Flagler Estates Concerned Citizens, Inc.

The District is considering installing sluice gates at the Ashley Outfall area. Will these gates help address flooding? What benefits do you see coming from the gates? There has been discussion of these gates before and earlier research indicated that the gates would easily be topped in major rain events. This was when a 16 acre retention pond was included in the plan. The pond, which would have been too small to have much impact, has been removed from the plan. The gates would apparently help keep water levels up in 16-Mile Creek which can be a benefit for fire emergencies. The other potential benefit is that it could help with meeting TMDL regulations. Shallower water is more likely to be oxygen depleted. The gates could potentially keep the levels up in the testing area. Flagler Estates is an economically challenged area. Would this be a cost-effective remedy?

 

Response 1:

It is the SJRWMD staff’s understanding that the sluice gates are being proposed primarily as a part of a water quality improvement and that they would be operated in a manner to maximize the water quality benefit and not flood protection.  However, as you can see by the question in the attached letter, the staff needs additional information in order to be able to better quantify any water quality and flood protection benefits.  This information is necessary to determine the effectiveness of the project in improving water quality and reducing nutrient loading.  Please note that SJRWMD staff will only be reviewing the application as it relates to our permitting criteria and not be making any estimate of the cost effectiveness of the proposed project.

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So - Sluice gates are NOT for flood control. Please read the RAI. Perhaps you will share my concern that the permit submission was missing 10 items (A - I) that the FERWCD claimed (in signed and sealed submissions) were included. It appears a bit incompetent, at best.  RAI Document