August 18, 2017
The South Florida Water Management District will begin work on Monday to install three temporary pumps. These pumps will be located in southern Palm Beach County just west of the S-39 structure on the southern border of Water Conservation Area (WCA) 2 in Broward County and Water Conservation Area 1, also known as the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. Measuring in at 42 inches in diameter, these pumps will move a combined 250-300 cubic feet per second (cfs) of water from WCA-2 north into WCA-1 and then to tide. This is the latest effort to help alleviate the high water emergency, caused by extreme rainfall in June and July, that is threatening wildlife in the water conservation areas.
The temporary pump installation will require the temporary closure of two of the four boat ramps located at the Loxahatchee Road Boat Ramp on the southern border of the Loxahatchee Refuge and the western part of the parking lot. These closures are expected to begin on Monday, Aug. 21 and last through Nov. 30. During this emergency pumping the remaining two boat ramps will stay open for access.