Lowering water in the Able Canal for water control structure work is shown at the end of Maple Ave., off of East Third St. Photo by Mel Toadvine

East County Water Control District (ECWCD) is moving forward with two water control structure replacement projects Harns Marsh Phase II Improvements and the Three Critical Weirs Replacement Project.

Water control structures allow the District to manage the flow of, filter, and treat water before it moves to the Orange River and then on to the Caloosahatchee River.

“Now more than ever it is crucial that we improve the water quality, reduce flooding and work toward reducing pollution as we begin to comply with more stringent regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency,” said David Lindsay, ECWCD executive director.

Thomas Marine has begun work on S-A-2 or the structure known as Able 2 as part of the Three Critical Weirs Project. The structure is at Maple Avenue and Able Canal. Thomas Marine will be dropping the levels in Able Canal from that structure and to the East which translates to the Joel Blvd. area around Sweetbay Supermarket and Country Club south of 2nd Street.

The Three Critical Weirs Project’s engineering services are being provided by AIM Engineering with construction services provided by Thomas Marine Construction. The District will replace the Able 1 structure east of Sunshine Blvd. at the intersection of Ann Ave. N. and 11th St.; Able 2 structure at Maple St. and Able Canal just north of Leeland Heights; Mackerel 1 Structure on the north end of Sunshine Blvd. at Hickey Creek Canal and Mackerel Canal.

Harns Marsh Phase II Improvements engineering services are provided by Tetra Tech with construction services provided by Worth Contracting, Inc. This project is expected to begin in early March.