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

L673
Polk - Imp. BMPs Lake Belle and Tractor Lake
Project Type Cooperative Funding
AOR(s)
Flood Protection
Basin(s) Peace River
Cooperator(s)
Polk County Natural Resources
Project Manager TURNER, DAWN
Task Manager(s)
Status Ongoing
Description
This is a multi-year funded project to perform the Implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) element of
the District's Watershed Management Program (WMP) for the Lake Belle and Tractor Lake Watershed improvement
area. The watershed covers an area of approximately 1.4 square miles in southeast Polk County. Proposed BMPs will
address level of service deficiencies. Lake Belle and Tractor Lake are currently closed basins. In lieu of a Watershed
Management Plan, the County retained Professional Engineering Consultants to prepare a feasibility study. The study
entitled Lake Belle Drainage Outfall Evaluation was completed in May 2006, and includes a BMP alternative analysis,
preliminary engineering, and cost estimates. The work performed by Professional Engineering Consultants did not
include conceptual permitting. Recommended BMPs involve improvements to the stormwater management
infrastructure including the installation of a gravity outfall from Tractor Lake to Lake Belle, and a pump outfall from
Lake Belle to a borrow pit on the north side of Hunt Brothers Road. The borrow pit discharges to the south under Hunt
Brothers Road to a second borrow pit. The second borrow pit discharges to the southeast under U.S. 27, then along
the south side of Longleaf Business Park, through the 5R Ranch property to the south loop of the Peace Creek Canal.
Maintenance activities will be performed, and improvements may be constructed within the conveyance system
between the borrow pits and 5R Ranch. Easements will be obtained to construct the lake outfalls and conveyance
system improvements. The pump system will be operated between storm events to recover storage volume above
elevation 117.9 feet NGVD, which is 0.9 feet above the adopted low level guidance elevation for Lake Belle. The pump
will not be used to discharge water during storm events. The Lake Belle Drainage Outfall Evaluation indicates high
water levels in the borrow pits will be increased. Easements may be required over areas impacted by increased water
levels to satisfy Environmental Resource Permit requirements.
Benefits
The Lake Belle Drainage Outfall Evaluation indicates high water levels and durations within Lake Belle and Tractor
Lake will be reduced.
Costs
The projected cost for implementation of this project is $980,000. The District's share is $490,000, and the County's is
$490,000. In FY2007, the Peace River Basin funded $265,000 and Polk County funded $265,000. In FY2008,
$450,000 was provided, with the Basin Board and the County each contributing $225,000. The estimated cost was
obtained from the Lake Belle Drainage Outfall Evaluation, and is based upon preliminary engineering; the costs
include the following tasks: design, development of construction documents, construction permitting, land acquisition,
bidding and contractor selection, construction of the BMPs, construction engineering, and inspection. When each
element is completed the project budget and scope may require refinement based upon the information developed. As
a condition of the funding agreement, the District will not reimburse project costs until all necessary permits have been
obtained and construction has commenced. Once construction has commenced, project costs will be reimbursed by
the District on a 50/50 cost share basis. District funding amounts shown in the table include staff salaries.
Additional Information
The WMP includes five major elements: 1) Topographic Information, 2) Watershed Evaluation, 3) Watershed
Management Plan, 4) Implementation of Best Management Practices, and 5) Maintenance of Watershed Parameters
and Models. Implementing elements of the WMP with local governments is one of the Comprehensive Watershed
Management (CWM) initiative strategies and one of the District's Strategic Priorities. Following three hurricanes in
2004 and four years of above average rainfall, Lake Belle experienced a dramatic rise in water levels (over 10 feet
vertical). This resulted in the flooding of more than a dozen homes and a County road. The Polk County Commission
expended tens of thousands of dollars to conduct emergency pumping to relieve the flooding, and determined that a
long term solution is necessary. A cooperative funding expenditure agreement with Polk County will be developed as a
multi-year funded project contingent on the approval of future funding to complete the Implementation of BMPs. This
will require the submission of a cooperative funding request each fiscal year until the project is completed. If approved,
this project will be ranked as a 1A project in future fiscal years. The County will manage the project, where the District
project manager must approve any agreements to accomplish project tasks. The District is cooperating with FEMA to
modernize the flood insurance rate maps (FIRMs) in Polk County. Information developed with this project will be used
to update the FIRMs representing this watershed.
020 - Peace River Basin 286