By TOMMY B. STROWD
PUBLISHED SunSentinel January 15, 2024 at 7:00 a.m. | UPDATED: January 15, 2024 at 7:01 a.m.
When Congress enacted the Water Resources Development Act of 2000 more than two decades ago, it authorized the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan and expressed its clear intention to protect the water supply and water-related needs of communities like ours while restoring America’s Everglades. In fact, the law clearly stated that the water supply for everyone living in the areas connected to Lake Okeechobee at the time would be maintained. The federal law, passed with bipartisan support, directed federal agencies “to restore, preserve, and protect the South Florida ecosystem while providing for other water-related needs of the region, including water supply and flood protection.”
Since then, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has taken steps that appear contrary to this principle by proposing an operations plan to manage Lake Okeechobee in a manner that decreases the water supply that was to be protected by this law. The Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM), which is anticipated to be approved later this year, is intended to incorporate flexibility in Lake Okeechobee operations while balancing the congressionally authorized project purposes for flood control and water supply, including agricultural, municipal and environmental uses. However, the plan attempts to achieve most of these benefits without the water supply protections intended by Congress.
This has the potential to impact freshwater availability to the residents of our area as well as limit important agricultural irrigation. Furthermore, the potential reduction in water availability will decrease our ability to protect many water supply wellfields along the lower east coast of Florida from contamination associated with harmful saltwater intrusion.
In past years, we have seen what happens when we experience natural droughts. It isn’t pretty — and the impacts are not short-lived. Local fire departments struggle to get the water necessary for fighting fires, tall condominiums can lose water pressure, vegetation within golf courses and residential communities turns brown, community lakes recede, and farmers struggle to water their crops. All of these problems are likely to become more common if the federal government continues to erode our state’s water rights and manages water resources differently than what is intended by existing law.
The Lake Worth Drainage District manages water resources for approximately one-half of the population of Palm Beach County by providing water supply protection, flood control and water conservation. We understand the movement of water and recognize the benefits and risks to the region’s water resources associated with the management of Lake Okeechobee and restoration of the Everglades. We fully support the continuing efforts to restore this unique South Florida ecosystem. But this is best accomplished by ensuring all federal agencies follow the law passed in 2000, and that state water users are delivered the water they have been legally promised. Safeguarding the availability of clean fresh water is in the best interest of all Floridians.
Your Question Answered
/in Flood Control, News, ResidentialQ: What is the difference between the Lake Worth Drainage District (LWDD) and the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD)? Click here to find the answer.
A: Both the LWDD and the SFWMD provide flood control but differ in size and responsibilities. SFWMD is one of our state’s five regional water management districts and oversees the water resources in the southern half of Florida, covering 16 counties from Orlando to the Florida Keys. LWDD is a local, independent special taxing district encompassing approximately 200 square miles in southeastern Palm Beach County.
Flood control in South Florida is an integrated system consisting of primary canals operated by SFWMD, secondary canals operated and maintained by the LWDD, and tertiary neighborhood drainage systems owned, operated and maintained by residential associations. LWDD and SFWMD work closely together to provide flood control for our residents. When necessary, LWDD discharges excess stormwater into the regional flood control system or primary system operated by the SFWMD.
Executive Director’s Annual Report to Landowners
/in Drought, News, O & M, Residential, Water SupplyExecutive Director Tommy Strowd, P.E. presented the Annual Report at the Landowners meeting. Director Strowd highlighted the district’s achievements in 2023 and discussed the goals for 2024. Presentation can be found at www.lwdd.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2024ReportToLandowners_Strowd_20230110.pdf
Your Question Answered
/in Flood Control, News, ResidentialHow does stormwater drain from my neighborhood?
When it rains, stormwater should flow from rooftops, driveways, and streets into a retention pond or storm drain. Then, if needed for flood control, flow out through the pond’s discharge control structure into a LWDD canal. Most of the time, this drainage occurs unnoticed by the average individual. However, during a severe storm, flooding in streets, sidewalks, and driveways can occur. This temporary flooding may cause concern, but it is important to note these low-lying areas are designed as secondary detention areas to protect buildings and homes from flooding.
