There are approximately 60 miles of waterways in and around the City which is equal to about 3,000 acres of canals, basins, and waterways. The City's waterways are defined as the waters within 1,000 feet from the shoreline incorporated by the City and includes, but is not limited to Tatum Waterway, Normandy Waterway, Biscayne Point, Biscayne Waterway, Surprise Lake, Surprise Waterway, Flamingo Waterway, Sunset Lake, Sunset Islands Canals, Indian Creek Waterway, Lake Pancoast, and the Collins Canal.
Maintaining clean waterways has always been a priority for the City of Miami Beach. Biscayne Bay and its associated waterways provide habitat for a variety of marine life and litter in the waterways harms that wildlife, creates unpleasant conditions for recreation, and is an aesthetic concern for residents and visitors. AEI works three (3) days per week removing litter from the waterways, including major hotspots for trash/litter accumulation. The litter is removed by hand by a barge operator so as to not entrap or harm living organisms.
Keeping our waterways free from debris also aids in lowering the amount of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus entering the waterways and Biscayne Bay. This is important because increased nutrients are one of the main pollutants that are degrading the water quality and health of Biscayne Bay.
The current contract with AEI includes the removal of inorganic materials such as shopping carts and chairs as well as larger organic materials like branches, trees, and palm fronds, especially when hazards to navigation. However, the contract does not include the removal of organic material such as coconuts, floating seaweed, and grass clippings. The elevated level of service would include the addition of the removal of organic materials to the contract and increase visits from three (3) days per week to five (5) days per week.
The City’s Environment & Sustainability Department reached out to AEI to receive cost estimates about an elevated level of service for the removal of said organic material during a previous evaluation of waterway cleanliness in the vicinity of Lake Pancoast for discussion during the November 30, 2022 Public Safety and Neighborhood Quality of Life Committee. If the contract were to be implemented Citywide to include the removal of vegetative debris such as coconuts, floating seaweed and grass clippings, the estimated rate could be $2,000 per day and require a five (5) day per week contract.
Based on this cost estimate, the advanced level of service may increase the cost from approximately $160,000 to $520,000 annually. This includes the consideration for additional vegetation (not included in the current contract and budget) and associated disposal fees for the increased mass. The amount currently allocated in the Public Works Sanitation Division budget for FY 2024 is $231,000 for the waterway cleanup and maintenance.
Support for this enhancement request is based on direction from the City Commission, some resident complaints regarding vegetation and lawn clippings, and the 2022 Community Satisfaction Survey.