businessman with clipboard

2020 Drainage Check-up

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businessman with clipboardStormwater drainage/flood control in our area is a shared responsibility. It is achieved through an interconnected, three-tiered drainage system. This system consists of:

  1. Neighborhood drainage systems, or tertiary systems, operated by property owners or residential associations
  2. Secondary flood control canals operated by the Lake Worth Drainage District (LWDD)
  3. Primary flood control provided by the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD)

Neighborhoods systems are designed to retain water in swales and onsite retention ponds. Excess stormwater may be discharged into LWDD canals through control structures with fixed or operable weirs to prevent flooding of property. To be ready for whatever nature sends our way, whether it’s a typical summer rainstorm, a hurricane or drought, a properly working drainage system is imperative.

The dry season for south Florida is approximately November through May, thus January is the ideal time of year for residential communities to conduct inspections of their drainage infrastructure and make any necessary repairs. To ensure you have a well-maintained drainage system, communities should:

  • Maintain swale areas with regular mowing
  • Clear debris from street drains
  • Inspect discharge points/outfalls into LWDD canals
  • Have underground drainage pipes inspected every three to five years
  • Exercise operable discharge control structures by opening and closing them a few times
  • Visually inspect fixed discharge control structures for structural integrity and potential blockages

No drainage system is 100% flood-proof. The most important actions a residential association can take to protect their community from flooding is regular inspection and maintenance of the community’s drainage system. More information on community drainage and flood control can be found on LWDD’s website (Link: www.lwdd.net ).

Woman by canal

The Balancing Act

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LWDD’s water managers do a great job of balancing the need for water supply with the need for flood control. They ensure that excess water is discharged during rainy periods to minimize the risk of flooding while holding some water back for the dry season to recharge groundwater for human consumption. Visit our website (Link: https://lwddnet.wpengine.com/managing-water/overview] and learn more about the ways LWDD protects you against flood or drought.

Entrance to Broken Sound Country Club

LWDD & Broken Sound Help Enhance Flood Control

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The 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.

Photo of lawn

Prepare Your Lawn For Drought

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Although 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.

Clerk working at desk

Your Right To Public Records

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Florida 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).