Excerpt from South Florida Water Management District’s Lower East Coast Water Supply Plan Update 2018, Executive Summary
The South Florida Water Management District’s (SFWMD) strategic goal for its water supply plans is to identify sufficient water supply sources and projects to meet existing and future reasonable-beneficial uses during 1-in-10-year drought conditions while sustaining water resources and related natural systems.
The 2018 Lower East Coast Water Supply Plan (LEC) is the third update to the 2000 Lower East Coast Water Supply Plan, which previously was updated in 2006 and 2013. The LEC Plan is consistent with the water supply planning requirements of Chapter 373, Florida Statutes, and presents population and water demand projections through 2040, a review of water supply issues and evaluations, and a list of water source options. It also examines local and regional water supply efforts completed and describes water resource and water supply development projects -projected to 2040.
The LEC Plan is developed in an open, public forum. Multiple meetings and workshops are held with water users, local governments, utilities, as well as agriculture, industry, and environmental representatives to solicit input, provide information about planning results, and receive comments on draft sections of the plan update.
The LEC Planning Area covers more than 6,500 square miles of southeastern Florida, including all of Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties, most of Monroe County, and portions of eastern Hendry and Collier counties. The LEC Planning Area includes unique and critical ecosystems such as the Everglades, Lake Okeechobee, Florida Bay, Biscayne Bay, and the Loxahatchee River. These ecosystems coexist with large agricultural areas around Lake Okeechobee and in southern Miami-Dade County, and with expansive urban areas housing 30 percent of the state’s population.
Typically, the LEC Planning Area receives abundant rainfall seasonally, with volumes exceeding human and natural system needs during wet periods. Annual precipitation averages 57 inches, with three-quarters of rainfall occurring between May and October. Water availability varies annually with periodic drought years. There is an extensive network of canals and waterworks used for water supply and flood control in the LEC Planning Area. The regional water management system plays a critical role in capturing wet season stormwater for use during dry times, moving water between natural systems, delivering water to agricultural areas and urban coastal communities, and moving excess water to tide to provide flood protection. Fresh groundwater from the surficial aquifer system and surface water from Lake Okeechobee are the primary water sources for urban, agricultural, and industrial uses in the LEC Planning Area.
Climate change and sea level rise are issues of concern, especially in coastal regions such as South Florida. South Florida is particularly vulnerable to potential changes in climate and sea level because of its location, regional variability in climate, hydrology, geology, low topography, natural resources, and dense population in coastal areas. To plan and prepare for regional climate change and sea level rise, the SFWMD is conducting research and computer modeling to better predict and reduce uncertainties, analyzing vulnerabilities in the current water management system, and developing effective adaptation strategies for the future. Coordination with other resource management entities and governments is vital to ensuring a common approach and shared information moving forward.
Successful implementation of the LEC Plan requires close coordination and collaboration with local governments, utilities, agricultural interests, and other stakeholders. This partnering should ensure water resources in the LEC Planning Area are prudently managed and available to meet future demands while also protecting the environment.
The 2018 LEC Plan Update is currently under review and scheduled for completion in 2023. Additional information on the LEC Plan Update can be found at www.sfwmd.gov/our-work/water-supply/lower-east-coast.
Prevent Flooding – Adopt A Storm Drain
/in Flood Control, News, ResidentialEveryone knows that trash is not good for our waterways, but many people unwittingly contribute to water pollution because they do not understand that “natural” trash like leaves, grass clippings and pet waste can become pollutants when they enter the water. Additionally, storm drains are part of the local flood control system helping to move storm water away from homes and businesses. They act as a conduit discharging storm water into local stormwater ponds and drainage canals.
When organic debris like leaves and grass wash down a storm drain, they decompose and release nutrients like phosphorous and nitrogen. These nutrients are food for algae and other aquatic plants. Additionally, people can add to the nutrient load by applying fertilizers which can wash down storm drains after a rain.
Debris blocking storm drains can be a local flooding hazard. Even an average afternoon rainstorm can cause local street flooding if the water has nowhere to go. Just a small number of organic debris and trash on top of a drain grate can reduce drainage capacity. By keeping the storm drain clear of debris, it can function as designed allowing storm water to flow away from your home and discharge into flood control canals.
