The Southwest Florida Water Management District is inviting residents who live near Lake Hancock to an open house concerning the Lake Hancock Lake Level Modification Project. The open house is being held Tuesday, Aug. 21, at the District’s Bartow Service Office from 3 until 7 p.m.
Residents who own property within the Lake Hancock area that may be impacted if the project is implemented are encouraged to attend so they can discuss the project with District staff.
The Lake Hancock Project is one of several projects proposed in the District’s Upper Peace River Watershed Restoration Initiative. Objectives of the initiative are to restore storage, flows, aquifer recharge, water quality, and ecosystems that have been lost, degraded or significantly altered in the Upper Peace River watershed.
The goal of the Lake Hancock Lake Level Modification Project is to store water by raising the control elevation of the existing outflow structure on the lake and to slowly release water during the dry season to help meet the minimum flows in the upper Peace River. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection issued a Conceptual Environmental Resource Permit for the Lake Hancock Project on June 14, 2007 to raise the control elevation of the outflow structure from 98.7 feet to 100.0 feet NGVD.
The Districts Governing Board will consider authorizing implementation of the project at the Sept. 25 Governing Board meeting. If the Board authorizes implementation of the project, it would take at least two years before the lake elevation could be changed. During this time, the lands necessary for the project would be acquired and final design, permitting, and construction would be completed.
This open house provides an important opportunity for local governments, residents, and others to gain information about the Lake Hancock Lake Level Modification Project. For additional information, please visit the District’s web site at www.WaterMatters.org.