- April 26, 2024
-
-
Loading
Loading
Flagler County Engineering Department arranged to pump Marineland Acres drainage system, which includes the Sea Colony area, pre-Hurricane Nicole, and began the operation as soon as weather conditions became safe enough to begin operations Thursday. The pond water elevation level has been dropped by 4 feet — and the roadway system by a foot and a half.
“We anticipated that there would be flooding from the storm, so we didn’t wait for it to happen to begin making arrangements,” County Engineer Faith Alkhatib said. “We have great partners, and everyone came together quickly to address the issue. This also helps Washington Oaks and all of our beachside area.”
Those partners include the St. Johns River Water Management District, Consor Engineers, and the Besch and Smith Civil Group (a certified underground utility contractor). St. Johns River Water Management District provided pumps to clear out the destructive waters from Hurricane Nicole. Crews are building back the dunes at the end of the roadway at Bay Drive Park.
“Some sand washed in, and we are reinforcing the dunes in that area,” Alkhatib said. “Crews are going to assess whether those pumps can be moved to help with flooding in other areas to assist our residents.”
The goal is to relieve the water level on the Intracoastal Waterway from the numerous dune breaches around Marineland Acres and Washington Oaks and allow the waters that breached the dunes to recede from the respective communities.
“A special thanks also to Flagler County and SJWMD for jumping into action early assisting with Emergency Management coordination, and ultimately securing the last three pumps that SJWMD had available (along with plenty of pump hoses and accessories) providing the means to make this all happen and help these desperate communities,” Consor Project Manager Charles Woerner. said “It was definitely noticed and appreciated by all the communities. We really do make a great team and it felt good when it all came together like it did.”
