LWDD Proposes Sale of Development Rights to Fund Critical Flood Control and Water Supply Projects
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May 13th Board Meeting Via Electronic Communication
Notice is hereby given that the Lake Worth Drainage District will conduct an electronic Regular Board Meeting utilizing communications media technology due to the COVID-19 Health Emergency on Wednesday, May 13, 2020, at 8:30 A.M. The purpose of the meeting is to transact any and all business to come before the District’s Board of Supervisors. Communications media technology will be used to constitute a quorum of the District Board of Supervisors and public participation will occur using communications media technology.
Due to these extraordinary times, the District’s Board of Supervisors will not be meeting in person; rather, the meeting will be held via videoconference. Pursuant to Executive Order 20-69 issued on March 20, 2020, by Governor Ron DeSantis, “Local government bodies may utilize communications media technology, such as telephonic and video conferencing, as provided in Section 120.54(5)(b)2, Florida Statutes.” Public input may be made in advance by email or during the meeting via video conference. Instructions are provided at the bottom of this notice. This meeting will be live-streamed and video recorded.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR VIEWING AND PROVIDING PUBLIC COMMENT:
May 13, 2020, Regular Board Meeting of the Lake Worth Drainage District Board of Supervisors will be a webinar conducted electronically (or “virtually”) with no public in attendance in the district office. Members of the public may view the meeting electronically by visiting https://www.gotomeet.me/LWDD/mayboardmeeting. Please choose this option for viewing the meeting if you do not plan to provide public comments before or during the meeting. Members of the public also may listen to the meeting by telephone by dialing +1 (224) 501-3316 and entering Access Code: 802-561-877. A copy of the meeting agenda and meeting materials are available on the District’s website at https://lwddnet.wpengine.com/board-of-supervisors/meeting-agendas-minutes.
Members of the public may provide written comments (1) to be read during the meeting or (2) to be entered into the record without being read during the meeting. To do this, email your comments to info@lwdd.net by noon on Tuesday, May 12, 2020. Please provide the title, “Written Comments, LWDD May 13, 2020 Board Meeting” and provide your name (required), address, and email address.
If you desire for your written comments to be read into the record during the meeting, please indicate so and limit your written comment to 300 words. Only written comments of 300 or fewer words will be read into the record during the meeting. All other written comments received by the deadline will be entered into the meeting record and distributed to the District governing board and the appropriate staff before the start of the meeting.
Members of the public who opt to comment during the electronic meeting – rather than providing written comments before the meeting — may do so provided they register in advance by contacting Reagan Walker, Assistant Executive Director, rwalker@lwdd.net, 561-498-5363 by noon on Tuesday, May 12, 2020.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, any persons with disabilities needing a special accommodation to participate in this proceeding should contact: Reagan Walker, Assistant Executive Director, rwalker@lwdd.net, 561-498-5363, no later than three (3) business days prior to the meeting.
For additional information or assistance, please contact the following before the meeting: Reagan Walker, Assistant Executive Director, rwalker@lwdd.net, 561-498-5363.
Reduce Your Water Use
It is estimated that lawn and landscape irrigation accounts for more than half of all residential water use. This is the same water that we drink, feeds our wetlands, and fills our community ponds.
A recent study found that homeowners can reduce their water consumption by over 30% by simply readjusting the automatic irrigation system on a regular basis. The lesson here is don’t just set it and forget it. Pay close attention to the weather and rainfall patterns and frequently adjust your irrigation timers accordingly. Often, rainfall can provide all the water that your lawn and plants need. Also, carefully inspect and adjust your spray-heads on a regular basis, making sure that your sprinklers are not also watering the sidewalk, driveway, or street.
The type of plants and grasses that we use in our landscaping can be another reason for wasteful watering practices. By gradually expanding beds with low-maintenance, native plants, and reducing the size of our lawns, we can eventually save a tremendous amount of time, money, and water. The rule here is “right plant, right place.” Pick the plants that are the most appropriate for the specific conditions of your yard (sun or shade, moist or dry soil, etc.) and will require the least amount of water and fertilizer.
We also often apply much more water than our plants and grass really need to remain healthy. Over-watering can result in a shallow root system, making your lawn less drought-tolerant and more susceptible to weed growth, disease, fungus, and insects. Irrigate only when your lawn shows signs of stress from lack of water such as when the leaf blades begin to fold in half, the lawn turns a bluish-gray color, or footprints linger.
If you have an automatic irrigation system, consider installing a soil moisture sensor. These inexpensive devices can cut your sprinkler system water usage by more than half by continuously checking soil moisture levels and preventing your sprinklers from operating when watering is not needed.
Finally, consider installing a rain barrel to conserve water and prevent runoff that can wash fertilizers and chemicals down storm drains and into our canals and other waterways. By working together to use water more efficiently, we can save money, conserve our groundwater resources, and protect this precious resource.
