Agenda Item Name:
Title
Lake Santa Fe to Alto Canal and Flooding concerns on Lake Santa Fe
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Presenter:
Stephen Hofstetter, 352-264-6811, Ramon Gavarrete, 352-548-1214
Description:
Discussion of Lake Alto Canal conditions and potential impacts on flooding concerns on Lake Santa Fe
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Keep the canal in its natural condition but support funding and resources to periodically remove invasive non-native floating and emergent vegetation from the canal.
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Prior Board Motions:
On April 12, 2022 BoCC requested to the manager to have staff come back to the Board with recommendations
Fiscal Consideration:
Fiscal Consideration
Estimated cost to spray non-native invasive floating vegetation is approximately $2,800 annually which is subject to change.
There is sufficient budget to cover this expense in the General Fund: 001.55.5500.537.31.00
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Strategic Guide:
Strategic Guide
Environment
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Background:
The historic Lake Alto Canal connects Little Lake Santa Fe to Lake Alto. The canal is approximately 8,525 feet in length and approximately 50 feet wide. The canal is identified in the Alachua County Comprehensive Plan as a Blueway and the County owns the canal and conservation land along a portion of the canal. The county has performed limited maintenance on the canal over the last several decades. The County Public Works Department has removed some trees near the CR 1471 bridge in the past to protect the road infrastructure and since August 2018 has been monitoring the canal elevations between Little Lake Santa Fe and Lake Alto and the lake elevations.
With record rainfall in March 2022, some citizens have expressed concerns about the high water levels on Lake Santa Fe and the slow drainage of the lake and have requested assistance from the County to clear the canal of vegetation to help possibly improve the lake levels. County staff are prepared to discuss possible options with the Board.