C-15 canal delray beach fl map

Hurricane Preparations:

C-15 Canal Tree Clearing Project to Improve Flood Protection for Families and Businesses in Palm Beach County

SFWMD clearing trees from District-owned land to protect public safety; work comes after months of keeping residents informed about impending maintenance project

Click on the map so see a larger version showing the two phases of the C-15 Canal Tree Clearing Project.

West Palm Beach, FL - To help ensure flood protection for hundreds of thousands of Palm Beach County residents, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) will begin work this week to clear trees and overgrown vegetation from SFWMD-owned land along a stretch of the C-15 Canal bordering Delray Beach and Boca Raton in southern Palm Beach County.

Work on the half-mile first phase of the project from Dixie Highway to Brant Drive will begin this week, while the second phase comprised of work on another half-mile of the canal from Brant Drive to Interstate 95 is slated to begin at a later date.

The important tree clearing work is one of several ongoing canal clearing projects SFWMD is currently conducting to maintain its ability to protect

8.1 million residents from flooding throughout South Florida. The C-15 project comes after months of extensive efforts by the District to inform residents in the affected area about this public safety measure.

"Well-maintained and free-flowing canals are at the heart of our flood control system and a crucial component to protecting families and businesses from harm during and after storms," said SFWMD Governing Board Vice Chair Melanie Peterson. "By clearing District-owned canals of any obstructions, while informing residents of this critical work, this agency is preparing for what is reported to be a heightened hurricane season."

Unlike some other tree clearing projects where the canal banks are owned by private homeowners and the District operates with an easement over the property, the District owns 100 percent of the land along the banks of the C-15 Canal where the trees will be cleared. At least five different canals maintained by SFWMD or the Lake Worth Drainage District utilize the C-15 Canal to drain neighborhoods in Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Boca Raton and unincorporated communities west of these cities.

The same scenario occurring with Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Andrew and other storms in the past can happen with future hurricanes and impact the C-15 Canal. Trees blown into canals can block the flow of floodwaters away from homes, increasing the risk of flooding in neighborhoods and whole cities.

The tree clearing effort is part of SFWMD's normal cycle of maintenance to ensure its regional canals function optimally to move water before,

during and after storms. For public safety purposes, canals must have an unobstructed right of way on their banks. Fallen vegetation or debris can slow the flow of water in canals or block downstream water control structures, preventing water from draining properly and increasing the risk of flooding. Field crews also must have clear access to canals for routine maintenance, repair and debris removal, especially in emergencies.

The District will have to remove four docks that are dilapidated, though the owners can apply for permits to rebuild those docks, and several other docks will be left intact. All the trimming work will be performed from a barge in the river.

SFWMD staff sent several letters to homeowners along the canal informing them of the impending work and have met personally with many residents to address their concerns. The District also briefed officials from both Delray Beach and Boca Raton about the need for the project.

"The protection of Delray Beach families is a top priority for City Commission members and preparations for the upcoming hurricane season to ensure that public safety such as trimming and removing trees from canal banks to prevent potential flooding are necessary," said Delray Beach City Deputy Vice-Mayor Shirley Johnson. "I am thankful for the work the South Florida Water Management District is performing along the C-15 Canal to keep our residents, as well as the residents of Boca Raton, Boynton Beach and other communities, safe after a hurricane."

This is one of several canal maintenance projects currently underway. In April, the District started clearing trees and vegetation from a section of the Golden Gate Main Canal to protect homeowners in the Big Cypress Basin in Collier County. Since last year, the District has been working to clear the right of way along the C-100A Canal in Miami-Dade County to improve flood protection in that region.