WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. – With just two months left before the start of hurricane season, projects are underway to alleviate flooding concerns in one of the major areas where residents in Winter Springs had issues in the past.
The Florida Department of Transportation has begun maintenance work on a bridge where State Road 434 and State Road 419 connect, and part of that includes cleaning out and repairing the culvert above Gee Creek.
Photos shared with News 6 show how blocked the culverts had become. There is evidence that some sections had accumulated up to 6 feet of sediment.
Commissioner Victoria Bruce shared images on Facebook along with information from the city manager that said the buildup had “significantly impaired water flow and posed flooding risks” and that the “sediment removal will undoubtedly improve water flow and reduce upstream flood staging at this crossing.”
Richard Rebello, who lives near the creek in Winter Springs, told News 6 about the devastation his neighborhood experienced during Hurricane Ian. He recalled more than 3 feet of water at his home where he climbed out of the window and was rescued by boat.
Rebello said more work should be done beyond the culvert at SR 419.
“The canal is designed to handle a certain amount, and if it’s not at its design capacity, it’s going to breach the top of the bank,” said Rebello. “It’s nice that they’re doing that, but it’s only 10% of what they should be.”
Matthew Reeser, public information officer for the city of Winter Springs, shared with News 6 that there are multiple other mitigation projects now in the works as they prepare for this year’s storm season.
“We’re trying to get ahead of a lot of the issues we’ve faced in the past so that we don’t have water backing up into people’s homes, we don’t have water topping the road roadways,” said Reeser.
In the coming weeks, work will begin on a bank stabilization project along Gee Creek near Moss Park. Reeser showed our crew the design that should prevent erosion as the weir on Lake Catherine is opened up and water rushes towards Gee Creek. The idea is to slow that water down and reinforce the banks with sheet piling. It should also stop sediment from washing away and clogging infrastructure nearby.
“You’re not trying to change the flow, you’re just trying to keep things flowing,” explained Reeser. “The better you can do that and make that happen, the less sediment you’re going to have building up here and on the backside.”
Reeser said the city also has plans to do their own debris and sediment clean up in Gee Creek, Howell Creek, Bear Creek, and others. The project is mostly funded through Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) grants post-Milton. Reeser says the city should only have to pay about $190,000, so they are saving a considerable amount.
Winter Springs has also approved several infrastructure projects that will repair stormwater pipes. Reeser said it’s common for them to get cracks or have other damage due to the high volume of water that washes through during the rainy season.
Reeser said the city understands that these projects are a priority for residents, and he hopes they see that leaders are taking proactive steps.
“You know, we had a rain event here the last couple of days and people get nervous,” said Reeser. “I try to tell people all the time we’re hearing them and that we are working on all these projects. I think now we’re in a position where we’ve gotten one year under our belt and now we’re really, really being proactive and I think that’s going to pay off in the long run.”
