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Lake County authority says Hurricane Milton produced record flows; Army Corps conducting emergency repairs at control structures
Summary
Associate Director Justin Elkins told trustees Hurricane Milton produced record flows and water-level rises across the Palatilacaha control structures, causing riprap loss, erosion and localized risk of dam failure; Army Corps emergency repairs are underway at no cost to the authority.
At the November meeting, Justin Elkins, associate director of water resources, delivered an extended briefing on the authority’s network of river control structures along the Palatilacaha (Placalacaha/Palakkalukaha — variant spellings used in the recording) from Lake Louisa to Lake Harris and described storm impacts following Hurricane Milton.
Elkins said flow calculations were revised after the event: earlier flow estimates were increased by 35% following a USGS review. He told the board that Cherry Lake’s discharge peaked at about 564 cubic feet per second (CFS) during the storm — a record for that structure — and that in other stretches the authority recorded discharges of roughly 500–555 CFS, though the structures were designed for about 300 CFS. "This could lead to imminent dam failure because water is now allowed to get around the structure," Elkins said, describing loss of riprap and eroded sand that created new flow paths around some control points.
Elkins described stair‑stepped water-level changes through the chain of control structures, with some pools seeing increases of 1.7 to more than 2.5 feet, and he explained how prior openings of gates reduced elevations before the later storm surge, limiting even greater inundation in some areas. Staff conducted aerial photography and frequent inspections during and after the event and reported areas where accumulated vegetation and sediment will require future maintenance or blockage control.
Emergency work was submitted through the county’s Emergency Operations Center; Elkins said the Army Corps of Engineers responded and was doing emergency repairs at no cost to the authority. Trustees asked about use of Tiger Dams and other temporary measures; Elkins said Tiger Dams were deployed at Emerald Lakes but not at the sites discussed and reiterated close coordination with EOC, the Corps and state resources.
Ending: Trustees encouraged continued inspections and discussed potential dam tours for trustees; staff committed to ongoing monitoring and updates to the board.
