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ITEM: PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF PHASE IV CANAL RECLAMATION PROJECT - C-16, C-16A AND C-28 CANALS
REQUEST: Presentation and discussion of Phase IV of the canal reclamation project.
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EXPLANATION: Wellington has a system of canals designed to hold and move stormwater to South Florida Water Management Districts C51 canal. Our canals were specifically designed for stormwater conveyance. Their principal purpose is to mitigate flooding during severe weather events.
In 2008 and 2009, the Village conducted a complete functionality analysis of our roadways, utilities and drainage systems. The analysis of the drainage system uncovered numerous areas of concern. Clogged drainage pipes and obstructed outfalls limited the carrying capacity of the canals and hindered street drainage. A plan was developed to correct the deficiencies identified in phases. The mitigation plan will bring the canal and drainage system back to its original design state allowing for more efficient stormwater conveyance and water management. The ultimate goal of the project is to restore the drainage systems original capacity.
The Village owns the rights of way along all of our numbered canals. These rights of way provide access for both emergency and routine maintenance of the system. Unfortunately, landscaping, fences and other items are frequently found in the Village's rights of way, obstructing our access to the canals. This has been the case with all phases of this project completed to date. Obstructions can block access to several thousand feet of canal bank and affect hundreds of homeowners in a storm. Damage from canal obstructions cannot only impact our ability to convey water but also has the potential of impacting Wellington's potable water supply and wastewater removal systems where those systems cross or parallel canals.
The Village has contacted residents throughout all phases of the project and worked with them to remove obstructions from the rights of way. Plantings and other obstructions in the rights of way have been removed and/or relocated so that the 25 foot buffer required can be reclaimed. In Phase I, 24 homes were affected with 21 total trees removed along with 4 exotics. Phases II and III had no homeowners affected and only exotics removed from the Village's right of way. Phase IV has 41 homeowners with plantings in the proposed 25' maintenance area.
Obstructions are removed either by barge or ground based equipment. Our intent is to minimize damage to the canal bank, adjacent properties, irrigation lines, grass areas and existing outfall pipes. Once obstructions are removed, canal cleaning is done with equipment including backhoes and dump trucks via the canal bank right of way. This also allows for quick access in the event of a storm or emergency situation.
Repairs, emergency access as well as ongoing routine maintenance cannot be completed without the use of equipment on the canal bank. In the event of an emergency, quick access to the canal is necessary. Use of a barge, whether for maintenance or emergency management is both costly, less effective and subject to availability of a vendor and necessary equipment not currently part of Wellington's fleet.
BUDGET AMENDMENT REQUIRED: NO
PUBLIC HEARING: NO QUASI-JUDICIAL:
FIRST READING: SECOND READING:
LEGAL SUFFICIENCY: N/A
FISCAL IMPACT: N/A
WELLINGTON FUNDAMENTAL: Protecting Our Investment
RECOMMENDATION: Presentation and discussion of Phase IV of the canal reclamation project.