Some helpful tools for cleaning a storm drain include: a broom, a rake, a trash grabber, gloves, an orange cone and/or safety vest, a shovel or dustpan and a pail or yard waste bag. Never remove the grate or otherwise attempt to clean inside the catch basin. Clean only the surface of the storm drain grate and the area around it. If the drain seems to be plugged or have any problems, contact your community board/property manager or local municipality to address the issue.
Adopting a storm drain only takes a small amount of your time. Let friends and neighbors know about your commitment and invite them to adopt a storm drain too. When we all sweep up, rake up and pick up, we protect our properties and waterways.
The Chance Your Home May Flood
/in Flood Control, News, ResidentialWithin the Lake Worth Drainage District (LWDD) boundary, some homes and businesses are constructed in areas known as the 1 in 100-year flood plain but have experienced multiple floods in the same year. The assumption that if their area has experienced a 1 in 100-year flood, then for the next 99 years they do not have to worry about flooding is not correct. While it’s unlikely that two large storms will happen in close succession, history has demonstrated that it is possible.
Confused by the term 1 in 100-year flood, many people begin to wonder what their flood risk really is. The definition of a 1 in 100-year flood is a flood that has a 1% chance of occurring in any given year. Understanding your flood risk can be a complex process, but the hydrologists at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) are striving to communicate risk more effectively, in part by transitioning away from the term 1 in 100-year flood and instead referencing multiple year flooding probabilities. For example, a home in the 1 in 100-year flood plain, may be better understood as a home with a 26% chance it will flood over the course of a 30-year mortgage. Providing a clearer understanding of the probability of flood risk allows decisions to be made to better protect people and buildings.
The USGS has published a flyer discussing in detail the probability of flood risk. You can download a copy at https://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/106/pdf/100-year-flood-handout-042610.pdf
The Lower East Coast Water Supply Plan
/in News, Water Conservation & QualityExcerpt from South Florida Water Management District’s Lower East Coast Water Supply Plan Update 2018, Executive Summary
The South Florida Water Management District’s (SFWMD) strategic goal for its water supply plans is to identify sufficient water supply sources and projects to meet existing and future reasonable-beneficial uses during 1-in-10-year drought conditions while sustaining water resources and related natural systems.
The 2018 Lower East Coast Water Supply Plan (LEC) is the third update to the 2000 Lower East Coast Water Supply Plan, which previously was updated in 2006 and 2013. The LEC Plan is consistent with the water supply planning requirements of Chapter 373, Florida Statutes, and presents population and water demand projections through 2040, a review of water supply issues and evaluations, and a list of water source options. It also examines local and regional water supply efforts completed and describes water resource and water supply development projects -projected to 2040.
The LEC Plan is developed in an open, public forum. Multiple meetings and workshops are held with water users, local governments, utilities, as well as agriculture, industry, and environmental representatives to solicit input, provide information about planning results, and receive comments on draft sections of the plan update.
The LEC Planning Area covers more than 6,500 square miles of southeastern Florida, including all of Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties, most of Monroe County, and portions of eastern Hendry and Collier counties. The LEC Planning Area includes unique and critical ecosystems such as the Everglades, Lake Okeechobee, Florida Bay, Biscayne Bay, and the Loxahatchee River. These ecosystems coexist with large agricultural areas around Lake Okeechobee and in southern Miami-Dade County, and with expansive urban areas housing 30 percent of the state’s population.
Typically, the LEC Planning Area receives abundant rainfall seasonally, with volumes exceeding human and natural system needs during wet periods. Annual precipitation averages 57 inches, with three-quarters of rainfall occurring between May and October. Water availability varies annually with periodic drought years. There is an extensive network of canals and waterworks used for water supply and flood control in the LEC Planning Area. The regional water management system plays a critical role in capturing wet season stormwater for use during dry times, moving water between natural systems, delivering water to agricultural areas and urban coastal communities, and moving excess water to tide to provide flood protection. Fresh groundwater from the surficial aquifer system and surface water from Lake Okeechobee are the primary water sources for urban, agricultural, and industrial uses in the LEC Planning Area.
Climate change and sea level rise are issues of concern, especially in coastal regions such as South Florida. South Florida is particularly vulnerable to potential changes in climate and sea level because of its location, regional variability in climate, hydrology, geology, low topography, natural resources, and dense population in coastal areas. To plan and prepare for regional climate change and sea level rise, the SFWMD is conducting research and computer modeling to better predict and reduce uncertainties, analyzing vulnerabilities in the current water management system, and developing effective adaptation strategies for the future. Coordination with other resource management entities and governments is vital to ensuring a common approach and shared information moving forward.
