Miami-Dade Cities Overall Improve Stormwater Compliance, but Biscayne Bay is still at Risk

Jun 3rd, 2026

Contacts:

Mariana Aziz-Pico, Environmental Policy Director, Miami Waterkeeper, (305) 905-0856.

Elizabeth Fata Carpenter, Executive Director, Everglades Law Center, (786) 496-3309

Theresa Pinto, Senior Staff Attorney, People’s Economic and Environmental Resiliency Group, (305) 204-2734

Abigail L. Fleming, Associate Director, Environmental Justice Clinic, (305) 284-3198

Miami-Dade Cities Overall Improve Stormwater Compliance, but Biscayne Bay is still at Risk 

Miami-Dade County and its co-permittee municipalities obtain a C in stormwater permit compliance, an increase over the 2021 report, with progress in planning and documentation, while routine field inspections of critical infrastructure stagnate or decline. Almost 25% of cities scored “poor” on compliance. 

MIAMI, FL — A coalition of environmental organizations released the Stormwater Report Card for Miami-Dade County, a comprehensive, independent assessment of how the county and its 34 municipal permittees manage polluted stormwater runoff under 20 of the basic federal Clean Water Act requirements for the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) permit. The report evaluated permit compliance from 2021 to 2023, and updates the last report card, which was released in 2022 and covered 2020. 

The report shows that progress is real -- but uneven. Overall compliance from all permittees, including Miami-Dade County and its 32 co-permittees, as well as the City of Miami and the City of Hialeah, rose from 68.7% in 2020 to 75.1% in 2021–2023, a meaningful improvement largely driven by improved documentation. The City of Miami earned an A- (91%), Hialeah a B- (81%), seeing an increase over time in requirements such as inspections or adequately mapping the infrastructure. Miami-Dade County and 32 municipal co-permittees averaged a C (76.5%), with nearly one in four municipalities (24%) remaining rated Low or Poor.

The report found that while overall compliance improved across, inspections of critical stormwater infrastructure that help prevent pollution are stagnating or declining. Biscayne Bay — valued at an estimated $64 billion annually to the local economy — is in decline, with high nutrient levels from inputs like stormwater runoff a leading driver of seagrass loss, algal blooms, and habitat degradation.

“Stormwater pollution doesn’t stop at city limits — and neither should our commitment to stopping it,” said Mariana Aziz, Environmental Policy Director for Miami Waterkeeper. “Every municipality in Miami-Dade County can reach an 'A'  grade in compliance, as the report covers some of the easiest stormwater goals, like mapping, planning, and inspecting stormwater systems.  Because ultimately every storm drain eventually reaches Biscayne Bay, collective action from all municipalities is key to keeping the Bay healthy.”

The report also found that routine inspections of infrastructure that actively prevent pollution, such as pumps, debris traps, and illegal discharges before they reach the Bay, are being conducted less frequently than they were three years ago. For example, inspections of pollution control boxes, devices that capture trash and oil before they reach the Bay, dropped from 53.3% to 41.2% during the report period.

“Biscayne Bay’s health depends on whether municipalities are consistently maintaining and inspecting the infrastructure designed to keep pollution out of our waterways,” said Abigail Fleming, Associate Director of the Environmental Justice Clinic at the University of Miami School of Law. “This report shows meaningful progress in compliance across Miami-Dade County, but it also reveals concerning declines in the inspections that actually prevent pollution before it reaches the Bay. Long-term protection of Biscayne Bay requires accountability, investment, and sustained oversight, particularly in communities facing greater environmental and infrastructure challenges.”

The report also shows that some communities ranked in the highest Social Vulnerability Index quartile have lower compliance scores, compared with indicators such as lack of vehicle access and language barriers, revealing that the stormwater compliance gap can have a higher impact on already vulnerable communities. The report additionally showed that those municipalities with larger stormwater budgets tended to perform better overall. 

“Equitable stormwater management is essential for maintaining clean waterways and healthy communities. Socially vulnerable communities are already disproportionately overburdened with environmental challenges without adding flooding or poor water quality,” said Theresa Pinto, Senior Staff Attorney for P.E.E.R group. “It is meaningful  to see this aspect added to the Stormwater Report Card so municipalities can address the main factors contributing to the stormwater compliance gap.”

The report calls on the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), Miami-Dade County, and all of the municipalities to meet —and ultimately to exceed— the basic stormwater compliance requirements. 

The coalition made concerted outreach to all municipalities since the first report was released, guiding possible improvements. The report shows that municipalities that receive direct outreach from the coalition tend to improve their compliance. Municipalities with small staffs and budgets are often left to navigate complex permit requirements alone and therefore fall further behind. Closing that gap requires a coordinated response not just from cities, but also from the county and the state regulators responsible for overseeing them.

• FDEP must renew the  MS4 permit requirements, which have not been updated in over eight years,  to reflect current environmental conditions; conduct compliance audits; and impose enforceable corrective action plans on municipalities that repeatedly fail inspection requirements.
• State and county funding for stormwater programs should be tied to performance, with targeted technical assistance for municipalities in high Social Vulnerability Index communities.
• Miami-Dade County should continue implementing a real-time digital stormwater asset management system, as unanimously approved in Resolution R-838-22  by the Board of County Commissioners in 2022.
• Municipalities should sustain inspection programs for pumps, outfalls, pipes, and pollution control boxes — infrastructure that actually keeps pollution out of the Bay.

“These municipal stormwater permits are a foundational tool that helps communities chart a path toward cleaner, healthier waterways and communities,” said Elizabeth Fata Carpenter, Executive Director of Everglades Law Center. “It has been rewarding to work alongside municipalities across Miami-Dade County, better understand where additional resources are needed, and see meaningful progress begin to take shape. With more up-to-date stormwater system maps and management plans now in place, municipalities are better equipped to identify and address problem areas — a critical next step in protecting water quality and community health.”

View the 2026 Stormwater Report Card

About Miami Waterkeeper

Miami Waterkeeper protects South Florida’s waters by advocating for resilient solutions grounded in science, rooted in nature, and driven by community. The organization envisions a resilient South Florida that is a global leader in clean water solutions, where thriving communities and nature coexist. Learn more at miamiwaterkeeper.org.

About the University of Miami Environmental Justice Clinic

The University of Miami Environmental Justice Clinic advocates for communities impacted by environmental harms through impact litigation, policy advocacy, interdisciplinary research, and community advocacy. The Clinic works alongside residents, experts, and partner organizations to advance environmental justice and support community-led environmental advocacy and systemic change

About Everglades Law Center

The Everglades Law Center is a nonprofit law firm dedicated to representing the public interest in environmental and land use matters. Its mission is to advocate, negotiate, and when necessary, litigate to protect and restore South Florida’s ecosystem and communities.

About The People’s Economic and Environmental Resiliency Group

The People’s Economic and Environmental Resiliency Group (P.E.E.R. Group) is a nonprofit law firm working to build thriving, resilient communities that put vulnerable populations first. Through a community lawyering approach, our work centers frontline communities in equitable development, ensuring a just transition for people and planet.