ECWCD’s year-round maintenance prepares for rainy season
PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE CITIZEN East County Water Control District oversees year-round maintenance throughout the district, including Lehigh Acres, in preparation for the rainy season.
Although Lehigh Acres is one of the highest elevations in the county, it is still a relatively low, flat area which depends on an intricate drainage system to remove excess water after storm events.
East County Water Control District, a special district created by the state, preserves, protects and manages water reserves through a canal system, the associated rights-of-way and facilities in Lehigh Acres and a portion of Hendry County – totaling 70,000 acres.
Lee County’s road drainage system collects stormwater directly from residences and businesses. Canals collect water directly from rain events and from road run-off. They help to store stormwater and move the excess water from roads, ditches, yards, etc., with the aid of gravity water control structures and retention areas.
ECWCD staff operates each year in anticipation of a major storm or hurricane.
“Through a continuous evaluation and maintenance process, our staff works to ensure the drainage system is free of encroachments and obstructions; that structures are in proper working order; that correct water levels are maintained; and that infrastructure is accessible,” David E. Lindsay, ECWCD district manager, said.
Two core maintenance efforts are plant control and rights-of-way management.
The district has rights-of-way along 311 miles of canals which are often next to private homes. Staff mows this rights-of-way circuit three times a year to help provide staff access to canals and structures and to limit the amount of potential debris that could end up blocking a structure in a storm event, he said.
ECWCD crews also manage invasive and exotic plants, trees, weeds through a series of year-round herbicide applications inside the canals, on canal banks, and rights-of-way.
Currently, our water resource department is applying broadleaf herbicides on rights-of-way and other district properties to combat rapid growing weeds such as ragweed, noted Lindsay. Often times, these invasive weeds grow faster than the grass and require more maintenance.
By applying selective herbicides, which are approved by the Environmental Protection Agency, we hope to control the weeds entirely, noted Lindsay.
In addition to mowing and plant management, ECWCD’s staff monitors the rights-of-ways for encroachments; an encroachment is anything – whether a structure, plant, etc. – on ECWCD’s property that has not been permitted.
ECWCD’s maintenance of rights-of-way are governed by its Rights-of-Way Policy.
For example, above-ground structures and landscaping typically must be set back at least 25 feet from the top of the district-owned canal bank, where the district owns as much, to allow adequate access and minimize the amount of debris that falls into the canals during storm events.
Vegetation and structures within this first 25 feet of a district-owned, right-of-way may prohibit routine maintenance or may end up in a canal during a storm event and cause blockages around downstream water control structures; which can prevent water from properly draining resulting in flooding.
Residents can help in storm preparation, by taking a proactive approach and ensuring that any such encroachments are removed. ECWCD’s rights-of-way technician monitors areas and notifies residents of encroachments which may need to be removed; a notice with a 30-day deadline date is given via hand delivery, or placed on resident’s door.
Installation of any facility – dock, deck, fence, etc. – within the rights-of-way without a permit is a violation of the policy.
The permitting process is simple, and our professional staff is available to provide assistance. However, there are certain facilities that are prohibited within the rights-of-way such as swimming pools; water systems intake pipes from District facilities; storing equipment, material, automobiles or boats; storing trash, rubbish or compost piles, etc.
Source: East County Water Control District
ECWCD’s year-round maintenance prepares for rainy season
PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE CITIZEN East County Water Control District oversees year-round maintenance throughout the district, including Lehigh Acres, in preparation for the rainy season.
Although Lehigh Acres is one of the highest elevations in the county, it is still a relatively low, flat area which depends on an intricate drainage system to remove excess water after storm events.
East County Water Control District, a special district created by the state, preserves, protects and manages water reserves through a canal system, the associated rights-of-way and facilities in Lehigh Acres and a portion of Hendry County – totaling 70,000 acres.
Lee County’s road drainage system collects stormwater directly from residences and businesses. Canals collect water directly from rain events and from road run-off. They help to store stormwater and move the excess water from roads, ditches, yards, etc., with the aid of gravity water control structures and retention areas.
ECWCD staff operates each year in anticipation of a major storm or hurricane.
“Through a continuous evaluation and maintenance process, our staff works to ensure the drainage system is free of encroachments and obstructions; that structures are in proper working order; that correct water levels are maintained; and that infrastructure is accessible,” David E. Lindsay, ECWCD district manager, said.
Two core maintenance efforts are plant control and rights-of-way management.
The district has rights-of-way along 311 miles of canals which are often next to private homes. Staff mows this rights-of-way circuit three times a year to help provide staff access to canals and structures and to limit the amount of potential debris that could end up blocking a structure in a storm event, he said.
ECWCD crews also manage invasive and exotic plants, trees, weeds through a series of year-round herbicide applications inside the canals, on canal banks, and rights-of-way.
Currently, our water resource department is applying broadleaf herbicides on rights-of-way and other district properties to combat rapid growing weeds such as ragweed, noted Lindsay. Often times, these invasive weeds grow faster than the grass and require more maintenance.
By applying selective herbicides, which are approved by the Environmental Protection Agency, we hope to control the weeds entirely, noted Lindsay.
In addition to mowing and plant management, ECWCD’s staff monitors the rights-of-ways for encroachments; an encroachment is anything – whether a structure, plant, etc. – on ECWCD’s property that has not been permitted.
ECWCD’s maintenance of rights-of-way are governed by its Rights-of-Way Policy.
For example, above-ground structures and landscaping typically must be set back at least 25 feet from the top of the district-owned canal bank, where the district owns as much, to allow adequate access and minimize the amount of debris that falls into the canals during storm events.
Vegetation and structures within this first 25 feet of a district-owned, right-of-way may prohibit routine maintenance or may end up in a canal during a storm event and cause blockages around downstream water control structures; which can prevent water from properly draining resulting in flooding.
Residents can help in storm preparation, by taking a proactive approach and ensuring that any such encroachments are removed. ECWCD’s rights-of-way technician monitors areas and notifies residents of encroachments which may need to be removed; a notice with a 30-day deadline date is given via hand delivery, or placed on resident’s door.
Installation of any facility – dock, deck, fence, etc. – within the rights-of-way without a permit is a violation of the policy.
The permitting process is simple, and our professional staff is available to provide assistance. However, there are certain facilities that are prohibited within the rights-of-way such as swimming pools; water systems intake pipes from District facilities; storing equipment, material, automobiles or boats; storing trash, rubbish or compost piles, etc.
Source: East County Water Control District
Business
Greater Fort Myers Chamber celebrates new headquarters at Collaboratory
Aroma Joe’s opens two new Southwest Florida locations
