DEP PROVIDES $525,000 TO SOUTHWEST RANCHES FOR STORMWATER PROJECTS

Florida DEP Banner

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 26, 2014

CONTACT: DEP Press Office, 850-245-2112, DEPNews@dep.state.fl.us 

DEP PROVIDES $525,000 TO SOUTHWEST RANCHES FOR STORMWATER PROJECTS

~Funding will ease flooding issues in Broward County town~

=============

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection will assist the town of Southwest Ranches with $525,000 in funding for six projects designed to ease flooding concerns from stormwater runoff.

The projects, which are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2015, will help remove stormwater from local roadways and improve flood-routing capacity for stormwater runoff. The money will also pay for the construction of a new drainage structure with corrugated metal pipe along one of the town’s roads where flooding issues are a concern.

The low elevation of Southwest Ranches has made the routing of stormwater runoff a priority to reduce potential environmental impacts on nearby waterbodies. The runoff has also become a quality-of-life issue for residents of the town, which is located in southwestern Broward County.

“Properly addressing stormwater runoff throughout the state remains a priority for DEP as we continue to focus on the quality and quantity of water in Florida,” said DEP Secretary Herschel T. Vinyard Jr. “DEP is excited to be able to assist Southwest Ranches with this financial assistance to ensure stormwater runoff does not negatively impact the environment.”

“We have some very low elevations in our town and these are projects that, without this state funding, would have been delayed for a substantial number of years,” said Andy Berns, town administrator for Southwest Ranches. “This will enable us to make a positive impact for a number of projects. The quality of life will improve dramatically for our residents for many, many years to come.”

DEP provided $525,446 toward the total cost of $625,446 for the projects.