New Level Proposed for Lake Charlene

The design consultant for the Lake Charlene Drainage Improvements Project has notified Escambia County that it will be proceeding with the grant design based on a 9-inch lake level lowering instead of the originally proposed 18-inch lowering. Escambia County was awarded a Federal Emergency Management Agency Hazard Mitigation Grant Program grant for the Lake Charlene Outfall Project, to reduce the loss of life and property due to natural disasters. The project begins at the channel intersecting Lake Joanne Drive on the west and expands east to the intersection of South 61st Avenue, then south to the outfall at U.S. Highway 98.

At the request of the Lake Charlene Homeowners Association, Escambia County was asked if the design consultant for the project could run drainage models for increasing the proposed level of Lake Charlene by 3-inch increments in order to determine if the lake level could be raised while still meeting the design goals for the project. The goal of the project is to reduce the frequency of flooding in areas surrounding Lake Charlene, minimize impacts downstream of Lake Charlene and successfully fund the project through a FEMA HMGP grant.

In order to accomplish these goals, the proposed design recommended lowering the water surface elevation in Lake Charlene by approximately 18 inches to the bottom of the existing outfall pipe while providing additional outfall capacity through a new drainage pipe. Results of the analysis show that is it reasonably justifiable to increase this design elevation of the lake by up to 9 inches. It is important to note that the project change is subject to review and approval by FEMA, the project funding agency. A memorandum discussing the results of the analysis is attached.