Agenda 04/26/2016 Item #16A26 4/26/2016 16.A.26.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation to authorize staff to perform a one-time maintenance cleaning of the State Road
29 Canal (Barron River) and develop,in conjunction with State and Federal agencies, a long range
maintenance program proposal to be presented to the County Commission at a future Board
meeting for final action(Fiscal impact$90,000).
OBJECTIVE: To address the current and future maintenance requirements of the State Road 29
(SR-29) Canal (Barron River)from Immokalee to I-75.
CONSIDERATIONS: The SR-29 Canal (Barron River) runs along the east side of SR-29 from
Immokalee to Everglades City. The canal was excavated in the 1920's to provide fill for the (former)
railroad and road which runs parallel to the west of the canal. Over time the canal has become an
important drainage outfall for a significant part of the Town of Immokalee, Farm Workers Village,
Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) for SR-29, and many agricultural and preserve lands
to the south of Immokalee. The Florida Department of Forestry observed that the condition of the
canal north of 1-75 was in need of attention and contacted Collier County, =FDOT and Big Cypress
Basin (BCB) to see who was responsible for the maintenance of the canal. It was determined at that
time that no government entity was performing maintenance as the canal is located primarily on
private property. Collier County does limited maintenance on the canal adjacent to Farm Workers
Village, Sunniland Store and the Sunniland Weir, where it is the County's responsibility either by
easement or right-of-way.
Last summer, several property owners (Collier Enterprises, Farm Workers Village, JB Ranch & Rick
Johnson) adjacent to the canal, contacted the BCB and Collier County to organize a meeting to
discuss the short and long term maintenance of the canal. A meeting was held in August of 2015
between the property owners, BCB and Collier County and it was decided that the BCB and Collier
County would contact FDOT to see if a multi-agency effort could be organized for the short and long
term maintenance of the canal. In December of 2015,representatives from BCB and Collier County
met with FDOT to discuss the multi-agency effort. FDOT does use portions of the canal as an outfall
but did not commit to participating in future maintenance. FDOT did encourage contact with FDOT
representatives in Tallahassee who would ultimately make the decision whether or not to participate.
On January 29, 2016, David Wilkison, Collier County Growth Management Department (GMD)
Head, made a presentation to the BCB Board informing them of these meetings and the progress to
date and asked for their concurrence on the short and long term plan for maintenance. The BCB
Board agreed to participate in a multi-agency effort to maintain the canal. In March of 2016 Collier
County GMD staff met with the National Park Service (NPS), Big Cypress Basin (BCB), U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Services (USFWS) and FDOT to discuss maintenance of the canal. In this meeting,
FDOT did agree to investigate cleaning out weed growth under the bridges south of Oil Well Road to
allow water to flow from the canal west into the Panther Refugee. Although no official agreement
was reached, all who participated concurred that there was an immediate need to maintain the canal.
Recently Collier Enterprises cleaned up the portion of the canal extending from the Sunniland Weir
all the way upstream to one driveway north of the pedestrian overpass located at Farm Workers
Village. The initial cost to clean the canal from north of the Sunniland Weir to Immokalee Road was
estimated at $180,000, if the County performed the work. The cost to complete the portion of the
canal that is remaining to be cleaned from Immokalee Road to the pedestrian overpass located at
Farm Workers Village would be significantly reduced, estimated at approximately $90,000. If the
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4/26/2016 16.A.26.
Board directs the County Manager to proceed with a one-time maintenance clean up, the County
would be required to obtain right of entry agreements with all property owners along the remaining
portion of the canal. The time to obtain these agreements is unknown as it requires contacting each
property owner to sign an agreement. The initial letters to the property owners could be sent in
approximately two weeks. The preparation of the rights of entry documents, including review by the
County Attorney, could take several more weeks. With full cooperation of all affected property
owners, this process could take several months. In the event no further clean-up is performed, the
functionality of the canal will again deteriorate and potentially cause flooding of adjacent properties,
SR-29 and upstream in the Immokalee area.
