Graphic of Women with Cloud above her head and word 'stormwater'

Flooding: Frequently Asked Questions

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How does flood control work?

Flood control in South Florida is a shared responsibility and is achieved through an interconnected, three-tiered drainage system. Neighborhood drainage systems, or tertiary systems, are operated by property owners or residential associations. Secondary flood control canals are operated by the Lake Worth Drainage District, and primary flood control is provided by the South Florida Water Management District. Neighborhood drainage systems are designed to retain water in swales and onsite retention ponds. With prior authorization from the Lake Worth Drainage District, excess stormwater may be discharged from neighborhood systems into District canals through control structures with fixed or operable weirs to prevent flooding of property.

I have standing water is my driveway, is this considered flooding?

Since the mid-1970s, development standards for drainage systems have been regulated through design and permitting to ensure flood protection. Average rainfall will flow into onsite stormwater retention ponds through swales and drains. During heavy rain events, systems are designed to protect house floor pads. Temporary flooding of streets, sidewalks and driveways is expected and is part of the drainage design. These low-lying areas will hold back stormwater keeping it away from homes.

Who do I call if I experience flooding from a storm or natural disaster?

If your neighborhood is part of a residential association, you should contact your property manager or board first. In many cases these individuals and LWDD have already communicated about conditions. Other property owners can contact the local government responsible for ensuring that ditches and canals are adequate, clean and functioning properly. This may be the Lake Worth Drainage District, your local municipality, Palm Beach County or the South Florida Water Management District. Before storm season, property owners should have the name and contact information for this entity easily available.

What is the Lake Worth Drainage District’s role in flood protection?

  • Working with local governments and residential communities during and after a storm to provide emergency discharge of excess stormwater.
  • Operating and maintaining more than 20 major and minor water control structures
  • Permitting drainage infrastructure discharging into LWDD canals.
  • Maintenance of approximately 500 miles of canal and 1,000 miles of rights-of-way for the free flow of water and emergency access
  • Assisting local governments in emergency response during disasters, when called upon.

How do stormwater ponds help reduce flooding impacts?

Stormwater ponds help control flooding by slowing down stormwater surges and absorbing rainwater before it reaches properties. They provide for the control rate of drainage through discharge control structures or weirs. They also help filter out nutrients and sediments collected by storm water as it runs over the ground before pollutants reach fragile waterways.

Who is responsible for maintaining my neighborhood stormwater pond?

Maintenance of private stormwater systems is the responsibility of the developer or homeowners association. You can find out who owns and maintains stormwater areas by visiting the Property Appraiser’s website at www.pbcgov.org/papa and searching for the parcel and its owner. Permits and design plans for a community’s drainage system can be obtained through the South Florida Water Management District. They offer an online permit search on their website at www.sfwmd.gov/permitting.

What can I do to reduce the potential of flooding?

  • Report clogged culverts or slow-moving water in canals or swales to your property management company or responsible local government. Report issues when you see them to allow adequate time for maintenance or repairs before a storm.
  • Keep grass clippings and other debris out of stormwater drainage systems to prevent clogging and loss of stormwater storage and treatment capacity.
  • Clean out rain gutters and extend downspouts at least four feet from structures. Direct the discharge away from canals to avoid washouts in canal banks.
  • Become informed and learn more about what to expect and how to protect your home and sign-up to receive our newsletter at our website lwdd.net. The monthly publication contains articles on important public safety topics like water management, quality and quantity.

Can the Lake Worth Drainage District control water levels in canals for flood relief?

Yes. Water levels in canals are monitored and control structures flood gates may be opened to release excess stormwater for flood control. However, control structures must operate to ensure sufficient water is released for flood control without letting so much water go that we threaten the stability of the underground aquifer and municipal wellfields. While the Lake Worth Drainage District operates control structures within its canal system, it does not control flood control discharge points which are managed by the South Florida Water management District.

Does flooding occur only during hurricanes?

