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

L918
Lake Gwyn Surface Water Restoration and Flood Protection
Project Type Cooperative Funding
AOR(s)
Flood Protection, Water Quality, Natural Systems
Basin(s) Peace River
Cooperator(s)
Polk County, Polk County Natural Resources
Project Manager THORNTON, SHELLEY
Task Manager(s)
Status Ongoing
Description
This project is in response to a cooperative funding request from Polk County for the restoration of Lake Gwyn, a 120
acre depressional wetland east of the community of Wahneta located within the Wahneta Canal watershed that drains
directly to Peace Creek. This project was one of three projects identified for restoring floodplain storage and wetland
functions in this watershed. The Wahneta Canal Watershed Management Plan (WMP), funded by the County and
Basin Board, was completed in 2005. The Wahneta Canal watershed covers an area of 43 square miles and is a
sub-basin within the 232 square mile Peace Creek Canal watershed, which is part of the Peace River headwaters.
The restoration of Lake Gwyn was identified in the WMP as the most viable natural system restoration option since
most of the land needed for the project is under ownership by the State of Florida. The restoration project will
include a feasibility study for the placement of a control structure at the outfall of the lake in order to restore floodplain
storage and wetland functions, while also improving flood conveyance within the Wahneta Canal drainage area.
Included in the same scope of work for the consultant is the design, permitting and construction of the control structure
once the feasibility study has been approved. Restoring the natural storage and wetlands within the study area
through the use of a control structure will also provide additional storage that can be released when needed to help
restore the required minimum flows of the upper Peace River.
Benefits
The project will re-establish the historic surface water levels to provide additional storage volume to attenuate flooding
of the Peace Creek canal and assist in maintaining the minimum flows in the Upper Peace River. The additional open
water will provide aquatic habitat, an improved fishery.
Costs
The FY2008 project cost is $150,000 for a feasibility study, with Polk County contributing $75,000 and the District
contributing $75,000. The FY2009 project cost is $250,000 for design, permitting, land acquisitions/easements and
construction, with Polk County and the District each contributing half ($125,000). District costs will not be used for
land acquisition or easements. District funds shown in the table include staff salaries.
Additional Information
Lake Gwyn was once an open water body drained following the construction of the Wahneta Farms Canal that bisects
the lake diagonally from north to south. Although control structures were installed in an attempt to maintain lake
levels, the historic inflows from Winter Haven now bypass the lake due to high berms along the canal, resulting in dry
conditions the majority of the time. In 2005, Polk County entered into a 50 year lease agreement with the State of
Florida's Board of Trustees for 67.90 acres which encompass the western shoreline of the lake. This lease secures
half of the property under State ownership. Obtaining easements over the remainder of the lake bottom is required in
order to complete restoration of the entire lake.
020 - Peace River Basin 314