Looking to the future, it is better for the health, safety and welfare of local property owners and
travelers of SR-29, that the maintenance needs be addressed. If maintenance is not performed in a
timely manner the conditions will continue to deteriorate to an almost non-functioning condition.
Discussions between the different agencies staff have included the County obtaining drainage
easements or fee simple interest in the SR-29 Canal from willing land owners and coordination of
future perpetual canal and outfall maintenance by the County, BCB, FDOT, and the NPS/USFWS.
FISCAL IMPACT: It is estimated that the remaining areas that need to be cleaned should cost
approximately $90,000. Funding for this is available in cost center 163645. The estimated annual
maintenance is expected to fall between $60,000 and $80,000, depending on rate of vegetation
growth and rainfall.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: This item is approved as to form and legality, and requires majority
vote for Board approval.—SRT
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: Ensuring adequate maintenance and operation of all
major stormwater and surface water management canals within Collier County is in conformance
with all applicable goals, objectives and policies of both the Stormwater Management Sub-Element
and the Conservation and Coastal Management Element of the Growth Management Plan.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. To authorize a one-time maintenance of the canal from south of Farm Workers Village to
Immokalee Rd.
2. To obtain right-of-entry permission from the landowners for the one-time cleaning and
the ability to dispose of the vegetation on their land.
3. To obtain drainage easements from the property owners for the long-term maintenance;
and
4. To work with the BCB, FDOT,NPS/USFWS on a long-term maintenance plan and bring
this plan back to the Board for consideration of approval.
Prepared by: David S. Wilkison, Department Head, GMD and Travis Gossard, Director, Road
Maintenance Division, Growth Management Department
Attachment:
1. Location Map
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4/26/2016 16.A.26.
COLLIER COUNTY
Board of County Commissioners
Item Number: 16.16.A.16.A.26.
Item Summary: Recommendation to provide guidance concerning the maintenance of
the State Road 29 Canal (Barron River).
Meeting Date: 4/26/2016
Prepared By
Name: LynchDiane
Title: Supervisor-Operations,Road Maintenance
3/29/2016 6:45:38 PM
Approved By
Name: LynchDiane
Title: Supervisor-Operations,Road Maintenance
Date: 3/31/2016 10:14:01 AM
Name: LaPierreBarbara
Title: Management/Budget Analyst,Capital Construction&Maintenance Budget/Fiscal
Date: 3/31/2016 12:54:10 PM
Name: GossardTravis
Title: Division Director-Road Maintenance,Road Maintenance
Date: 3/31/2016 1:36:40 PM
Name: KearnsAllison
Title: Manager-Financial &Operational Sprt, Capital Construction&Maintenance Budget/Fiscal
Date: 3/31/2016 4:12:47 PM
Name: KearnsAllison
Title: Manager-Financial &Operational Sprt, Capital Construction&Maintenance Budget/Fiscal
Date: 3/31/2016 4:37:45 PM
Name: PattersonAmy
Title: Division Director-IF, CPP &PM,Capital Project Planning,Impact Fees and Program
Management
Date: 4/1/2016 4:54:01 PM
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4/26/2016 16.A.26.
Name: KurtzGerald
Title:Project Manager,Principal, Capital Project Planning,Impact Fees and Program Management
Date: 4/5/2016 2:27:36 PM
Name: TeachScott
Title: Deputy County Attorney,County Attorney
Date: 4/5/2016 2:32:49 PM
Name: MarcellaJeanne
Title: Executive Secretary,Transportation Administration
Date: 4/7/2016 2:50:39 PM
Name: KlatzkowJeff
Title: County Attorney,
Date:4/13/2016 5:09:34 PM
Name: IsacksonMark
Title:Division Director-Corp Fin&Mgmt Svc, Office of Management&Budget
Date: 4/14/2016 9:44:55 AM
Name: CasalanguidaNick
Title: Deputy County Manager,County Managers Office
Date: 4/15/2016 10:09:51 AM
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4/26/2016 16.A.26.
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