Environmental Research and Reports
Environmental reports such as background studies and cleanup target levels are intended to protect human health, public safety and environmental resources.
Reports and studies are available as reference guides. For more information, call 305-372-6789.
In March 2004, DERM published Miami-Dade County SWP Guidance No.1, Soil Reuse Guidance (the Guidance), in an effort to provide procedures to facilitate the beneficial reuse, as appropriate, of soils from construction sites, sites undergoing site rehabilitation, or other soil removal activities; and which would otherwise be disposed in landfills.
DERM issued a revised Guidance in March 2023 to provide additional clarity and to streamline the process of applying for and obtaining a DERM soil reuse determination.
With the release of the March 2023 Guidance, DERM provided the opportunity for public comments. The Guidance has been revised and incorporates, as applicable, the comments received in response to the March 2023 release. The revised DERM Soil Reuse Guidance 2024 is provided for your information and review.
In 2015 with the adoption of Ordinance No. 15-25, the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) directed the Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources’ Division of Environmental Resources Management (RER-DERM) to conduct additional scientific evaluations of the Northwest and West Wellfield Protection Areas in support of proposed modifications to the boundaries of the Wellfield Protection Areas.
The proposed modifications were based on groundwater modeling conducted by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) as documented in the USGS report (Open-File Report 2013-1086) titled “Estimation of Capture Zones and Drawdown at the Northwest and West Wellfields, Miami-Dade County, Florida, Using an Unconstrained Monte Carlo Analysis: Recent (2004) and Proposed Condition.” In response to the BCC’s directive and to address some of the concerns expressed regarding the USGS groundwater model, DERM convened a Wellfield Technical Working Group (TWG). The group consisted of water resources planners, groundwater/surface water modeling experts, members of the academic/scientific community, and stakeholder representatives. The goal of the group was to provide recommendations for addressing the concerns expressed regarding the USGS groundwater model.
The TWG issued a final report in September 2017. The primary recommendation involved assessing an alternative methodology to the USGS groundwater model's approach for estimating travel time contours in wellfield protection areas.
Following the TWG’s recommendation in February 2018, RER-DERM worked in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Water and Sewer Department (WASD) to procure the services of groundwater modeling expert, Groundwater Tek Inc (GTI). GTI was tasked with evaluating and implementing the alternative groundwater modeling approach recommended by the TWG, providing revised travel time for the wellfields based on the model’s outputs.
On May 12, 2025, GTI issued a report titled, “Estimation of Capture Zones and Drawdown at the Northwest and West Wellfields in Miami-Dade County, Florida, Using Monte-Carlo Simulations Based on the USGS 2013 Study.” The report and the proposed revisions to the boundaries of the Northwest and West Wellfield Protection Areas, along with supporting documentation (groundwater model files and shape files) are available.
The public comment period closed on Aug. 5. A technical workshop will be scheduled upon completion of the technical review. Questions may be directed to [email protected].
- Revised Site Assessment Guidance for Developing at Former Agricultural Sites in Miami-Dade County
DERM has released a Site Assessment Guidance for Former Agricultural Sites in Miami-Dade County, which revises the Interim Site Assessment Guidance for Former Agricultural Sites in Miami-Dade County released on September 16, 2020. The Guidance was revised based on DERM’s evaluation, public comments, and suggestions received during the public comments period from September 16, 2020 to November 15, 2020. The public and interested parties are invited to attend a Webinar on August 6, 2021, for a presentation of the revised guidance and supporting information and to participate in a question-and-answer session after the presentation (s).
The public comment period is closed.
Presentations and Associated Material provided below:
- Former Agricultural Sites Evaluated by DERM and used in Data Analysis Presented at the Public Webinar August 6, 2021
- Technical Presentation Workshop Site Assessment Former Agricultural Sites in Miami-Dade County August 6, 2021
- DERM Responses to Interim Site Assessment Public Comments Webinar August 6, 2021
- UF Update on Acute Copper SCTL and Arsenic Metabolism in Soil
Air Quality Index Trends
- Measurement of daily air quality from 1995-2008
- Air Quality Index 1998-2008
- Air Quality Index 1987-1997
Annual Air Quality Reports
Numerous artificial reef monitoring projects have been or are being conducted to evaluate the biological assemblages utilizing the artificial reefs.
Sunny Isles Reef Restoration Onsite Monitoring (2002-03)
- 2002-2003 Grant Monitoring Project Report submitted to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)
Baseline Limerock Boulder Artificial Reef Study (2006-07)
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Baseline Boulder Study Final Report submitted to the FWC
Sunny Isles Offsite Mitigation Monitoring (2007-08)
Spatial Array and Depth Study of Miami-Dade Artificial Reef Modules (2009)
- Artificial Reef Module Study Final Report submitted to the FWC
Bal Harbour Mitigation Monitoring Program (ongoing)
- Bal Harbor Damage Report 90-15
- The results through Year 12 were summarized in a report submitted to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP)
- 1981, Technical Report 82-2
- 1982, Technical Report 83-3
- 1983, Technical Report 88-6
- 1984, Technical Report 88-10
- 1985, Technical Report 88-15
Intensive canal studies
Wastewater and stormwater/flooding
Cleanup target levels (CTL) are intended to protect human health, public safety and environmental resources using risk-based corrective action strategies and to establish the point at which a site rehabilitation action is determined to be accomplished.
Related Resources:
Background studies
- Background Concentrations of Metals in Groundwater - Miami Dade County 2022
- Anthropogenic Background Study - 2014
- Background Study - Presented to the FDEP Contaminated Media Forum - 2014
- Environmental Quality Monitoring at Five Municipal Golf Courses - 2002
- Natural Background Concentrations in Soil for Miami-Dade County - 2002
- Natural Background Soil Concentrations for the Barrier Islands of Miami-Dade County - 2004
- Background Concentrations of Iron in Groundwater in Miami-Dade County - 2005
Habitat restoration
Manatee protection
In 2007, the Board of County Commissioners sought updated scientific data on manatees and boating activities in Miami-Dade County. The Board established the Manatee Protection Plan Review Committee to provide advisory recommendations as to the need for amendments, revisions and additions to the Manatee Protection Plan, consistent with manatee protection regulations of the State of Florida. The results of the Committee can be found below.
Environmental Resources Management
Loren Parra
Overtown Transit Village North
701 NW 1st Court,
Miami, FL 33136
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