This year's annual free Florida-Friendly Landscaping Seminar will be held at the Melbourne Auditorium, located at 625 E. Hibiscus Blvd., Melbourne, FL 32901, on March 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with check-in starting at 8:15 a.m.

Besides numerous vendors, there will be four engaging speakers. The schedule is as follows:

• 9:00 - 9:20 a.m.: Welcome
• 9:30 - 10:15 a.m.: "Healing the Lagoon: Progress and Partnership at Work" by Kathy Hill, Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program (IRLNEP)
• 10:15 - 11:00 a.m.: "Grow Delicious Food - No Matter Where You Live" by Sally Scalera, UF/IFAS Extension, Brevard County
• 11:00 a.m.: Break
• 11:30 - 12:15 p.m.: "What You Plant Matters" by Tim and Anna Harrison, Native Butterfly Flowers
• 12:15 p.m.: Break
• 12:20 p.m.: First Raffle
• 12:30 - 1:15 p.m.: "Bats & Their Benefits" by Ariel Horner, M.S., Florida Bat Conservancy

After the speakers conclude, the second set of raffle prizes will be given out to winning ticket holders. All participants who complete the surveys will receive goodie bags that include hose nozzles, gardening gloves and native plant seeds. Registration is not mandatory but is encouraged. You can register by clicking the button below or by calling UF/IFAS at 321-633-1702, ext. 52315.

This free seminar also includes free pastries, fruit and coffee. City Bistro will also be selling breakfast sandwiches, along with lunch sandwiches, salads, soups, snacks and drinks. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own reusable water bottles. To fill them, water in large jugs will be provided. All food will be composted by Eaton Worms.

The event is planned and organized by the City of Melbourne, Brevard County Solid Waste, Lagoon Life, the University of Florida/IFAS Brevard Extension and the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program/Indian River Lagoon Council.

A special thank you to our event sponsor Waste Management (WM).

New Wastewater Collection Vac Truck

Last month, the Streets and Stormwater Division took advantage of low water levels to clean out the stormwater pond at the Public Works and Utilities complex off Harper Road. Over time, excessive sediment had accumulated in the pond, reducing its capacity.

The cleanup was completed using a long-boom excavator and dump trucks to remove the built-up material. According to Streets Superintendent William McDonald, “Combined we removed approximately 80 cubic yards of material from the pond.”

This important maintenance effort restored the pond to its original capacity and improved its overall function. The project also included erosion repairs around the headwalls at the south end of the pond, as well as the installation of a new equipment access gate.

The Sign Shop crew recently installed Melbourne’s Valuable Pond (MVP) signage, which highlights the important functions of stormwater ponds and recognizes those that meet high maintenance and performance standards.

Launched in May 2025 by the City of Melbourne’s Beautification and Energy Efficiency Board, the MVP Program celebrates stormwater ponds that are both well-maintained and effectively reducing pollution. These ponds play a critical role in protecting the City’s stormwater conveyance system and, in turn, the health of the Indian River Lagoon ecosystem.

To qualify for MVP status, ponds must meet specific criteria, including being free of bare slopes, litter, and invasive plant species, among other maintenance standards.

Florida Tech was also recognized in July 2025 for its pond located off Panther Place.

For more information about the MVP Program, contact the City of Melbourne’s Stormwater Utility at 321-608-7300 or visit www.melbourneflorida.org.

Crews from the City of Melbourne’s contractor Hydromax USA are currently doing routine fire hydrant maintenance throughout the Melbourne water distribution system. The work started on January 26, 2026, and is anticipated to continue for the next 6 months. There are about 5,000 fire hydrants that must be inspected to ensure they are in working order and to meet Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) requirements. FDEP requires this test once every five years, but the city conducts them every other year to keep the system well maintained. Testing the fire hydrants also helps maintain the Fire Department's International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certification.

Each hydrant is inspected to make sure components are functioning and flushed for about 15 minutes. Residents may see water flowing in the street while the hydrant is being flushed. They might also notice a brief drop in water pressure, air in the lines, or slightly cloudy water. In some cases, a small amount of sediment may appear in the water. 

To help avoid any inconvenience, the City of Melbourne suggests limiting water use if you notice that flushing is happening nearby.

If you notice discolored water or sediments in the water outside your home, run an outside hose bibb until the water clears to reduce any possible intrusion into your interior plumbing.

If you notice discolored water or sediments inside your home, flush your interior plumbing through a tub faucet — or another fixture without a faucet screen — for a few minutes or until the water clears. This will keep possible sediments from clogging faucet screens or screens in dishwashers or washing machines.

For more information, please call the City of Melbourne Water Distribution Department at 321-608-5130.