South Florida Water District Preparing for Storm Runoff

Florida storm water managers have begun lowering canals in anticipation of Ernesto-oriented rainfall.

The South Florida Water Management District said it has been preparing its 2,000-mile regional water management canal system for heavy rains.

Sunday night, SFWMD said its operators began adjusting the primary canal system and will continue to discharge water, as needed.

"We have a good jump on Ernesto and will continue to maximize all flood control resources," said Governing Board Vice-Chair Irela Bagué from Miami-Dade County. "The critical new C-4 (Tamiami Canal) flood improvement projects will be put into action during this storm as needed."

SFWMD said preliminary rainfall estimates indicate amounts of 8 in. or more are possible throughout its area.

"The southeast and west coasts are expected to get the heaviest rainfall with significant rainfall occurring along the east coast and near Lake Okeechobee," the district added. "A fast-moving system would lessen the chances of extremely heavy rainfall building up in localized areas."

Bob Howard, SFWMD director of operations, said field checks show all water control facilities such as pumping stations, flood control gates and field station communications show no problems.

Also, secondary systems, such as city and county canals, are gaining capacity as water moves into the district's primary canal system.

Source: SFWMD