Within LWDD’s boundary, stormwater drainage is a shared responsibility:
Water managers in charge of primary and secondary systems are continuously monitoring the weather and canal levels to proactively respond to changes in canal elevations. In anticipation of a heavy rainfall event, water managers will make operational adjustments to maintain appropriate water elevations for flood control. Throughout the year, routine canal maintenance and inspections of control structures, pumps, and other infrastructure are performed to ensure the overall functionality of the water management system.
Property owners and residential associations have a similar role regarding their neighborhood drainage system. They must maintain their drainage infrastructure to ensure that inlets, storm drains, underground pipes, and emergency discharge control structures are clear of potential blockages and working as designed. Property owners and associations should conduct an annual inspection of the drainage infrastructure, and repairs should be made before the onset of storm season.
Army Corps of Engineers must safeguard our water supply
/in News, Water SupplyBy TOMMY B. STROWD
PUBLISHED SunSentinel January 15, 2024 at 7:00 a.m. | UPDATED: January 15, 2024 at 7:01 a.m.
When Congress enacted the Water Resources Development Act of 2000 more than two decades ago, it authorized the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan and expressed its clear intention to protect the water supply and water-related needs of communities like ours while restoring America’s Everglades. In fact, the law clearly stated that the water supply for everyone living in the areas connected to Lake Okeechobee at the time would be maintained. The federal law, passed with bipartisan support, directed federal agencies “to restore, preserve, and protect the South Florida ecosystem while providing for other water-related needs of the region, including water supply and flood protection.”
Since then, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has taken steps that appear contrary to this principle by proposing an operations plan to manage Lake Okeechobee in a manner that decreases the water supply that was to be protected by this law. The Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM), which is anticipated to be approved later this year, is intended to incorporate flexibility in Lake Okeechobee operations while balancing the congressionally authorized project purposes for flood control and water supply, including agricultural, municipal and environmental uses. However, the plan attempts to achieve most of these benefits without the water supply protections intended by Congress.
This has the potential to impact freshwater availability to the residents of our area as well as limit important agricultural irrigation. Furthermore, the potential reduction in water availability will decrease our ability to protect many water supply wellfields along the lower east coast of Florida from contamination associated with harmful saltwater intrusion.
In past years, we have seen what happens when we experience natural droughts. It isn’t pretty — and the impacts are not short-lived. Local fire departments struggle to get the water necessary for fighting fires, tall condominiums can lose water pressure, vegetation within golf courses and residential communities turns brown, community lakes recede, and farmers struggle to water their crops. All of these problems are likely to become more common if the federal government continues to erode our state’s water rights and manages water resources differently than what is intended by existing law.
The Lake Worth Drainage District manages water resources for approximately one-half of the population of Palm Beach County by providing water supply protection, flood control and water conservation. We understand the movement of water and recognize the benefits and risks to the region’s water resources associated with the management of Lake Okeechobee and restoration of the Everglades. We fully support the continuing efforts to restore this unique South Florida ecosystem. But this is best accomplished by ensuring all federal agencies follow the law passed in 2000, and that state water users are delivered the water they have been legally promised. Safeguarding the availability of clean fresh water is in the best interest of all Floridians.
Water Management Is 24/7
/in Flood Control, News, ResidentialSouth Florida’s tropical weather events can be intense and seriously threaten property and life. In response, the Lake Worth Drainage District (LWDD) monitors canal elevations and makes necessary operational adjustments to its water control structures to provide flood control for the 200 square miles of land within its boundary.
Water control structures act like dams, allowing stormwater to be released or held back depending on weather conditions. The technology used to operate LWDD’s water control structures is called Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA). As the water rises in the canal and reaches a pre-determined elevation, SCADA will slowly open control structures releasing water for flood control. Similarly, as water elevations return to normal levels the control structure gates will close, holding back water for conservation and water supply demands.
This response to changes in the canal system happens automatically, 7 days a week, and can be monitored remotely by staff using mobile devices. However, in anticipation of severe weather, staff can override the automated SCADA system and make manual adjustments as needed. The remote monitoring and operating functions of SCADA eliminates the need for LWDD staff to venture out during dangerous weather conditions to operate control structures, as well as significantly reduces response time.
Another advantage to SCADA is the capture of operational data by the system which can be used to evaluate future water supply needs and historical flood control responses. This data can be shared with regional water management partners for enhanced flood control coordination and water conservation measures.
LWDD is proud to provide the residents and businesses within our boundary this 24/7 flood control technology.