Moving Water South Phase II

In 2007, Lehigh Acres Municipal Services Improvement District (LAMSID) completed a comprehensive Stormwater Master Plan (SWMP) in order to identify and prioritize projects to enhance future stormwater storage deficits within LA-MSID. Moving Water South, Phase II was identified as a top priority project to reduce future flooding and to store and divert stormwater that has been flowing to the Caloosahatchee River, resulting in a reduction of nutrient loading.

This a complementary project with the State Road 82 road widening project. A portion of runoff generated from the additional impervious road lanes will be stored and treated in the Woodridge Preserve. A potential Phase III Project would pass stormwater through the Woodridge Preserve to water-starved lands to the south of LA-MSID’s boundaries.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: LA-MSID is building a berm and fence around the Blackstone/Woodridge Preserve that will create wet detention. A weir and pump station will be constructed to lift water from Lizard Canal into Woodridge Preserve. The result of this construction will increase storage by 391.2 acre-ft., increase the hydro-period in the preserve, and will remove nitrogen and phosphorus discharges that ultimately flow to the Caloosahatchee River. From preliminary evaluation, the project will result in a reduction 55 kg/yr. of Total Phosphorous (TP) and 3,877 kg/yr. of Total Nitrogen (TN) in stormwater discharges from the project area.

For Residents in the Area:

Providing flood and drainage control, to protect both our constituents and the environment, is a top priority to the Lehigh Acres Municipal Services Improvement District (LA-MSID).

Over the last several and the next few months, crews will be working on District-owned rights-of-way and canals in your neighborhood. Water quality and  storage is a local, regional and state-wide concern. This project will allow for increase  water storage and filtration, enhancing our ability to  assist in storm events.

As a result, you will notice more water in your canal in the wet months and for longer periods.

The project is funded in part  by a TMDL Grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

We are working to ensure the least amount of interruptions on residents, but please note there is a potential for road closures.

Weir Construction

A weir and pump station will be constructed to lift water from Lizard Canal into Woodridge Preserve. The result of this construction will increase storage by 391.2 acre-ft., increase the hydro-period in the preserve, and will remove nitrogen and phosphorus discharges that ultimately flow to the Caloosahatchee River.

Ribbon Cutting Moving Water South Project Phase II: Blackstone Preserve

Completed project will reduce flooding, improve water quality and recharge groundwater supplies in the Lehigh Acres area

Lehigh Acres Municipal Services Improvement District (LAMSID) is celebrating the recent completion of its Moving Water South Phase II – Blackstone Preserve Pump Station Project, which was constructed in partnership with Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), and Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).  The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony is located at 321 Blackstone Drive, Lehigh Acres, FL 33936 at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 24.

The District will hold a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Wednesday, April 24 at 11 a.m. at 321 Blackstone Drive, Lehigh Acres, Fl 33936 with community members, stakeholders, and project partners in attendance. The order of events also included a ribbon cutting, a ceremonial first flow through the Pump Station and subsequent tour of district facilities.

The Moving Water South Phase II: Blackstone Preserve Project was made possible by LAMISD $317K, a $517K grant from FDEP, $200K from SFWMD, and a coordinated effort with FDOT that saved a combined total of more than $20 million.

The Moving Water South Phase II: Blackstone Preserve Project is a crucial step to improving stormwater storage capacity, improving flood control measures and restoring historical flow patterns to the southern part of LAMSID’s water control system in Lehigh Acres – the eastern portion of Lee County.

The Blackstone Preserve Project is a 70-acre water quality and water storage project complete with a berm, water control structure and pump station to allow LAMSID to more effectively regulate the flow of water. Tetra Tech provided design services, MWI Pump provided the pump station, and JP Murphy Inc. provided construction services. LAMSID crews took on the in-house construction of the berm on the project site.

The Blackstone Preserve Project is a complementary project with the State Road 82 Road Widening Project.  A portion of runoff generated from the additional impervious road lanes will be stored and treated in the Blackstone Preserve.  This will provide additional water quality treatment for stormwater runoff, flood attenuation and increase groundwater recharge, while reducing stormwater discharges by 391.2 acre-ft. per year to the Caloosahatchee River.  From preliminary evaluation, the MWS PII project will result in a reduction 55 kg/yr. of Total Phosphorous (TP) and 3,877 kg/yr. of Total Nitrogen (TN) in stormwater discharges from the project area. 

A 2007 study conducted by ADA Engineering indicated that Lehigh Acres has a water storage deficiency of approximately 15,000 acre-feet. Blackstone Preserve Pump Station Project is one of eight projects identified during the study which would help improve the area’s water storage capacity.

-30-

Lehigh Acres MISD is a multi-county, multifaceted Special District Agency. From roads and bridges, to a stormwater management system comprised of lakes, canals, and complex monitoring equipment; to parks and passive recreation, to community projects, the Board of Commissioners guides the agency in a direction best suited to help the communities in which it serves—making it the vehicle for the future of Lehigh Acres.

Lehigh Acres MSID, through the efforts of dedicated elected officials and employees, delivers the highest quality in services; provides a fair and orderly system of governance; and protects the area’s environmental and community resources. LA‐MSID is dedicated to preserving and managing natural and community resources by providing: safe, reliable, and high‐quality services to its constituents in an environmentally and financially responsible manner.