Welcome to the Department of Environmental Resources Management (DERM)

The new FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) became effective on Sept. 11. Residents and business owners can view them to understand their potential flood risk and identify steps to protect against property damage and loss.

• View the Flood Zone Maps 
• View the Flood Zone Brochure 

As proof that you helped make the 2009 Adopt-a-Tree program a success, residents picked up more than 3,300 trees at the final event of the year on Sept. 19 - and not a single tree, or even a leaf, remained! More than 10,000 trees were adopted at four events this season, showing that residents, volunteers and DERM employees joined together once again to plant for the future. Keep coming back here for more updates.

DERM is proud to kick off the Miami-Dade County Adopt-a-Buoy Program. These buoys will make it easier for boaters to find recreational diving and fishing spots and secure their boats to these locations without harming our precious reefs. Do you own a business? There are also mooring buoy sponsorship opportunities to promote your business at a very low cost at many of these popular dive sites. 

You can get involved by joining one of the workdays organized by the Environmentally Endangered Lands Program and help to protect and restore natural areas in Miami-Dade County. The workdays are fun, hands-on activities throughout all kinds of interesting natural areas. Community hours are available through this volunteer program.   

Be sure to sign up below to receive e-mail updates on our "green events" and much more!

The Manatee Protection Plan Review Committee held their final meeting on Friday, Oct. 9, 2009, at the Overtown Transit Village North. For more information about the committee, the meetings and related documents, click on the committee's page. For more information, please contact DERM at 305-372-6864.

Miami-Dade County Commissioners passed an ordinance in April 2009 making the outdoor water restrictions permanent. Most of the rules remain unchanged from those enacted by the South Florida Water Management District in April 2007.

Landscape irrigation for all homes and businesses is still limited to twice a week. Watering is not allowed from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day. Rules have been loosened slightly for newly-planted landscaping.

Did you know that if you pour grease down your kitchen drain it can build up in your pipes over time and cause a clog? That could result in an expensive plumbing bill. Learn more.