ECWCD Prepares for Tropical Storm Fay
2008-08-18 08:21:28
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 18, 2008
Operating under its Hurricane Plan, East County Water Control District (ECWCD) staff will work late into the evening tonight to ensure the District is prepared for Tropical Storm/Hurricane Fay.
ECWCD’s preparedness efforts began Saturday and continued through the weekend. Staff met at 1 p.m. Sunday to ensure the District’s 48-hour Landfall Criteria, outlined in the District’s Hurricane Plan, is met.
Staff began opening the gates to many of the District weirs— a low dam built across a body of water to raise its level or divert its flow. By opening the weir gates, the District is able to move water from the District’s canal system into the Caloosahatchee River in order to reduce the risk of flooding. Weir gates may be closed in some areas prior to the storm in order to protect the water storage that the District has already created.
District staff is currently refueling all vehicles and securing its headquarters to ensure a safe a quick response to the storm. Staff will stop working once sustained wind speeds hit 30 miles per hour.
“Our system is in very good shape due to the dry weather we have had in the past few weeks,” said Dave Lindsay, ECWCD District Manager”. “Our staff is diligently working to ensure all necessary measures are taken to prepare for the storm.”
Lindsay believes the canal system could withstand four to six inches of rain without experiencing any serious problems.
If community members notice any road flooding during the storm they should contact Lee County Department of Transportation at 533-9400.
If community members notice any canal flooding or obstructions of
ECWCD’s structures please notify ECWCD staff at 368-0044.
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August 18, 2008
Operating under its Hurricane Plan, East County Water Control District (ECWCD) staff will work late into the evening tonight to ensure the District is prepared for Tropical Storm/Hurricane Fay.
ECWCD’s preparedness efforts began Saturday and continued through the weekend. Staff met at 1 p.m. Sunday to ensure the District’s 48-hour Landfall Criteria, outlined in the District’s Hurricane Plan, is met.
Staff began opening the gates to many of the District weirs— a low dam built across a body of water to raise its level or divert its flow. By opening the weir gates, the District is able to move water from the District’s canal system into the Caloosahatchee River in order to reduce the risk of flooding. Weir gates may be closed in some areas prior to the storm in order to protect the water storage that the District has already created.
District staff is currently refueling all vehicles and securing its headquarters to ensure a safe a quick response to the storm. Staff will stop working once sustained wind speeds hit 30 miles per hour.
“Our system is in very good shape due to the dry weather we have had in the past few weeks,” said Dave Lindsay, ECWCD District Manager”. “Our staff is diligently working to ensure all necessary measures are taken to prepare for the storm.”
Lindsay believes the canal system could withstand four to six inches of rain without experiencing any serious problems.
If community members notice any road flooding during the storm they should contact Lee County Department of Transportation at 533-9400.
If community members notice any canal flooding or obstructions of
ECWCD’s structures please notify ECWCD staff at 368-0044.
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ECWCD Replaces 27 Culverts, 2 Weirs
2008-07-19 18:12:20
East County Water Control District (ECWCD) has just completed a year-long project that replaced 27 culverts throughout the District and an additional project that replaced two weirs.
Every five years, ECWCD conducts a Facility Review to evaluate the existing structures. The 2004 Facility Review identified a need to replace the 27 culverts—the District ranks its culverts on a scale from one to five, with five defining a failing structure.
In August 2007, ECWCD began replacing the failing metal culverts, which have been in place for 30 to 40 years, with concrete culvert pipes that have a life expectancy of 50 years.
“Properly working culverts are crucial to our canal system, because they ensure that stormwater continues to flow to the Caloosahatchee River and provides flood protection to Lehigh Acres,” said Dave Lindsay, ECWCD District Manager.
ECWCD’s board of supervisors worked closely with Lee County and South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to get both projects underway.
ECWCD was awarded a grant from Lee County that covered 33 percent of the $1.5 million culvert project and acquired a low-interest loan from FDEP to cover the remaining costs; ECWCD is still waiting funding to replace three weirs also identified in the 2004 Facility Review.
Forty percent of the funding for the $393,00 weir replacement project was by SFWMD Alternative Water Supply Grant while the remaining costs came from ECWCD’s Capital Projects fund—overall a large savings for the District’s assessment payers.
The weirs, which were constructed by JP Murphy, are crucial to raising canal levels and are part of the East County Aquifer Recharge Program (ECARP).
ECARP began in 1995 (then known as ELCARP) when ECWCD, Lee County and SFWMD conducted a study to determine the benefits of raising canal levels to promote groundwater recharge; this weir replacement is the fourth construction phase to the program.
In the beginning of ECARP, temporary concrete blocks were placed on structures to increase canal levels. The replacement weirs are permanent structures capable of regulating water levels in the canals and ensure that there no adverse effects to surrounding areas.
The new weirs have been installed on Kite View between Ground Dove Circle and Marby Rd., which is in Willow Lake, in the canal in the area just east of Maple.