No. Flooding may be experienced when we receive extreme volumes of rainfall in a brief period and rainfall exceeds the water management system design. Flooding may also occur when culverts and storm drains are blocked with materials and vegetation which slows down drainage. It is important to note that you do not need to be in a designated flood zone to experience flooding. If rainfall is severe or the free flow of water is hampered, flooding can occur miles inland from a canal or other waterbody. Residents should be aware that flood insurance is not automatically part of the homeowner policy. The choice to obtain flood insurance is a personal one and should be discussed with your insurance agent. Flood insurance information can be found at www.floodsmart.gov.

If you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at 561-498-5363 or info@lwdd.net for more information.  

Special Districts Are Special

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There are many special districts within the State of Florida. The Lake Worth Drainage District (LWDD) is one of the 1,800 active special districts that provide services. However, many Floridians do not understand what a special district is, and its role in the community.

Special districts have four common characteristics. They are a form of government; they are governed by a board; they provide services and facilities; and they have defined boundaries.

Unlike cities and counties that are general purpose governments and perform a broad array of services to protect the health, safety, and welfare of all their citizens, special districts are limited purpose local governments and provide only the specific services for which they were created. They are good examples of democracy at work because they provide services the public requires and only those receiving the services pay an assessment, fee or tax.

Special districts have the legislative authority to provide the required facilities to complete the work they were created for. For example, constructing public works projects such as canals and water control structures. They have the taxing authority to raise money to pay for these projects as well as their maintenance and operation. However, special districts rarely have regulatory authority to enact laws or ordinances for a common public goal. For example, water restrictions which are imposed to reduce the public’s use, is under the authority of the South Florida Water Management District, a state agency.

Most special districts are single purpose districts. This is true for the LWDD whose sole function is to provide drainage for the landowners within its boundary. Others, such as the Indian Trail Improvement District provide several services in addition to drainage, like road construction and recreational facilities. Special districts can further be identified as dependent or independent. LWDD is an independent district because its governing board is elected by the landowners within its boundary and not appointed by another government entity as in the case of the Housing Finance Authority of Palm Beach County whose board is appointed by the county commission.

LWDD is authorized by legislation to assess its landowners for the flood control services it provides. In 2022, the assessment is a non-ad valorem fee of $49.50 per one acre or portion thereof. The acre assessment provides that all landowners within the LWDD boundary pay a share that is weighted to the quantity of land that receives drainage services. For example, the average single-family resident pays $49.50 a year whereas an agricultural business may pay several hundred times that amount.

It is common for drainage districts to elect board members by a ‘one acre one vote’ method. This is different than a ‘one person one vote’ method used by cities and counties. The acre-vote system is like owning stock shares in a company. The more stock you own, in this case land, the more votes you cast. Because LWDD provides only the single purpose service of drainage, it is reasonable that the number of votes cast be comparable to the quantity of land owned.

When residents or landowners want new services or higher levels of service, they can petition to form special districts to provide those services. Special districts are an important governmental entity in Florida.

Community pond weir

Weirs Are Weird But Needed

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In coordination with the South Florida Water Management District permit, the Lake Worth Drainage District (LWDD) allows two types of discharge control structures in residential communities and commercial properties – Operable and Non-Operable. The labels Operable and Non-Operable do not pertain to the structure’s ability to provide flood protection, but rather identify the type of structure and the way it is designed to function.

Non-Operable Structures, also known as ‘passive structures’, typically have an overflow weir or a triangular “bleed down” orifice installed at the stormwater pond’s designed water-control elevation. These overflow orifices allow the gravity flow of water through the structure and into drainage canals until the pond water rests at the designed water-control elevation. Given its passive nature, water will flow through the structure virtually any time there is rainfall except during very dry conditions when pond levels are lower than the water-control elevation.

So, why are there Operable Structures? A series of normal rain events can sometimes raise the level of the stormwater pond faster than the Non-Operable Structure can remove the water. The Operable Structure includes the passive flow described above, as well as a vertical slide-gate with an operating mechanism (usually a hand-wheel) that can be manually opened or closed to control the rate of water flow from the pond to drainage canals. The Operable Structure can be opened to manually lower the pond elevation after a rain event or before major weather systems like tropical storms or hurricanes.

