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Lee County approves backflow preventers and culvert work for industrial area along 10 Mile Canal
Summary
Lee County commissioners approved a project to install backflow check valves, headwalls and associated culverts in an industrial park that drains to 10 Mile Canal and directed staff to complete a Johnson engineering study and return with a broader plan for 10 Mile Canal improvements and federal funding options.
Lee County commissioners unanimously approved a stormwater project on Jan. 21 to install in-line backflow preventers, associated headwalls and three culverts to reduce chronic flooding inside an industrial park that drains to 10 Mile Canal.
The installation, presented by Roland Ottolini of the county Natural Resources division, is intended to stop high water in 10 Mile Canal from flowing back into local businesses’ storm systems and to restore positive drainage when canal levels fall. "What these backflow preventers do is they're actually in line check valves...when the 10 mile canal goes up, it prevents the water actually being going into the system," Ottolini said.
The project covers an older industrial area near U.S. 41 and south of Youngquist Road, where businesses including automotive shops and other small operations have reported persistent standing water after heavy rainfall. County staff described this as a local mitigation step linked to a larger planning effort for 10 Mile Canal that will examine dredging, widening and debris removal options.
Why it matters: Residents and business owners near Island Park Road and surrounding neighborhoods told commissioners the lower reaches of 10 Mile Canal are shallow in places and have overflowed into yards and streets during recent storms. Several residents asked for frequent outreach and clearer plans; commissioners directed staff to meet with the community and return with more detail.
What commissioners said: Several commissioners supported approving the local industrial-park fixes now while county staff continue a Johnson engineering study intended to develop a broader mitigation strategy and to pursue federal funding. Commissioner Hammond asked for a workshop to review the overall canal plan and funding options; Ottolini said Johnson’s study will take “probably a couple more months” before staff can present benefit-cost analyses and scenarios.
Public comment: Nearby residents described repeated flooding and changes to drainage after nearby development. Russell Arrington, who lives off Island Park Road, said the canal “basically drains about 60 square miles” and that the lower canal’s depth—"roughly about 3 feet"—appears insufficient to carry recent runoff. Steve Stapleton and other residents described sand and sediment clogging side canals and questioned whether prior dredging reached all problem areas.
Next steps: The board approved the local industrial-park work and asked staff to return with the Johnson engineering results and to hold field briefings with residents. Staff said federal funding will be pursued for larger canal work but that the approved installation will address a discrete local flooding problem in the short term.
