Delray Beach, FL – Today, the Lake Worth Drainage District began work on a canal rehabilitation project adjacent to the L-42 Canal on Yamato Road, between Jog Road and Military Trail. In collaboration with the Broken Sound Master Association, the project includes removal of the aging ficus trees adjacent to the canal and the Broken Sound community, restoration of the canal bank, and replanting of an enhanced native vegetation buffer.
Recognizing the City of Boca Raton’s desire to preserve and enhance native vegetation, the Lake Worth Drainage District began coordinating with the Broken Sound Master Association and the City of Boca Raton in February 2019 to address the encroaching trees and vegetation on its L-42 Canal right-of-way adjacent to the community.
The existing ficus trees are not only a non-native species known for having poor wind tolerance, but most if not all are stressed, diseased or rotting, and require a significant amount of maintenance. Removal of the trees reduces future maintenance and decreases the risk of the trees falling into the canal channel and blocking stormwater drainage or falling into the neighborhood and damaging private property.
The project is scheduled to begin now in order to mitigate flood control risks and weather delays associated with Hurricane season and to afford the maximum time for new plantings to be installed and become established. The project is expected to be completed in Spring 2020.
The Broken Sound Master Association engaged landscape architect Don Murakami to design an ideal landscape plan along the canal bank that would retain the aesthetic appeal of the community.
District Executive Director Tommy Strowd stated “This project is a model of public and private entities working together to enhance services for our mutual customers. It improves flood control for Broken Sound and the surrounding communities while preserving and promoting beautiful, native vegetation within the City of Boca Raton.”
In order to complete the restoration process as quickly as possible, the project will be completed in three phases. First, in a coordinated effort the District will remove existing trees and vegetation from the canal right-of-way and Broken Sound Master Association will remove the remaining root systems that may be entangled with the neighborhood’s perimeter wall. Second, the District will backfill and rebuild the canal bank. Finally, Broken Sound will replace the landscape buffer with Florida native plants and trees outside the critical maintenance area for the canal.
The Lake Worth Drainage District’s canal rehabilitation program was initiated in 2015 to mitigate flood control risks due to hurricanes and tropical events. Vegetative and structural encroachments located on the District’s canal rights-of-way can create obstructions to water flow during heavy rainfall events and hinder the District’s ability to properly maintain the canals for flood control. To date, the District has cleared nearly 100 miles of non-native vegetation from its canal banks.
For more information on this project and the District’s canal rehabilitation program, visit www.lwdd.net/canal-maintenance/canal-rehabilitation.
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Founded in 1915, the Lake Worth Drainage District is an independent special district that manages water resources and provides flood control for approximately 800,000 residents and more than 10,000 acres of agricultural land in southeastern Palm Beach County.
LWDD & Broken Sound Help Enhance Flood Control
/in News, O & MThe Lake Worth Drainage District (LWDD) in collaboration with the Broken Sound Master Association, began work on a canal rehabilitation project adjacent to the L-42 Canal on Yamato Road, between Jog Road and Military Trail. The project includes removal of the aging ficus trees adjacent to the canal and the Broken Sound community, restoration of the canal bank, and replanting of an enhanced native vegetation buffer.
Recognizing the City of Boca Raton’s desire to preserve and enhance native vegetation, the LWDD began coordinating with the Broken Sound Master Association and the City of Boca Raton in February 2019 to address the encroaching trees adjacent to the community. The existing ficus trees are not only a non-native species known for having poor wind tolerance, but most if not all are stressed, diseased or rotting, and require a significant amount of maintenance. Removal of the trees reduces future maintenance and decreases the risk of the trees falling into the canal channel and blocking stormwater drainage or falling into the neighborhood and damaging private property.
The Broken Sound Master Association engaged landscape architect Don Murakami to design an ideal landscape plan along the canal bank that would retain the aesthetic appeal of the community. LWDD Executive Director Tommy Strowd stated “This project is a model of public and private entities working together to enhance services for our mutual customers. It improves flood control for Broken Sound and the surrounding communities while preserving and promoting beautiful native vegetation within the City of Boca Raton.”
