East County Water Control District (ECWCD) has been awarded a District of the Year Award by the Florida Association of Special Districts (FASD). The FASD Awards program recognizes outstanding achievements of Special Districts who work in a

team effort to achieve and surpass all priority goals while staying within budget guidelines and exceeding expectations.

The District of the Year Award recognizes ECWCD’s innovation in program implementation and success in daily operations. ECWCD displayed excellence in

several areas of management including, finance, employee relations, public outreach/ awareness and infrastructure improvements, according to FASD officials

During these hard economic times most organizations are struggling with their budgets, strategic planning allowed ECWCD to end Fiscal Year 2009 with an operating surplus.

For Fiscal Year 2009, ECWCD budgeted an operating loss of $311,405 and ended the year with an operating surplus of $114,007 – which lead

to the award of the Government Finance Officers Associations’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for Budget Preparation.

The District continually assesses its projects and community programs to ensure it is providing the best level of service possible, according to David Lindsay, executive director. ECWCD evaluates its

structures to determine which, if any, need maintenance, replacement or construction.

Armed with this knowledge, the District applied for and was awarded American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) stimulus assistance for

critical projects, Lindsay said.

The stimulus loan allowed the District to complete

construction of one new structure and to replace four failing structures to reduce flooding to downstream neighbors on the Orange River; improve water quality and storage; and recharge groundwater aquifers.

ECWCD was the first organization in the state of Florida to complete an ARRA stimulus funded

project.

ECWCD was recognized for its efforts in establishing a community outreach program centered on its new mascot, Able Otter. ECWCD was awarded grants from Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program and Florida Exotic Pest Plants Council to create a public outreach campaign, Nurture Nature, for children K-5

and community/business owners in which individuals learn about the water cycle, stormwater management and best practice solutions for pollution

prevention.

East County Water Control District (ECWCD) was created in 1958 to manage drainage within its boundaries. The District has since evolved to preserve and protect water reserves through drainage, conservation, mitigation,

navigational and water management practices in 70,000 acres of land in both Lehigh Acres and the western portion of Hendry County.

ECWCD currently maintains 311 miles of canals, 20 lakes, 360 culvert crossings, 22 bridges and

66 water control structures. ECWCD maintains 1298 preserve acres as well as 578 acres of Harns Marsh’s major retention/detention area.