Storm water management and treatment efforts in Dunedin, Fla., will receive a $440,000 boost from the SWFWMD. The city has already budgeted this amount to replace storm water piping as part of its master drainage plan, according to City Manager Robert DiSpirito. The SWFWMD will match the budgeted sum.

Dunedin officials will use the money from SFWMD to excavate and partially reshame and remove nuisance vegetation from Lake SueMar to improve its water quality. Construction of an outfall structure and inlets from abutting channels are also planned. The outlet pipe will reduce area neighborhood flooding, said City Engineer Tom Burke.

The city's Cedar Creek Restoration Plan, too, will benefit from the additional funding. Channels A and C of the Cedar Creek drainage area to Lake SueMar will receive attention for contaminant removal. Furthermore, a newly installed outlet pipe will remove excess water from Lake SueMar, allowing it to flow to Hammock Park, a dried out wetland area.

Without the SWFWMD grant, the city of Dunedin would only be able to afford the storm water pipe work, said Burke.

Source: The Suncoast News