OKEECHOBEE – Okeechobee County will receive more than $10 million in grant funding for enhanced flood protection and stormwater improvements, according to information shared at the Nov. 9 meeting of the Okeechobee County Commission.

At the meeting, commissioners authorized the county administrator to execute three grants from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Resilient Florida Program. No matching funds are required from the county.

The county will receive a grant for drainage improvements and enhanced flood protection for Four Seasons residential community and the surrounding Nubbin Slough Area in the amount of $4,973,110. The proposed improvements are also expected to consist of the construction of a conveyance canal system and pumping station to the Nubbin Slough Stormwater Treatment Area (STA), which is maintained and operated by the South Florida Water Management District.

Okeechobee County has also been awarded a grant from FDEP in the amount of $3,701,718 for drainage improvements and enhanced flood protection for the Spot in the Sun residential community and the surrounding Nubbin Slough area. Improvements will include construction of a new stormwater outfall system from Spot in the Sun to the SFWMD Nubbin Slough STA. Improvements will also include a conveyance canal system and pumping station.

A third FDEP grant, in the amount of $1,557,522, was approved for drainage improvements and enhanced flood protection for a portion of Berman Road and the surrounding Nubbin Slough area. This grant will fund design and construction of various drainage improvements, including construction of a new stormwater outfall system from the Berman Road area to the SFWMD Nubbin Slough STA.  

County Commission Chair David Hazellief praised county staff for their work in applying for the grants.