Hurricane Wilma caused unprecedented damage to lakes in the southwestern part of the South Broward Drainage District. After the storm, the South Broward Drainage District constructed an Interim Erosion Restoration Project to restore the most severely damaged lots. The District Board considered constructing a more permanent project that would have included lining the banks of the largest lakes in the District with a hard liner to provide greater protection. Due to the high cost of such a project and the lack available grant funding, the District has chosen not to proceed with the project.

WHAT ARE THE PERMANENT METHODS OF RESTORATION THAT THE DISTRICT CONSIDERED?

1. An articulated Concrete Block system - This involves concrete blocks that will be connected with cables to form mats approximately 8 feet wide, 26 feet long and 8 inches thick. The mats will be placed on top of a geotextile fabric. The mats would extend from 3 feet below the water to the top of the lake bank. The blocks have holes in them that will be filled with top soil. Sod will be planted on the soil.

2. Fabric formed revetment - This method involves placement of a "quilt" made of geotextile fabric on the restored lake bank. The quilt will be pumped full of concrete and like the mat will extend from 3 feet below the water to the top of the lake bank and sod placed over the mat.

IS THE SOUTH BROWARD DRAINAGE DISTRICT GOING TO MAKE ANYMORE REPAIRS TO DAMAGE CAUSED BY HURRICANE WILMA?

The District has no plans to undertake any more erosion projects related to the damage caused by Hurricane Wilma unless, additional funding is received from outside sources. Additional funding is very unlikely.

WILL THE HOMEOWNERS AROUND THE LAKES HAVE TO BEAR THE ENTIRE COST OF INTERIM EROSION RESTORATION PROJECT THAT THE DISTRICT COMPLETED IN 2007?

On September 26, 2007 The South Broward Drainage District Board of Commissioners voted on a formula to reimburse the District’s for money it borrowed from its own reserve funds. The formula included a onetime $25.00 assessment on all property in the District’s S-4 and S-5 Basins and on the portion of the S-9 Basin south of Sheridan Street. Also included is a five year $25.00 assessment on the property in Sunset Lakes, Harbour Lakes Estates, Riviera Isles, Keystone Lakes and the portion of Silver Lakes north of Pines Blvd. The remainder of the reimbursement will come from the District’s Hurricane Emergency Erosion Fund.

DID THE CITIES OF MIRAMAR AND PEMBROKE PINES PARTICIPATE IN THE INTERIM EROSION PROJECTS?

Yes, the two cities lent the SBDD a combined total of over $3,000,000 to construct the projects. The District has repaid the loans with interest.

CAN HOMEOWNERS APPLY FOR PERMITS TO RESTORE THE SHORELINE BEHIND THEIR HOMES?

Yes. The District has criteria for lake bank restoration. The permit application is available on this website in the “Homeowner Information” under “Seawalls”. The best way to start the process is to contact the District to learn about the methods that have been used by others, new methods that may be available and what options are most suitable for a specific lot.

HOW DOES THE SOUTH BROWARD DRAINAGE DISTRICT PROPOSE TO DEAL WITH FUTURE HURRICANE EROSION?

In 2006 the SBDD Board voted to create a Hurricane Emergency Erosion Fund. A portion of that fund was used to reimburse the District for the Interim Erosion Projects. In February 2008 the District established a committee to make recommendations to the District’s Board regarding how, when and where the fund should be spent in the future, and how the fund should be reimbursed after money is spent. The recommendations of the committee were submitted to the Board in April 2008. The Board will discuss them at a workshop meeting on May 14th.

AS A RESIDENT, WHAT CAN I DO?

The District encourages residents to contact their state and federal legislators to encourage them to support funding requests in next year's legislative sessions. A complete list of legislators can be found at www.MyFlorida.com.