Lake Hancock Lake Level Modification and Outfall Treatment Projects

Lake Level Modification Project

The Lake Hancock Lake Level Modification Project involves four steps:

  1. evaluation
  2. preliminary design engineering and conceptual environmental resource permit (ERP)
  3. final design, engineering, individual ERPs and construction documents
  4. construction

Step one involved an engineering analysis to evaluate the potential benefits and impacts associated with raising the normal operating level of Lake Hancock from 98.7 to 100.5 feet. The proposed normal operating level of 100.5 feet was determined to be the approximate historical level of the lake before the area was mined for phosphate and the natural lake outlet deepened. Step one is complete and includes a report summarizing the potential benefits and impacts (see meetings and reports).

In October 2004, the Governing Board authorized staff to proceed with the preliminary design and engineering to prepare a conceptual Environmental Resource Permit (ERP) application for the Lake Hancock lake Level Modification project with a target operating level of up to 100 feet (Beginning of Step 2). In January 2006, the Board authorized staff, upon reaching agreement through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Polk County, to submit the conceptual ERP application. The Governing Board approved the MOA in July 2006 and the County approved the MOA in August 2006. The District submitted the conceptual ERP application to FDEP on August 31, 2006 and FDEP issued the Conceptual ERP on June 14, 2007 (Completion of Step 2). In September 2007, the Governing Board authorized staff to implement the Lake Hancock Lake Level Modification Project including the final design, permitting, and construction of the necessary improvements for a lake operating level of 100.0 feet NGVD (Beginning of Step 3); adopted the Resolution Authorizing Proceedings in Eminent Domain, including a Declaration of Taking; amended the 2007 Update to the Florida Forever Work Plan to include all lands indentified as necessary for the Project; and authorize the use of the General Fund Water Supply and Resource Development reserves for the Project.

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