Urban Mobile Irrigation Lab

 This FREE service provides residents and businesses of Palm Beach County with an evaluation of their irrigation system and a detailed report to help lower water use during both summer and winter seasons.  This service is brought to you in cooperation with USDA/NRCS and SFWMD. By appointment only.

Land Management Projects:

South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD)

Through HB 1119, Palm Beach Soil & Water Conservation District (PBSWCD) works in cooperation with South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) to manage properties as part of the Everglades restoration effort.

Depending on the restoration schedule, purchased land may sit idle for some time allowing exotic noxious plants, such as Melaleuca and Brazilian pepper, to invade the land.  PBSWCD manages the land and keeps it in agricultural production until needed in the restoration effort.  PBSWCD leases, monitors and documents Best Management Practices (BMPS) for each property. Some benefits of maintaining land in agricultural production are:

• Facilitates and reduces the cost of construction of storm treatment areas
• Generates revenues (lease payments & taxes)
• Provides jobs
• Prevents noxious vegetation from spreading
• Monitored BMPs

Palm Beach County Agriculture Reserve
PBSWCD entered into an agreement with Palm Beach County (PBC) to manage parcels owned by the county in the Ag Reserve.  The properties are leased for agricultural production and PBSWCD works with the lessees to customize a three-year BMP plan based on the crop(s) grown. The plan will provide ongoing assurance that acceptable agricultural practices are conducted in the form of verified implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs).  In addition, PBSWCD develops maps indicating locations of all field and water control structures as well as provides soil maps and interpretation.

Conservation Education
A vast majority of the county's population is made up of relocated residents unfamiliar with the South Florida environment, making education a vital necessity.  PBSWCD encourages and promotes conservation education throughout Palm Beach County with displays at the South Florida Fair as well as other local events.

National Conservation Poster Contest
Students in grades K – 5^th are invited to participate in the local poster contest.  The conservation-based theme encourages students to share their thoughts on soil, water and related natural resource issues.  First place posters advance to the Area-wide and State-wide competitions with the State-wide winning poster going on to the National competition. Local winning posters are displayed in our booth at the South Florida Fair.

Palm Beach County Envirothon
The Envirothon is a competitive, problem-solving, natural resource event for high school students.  It is coordinated by PBSWCD annually.  It challenges teams of five students to understand the total environment and their role in it.  The first place Regional team advances to the State competition.  The first place State team competes at the National level. This year PBSWCD held it's tenth annual Envirothon.

South Florida Fair
Each year the district is a participant at the South Florida Fair.  Our booth is located in the County Extension Services Building #5.  Volunteers are always appreciated and free admission is provided for the day on which the volunteer works. Community service hours are also given to help meet student goals.