I am unable to attend the LWDD Board meetings. How can I get a copy of the meeting materials and minutes?
A copy of the Board of Supervisors meeting agendas, minutes and presentation materials are available on the District’s website at https://lwddnet.wpengine.com/board-of-supervisors/meeting-agendas-minutes. For older minutes, please contact the District at info@lwdd.net.
Stormwater ponds can enhance the community’s aesthetic appeal. However, residents within the Lake Worth Drainage District (LWDD) boundary may be surprised to discover that the body of water often referred to as the community lake is, in fact, a stormwater management pond.
These ponds are engineered structures designed to collect surface water runoff, such as rainfall. They temporarily store water and release it at a controlled rate until reaching the intended water level within the pond.
During periods of low precipitation, it is normal for ponds to experience lower water levels, potentially revealing sandy banks and limiting their use for lawn irrigation. Since rainfall primarily replenishes these ponds, and LWDD canal water cannot be used to replenish them, these conditions will persist until additional rainfall occurs.
Visit our website for more information on community drainage at www.lwdd.net.
Planting In the Wrong Place
Living in South Florida offers the distinct advantage of enjoying favorable weather year-round. Embraced by this subtropical paradise, residents often invest considerable effort in enhancing the outdoor aesthetics of their homes. While these endeavors can be enjoyable and rewarding, they also come with potential pitfalls that could result in significant expenses.
Selecting the wrong species of trees to plant may inadvertently damage the home’s foundation as the trees mature and roots spread. Improperly placed vegetation can lead to severe plumbing issues, such as roots infiltrating drainage and utility lines, causing damage and flooding of streets and potentially homes. Plants and other landscape enhancements within the Lake Worth Drainage District (LWDD) rights-of-way could obstruct essential access by crews for regular maintenance activities and emergency access before and after a major storm event.
Ensuring clear rights-of-way is imperative, as encroachments impede access to canals and may exacerbate flooding by obstructing natural drainage routes. Unauthorized encroachments by the property owner must be removed from the canal right-of-way. Frequently found encroachments include trees, vegetation, fences and sheds. Considering the cost of installation and subsequent removal, this expense often catches property owners off guard.
Do not waste your time or money by planting in the wrong place. Residents adjacent to an LWDD canal can contact us at info@lwdd.net to verify the location of property lines before installing any landscape enhancements.
Backyard Invaders
Aggressive, annoying, abundant and invasive, these are all adjectives to describe a growing problem in Florida – iguanas.
Iguanas are a burden on Florida’s ecology and their population is constantly growing. Whether devouring crops or displacing native species, iguanas are a nuisance, burrowing under the foundations of homes, into seawalls and along canal banks and ponds. These scaly creatures are an ecological and economic challenge for the entire region.
Iguanas are native to Central and South America and were introduced to Florida as pets. However, due to escapes and intentional releases, their population has exploded, particularly in South Florida. The warm climate and abundant vegetation provide ideal conditions for their survival and reproduction. With minimal natural predators in the region, iguanas thrive in this area.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, iguanas were first spotted in South Florida in the 60s. As of now, they can be found as far north as Alachua, the Highlands and Hillsborough Counties. They are attracted to vegetation with soft foliage or flowers, most fruits (except citrus) and almost all types of vegetables.
Beyond the ecological and economic ramifications, the iguana invasion raises public health concerns. Iguanas are potential carriers of salmonella, posing risks to human health through direct contact or contamination of food and water sources. As their population continues to grow, the likelihood of human and iguana interactions increases, necessitating initiative measures to minimize health risks.
Recognizing the severity of the iguana invasion, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and other environmental agencies in South Florida have implemented various strategies to mitigate the iguana’s impact. These include:
For more information about these efforts visit Iguanas in the Landscape and Green Iguana | FWC (myfwc.com).
Within Lake Worth Drainage District (LWDD), 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:
When it rains, water will flow into stormwater ponds and, if needed for flood control, out through the pond’s discharge control structure into the LWDD canal system. Excess water in LWDD canals will then flow into the primary SFWMD system for potential flood control discharge. Most of the time this drainage occurs unnoticed by the average individual.
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, pipes, and 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 start of Hurricane Season on June 1.
Some neighborhood drainage systems have operable discharge controls structures and can request permission from LWDD to open their structure prior to a severe storm. This will provide additional onsite storage capacity within the stormwater pond. Guideline for the operation of neighborhood operable discharge control structures can be found at www.lwdd.net/storm-response.
Coordinating efforts and working together we can provide effective flood control.