The District is diligently working to ensure that all of its structures are in proper working order. The 2007 Facility Review identified 25 culverts and 5 weirs that are in critical condition; the replacement of these culverts and weirs is currently planned in ECWCD’s fiscal year 2010.
Every five years, ECWCD conducts a Facility Review to evaluate the existing structures. The 2004 Facility Review identified a need to replace the 27 culverts—the District ranks its culverts on a scale from one to five, with five defining a failing structure.
In August 2007, ECWCD began replacing the failing metal culverts, which have been in place for 30 to 40 years, with concrete culvert pipes that have a life expectancy of 50 years.
“Properly working culverts are crucial to our canal system, because they ensure that stormwater continues to flow to the Caloosahatchee River and provides flood protection to Lehigh Acres,” said Dave Lindsay, ECWCD District Manager.
ECWCD’s board of supervisors worked closely with Lee County and South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to get both projects underway.
ECWCD was awarded a grant from Lee County that covered 33 percent of the $1.5 million culvert project and acquired a low-interest loan from FDEP to cover the remaining costs; ECWCD is still waiting funding to replace three weirs also identified in the 2004 Facility Review.
Forty percent of the funding for the $393,00 weir replacement project was by SFWMD Alternative Water Supply Grant while the remaining costs came from ECWCD’s Capital Projects fund—overall a large savings for the District’s assessment payers.
The weirs, which were constructed by JP Murphy, are crucial to raising canal levels and are part of the East County Aquifer Recharge Program (ECARP).
ECARP began in 1995 (then known as ELCARP) when ECWCD, Lee County and SFWMD conducted a study to determine the benefits of raising canal levels to promote groundwater recharge; this weir replacement is the fourth construction phase to the program.
In the beginning of ECARP, temporary concrete blocks were placed on structures to increase canal levels. The replacement weirs are permanent structures capable of regulating water levels in the canals and ensure that there no adverse effects to surrounding areas.
The new weirs have been installed on Kite View between Ground Dove Circle and Marby Rd., which is in Willow Lake, in the canal in the area just east of Maple.
The District is diligently working to ensure that all of its structures are in proper working order. The 2007 Facility Review identified 25 culverts and 5 weirs that are in critical condition; the replacement of these culverts and weirs is currently planned in ECWCD’s fiscal year 2010.
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For Immediate Release - Getting to Know ECWCD
2008-07-19 14:08:49
The East County Water Control District (ECWCD) is an independent special taxing district (government agency) created, in 1958, to manage the drainage of lands within the eastern portion of Lee County.
Through the years, the District has evolved to preserve and protect water reserves through drainage, conservation, mitigation, navigational and water management practices in Lehigh Acres and the western portion of Hendry County.
The District is often times mistaken as the organization responsible for providing drinking water and wastewater service and infrastructure in Lehigh Acres; however, these responsibilities lie with Florida Government Utilities (FGUA).
ECWCD encompasses 70,000 acres of land - approximately 68,000 of these acres lie in eastern Lee County with the remaining acres in Hendry County. The land lies in vicinity bounded on the south by State Road No. 82, on the north by Greenbriar, on the east by Hendry County, and on the west by Lee County Mosquito Control District.
Within its boundaries, the District maintains 311 miles of canals, 20 lakes, 360 culvert crossings, 22 bridges and 66 water control structures. ECWCD maintains 1298 preserve acres as well as 578 acres of Harns Marsh-a major retention/detention area.
Maintenance of the district occurs through programs such as: canal cleaning, canal mowing, rights-of-way maintenance, National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), aquatic plant control, drainage and flood control, and limited parks powers.
Funding for the operation of ECWCD and all maintenance of canal system is acquired through the collection of a non-ad valorem assessment to provide the necessary drainage and flood control protection to local residents. In 1963, the Special Act ratified the District's creation and authorization to levy and enforce taxes was reaffirmed in accordance and under the provisions of Florida Statues, Chapter 298.
Whether residences or businesses border canals or not, everyone pays the same flat rate based on the amount of property they own, not its value. The current rates paid to ECWCD per year by property owners:
* Quarter Acre: $21.17
* Half Acre: $42.35
* One Acre: $84.69
The daily operations of ECWCD are overseen by the District Manager, Dave Lindsay and maintained by the 33-member support staff. Major management decisions are made by a publicly-elected, five-member Board of Supervisors:
* Desmond Barrett,
* John Boardman
* Neal Horrom
* Damon Shelor
* Nathan Stout
Board meetings are open to the public and are typically held the fourth Monday of every month at the District Headquarters at 601 East County Lane, Lehigh Acres 33936.
Through the years, the District has evolved to preserve and protect water reserves through drainage, conservation, mitigation, navigational and water management practices in Lehigh Acres and the western portion of Hendry County.
The District is often times mistaken as the organization responsible for providing drinking water and wastewater service and infrastructure in Lehigh Acres; however, these responsibilities lie with Florida Government Utilities (FGUA).
ECWCD encompasses 70,000 acres of land - approximately 68,000 of these acres lie in eastern Lee County with the remaining acres in Hendry County. The land lies in vicinity bounded on the south by State Road No. 82, on the north by Greenbriar, on the east by Hendry County, and on the west by Lee County Mosquito Control District.
