With all the recent rain, many of you are probably wondering about our rising lake levels and what is being done to mitigate flooding in the area.  We have had an update from our liaison to the Canal Authority, the organization responsible for maintaining the pumps on Landrum Road.  Presently, there are technicians physically monitoring the pumping station to ensure that the pumps are operational and to open the sluice gates to the intracoastal at low tide.  Last week when we had a deluge of rain, one of the large pumps had a mechanical failure and smaller pumps were brought in to help pump the water.  All the pumps are, once again, operational but the amount of rain in such a short period of time is more than we have received during some recent hurricanes and it will take a few days for the water levels to return to normal.  Be assured that SML Board and our liaison to the Canal Authority are monitoring the water levels and we are in contact with the technicians on site.   What we as homeowners can do is make sure to keep the gutters and grates clear of debris and yard waste and never dump anything or obstruct the grates.

Interesting info from the president of the Canal Association, Walther Vliegen: "Every inch of rain is the equivalent of 4 inches of increase in the lake system level throughout the lakes of the member of the Canal owners.  So the 12.5 inches of rain totaled a potential rise of up to 50 inches, of more than 4 feet of the water ‘elevation’.  Fortunately, the Canal Owners’ Association has the Canal and pump station leading excess water to the Intra-Coastal Waterway.  The pump house is not a pretty facility, but it certainly is an efficient one. The capacity is as follows: a 20-inch pump has the capability of pumping 10,600 gpm (gallons per minute), two 36-inch pumps have a capacity of 26,500 gpm/each.  Then, 4 additional pumps were placed on top of the dam and these have a capacity of 2,500 gpm/each.  During rain-imperiled times, the facility is monitored daily.  They follow the forecast accurately and often, prior to an anticipated big rain-fall, pro-actively lower the lake levels.  Keep in mind that the pumps are fully automatic and are activated by flow valves.  We did have one pump under repair but was substituted by 4 additional pumps."

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10036 Sawgrass Drive, Suite 1 * Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082 * (904) 273-9832