LWDD Water Conservation Tools
South Florida is fortunate to receive over 50 inches of rainfall a year on average. Most of that amount is concentrated during the six-month rainy season (May-October). While much of the runoff from these rains is discharged to the ocean to avoid flooding, a significant amount soaks into the ground and recharges the freshwater aquifers that supply our drinking water wellfields, ponds, and wetlands.
For the large population to live safely in south Florida, a regional water management system is required that must balance the water supply and flood control needs for both urban and agricultural users. Without adequate drainage, human health and safety would be jeopardized and extensive property damage could occur. Similarly, if regional groundwater levels were not properly maintained, wellfields would be unable to deliver water to homes and businesses and the underground inland migration of saltwater from the ocean could permanently contaminate the drinking water supply. The Lake Worth Drainage District (LWDD) helps mitigate some of the water supply issues our region experiences.
LWDD’s large network of canals play a critical role in conservation by maintaining groundwater levels which in turn supports the water levels in lakes, ponds, and wetlands across the region. During dry periods, groundwater levels tend to slowly fall in response to low rainfall and high evaporation. When this occurs, water managers in the region look to large regional storage areas like the Water Conservation Areas in the Everglades or to Lake Okeechobee as a source of supplemental water. Water from these sources is released into the canal network to raise the level of the water in the canals. This water, in turn, seeps through the sandy soils to recharge groundwater and return the water table to its normal elevation, thus helping to protect wellfields.
A recent water conservation enhancement for LWDD is the installation of SCADA, an acronym for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition. The SCADA system automates the operation of water control gates and pumps throughout the 200 square miles of LWDD’s service boundary. The system links 11 of LWDD’s most critical water control structures to wireless, hurricane hardened communication system that automates the remote operation of the gates and pumps. If water rises too fast, the gates will automatically open. Similarly, if levels are too low, water supply pumps will activate to restore normal water levels in canals. The SCADA system provides enhanced operation and management of drainage canals. Avoiding discharges to the ocean when possible and maintaining canals at appropriate elevations is an important water conservation role LWDD contributes to in Palm Beach County.
April 15th Board Meeting Via Electronic Communication
Notice is hereby given that the Lake Worth Drainage District will conduct an electronic Regular Board Meeting utilizing communications media technology due to the COVID-19 Health Emergency on Wednesday, April 15, 2020, at 8:30 A.M. The purpose of the meeting is to transact any and all business to come before the District’s Board of Supervisors. Communications media technology will be used to constitute a quorum of the District Board of Supervisors and public participation will occur using communications media technology.
Due to these extraordinary times, the District’s Board of Supervisors will not be meeting in person; rather, the meeting will be held via videoconference. Pursuant to Executive Order 20-69 issued on March 20, 2020, by Governor Ron DeSantis, “Local government bodies may utilize communications media technology, such as telephonic and video conferencing, as provided in Section 120.54(5)(b)2, Florida Statutes.” Public input may be made in advance by email or during the meeting via video conference. Instructions are provided at the bottom of this notice. This meeting will be live-streamed and video recorded.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR VIEWING AND PROVIDING PUBLIC COMMENT:
April 15, 2020, Regular Board Meeting of the Lake Worth Drainage District Board of Supervisors will be a webinar conducted electronically (or “virtually”) with no public in attendance in the district office. Members of the public may view the meeting electronically by visiting https://www.gotomeet.me/LWDD/aprilboardmeeting. Please choose this option for viewing the meeting if you do not plan to provide public comment before or during the meeting. Members of the public also may listen to the meeting by telephone by dialing +1 (571) 317-3129 and entering Access Code: 981-894-645. A copy of the meeting agenda and meeting materials are available on the District’s website at https://lwddnet.wpengine.com/board-of-supervisors/meeting-agendas-minutes.
Members of the public may provide written comments (1) to be read during the meeting or (2) to be entered into the record without being read during the meeting. To do this, email your comments to rwalker@lwdd.net by noon on Tuesday, April 14, 2020. Please provide the title, “Written Comments, LWDD April 15, 2020 Board Meeting” and provide your name (required), address and email address.
If you desire for your written comments to be read into the record during the meeting, please indicate so and limit your written comment to 300 words. Only written comments of 300 or fewer words will be read into the record during the meeting. All other written comments received by the deadline will be entered into the meeting record and distributed to the District governing board and the appropriate staff before the start of the meeting.
Members of the public who opt to comment during the electronic meeting – rather than providing written comments before the meeting — may do so provided they register in advance by contacting Reagan Walker, Assistant Executive Director, rwalker@lwdd.net, 561-498-5363 by noon on Tuesday, April 14, 2020.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, any persons with disabilities needing a special accommodation to participate in this proceeding should contact: Reagan Walker, Assistant Executive Director, rwalker@lwdd.net, 561-498-5363, no later than three (3) business days prior to the meeting.
For additional information or assistance, please contact the following before the meeting: Reagan Walker, Assistant Executive Director, rwalker@lwdd.net, 561-498-5363.
Office Location