Successful implementation of the LEC Plan requires close coordination and collaboration with local governments, utilities, agricultural interests, and other stakeholders. This partnering should ensure water resources in the LEC Planning Area are prudently managed and available to meet future demands while also protecting the environment.
The 2018 LEC Plan Update is currently under review and scheduled for completion in 2023. Additional information on the LEC Plan Update can be found at www.sfwmd.gov/our-work/water-supply/lower-east-coast.
LWDD – Post-Storm Clean-up
/in Hurricanes, News, ResidentialFollowing a severe storm event, the Lake Worth Drainage District (LWDD) conducts immediate post-storm assessments, inspecting water control structures, canal channels and the canal rights-of-way for vegetative and other debris with the potential to negatively impact drainage.
The public can assist by reporting storm damage via our Citizen’s Reporting System located on our website at https://lwddnet.wpengine.com/storm-response. The user will be asked a few questions and a map will be provided to help identify the location of the incident in real-time. These public reports as well as LWDD staff assessments are reviewed and prioritized for vegetation removal. Priority is based on the following criteria:
Depending on the severity of the storm damage it may take several weeks before crews can address low priority incidents. Private property owners that wish to trim vegetation that has fallen or is leaning on their property from the LWDD right-of-way may do so at their discretion and expense. If access to the LWDD right-of-way is necessary to trim or remove vegetation, the property owner should receive prior approval from the LWDD for temporary access.
Any material from trimming or tree removal by the property owner must be properly disposed of by the resident or if applicable the contractor performing the work. Keep in mind that it is unlawful to place any debris in the canal or on the right-of-way in anticipation that LWDD will remove the material. Unlawful dumping will be reported to the authorities.
If fallen debris has damaged personal property, the individual property owner should contact their insurance company to submit a claim. The LWDD will not directly reimburse property owners for damage caused by acts of mother nature.
After a major storm event, debris clean-up is paramount to getting back to normal and the LWDD is committed to quick removal of hazardous flood prone debris for the safety of our residents.
Storm Readiness Includes Landscaping
/in Hurricanes, News, ResidentialMany residents work hard creating beautiful yards but living in Florida means we live with hurricanes. There is no way to completely protect your landscape from the effects of a severe storm, but there are some things you can do to minimize potential damage.
When a storm is approaching take time to mow your yard. This may seem unimportant at the time, but it will make debris clean-up easier, and you have one less thing to think about post-storm. Also, once the rain starts it may be days or even weeks before you can safely operate a lawn mower through the soggy soil and grass.
Do not prune trees and leave debris on site if a storm is imminent. It is better to take a chance and leave the tree intact if you cannot get the debris off site before the storm. Remove coconuts from coconut palm trees and harvest fruits from other trees that are mature enough to be picked. These items can become dangerous projectiles during high winds. If you have waited until the last minute, store debris in your garage or another safe place away from the wind.
Support small trees and tall plants with sturdy stakes driven at least 8-inches into the ground. You can also lay arches and trellises on the ground and anchor them with a rope. Masses of heavy vines growing on fences can pull fencing over in high winds. If the vines are extensive you may want to trim or remove them altogether.
In addition to wind damage, you may be faced with flooded areas of your yard for several days or weeks. Flooded conditions can seriously impact water-intolerant plants leading to fruit drop, wilting and root rot. Saturated soil coupled with high winds lead to uprooted trees, especially trees with shallow root systems. Do not add to the flooding. Turn your sprinkler system off. This includes irrigation systems with a rain shut-off device. You can reset your system to automatic when the soil dries out.
Clear house gutters of debris to ensure water from heavy rains has free flow. Make sure gutters are firmly attached and directing water away from the home. If there are no gutters and the water pours off the roof in a concentrated area, consider placing pavers or rocks in the runoff area to reduce soil erosion. Residents adjacent to a drainage canal should also be sure that gutters are directing water away from canals to avoid washouts and bank failure.
Before the storm arrives, check surrounding areas to ensure there are no blockages that may prevent drainage. Clear debris from areas where water will flow toward, like storm drains and swale areas. After the storm, check these areas again for possible blockages.
Making landscaping a part of your hurricane readiness plan is a great way to help protect your property and landscaping investment.