Published on August 14, 2025
Construction of a new baffle box at Cherry Street and U.S. 1 is nearing completion. It is the latest in a series of baffle boxes being installed at points throughout the City of Melbourne in an effort to reduce the amount of pollution going into Indian River Lagoon.
Baffle boxes are underground structures made up of chambers that trap debris, trash, and other pollutants from stormwater that flows off of streets and into storm drains after heavy rains. The Cherry Street baffle box has an added feature that also removes nitrogen and phosphorus – the two most harmful pollutants going into the Indian River Lagoon.
Once operational, it will remove approximately 1,017 pounds of nitrogen and 161 pounds of phosphorus a year from stormwater that drains from an approximately 138-acre basin located roughly within the boundaries of Babcock Street to the Florida East Coast Railroad right of way from Babcock Street to Oak Street. This area was previously developed as commercial land use with very little stormwater treatment.