| Lake Parker Southwest Basin Regional Stormwater Treatment Project |
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March 2009 Update |
Since 1987, Lake Parker has been noted by the City and various environmental agencies as having poor water quality. Studies of the lake were conducted that identified significant sources of pollution. As a result, the City developed plans that led to completing projects that are reducing the pollutants entering the lake. Cooperative funding from the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) helps support the efforts of the City to build more stormwater treatment systems that will clean stormwater flowing from much of downtown Lakeland.
Downtown Lakeland is important regarding the treatment of stormwater runoff. The area was developed before on-site treatment of stormwater runoff (stormwater ponds) was required. For this reason, redevelopment of older areas is encouraged since these activities now include stormwater treatment and other Best Management Practices (BMPs) as part of the overall site plan. Redevelopment in some areas is slow, impossible, or insufficient and requires larger efforts by the City to remove pollutants carried by stormwater to the lakes.
The Lake Parker Southwest Basin Regional Stormwater Treatment Project is an ongoing effort to build regional stormwater treatment systems within areas where site specific treatment is inadequate. Many potential sites for stormwater treatment facilities (a.k.a. Best Management Practices - BMPs) were identified and prioritized by studies of the lake and its watershed.
Within the current funding established for this project by the City and the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD), two of the potential sites are proposed for construction. These sites will provide stormwater retention and pollutant reduction for runoff from Downtown Lakeland. The sites, denoted as k and ii are in the engineering, design and permitting phases. The property for Site k has not been purchased by the City as negotiations with the owner are in progress. .Site ii permitting may take two-years since the required land (lake bottom) is owned by the State. Sites a and b have already been constructed as part of the Southwest Outfall Project completed in 2006. A trash collection basin was built as part of the Southwest Outfall Project.
Site k is an area lying to the north of the US Foods Complex, north of East Peachtree Street bordered to east by Morgan Street and to the West by Lake Avenue. This system is proposed to be a dry pond that will receive stormwater from the Lake Mirror basin; the most developed area of downtown Lakeland. The pond will be designed to dry within 72-hours of a rain event. Water collected in the pond infiltrates to the ground where treatment and subsurface flow to the lake occurs. Landscaping will be included so that the system is attractive as well as functional. Public Works personnel will maintain the area as a mowed Green-Space.
Site ii is referred to as the in-lake option and is located at the site of the current Southwest Outfall at Lakeshore Drive and Bon Air Street. Construction of Site ii will complete the system that was originally proposed. The work for this phase of the project is for permitting services and is estimated to take two-years to complete. The process will require the state to permit the project and allow use of the lake bottom. This system requires construction of an earthen berm containing a constructed wetland within the Southwest Basin of Lake Parker. All of the water from the 565-acre downtown drainage basin will pass through this constructed wetland for polishing prior to entering the Southwest Basin of Lake Parker.
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Project Progress |
Site k
So far 60% engineering design plans have been developed for Sitek.
Site k Draft Plans
Site ii
Site ii is at the 30% conceptual design phase. There are significant construction logistics decisions that need to be made before additional drawings and permit applications are generated.
Site ii Draft Plans
Site ??
Other sites are being evaluated to add future treatment to protect our lakes from stormwater pollution.
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More information: |
To get more information about Lake Parker and other lakes in Lakeland, FL., click on the following link to visit the Overview of Lakes page of the Lakes & Stormwater Division.
Projects Web page
You may also call Doug Gleckler at 863-834-8439
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