Biscayne Canal – Number C8 - Biscayne Park, FL 33161 - GPS 25.874045, -80.181442

Discussions with South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Debris comes from Storm Drains, litter from highways, and intentional disposal into the canal. Debris coming from secondary canals where cities empty storm drains into. Trash exists the

storm drains due to inefficient cleaning schedules and no capture devices. SFWMD has the best opportunity to efficiently capture trash right before it exits to the bay. Current booms at exit to bay are NOT designed to capture trash – they are to stop boaters from

entering the dangerous flood gate area. They extend less than 6” into the water. A good amount of trash makes it past the booms, as they don’t go deep, and have open sections in them

Debris is cleaned from booms a few times a year or as needed. SFWMD does not have personnel, equipment or strategy to clean more often. They must bring in a long-arm crane and boats.

There are no clear mandates or guidance coming from State to local cities/counties on storm drain design or cleaning schedule. Many don’t know this is an issue, or why they should care !

Mandates and Funding Required : 1) Storm Drain Capture Devices (catch basin boxes or inlet gratings)2) Required cleaning schedule of catch basins (some are only cleaning once every 2 years)3) Highway Litter needs to be addressed (education and more cleaning schedule)4) SFWMD needs mandate and resources to design a working trash capture system

Ideas and Designs

Boats and wildlife can easily navigate the floating booms (booms with 8” depth)Trash isolated for easy collection from Shoreline (no boats needed)

Rope system to allow shore workers to ‘pull’ the boom to the other side which allows cleaning from the shoreline (no boats)

Automated Water Wheel / Conveyor Belt design which ‘pulls’ trash out of the water into a garbage bin that can be unloaded periodically.

Baltimore’s Inner Harbor Solar-Powered Water Wheel Cleans 50,000 Pounds of Trash Per Day

http://healthyharborbaltimore.org/whats-happening-now/water-wheel