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Consultant: Upsize culverts, add storage near outfall and pursue grants in Loxahatchee Groves stormwater plan
Summary
A consultant presented a vulnerability assessment on Sept. 3 identifying canal conveyance limits, undersized culverts, and storage shortfalls; recommendations included targeted culvert upsizing, land acquisition for storage and water-quality treatment, and several grant applications the town has filed.
LOXAHATCHEE GROVES, Fla. Sept. 3 A consultant's vulnerability assessment presented to the Town Council on Sept. 3 recommended a combination of infrastructure upgrades, land acquisition for storage and targeted grant applications to reduce flood risk and meet upcoming water-quality rules.
Randy Wertepney, the consultant leading the assessment, told the council the team had calibrated models that include a storm resembling the 2012 "Isaac" event and that the analysis showed three main concerns: limited storage capacity (town storage largely depends on canals and private parcels), a single primary outfall at D Road/Southern Boulevard causing long conveyance times, and operational conflicts between irrigation and drainage.
Key recommendations and findings
- Culvert sizes: Some culverts are hydraulically undersized; upsizing a subset to 72 inches in main canals showed measurable improvement in model runs, though the consultant recommended case-by-case evaluation rather than systemwide upsizing.
- Storage near outfall: "The biggest bang for your buck is storage, specifically at the outfall location," Wertepney said. He recommended exploring storage basins close to the D Road outfall to reduce conveyance losses and increase discharge capacity.
- Pumps vs. passive storage: Wertepney said pumps can provide immediate operational capacity but are costly: a pump station similar to one built a decade ago elsewhere cost about $4 million then and could cost roughly $8 million to $10 million now. He recommended examining gravity improvements and storage first because pumping costs are high and discharge is restricted by permits.
- Grants filed: Staff reported they had applied for several Resilient Florida grants and Rural Infrastructure Fund (RIF) grants tied to study recommendations; those grants may require local match in some cases, but the town's rural designation could reduce or eliminate the match.
- Water-quality/nutrient rules: The consultant warned that new nutrient-removal criteria affecting permits will take effect by Dec. 28 and will affect new permits and certain local projects. Town staff and council discussed that the South Florida Water Management District and NPDES-type rules will require water-quality treatment near discharge points and that land acquisition may be necessary to build treatment and storage basins.
Other operational notes
- Easements and rights-of-way: The assessment flagged limited recorded rights-of-way and unrecorded plat drainage paths; staff said many rear-lot swales and historical ditches lack clear recorded maintenance responsibility, complicating long-term operations.
- Maintenance and sediment: The report and council discussion noted siltation in canals and the need for targeted cleaning and potential dredging to restore conveyance; staff described recent work that removed several feet of silt in sample cross sections.
What the council directed
Council members asked staff to schedule a series of drainage workshops to review the study's recommendations and to present cost estimates and funding scenarios. Staff also said they would continue to pursue the listed state grant opportunities and to coordinate with Palm Beach County and the South Florida Water Management District on canal maintenance and permit questions.
Ending
The council accepted the presentation and scheduled follow-up drainage workshops and a review of grant opportunities; the council will consider project prioritization and funding choices in upcoming meetings.
