NAPLES, Fla. - The Big Cypress Basin (BCB) is using a new remote operations system to monitor and control water levels with extreme precision throughout 24 miles of canals in southwestern Collier County. The remote operations system allows water managers to move and hold water quickly and efficiently, which improves flood control, protects Naples Bay, and safeguards groundwater supplies in the region.
The automated system works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to control water levels down to the inch in a continuous system of canals flowing southwest to Naples Bay. Using the new state-of-the-art technology, water managers can remotely open and close a network of flood control gates within minutes, greatly increasing the speed in which they are able to respond to changing weather conditions.
“This is a huge operational enhancement that will improve the quality of life for the residents in the Big Cypress Basin and protect the health of Naples Bay,” said Charlette Roman, Chair, Big Cypress Basin Board and Governing Board Member of the South Florida Water Management District. “This innovative technology ensures the continued protection of our communities and our water resources.”
The remote operations system will provide:
- Improved timing and distribution of flood waters
- Improved water flow to protect groundwater supplies and Naples Bay
- Improved flood protection
- Enhanced operational control
The project includes the construction of two new structures, the retrofitting of five existing structures, and the installation of 14 monitoring wells and new gate sensors. The work is part of the BCB's Capital Improvement Plan. Capital improvements to the water management infrastructure are designed to enhance water resources and ecosystems while protecting communities from flooding.
The Big Cypress Basin is one of two major watershed basins within the South Florida Water Management District's 16-county region and includes a network of over 140 miles of canals and 35 water control structures, while providing flood protection in Collier County. The Big Cypress Basin Board sets regional policy and works with stakeholders, as well as local governments, and agencies to set the basin's priorities.