EUSTIS — The Stormwater Section of the Lake County Department of Public Works is currently managing the construction of two important stormwater water-quality improvement projects: Dead River and Getford Road stormwater ponds.

Staff from Lake County Stormwater Section and Florida Fish & Wildlife conducts a fish shock at a Dead River stormwater pond.

The Dead River stormwater pond, located on Dead River Road in the Lake Harris Basin, will redirect runoff currently going to the Dead River. The pond will be treating a 52-acre drainage basin. The project is in response to the phosphorous total maximum daily loads (TMDL) for Lake Harris.

The land for the pond site was purchased jointly with the Lake County Stormwater Municipal Service Taxing Unit (MSTU) and funds from the Lake County Public Lands Management. The $1.2 million in construction funds are from the Stormwater MSTU with matching grants from the Lake County Water Authority and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The project is scheduled for completion in May 2010.

“In preparing for the construction of this project, we contacted the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission to determine if a fish shock could be performed on the existing pond to prevent a fish kill during construction,” said Mary Hamilton, Manager of the Lake County Stormwater Section. “Fish & Wildlife staff came to the County’s assistance and performed the shock. Several dozen fish were recovered and relocated.”

The Getford Road stormwater pond will correct flooding issues in the basin as well as improve water quality for Trout Lake. The new pond will treat a 339-acre drainage basin and is also in response to the phosphorous total maximum daily loads (TMDL) for Trout Lake.

The project is a collaboration with the City of Eustis, where the City is providing the land for the pond site and the County is constructing the improvements. This project will include a multi-use trail around the pond to tie into the City’s master trail plan. The $1.4 million in construction funds for this project are from the Stormwater MSTU. The project is scheduled for completion in July 2010.

For more information about the Lake County Stormwater Section, call (352) 483-9080.