The Southwest Florida Water Management District, in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), this week is beginning removal of hurricane-generated debris.
Removal will focus on the Peace River and its tributaries within Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, and Polk Counties. Portions of the Alafia River and Flint Creek in Hillsborough County are also within the scope of this project.
The first work areas include Alligator Creek and the Peace River in Charlotte County, and the Peace Creek Canal in Polk County. Work is expected to begin this week in Alligator Creek and by the end of the month in the Peace Creek Canal and the Charlotte County portion of the Peace River.
Work on other segments of the Peace River in Polk, Hardee, and DeSoto Counties are targeted to begin in June.
The total cost of the cleanup project is $8,035,000. Funding for the project includes $1,996,250 from the District, $5,988,750 from the NRCS, and $50,000 from Hillsborough County.
In September 2004, the District approved funding for the project through an agreement between the District and NRCS. As the lead agency, the District is managing the project. The District has also hired the engineering and consulting firm PBS&J to inspect the work. All debris removal activities are expected to be complete by the end of August.
The work is consistent with the District’s areas of responsibility for flood protection, and is authorized under the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program administered by NRCS. If debris in the waterways is not cleared out, the potential for flooding and damage to bridges and stormwater management infrastructure would be increased.