CULVERT DRAINAGEFOR EL RANCHO CANAL

Ross Engineering Inc. is pleased to announce our selection by Broward County Water and Waste Water Division for the culvert engineering design and permitting. The project is for a critical control structure in the El Rancho Canal located in Margate Florida. The control structure culvert engineering design is to allow for the overflow of canal conveyance under US-441 (SR 7) to the west. The full scope of services include surveying; utility locating; canal culvert engineering design and permitting. Additionally, utility coordination with FPL, the City of Margate, and a local gas company was performed. The El Rancho canal culvert engineering design project was given a notice-to-proceed in January 2013 and was completed in May of 2013

Broward County’s current system of drainage consists of approximately two hundred and sixty-six miles of waterways (Broward County Planning Council 1989). The primary drainage system is managed by the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and consists of nine major canals and their corresponding drainage basins (Figure III.1): Hillsboro Canal, C-14 (Cypress Creek) Canal, Pompano Canal, C-13 (Middle River) Canal, C-12 (Plantation) Canal, North New River Canal, C-11 (South New River) Canal, C-9 (Snake Creek) Canal, and the C-10 (Hollywood) Canal. These nine major canals, along with secondary and tertiary canals, eventually drain to the main estuarine areas (i.e., Intracoastal Waterway; see Section IV). Canal culvert engineering design is managed by the Water Management Department at Broward County Water and Wastewater Division.

The exception is the western segment of the C-11 Canal which is normally back pumped into the Water Conservation Area (WCAs). Overall, the canals are primarily used for flood control, however, secondary uses include drainage of land for development, discharge of excess water to and from the WCAs, prevention of saltwater intrusion, and recharge of well fields (Cooper and Lane 1987). The result is a highly managed, intricate system of canals and retention ponds with control structures and pumps that maintain the balance between flood prevention and over drainage. The chemical characteristics of canals must be studied in order to understand possible ‘downstream effects’ on receiving water bodies (i.e., the Everglades and coastal systems). While the canal system’s primary function has been and continues to be conveyance, the waterways are currently considered waters of the state of Florida also known as Class III waters (see Florida Administrative Code [FAC] 62-302; State of Florida 1998). Class III waters are designated as being used for “recreation, propagation and maintenance of a healthy, well-balanced population of fish and wildlife” (FAC 62-302.400). culvert engineering design projects in south florida are needed as older culverts become unstable and weaker.

The canals are used by a relatively large group of recreational fishers. Largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, is a popular species of choice, as well as the recently introduced peacock bass, Cichla ocellaris, which has thrived in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties ( State of Florida Environmental Canal culvert engineering design projects). Thus, these waterways are being used in ways that differ from their primary function of drainage but are consistent to some extent with their regulatory classification. Understanding the chemistry of these canals is important in determining the water bodies’ potential to support biological populations. Canal culvert engineering design projects are classified as water resources engineering projects