Within its boundaries, the District maintains 311 miles of canals, 20 lakes, 360 culvert crossings, 22 bridges and 66 water control structures. ECWCD maintains 1298 preserve acres as well as 578 acres of Harns Marsh-a major retention/detention area.
Maintenance of the district occurs through programs such as: canal cleaning, canal mowing, rights-of-way maintenance, National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), aquatic plant control, drainage and flood control, and limited parks powers.
Funding for the operation of ECWCD and all maintenance of canal system is acquired through the collection of a non-ad valorem assessment to provide the necessary drainage and flood control protection to local residents. In 1963, the Special Act ratified the District's creation and authorization to levy and enforce taxes was reaffirmed in accordance and under the provisions of Florida Statues, Chapter 298.
Whether residences or businesses border canals or not, everyone pays the same flat rate based on the amount of property they own, not its value. The current rates paid to ECWCD per year by property owners:
* Quarter Acre: $21.17
* Half Acre: $42.35
* One Acre: $84.69
The daily operations of ECWCD are overseen by the District Manager, Dave Lindsay and maintained by the 33-member support staff. Major management decisions are made by a publicly-elected, five-member Board of Supervisors:
* Desmond Barrett,
* John Boardman
* Neal Horrom
* Damon Shelor
* Nathan Stout
Board meetings are open to the public and are typically held the fourth Monday of every month at the District Headquarters at 601 East County Lane, Lehigh Acres 33936.
For Immediate Release - ECWCD Restores Canal Depth
2008-07-19 14:06:57
ECWCD Restores Canal Depths to Improve Water Storage East County Water Control District (ECWCD) is nearing the end of its second year in a seven -year -canal cleaning schedule established to enhance the overall operation of its 311-mile-canal system.
The District adopted this seven year schedule based on the maintenance recommendations in the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program.
This mechanical cleanout is necessary in order to restore the canals to their original depths, provide additional water storage and enhance water quality—particularly in the rainy season. Without this process, the canals would start to fill with sedimentation and decaying plant matter.
This cleaning program helps return canals to their original depths and helps regenerate grass growth on District rights-of-ways. ECWCD staff operates 40 hours a week on a yearly schedule to clean out the District's canals, only stopping for machine maintenance or for the absence of an ECWCD equipment operator.
Two teams of ECWCD staff, one working in the northern section of Lehigh and the other in the south, are responsible for cleaning out the District's vast canal system. Two highly skilled employees operate a long-stick excavator with a 60-foot reach to rid the canals of excess silt and debris.
Over the last two years, ECWCD crews have worked diligently to clean 80 miles of canals from East Bell Blvd. at the Hendry County Line to both the west and south of Able Canal and from North Lee Blvd and West Sunshine to the north and east of Able Canal. ECWCD staff have also worked in Harns Marsh, a 578 acre retention/detention area, dredging 182 acres of the North Marsh's 227-acre-rentention area.
Once silt has been removed from a canal bed, it is placed on District rights-of-way to dry-out, a process which can take up to a month, before a dozer operator can grade the silt. The final step occurs 2-3 weeks later, when a grader operator comes along to ensure the area is gradually sloped away from the canal to ensure the canal slope will not wash away.
In between canal cleanings, ECWCD staff uses EPA and Florida Department of Agricultural and Consumer Services (FDACS) approved herbicides to help maintain the non-native weeds in the canal.
The District adopted this seven year schedule based on the maintenance recommendations in the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program.
This mechanical cleanout is necessary in order to restore the canals to their original depths, provide additional water storage and enhance water quality—particularly in the rainy season. Without this process, the canals would start to fill with sedimentation and decaying plant matter.
This cleaning program helps return canals to their original depths and helps regenerate grass growth on District rights-of-ways. ECWCD staff operates 40 hours a week on a yearly schedule to clean out the District's canals, only stopping for machine maintenance or for the absence of an ECWCD equipment operator.
Two teams of ECWCD staff, one working in the northern section of Lehigh and the other in the south, are responsible for cleaning out the District's vast canal system. Two highly skilled employees operate a long-stick excavator with a 60-foot reach to rid the canals of excess silt and debris.
Over the last two years, ECWCD crews have worked diligently to clean 80 miles of canals from East Bell Blvd. at the Hendry County Line to both the west and south of Able Canal and from North Lee Blvd and West Sunshine to the north and east of Able Canal. ECWCD staff have also worked in Harns Marsh, a 578 acre retention/detention area, dredging 182 acres of the North Marsh's 227-acre-rentention area.
Once silt has been removed from a canal bed, it is placed on District rights-of-way to dry-out, a process which can take up to a month, before a dozer operator can grade the silt. The final step occurs 2-3 weeks later, when a grader operator comes along to ensure the area is gradually sloped away from the canal to ensure the canal slope will not wash away.
In between canal cleanings, ECWCD staff uses EPA and Florida Department of Agricultural and Consumer Services (FDACS) approved herbicides to help maintain the non-native weeds in the canal.
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