West Palm Beach, FL - The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) took to the air and land today, Sept. 12, as part of recovery efforts and to continue the assessment of impacts in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.
As winds from Hurricane Irma subsided in South Florida, the District's rapid impact assessment and aerial reconnaissance teams started work Monday inspecting the areas of the regional flood control system. Those areas most affected by the storm include the Big Cypress Basin (BCB) in Collier County, Miami-Dade County and the populated areas south of Lake Okeechobee.
Today, aerial reconnaissance flights and ground crews also deployed to inspect all six Stormwater Treatment Areas (STAs) and the A-1 Flow Equalization Basin (FEB) in Palm Beach and Hendry counties. Crews are working to determine if Irma's high winds uprooted aquatic vegetation that naturally absorbs phosphorus from stormwater in the treatment areas or caused vegetation to block structures associated with the STAs and FEB. These facilities are crucial components of the District's efforts in restoring and maintaining Everglades water quality.