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Trash dumped on right-of-way

Drainage Canals Are Not Dump Sites

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Dumping, throwing, discarding, placing, depositing or disposing of vegetative debris or other trash in the Lake Worth Drainage District (LWDD) canals or along the rights-of-way is illegal. Under the “Florida Litter Law” (Link: Florida Statute 403.413), dumping material on public or private property is punishable by fine and potential jail time. For example, dumping in excess of 15 pounds, but less than 500 pounds for noncommercial purposes is a first-degree misdemeanor and is punishable up to a $1,000 fine and imprisonment of one year. As the weight and volume of the material increases so do the penalties.

Within LWDD’s service area, illegally dumped items are largely non-hazardous solid wastes that are inconvenient or costly to dispose of properly. Typical litter items include household trash, furniture, appliances, tires, and vegetative debris from lawn maintenance and tree trimming.  Dumping offenders most often include residents, construction and landscape contractors, waste removers and automobile and tire repair shops.

Some of the negative effects of illegal dumping can impact public safety, the surrounding environment, and the local economy. For example, using a drainage canal as a dump site can reduce the flood control capacity of the canal and threaten the health and safety of residents. Additionally, trash dumped on the canal right-of-way can impede access needed for regular maintenance or emergency response during severe weather. While landfills are designed to prevent waste from leaching into the ground or adjacent waterbody, this is not true for illegal dumping which can harm local areas. Finally, dumping is an eyesore that negatively affects surrounding property values and governments must redirect resources to clean-up materials and provide pollution mediation.

If you witness an illegal dumping incident in progress, call your local law enforcement agency or 911. Catching dumpers in the act is the best way for police to apprehend dumpers and deter future violations. Never confront someone who is dumping. Instead, try to get the vehicle license number or description of the vehicle used to commit the crime. Most importantly, share this information with your neighbors and encourage them to always dispose of trash properly. For more information on the proper disposal of trash visit Palm Beach County Solid Waste website. (Link: www.swa.org/408/For-Residents).

L-50 Canal east Boca Raton After Hurricane Irma

LWDD’s Canal Rehabilitation In The City of Boca Raton

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At the request of Mayor Scott Singer on behalf of the City of Boca Raton, the Lake Worth Drainage District Board of Supervisors agreed at its July 11th Board Meeting to postpone vegetation removal along the L-48, L-49 and L-50 Canal rights-of-way within the City of Boca Raton. This postponement will allow the District and City the opportunity to work together and consider options for necessary canal rehabilitation on these canals prior to final action by the District’s Board of Supervisors on October 17, 2018.  The District will be moving forward with the following necessary canal work.

L-48 Canal:

  • Removal of stacked vegetation that was previously cut from right-of-way
  • Stump grinding vegetation previously cut along the south bank
  • Dredging silt from a portion of the channel adjacent to I-95
  • Excavation of shoaling east of Southwest 9th Avenue as may be necessary

L-49 Canal:

  • Placement of erosion control mats (jute fiber) along the top of canal banks west of 12th Avenue
  • Stump grinding of rubber tree previously removed west of Southwest 9th Avenue

L-50 Canal:

  • Inspection of outfall pipe located west of Southwest 8th Avenue, and remedial work of such as may be necessary
  • Removal of shoaling between 9th and 12th Avenues

Residents are reminded to take proactive measures for hurricane preparedness and sustainable tree maintenance by pruning trees away from drainage canals and refraining from planting trees or vegetation on drainage or utility easements and public rights-of-way.

Additional information and video on the District’s Canal Rehabilitation Program can be found on our website at https://lwddnet.wpengine.com/canal-maintenance/canal-rehabilitation. The City of Boca Raton’s website provides civic alerts at https://www.myboca.us/.