Most Stormwater Treatment Areas (STAs) are constructed on public lands using public money. Many are publicly accessible. Public recreation is not their primary purpose, so access and parking may be limited. Typically, there are no on-site staff, and most have no facilities/amenities (e.g., bathrooms, picnic tables, trash cans, etc.). Many are in residential areas, so be considerate to not disturb neighbors and neighboring properties.
Some have trails and are accessible at any time. Others have no designated pathways and require advance reservations (e.g., C-44). Do your research and be prepared before you visit.
Here are links to on-line information to help you learn about many of these projects.
1. Jensen Mosquito Control Impoundment; https://discovermartin.com/directory/jensen-beach/
2. Florida Oceanographic Society Coastal Science Center;
https://discovermartin.com/directory/florida-oceanographic-coastal-center/
3. Indian Riverside Park; https://discovermartin.com/martin-county-itineraries/indian-riversidepark/
4. Haney Creek Park; (City of Stuart) https://treasurecoast.com/haney-creek-park/
5. Palm Lake Park; https://mcgov.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapTour/index.html?appid=6b6720d4769c47e88422a0475d59f12b (Project #36)
6. Memorial Park; https://www.stuartfl.gov/258/Stormwater-Division
7. Audubon’s Possum Long Nature Center; https://www.audubonofmartincounty.org/possum-long
8. Coral Gardens STA; https://mcgov.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapTour/index.html?appid=6b6720d4769c47e88422a0475d59f12b (Project #28)
9. STAs in Port Salerno area; https://mcgov.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapTour/index.html?appid=6b6720d4769c47e88422a0475d59f12b (Project #s 17, 26, 31, and 34)
10. Martin County East Creek STA; East side of US 1, across from SE Poinciana Lane
11. Kitching Creek Preserve; https://www.martin.fl.us/KitchingCreek
12. Loxa-Lucie Headwaters – The Guardians of Martin County, The Conservation Fund and the Treasured Lands Foundation are working collaboratively to acquire properties in the corridor between Jonathan Dickinson State park and Atlantic Ridge Preserve State Park. https://loxalucieheadwaters.org/ visits by advanced reservation only – call (561)-339-7911
13 Phipps Park Stormwater Treatment Area, Campground and Locks trails: https://discovermartin.com/directory/phipps-park-campground/14. St. Lucie Shores STA; https://mcgov.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapTour/index.html?appid=6b6720d4769c47e88422a0475d59f12b (Project #5)
15. Multiple projects in Old Palm City area; https://mcgov.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapTour/index.html?appid=6b6720d4769c47e88422a0475d59f12b see Ripple (Project #1) and Project #s 7, 8, 15, 18, and 19.
16. Bessie Creek; https://mcgov.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapTour/index.html?appid=6b6720d4769c47e88422a0475d59f12b (Project #12)
17. C44 Reservoir and STA; https://www.sfwmd.gov/recreation-site/c-44-stormwater-treatmentarea Accessible by advanced reservation only; see https://www.audubonofmartincounty.org/events/birding-photography-at-sta-c-44-2025-10-11-08-00
18. Allapattah Flats Allapattah Flats (North Parcel); https://www.sfwmd.gov/recreationsite/allapattah-flats; (South Parcel) https://www.sfwmd.gov/sites/default/files/ documents/trailguide_allapattah.pdf
19. Lakeside Ranch Stormwater Treatment Area; https://www.sfwmd.gov/recreation-site/lakesideranch