Apopka, Orange County outline short‑term pump plan to lower Border Lake ahead of hurricane season

City of Apopka and Orange County staff presented a joint technical plan on Feb. 19 to reduce dangerously high water levels in the Border Lake watershed and limit the risk of neighborhood flooding ahead of hurricane season.

Doug, P.E., the city utilities line manager, outlined the short‑term option first: a relay of temporary pumps moving water from Border Lake through a chain of lakes ultimately to Lake Page, where county staff reported they have received a one‑time permit to discharge. Doug gave the engineering context for the project, saying closed‑basin lakes in the area have limited natural outflow and that lake elevations have remained high since hurricane activity in 2017.

Orange County staff described vendor estimates and logistics. A county representative said verbal estimates from vendors place continuous four‑leg pumping at roughly $16,000 per week in operations (fuel and equipment) and that initial calculations indicate about 370–378 pump hours to lower the lake to a target elevation — roughly 12–15 days of continuous operation if permitted and logistically feasible. The county also offered to take on permitting, surveys and technical submittals needed for emergency authorization; the city would be responsible for funding pumping operations under the current proposal. The county emphasized this short‑term operation is intended as an emergency, temporary measure, while more permanent pipeline and pumping options are developed.

Mayor Brian Nelson and several commissioners pressed staff for details on timing, cost‑sharing and downstream impacts. The council discussed an alternative short‑term concept to use an existing 16‑inch reclaimed water pipeline owned by a private utility (Utilities, Inc.) as a temporary route to the city wastewater plant; staff said that option could move more water but raises operational and priority questions for the utility and would require separate permitting and coordination.

Several technical caveats were emphasized: groundwater interaction could refill lakes after pumps stop; St. John’s River Water Management District (SJRWMD) and FDEP permitting will limit the level and timing of any drawdown; pumping can be disruptive for homeowners if pumps are sited on private property; and the level achieved may not be permanent without a longer‑term conveyance solution. Staff said a groundwater‑modeling study is under way to evaluate longer‑term effects and inform final design and permitting.

Council direction and next steps: Orange County staff said they can begin permit applications and technical work immediately; the council agreed to bring the funding decision back as a business item at the next meeting so members can consider how to underwrite the short‑term pumping costs while pursuing grant funding for longer‑term work. Mayor Nelson asked staff to return with cost estimates and implementation options.

Quote: “We do have permission one time to do this,” said an Orange County official summarizing an email from the permitting authority authorizing a one‑time discharge into Lake Page. Doug told the council, “That initial calculation…translate[s] to 12 and a half days,” describing the rough operational window for continuous pumping.

Where it stands: staff presented two parallel tracks — immediate emergency pumping (county to manage permitting and technical set‑up; city to fund pumping) and longer‑term piping/pump station options that would require detailed modeling, permitting and capital funding. Pending grants were identified as potential sources; staff said two grants totaling $2.5 million and $3.7 million (one with a match requirement) are in process but not yet awarded. The council instructed staff to proceed with the permitting and bring funding options back at the next business meeting.

Provenance: City staff presentation and Q&A (meeting presentation; technical detail and quotes taken from the city/county Border Lake briefing).