LWDD & Broken Sound Help Enhance Flood Control
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.