In order to complete the restoration process as quickly as possible, the project will be completed in three phases. First, in a coordinated effort, the LWDD will remove existing trees and vegetation from the canal right-of-way and Broken Sound Master Association will remove the remaining root systems that may be entangled with the neighborhood’s perimeter wall. Second, the LWDD will backfill and rebuild the canal bank. Finally, Broken Sound will replace the landscape buffer with Florida native plants and trees outside the critical maintenance area for the canal. The project is expected to be completed in Spring 2020.
Prepare Your Lawn For Drought
/in News, Water ConservationAlthough droughts are often thought of in terms of months or years, south Florida can experience drought conditions after only a few days without rainfall due to our sandy soil. The impact of drought conditions on lawns can be made more severe if water restrictions are implemented. But you can prepare your lawn for the dry season which is approximately October through May. Irrigation practices, mowing methods, fertilizer application, and pest control are the keys to preparing your lawn for drought.
Spots in the lawn that turn a brown/gray color, footprints that remain in the grass long after being made, and many leaf blades folded in half lengthwise, are some indications that the lawn needs water. Apply only enough water to wet the soil. One inch of water is enough for most Florida sandy soils. The next irrigation should be withheld until signs of wilt occur again. It may take up to six weeks to condition a lawn to survive several days or more without wilting between irrigation or rainfall. During this time the root system is developing and growing deeper into the soil.
Every time a lawn is mowed, there is stress on the grass metabolism which reduces root growth. Mowing frequency and the height of cut need to be carefully considered. Use the highest setting on the mower for drought conditioning. Never mow more than one-third the height of the lawn at any one time. Keep the mower blades sharp and properly balanced. A leaf blade cut by a sharp blade will heal over more quickly, losing less water, than a leaf blade shredded by dull mower blades.
All the drought conditioning accomplished by proper irrigation and mowing practices can be undone by excessive nitrogen fertilization. Shoot growth is enhanced, and root growth is reduced by excessive nitrogen. Conversely, Potassium fertilization can help lawns increase their tolerance to stress because it promotes increased root growth and thicker cell walls which improves drought tolerance.
Pest control on lawns should be done with a great deal of care because pesticides can add extra stress through phytotoxicity. Once a pest problem has been diagnosed, spot treatment is usually as effective as treating the whole lawn.
A drought prepared lawn can withstand more stress and will encourage the growth of a deep and extensive root system toughened through proper management practices.
Your Right To Public Records
/in NewsFlorida has a very broad and open access policy regarding public records. In Florida Statute Chapter 119, (link: www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2019/Chapter119/All) it clearly states that each government agency is charged with the responsibility of safeguarding its public records. All state county and municipal records are open for personal inspection and copying by any person. Additionally, it is the duty of each agency to provide this access. Every person who has custody of a public record must permit the record to be inspected and copied by any individual desiring to do so, at any reasonable time, and under reasonable conditions.
Papers, letters, maps, books, photographs, films and sound recordings are just a few types of public records maintained by the Lake Worth Drainage District (LWDD). Regardless of the physical form, characteristics, or means of transmission, if the records are made or received pursuant to law or ordinance or in connection with the transaction of official business it is deemed a public record. Unless an exemption exists in the legislation, for example, medical information or social security numbers, the records must be made available to the public upon request. If access is denied, LWDD will provide the legal citation of the exemption.
LWDD is committed to providing open and prompt access to the agency’s public records and many frequently requested records can be found on our website (link: www.lwdd.net). Public record requests do not have to be submitted in writing, however, a request form (link: www.lwdd.net/contact/public-records-request) is available to help facilitate the process. Regardless of the method used when making a request, it is important to be specific about the records you are requesting and if possible, include the date range. A very broad and ambiguous request can take longer to fulfill and the cost of production of extraneous records may become burdensome to the requestor.
More information about Florida’s Public Records and exemptions can be found in the Government-in-the-Sunshine Manual (link: www.myfloridalegal.com/sun.nsf/sunmanual).
LWDD’s Mowing Program
/in News, O & MThe Lake Worth Drainage District’s (LWDD) personnel perform daily maintenance tasks to ensure the 1,000 miles of canal rights-of-way are functioning as designed. One of these tasks is the quarterly mowing of canal banks and rights-of-way. The quarterly mowing rotation provides for operational access to canals for emergency response and regular maintenance with minimal cost to taxpayers.
