MANASOTA & PEACE RIVER BBDs Meeting Notebook 10-21-09.docx

H008
Lake Hancock Lake Level Modification
Project Type WS&R Dev.
AOR(s)
Water Supply, Natural Systems
Basin(s) General Fund (District), Alafia River, Peace River, Manasota
Cooperator(s)
Project Manager DOWNING, HARRY
Task Manager(s)
Status Ongoing
BLASCHKA, STEVEN, LETASI, SCOTT, HILL, CHERYL
Description
The Lake Hancock Lake Level Modification Project is part of the proposed strategy for achieving minimum flows and
levels recovery for the upper Peace River established by the District. The goal of the Lake Level Modification Project is
to store water by raising the control elevation of the existing outflow structure on Lake Hancock and to slowly release
the water during the dry season to help meet the minimum flow requirements in the upper Peace River between
Bartow and Zolfo Springs. Historically, Lake Hancock fluctuated more than a foot higher than it has during the past
several decades. The project proposes to increase the normal operating level from 98.7 feet to 100.0 feet National
Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD) by modifying the P-11 outfall structure. See H009 (Lake Hancock Outfall Structure
P-11 Modification) for a description of that project. This proposed project will further the District's recent efforts to
restore minimum flows in the upper Peace River, which is a major component of the District's SWUCA Recovery Plan.
As such, it is funded as a Water Supply and Resource Development (WSRD) project.
Benefits
Raising the normal operating water level of Lake Hancock to 100.0 feet NGVD will provide the storage to meet
approximately 50% of the Minimum Flows and Levels Requirements of the upper Peace River. It was also determined
that raising of the operating level along with other District projects will help restore wetland function for several hundred
acres of contiguous lands to Lake Hancock.
Costs
This is a multi-year funded project. Funding for this project is shared by the Governing Board (50 percent), Peace
River Basin Board (25 percent), Alafia River Basin Board (12.5 percent) and Manasota Basin Board (12.5 percent).
Basin Board funding percentages are based on Alafia, Manasota, and Peace Basin impacts to the loss of flows from
the upper Peace River Watershed from ground-water withdrawals. As of 2008, the District has budgeted $5,554,000 of
which $1,350,000 is from state appropriations and Ecosystem Trust Fund. For continued funding of future project
steps, District staff is requesting $500,000 in FY2009 for implementing the project, broken down as follows: District
$250,000 Peace River Basin Board $125,000, Manasota and Alafia River Boards each $62,500. The funding is for
design, permitting, and construction of project area mitigation and replacement of the P-11 Structure necessary to
raise the operating level of the Lake to 100 feet NGVD. Land costs are not included. In additional to H008, a
$2,500,000 was funded in FY2003 and another $2,500,000 in FY2009 through field operations (Project H009) for the
replacement of the P-11 structure.
Additional Information
This project is being conducted in 3 Steps: Step (1) provided the preliminary evaluations and incremental probable
costs for raising the normal high operating levels of Lake Hancock to 99.5, 100.0, and the target 100.5 feet from the
current level of 98.7 feet. Step (1) is complete with a recommended target level up to 100.0 feet. The results of Step 1
were presented to the boards with a staff recommendation for moving forward with Step (2) of the project in October
2004. Step (2) involves the generation of the detailed information necessary to submit a complete Conceptual
Environmental Resource Permit (ERP) Application, and to specifically identify impacts to private lands for acquisition
and other mitigation needs (environmental, facilities, etc). Major components of the Conceptual ERP include: pre and
post condition analysis; private property, dwelling, environmental, and infrastructure mitigation; outfall structure
operation characteristics; and an anticipated fluctuation schedule for the Lake. Step (3) is the implementation of the
mitigation components as specified in the Conceptual ERP. Costs for design, ERPs, and construction for
environmental and infrastructure mitigation requirements have not been determined. The Project will be coordinated
with H014 which will look at improving water quality released from the lake.
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