February 23, 2020
Johns Lake Drainage Study Update
In August of 2019, Orange County hired an independent company to evaluate the existing condition of the outfall canal connecting Johns Lake to Lake Apopka. The County, the Town of Oakland, and the Johns Lake Improvement Association have expressed concerns regarding the ability of this canal to adequately convey stormwater flows to Lake Apopka during wet periods without causing adverse impacts to property and infrastructure. The canal is more than a mile long and has a lot of trees and brush growing in it which requires regular maintenance
The steps identified were:
Data collection and evaluation to identify relevant updates to the primary stormwater management system (PSMS) hydraulics and drainage basin hydrology.
On February 2, we received an update that shows they have been working on step 1 of Johns Lake models. So far, they have looked at the data from the 2001 study and are looking into the changes since that time. They are considering all the land-use changes, local road and highway changes including those proposed, and studying the lake levels since 1959. The data is currently being obtained and reviewed that will support the remaining steps of the Johns Lake Outfall Study and Conceptual Design.
Stormwater modeling of the Johns Lake basin to establish the flood control limits provided by the existing PSMS.
Complete watershed evaluation and develop the project model. Proposed model methodologies include: Drainage basin numbers, storage-area relationships, and times of concentration for newly incorporated projects and developments (e.g., Oakland Park, Heritage Hills, Johns Landing, SR 429) will be used from the source models.
Development and evaluation of alternatives to improve flood control in the vicinity of Johns Lake and the outfall channel with input from the County, the Town, and the Johns Lake Improvement Association.
Conceptual alternatives are being identified. Once they have identified the alternatives, they will hold a meeting to discuss these alternatives with stakeholders including the Johns Lake Improvement Association. Hopefully, this will occur by the end of the first quarter of 2020. A significant amount of work has been completed and we are hoping this will eventually improve the Johns Lake outflow in the long term.