Dec. 22, 2017
Naples, FL – This week, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) broke ground on a Governing Board-approved weir replacement project that will enhance the Big Cypress Basin's ability to store and release water. The Golden Gate Weir No. 4 replacement project is part of the Basin's ongoing effort to protect families and properties from flooding in the Golden Gate Estates neighborhood of Collier County.
"As we saw after Hurricane Irma, being able to act rapidly and adjust our flood control system to changing situations is critical to managing water and protecting the residents of the Big Cypress Basin," said Basin Board Chairman and SFWMD Governing Board Member Rick Barber. "This installation will significantly aid our response to heavy rainfall events."
The $4.7 million project will replace a manually operated fixed-crest weir with an automated weir that can be operated remotely. The new structure will improve response times when water needs to be released for flood control, such as occurred during and after Hurricane Irma. Additionally, the Basin will be able to set the gates higher than the old structure, allowing more water to be held back for water supply during the dry season.