipes to the North Report app at NorthPortFL.gov/NorthReport or call Public Works at 941-240-8050

North Port is unique in that the Stormwater drainage system of roadside swales, ditches, canals and the Myakkahatchee Creek collect rainwater which the City uses as its main potable water supply.

Everyone wants clean water, but the choices we make today when maintaining lawns and septic systems can affect our water resources tomorrow. The good news is that you can help. Read about your drinking water supply(PDF, 416KB) and learn simple ways to nurture a beautiful lawn and maintain your septic tank while protecting Florida's and North Port's environment.

For further information on the stormwater program, please contact the North Port Stormwater Manager at the Department of Public Works at 941-240-8050.

Approved by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection in May 2009, the City's Water Control Monitoring Plan defines the procedures to be used to monitor the quality of water found in the City's natural surface water bodies. The approved plan allows the use of hydrobiological (HB) monitoring data and sampling sites to satisfy the monitoring requirements of the national pollutant discharge Elimination System (NPDES). The sampling locations provide specific water quality data for the surface water runoff from the City of North Port. To view a copy of the annual NPDES Report, please contact the Stormwater Manager of the Department of Public Works at 941-240-8050.

To report a surface water quality pollution issue, please contact the North Port Stormwater Manager at the Department of Public Works at 941-240-8050.

A Charlotte Harbor Water Atlas is available on the Coastal and Heartland National Estuary Partnership (CHNEP) website to provide the public with comprehensive and current water quality, hydrologic, and ecological data, as well as information on water resource issues.

The City in cooperation with citizens of North Port have recognized the need to form a Canal Watch Group. The Canal Watch Group is open to anyone that wishes to conduct observations on any stretch of canal. Members will become ambassadors for our canals and environmental stewards for conserving North Port’s natural resources.

We take water quality concerns very seriously, and water quality calls are treated with priority at the City of North Port. In fact, the City in cooperation with citizens of North Port have recognized the need to form a Canal Watch Group.

Canal Watch Observation Forms can be downloaded here.(PDF, 125KB)

The canal system in North Port serves as the city’s drinking water source and must be protected from pollution. One major goal of the Canal Watch Group is to educate the public on how to minimize pollutants in our water resources through communication within our communities and neighborhoods. Another goal is to observe the canals for any illicit discharge or general unhealthiness. Examples of concern include excessive fertilizing or fertilizing during prohibited wet months.  Concerns also include oil sheen, illegal dumping, improper disposal of plant and animal waste, algae blooms, excessive turbidity, dead fish and other affected wildlife.  To help protect our water quality, North Port City Commission unanimously approved a resolution on October 9, 2018, to encourage the voluntary non-use of fertilizer year-around.   

For more information about the newly formed Canal Watch Group, please contact Public Works at PWCustService@NorthPortFL.gov.  

The purpose of this Illicit Discharge Ordinance(PDF, 743KB) is to provide health, safety and general welfare of the citizens of the City of North Port through the regulation of non-Stormwater discharges to the storm drainage system to the maximum extent practicable as required by federal and state law. This Ordinance establishes methods for controlling introduction of pollutants into the municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) in order to comply with requirements of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES permit process. The objectives of this ordinance are:

1. To regulate the contribution of pollutants to the MS4 by Stormwater discharges by any user.
2. To establish legal authority to carry out all inspection, monitoring and enforcement procedures necessary to ensure compliance with this Ordinance.

The Unified Land Development Code (ULDC) stormwater regulations and design standards are in Chapter 18 - Stormwater Regulations. Please click on the links below for the Chapter 18 Stormwater Regulations. A Stormwater submittal checklist is also provided to facilitate submission of a complete submittal.

• Chapter 18 Stormwater Regulations (approved June 14, 2010)
• Stormwater Checklist(PDF, 80KB)
• Site Development Review Process Manual(PDF, 486KB)

The City of North Port has adopted a fertilizer ordinance with enhanced regulations to protect drinking water quality and the environment. Read more about the Fertilizer Ordinance.