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SpanishHAVANA – The Northwest Florida Water Management District recently completed nearly $5 million worth of projects to help improve the water quality in St. Andrew Bay.
The five projects, located in Bay County, Panama City, Parker, Callaway, and Mexico Beach, are part of the District’s Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) program. Each project was designed to reduce the impact of stormwater runoff in the St. Andrew Bay watershed.
“Protecting St. Andrew Bay remains a top priority for the District, and we know these projects will make a significant and positive impact on the bay,” said George Roberts, chair of the District’s Governing Board. “We applaud the efforts of local governments to work with the District and DEP to secure the funding needed to complete these projects.”
The District’s Governing Board approved funding for the five projects in 2013 and 2014. The District’s SWIM program provided $3,796,010.40 to help pay for the five projects, which cost a total of $4,809,995.40.
A brief summary of the projects:
Vortex units and baffle boxes (Panama City) – A $1.1 million project to install 13 vortex units throughout the city’s bayous and a baffle box system along Maple Avenue to help reduce the amount of sediments reaching the bay. The vortex units and baffle box filter pollutants from stormwater runoff. The District provided $931,774 in funding for this project, which was completed in March 2014.
Ed Lee Road stabilization (Bay County) – A $1.2 million project to pave two miles of existing dirt roadway to help reduce sedimentation reaching Deer Point Lake, the primary source of drinking water for Bay County residents. The District provided $671,000 in funding for this project, which was completed in August 2015.
Water quality/drainage improvements (Parker) – A $1.05 million project to build a stormwater retention facility and install a baffle box system that better protects Parker Bayou. The District provided $1,013, 475 in funding for this project, which was completed March 16, 2016.
Water quality/drainage improvements (Callaway) – An $893,000 project to build a stormwater retention facility and install a baffle box system that better protects Callaway Bayou. The District provided $705,217 for this project, which was completed in December 2015.
Baffle box system (Mexico Beach) – A $538,000 project to install a baffle box system that greatly reduces the amount of sediments discharging into the bay and gulf in Mexico Beach. The District provided $474,452 for this project, which was completed in December 2015.