Orange County halts cattle grazing pilot amid E. coli impairment and looming TMDL costs

Orange County halts cattle grazing pilot amid E. coli impairment and looming TMDL costsThe Board of County Commissioners tabled a controversial agricultural pilot on conservation lands after environmental staff highlighted severe bacterial loading in Roberts Branch and warned that water quality remediation projects could cost the county up to $10 million each.

The proposed pilot at the 395-acre Roberts Branch Preserve was halted after water quality testing revealed high E. coli levels, with the basin already designated as impaired by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP).

FDEP is currently establishing a bacterial Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for the basin, which will make the county responsible for funding pollutant reduction projects.

Environmental Protection Division staff warned there are no structural Best Management Practices (BMPs) for E. coli, and typical water quality improvement projects cost between $2 million and $10 million.

In separate business, the board approved an $8.74 million contract to Midsouth, Inc. for the East Service Area Reclaimed Water Main and Storage Expansion.

The Orange County Board of County Commissioners has tabled a proposed cattle grazing pilot program on the county's Green PLACE conservation properties following stark warnings from environmental staff regarding bacterial water pollution and impending state regulations. The pilot, proposed for the 395-acre Roberts Branch Preserve, faced significant pushback during the July 14 meeting after Environmental Protection Division (EPD) staff presented water quality data showing elevated E. coli levels. The subbasin is already designated as impaired by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), which is currently establishing a bacterial Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for the waterway. Beth Jackson of the Environmental Programs Administration warned the board that introducing cattle would exacerbate the existing bacterial loading. Microbial source tracking, conducted in conjunction with the University of Central Florida, indicated a heavy presence of cattle-associated bacteria in the site's soils stemming from previous land uses. "There are no known structural BMPs [Best Management Practices] to address bacterial impairments, and removal of point source is the most cost-effective strategy to meet water quality requirements," Jackson told the board. She noted that the county will be required to fund and implement projects to meet the FDEP's TMDL allocations, with individual water quality improvement projects typically costing between $2 million and $10 million. The debate highlighted the tension between agricultural land management and municipal water quality compliance. While agricultural advocates argued that managed grazing could control biomass and wildfire fuel loads, environmental advocates and several commissioners cited the financial and ecological risks of bacterial runoff into the local watershed. Commissioner Kelly Semrad expressed concerns over the financial viability of the pilot, noting a projected multi-year gap before the county would see positive revenue, alongside the looming costs of water quality remediation. Mayor Jerry Demings ultimately noted a lack of consensus to advance the pilot, and the board tabled the initiative to prioritize the protection of water resources and avoid complicating the county's TMDL compliance obligations. In separate water infrastructure business, the board utilized its consent agenda to approve an $8.74 million contract to Midsouth, Inc. for the East Service Area John Wycliffe Blvd. 20-inch Reclaimed Water Main and Reclaimed Water Storage and Repump Expansion.