The City of Miami Beach has many low-lying neighborhoods, built decades ago, where drainage to mitigate flooding had not yet been designed. Over the past year, there have been resident reports of flooding (tidal and stormwater) in front of their properties.  As such, residents have requested of the City that they be allowed to apply a specialty surface treatment on their swale in order to mitigate flooding and mud nuisance.

Swales have historically been limited to grass and trees to promote vegetation.  Additionally, our current stormwater approach attempts to mimic nature's water cycle.  This is important because percolating water through sod encourages the replenishment of the freshwater lens.

Continuing this approach, at the May 6, 2020 meeting of the Land Use and Sustainability Committee (LUSC), Public Works presented its members a blue/green infrastructure (bioswale) pilot program for consideration, to be setup in front of a residence in the La Gorce Neighborhood, that is known to flood during heavy rain.

The Committee members were in agreement with the pilot program and made a motion to have Public Works proceed with the proposed bioswale, and to bring the item to the City Commission for approval.

Following the LUSC motion, and prior to bringing the pilot program to the City Commission for approval, Public Works was advised by the residents they did not want to proceed with the pilot program, as it would not completely address their flooding concerns. 

A bioswale can present the following benefits and limitations as described below:

Public Works staff evaluated a second residence in the North Bay Road neighborhood that is also known to flood.  Following discussions with the property owners, they too opted out of the program. No other resident has expressed a desire to participate in a bioswale pilot program promoted by the City.  

The City of Miami Beach strives to provide the highest level of customer service, and is continuously working to address its resident’s needs in the best possible way. To that end, the City Administration has developed an alternate strategy to alleviate flooding in areas of concern, which would entail the installation of grass block pavers, also known as grow-through pavers.

The grass block pavers provide a durable grass surface that can support heavy vehicles, maintain permeable surface areas, and at the same time eliminate or reduce stormwater runoff. This system also provides a porous condition that allows rapid absorption and movement of stormwater.  Additionally, the grass block paver provides enhanced aesthetics, where the grass surface will blend in with the surrounding natural surface of the swale.

At its February 10, 2021 meeting, the Administration presented the City Commission a Resolution allowing residents to place grass pavers in front of their property, within the City's right-of-way, in such areas identified by Public Works as having a low elevation, in order to alleviate flooding.  The Commission members approved this initiative via Resolution No. 2021-31583.

Following the original motion from the LUSC members, selected candidate/s for the bioswale pilot program opted out of the program stating it would not resolve their flooding concerns.  Public Works developed an alternate strategy entailing the installation of grass block pavers, also known as grow-through pavers.  This initiative was presented and approved at the February 10, 2021 City Commission meeting via Resolution No. 2021-31583.