'Sounding an alarm': Volusia County Chair Jeff Brower urges focus on water quality

Volusia County Chair Jeff Brower said improving water quality should be the council's top priority in a speech Tuesday at the State of the County event at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach.

"Those rivers are sounding an alarm. Those springs are sounding an alarm that require immediate and continuous action," Brower said. "Swimming is not permitted in three of our five springs because bacteria counts are too high."

"Four of our rivers, including the Halifax, which is the northern part of the Indian River Lagoon, the Indian, St. Johns, Tomoka River, as well as Spruce Creek are all on the Impaired Water List of the Clean Water Act," he added.

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Brower spoke to a crowd of hundreds of people, including county and city officials, members of the public and others. The event reviewed accomplishments from 2022 and provided a look ahead. Brower also spoke about the future of the county's coastline and whether there should be development restrictions.

During his speech, Brower took a note out of his coat pocket and described Senate Bill 1240, introduced by Sen. Danny Burgess, a Republican from Pasco County. The bill would give state government control of ― and prohibit county and municipal government regulations of ― "water quality, quantity, pollution control, pollutant discharge prevention or removal, and wetlands," according to the bill description.

He is opposed.

'A special place and a special people'

Part of Brower's speech focused on hurricanes Ian and Nicole. He assured people that the county will continue working with the state toward recovery along the coast.

Hurricanes Ian and Nicole downgraded to tropical storms when they reached Volusia and Flagler counties, devastated the coastline, and many residents have a long recovery process ahead. The state has given the county millions of dollars to help with relief efforts.

Brower said that the storms raised questions that county officials, state representatives, the business community and residents should consider, including where and how to build going forward.

"What have we learned from these storms? Should the Coastal Construction Control Line be moved further west of the mean high tide water mark for any future development? Or should future development only occur on the west side of A1A?" he asked.

"Rushing forward in this current growth cycle with the hope technology will catch up some time down the road should not be an option," Brower said. "Assuming our growth patterns are not contributing to our current dilemma is not credible or responsible. This is our opportunity to make meaningful changes."

Throughout his speech, Brower encouraged people from all backgrounds to come together and help provide solutions for the issues the county is facing, and he pointed to how people across the county have helped each other rebuild from storm damage.

"That's who we are. We are a special place and a special people. It is that love for place and neighbors that can make our county with God's help the best place to live, work and play in Florida," Brower said. "My hope is these challenges will draw our community together in a daily appeal to God for his guidance, wisdom and grace. We can't do it alone."

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Volusia chair talks water quality, development at State of the County