It is important to note that the Operable Structure can only be opened with permission from LWDD. Sometimes that permission is granted at the request of an individual community or business. However, more often LWDD will give blanket permission to all communities and businesses based on forecasted weather conditions. In those situations, LWDD will provide notification by email and give a specific time to operate the Operable Structure. Communities and businesses can register designated representatives to receive these notification emails as well as find additional information and guidelines for the operation and maintenance of structures at https://lwddnet.wpengine.com/property-managers-hoa.

LWDD is the only drainage district in the State of Florida that allows Operable Structures.  It requires close coordination with local and regional authorities, but we believe it provides flood control benefits to the residents living within the LWDD boundaries.

Alligator in water

Coexisting with Alligators is Possible

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Alligators have inhabited Florida’s marshes, swamps, rivers and lakes for many centuries. They can be found in all 67 counties. Current populations are estimated at 1.3 million alligators in Florida.

In recent years, Florida has experienced an increase of new residents and tourism. Many residents seek waterfront homes, and increasingly participate in water-related activities. This can result in more frequent alligator to human interactions, and a greater potential for conflict. While serious injuries caused by alligators are rare in Florida, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) offers the following tips about how to safely coexist with them:

  • Be mindful that April is the beginning of breeding season for alligators, and they may be more aggressive during this period.
  • Keep a safe distance if you see an alligator and never feed one. When fed, alligators can lose their natural wariness and instead learn to associate people with the availability of food.
  • Swim only in designated swimming areas during daylight hours. Alligators are most active between dusk and dawn.
  • Keep pets on a leash and away from the water’s edge, and never let them swim in fresh or brackish water. Pets often resemble alligators’ natural prey.
  • If you want to keep alligators out of your yard, install a fence that is at least four and a half feet tall. Alligators are good climbers and anything lower would not be adequate protection.

It is illegal to kill or harass alligators in Florida and may only be hunted under special licenses and permits. The FWC places the highest priority on public safety and administers a Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program to proactively address alligator threats in urban areas, while conserving alligators in areas where they naturally occur. If you are concerned about an alligator, call FWC’s toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-392-4286. The FWC will dispatch one of its contracted nuisance alligator trappers to resolve the situation.

Additional information and downloadable posters, sign templates and flyers to share with others are available at www.myfwd.com .

golden retriever dog in rain boots holding an umbrella

How Flood Control Works

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Man-made stormwater ponds are attractive enhancements to many residential communities and businesses within the Lake Worth Drainage District (LWDD). More importantly, these waterbodies serve an important public safety purpose as they are part of the overall flood control system.

When it rains stormwater flows into the retention pond and, if needed for flood control, out through the pond’s discharge control structure into the LWDD canal. Most of the time this drainage occurs unnoticed by the average individual. However, during a severe storm, flooding in streets, sidewalks, and driveways may occur. This temporary flooding may cause concern, but it is important to note these low-lying areas are designed as secondary detention areas to protect buildings and homes from flooding.

Within LWDD’s boundary, flood control is a shared responsibility and achieved through an interconnected, 3-tiered drainage system governed by 3 unique groups of people. Through communication and coordination, these 3 groups can provide effective flood control. The groups are identified as:

  • Neighborhood drainage systems operated by property owners or residential associations
  • Secondary drainage systems operated by LWDD or municipalities
  • Primary regional system operated by the South Florida Water Management District

Water managers in charge of primary and secondary systems are continually monitoring the weather and canal levels to proactively respond to changes in canal elevations. In anticipation of a heavy rainfall event, water managers will make operational adjustments to maintain appropriate water elevations for flood control. Additionally, throughout the year routine canal maintenance is conducted to provide unobstructed flow in the canal channel and access along the canal rights-of-way. The inspection of control structures, pumps and other infrastructure is also conducted, and repairs or replacements are made.

Property owners and residential associations have a similar role regarding their neighborhood drainage system. They must maintain their drainage infrastructure to ensure that inlets, storm drains, underground pipes, and emergency discharge control structures are free of potential blockages and working as designed, thus maintaining the flow of stormwater away from their property. An annual inspection of the drainage infrastructure should be made, and repairs should be completed before the onset of storm season.

LWDD works closely with property managers and community boards to manage potential flooding. You can find more information about flood control at https://lwddnet.wpengine.com/storm-response.