Mowing crews are divided into two groups. Each group utilizes special equipment. Flat-mowers maintain the top of the canal bank, while arm-mowers are used to maintain the side slope of the canals. Due to scheduling and equipment utilization, it is not unusual for the side slope of the canal to be mowed several weeks after the top of bank was addressed. LWDD mowing crews take care to avoid damaging private property located within the right-of-way. However, irrigation lines, sprinkler heads, and other items located within the LWDD’s rights-of-way are encroachments. Whether the encroachment is authorized or not, it is placed there at the owner’s risk and damages from LWDD maintenance operations will not be reimbursed.
The quarterly mowing rotation is frequent enough to meet LWDD’s operational needs while not burdening all the taxpayers within its boundary to pay for enhanced maintenance for the few residents living adjacent to the canals. Unlike a landscape company hired to care for the aesthetic look of your lawn, LWDD’s goal is to provide the access it needs for flood control operations. LWDD maintenance activities do not provide fertilization or irrigation of the vegetation, nor will LWDD crews trim around fence lines or guardrails. Some residential communities, with LWDD’s permission, may choose to maintain the right-of-way at their cost in order to provide the community with the higher level of maintenance they desire.
Additionally, some areas may be inaccessible to equipment and crews. Due to personnel safety, these areas may not be maintained regularly or may be maintained with the application of herbicides. You can view canal bank mowing/spraying activities on LWDD’s Mapping Portal (link: http://lwdd.maps.arcgis.com/home/index.html).
LWDD Partners with Broken Sound for Enhanced Flood Control
/in NewsDelray Beach, FL – Today, the Lake Worth Drainage District began work on a canal rehabilitation project adjacent to the L-42 Canal on Yamato Road, between Jog Road and Military Trail. In collaboration with the Broken Sound Master Association, the project includes removal of the aging ficus trees adjacent to the canal and the Broken Sound community, restoration of the canal bank, and replanting of an enhanced native vegetation buffer.
Recognizing the City of Boca Raton’s desire to preserve and enhance native vegetation, the Lake Worth Drainage District began coordinating with the Broken Sound Master Association and the City of Boca Raton in February 2019 to address the encroaching trees and vegetation on its L-42 Canal right-of-way adjacent to the community.
The existing ficus trees are not only a non-native species known for having poor wind tolerance, but most if not all are stressed, diseased or rotting, and require a significant amount of maintenance. Removal of the trees reduces future maintenance and decreases the risk of the trees falling into the canal channel and blocking stormwater drainage or falling into the neighborhood and damaging private property.
The project is scheduled to begin now in order to mitigate flood control risks and weather delays associated with Hurricane season and to afford the maximum time for new plantings to be installed and become established. The project is expected to be completed in Spring 2020.
The Broken Sound Master Association engaged landscape architect Don Murakami to design an ideal landscape plan along the canal bank that would retain the aesthetic appeal of the community.
District Executive Director Tommy Strowd stated “This project is a model of public and private entities working together to enhance services for our mutual customers. It improves flood control for Broken Sound and the surrounding communities while preserving and promoting beautiful, native vegetation within the City of Boca Raton.”
In order to complete the restoration process as quickly as possible, the project will be completed in three phases. First, in a coordinated effort the District will remove existing trees and vegetation from the canal right-of-way and Broken Sound Master Association will remove the remaining root systems that may be entangled with the neighborhood’s perimeter wall. Second, the District will backfill and rebuild the canal bank. Finally, Broken Sound will replace the landscape buffer with Florida native plants and trees outside the critical maintenance area for the canal.
The Lake Worth Drainage District’s canal rehabilitation program was initiated in 2015 to mitigate flood control risks due to hurricanes and tropical events. Vegetative and structural encroachments located on the District’s canal rights-of-way can create obstructions to water flow during heavy rainfall events and hinder the District’s ability to properly maintain the canals for flood control. To date, the District has cleared nearly 100 miles of non-native vegetation from its canal banks.
For more information on this project and the District’s canal rehabilitation program, visit www.lwdd.net/canal-maintenance/canal-rehabilitation.
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Founded in 1915, the Lake Worth Drainage District is an independent special district that manages water resources and provides flood control for approximately 800,000 residents and more than 10,000 acres of agricultural land in southeastern Palm Beach County.