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Polk County approves $1.66M Peace Creek Canal project to restore wetlands and reduce nutrients
Summary
Commissioners authorized a $1,657,037.69 contract with Cathcart Construction for phase‑1 of the Lake Hamilton Water Quality Improvement Project, funded in part by an $850,000 Florida DEP grant to reduce nutrient loads into Lake Hamilton.
Polk County on July 21 approved a $1,657,037.69 construction contract with Cathcart Construction Company to advance stormwater infrastructure and wetland restoration in the Peace Creek Canal hydrologic basin. County staff said the work — funded in part through an $850,000 Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) grant — will capture and divert excess stormwater onto county‑owned land on Lake Hamilton’s northwest shore to restore historic wetland hydrology and create treatment wetlands to reduce nutrient loads.
"To support this restoration effort, Polk County secured an $850,000 state grant to enhance water quality and restore wetland habitat within the Peace Creek Canal hydrologic Basin," County Manager Bill Beasley said. Staff told the board the Lake Hamilton chain had been identified by DEP in 2020 as impaired for chlorophyll, total nitrogen and total phosphorus, and the county presented the project as phase 1 of a multi‑phase restoration program. The county reported two responsive bids and recommended Cathcart as the apparent low responsible bidder. The board approved the contract by voice vote with no protests reported during procurement.
Work described by staff includes weir construction, wetland creation, native vegetation installation and site stabilization to maintain flood stages and discharge volumes. The contract time for final completion was set at 360 calendar days; the county said remaining funding beyond the DEP grant will come from Polk’s stormwater MSTU program and adopted community investment program.
