The public is welcome to attend an informational meeting to discuss flooding and water quality issues in the Christina watershed in Polk County.
The Southwest Florida Management District and Polk County are evaluating the watershed, located in and north of Mulberry in western Polk County within the District’s Alafia River Basin and part of the headwaters to the North Prong of the Alafia River. The watershed boundaries are roughly south of County Road 540A, east of State Road 37 (Florida Avenue), west of Lakeland Highlands Road, and north of State Road 60. This area has experienced recurrent flooding for the past 10 years and is also experiencing rapid growth.
The evaluation will lead to the development of a watershed management plan, which will identify, prioritize and address water resources issues within the watershed. The main goal of this plan is to determine alternatives for reducing flooding and improving water quality within the watershed.
The public meeting will be held March 26, 6 p.m. in the cafeteria of Scott Lake Elementary School, 1140 E. County Road 540A in Lakeland. The cafeteria is on the east side of the school. The parking lot near the cafeteria is off Malcolm Drive.
During the meeting, staff will provide updates on the watershed management plan, hydrologic evaluation, project objectives, potential improvement alternatives, and schedule. Maps and aerial photographs of the watershed study area will be used to illustrate the study limits and known flooding, drainage, and lake water quality concerns.
Interested residents are invited to attend and participate in the meeting. Members of the public will be given an opportunity to share their experiences with any drainage or flooding problems within the study area and provide comments regarding project goals, objectives and study results.
For more information, please contact Dawn Turner at (352) 796-7211, ext. 4199, or 1-800-423-1476, ext 4199.