6/24/24 @ 2:15 p.m. -
Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 1954 into law on May 12, 2021, creating the Resilient Florida Program. This legislation provides funding for initiatives to protect Florida's coastlines and inland waterways from sea level rise, storms, and flooding. It represents the largest investment in Florida’s history to help communities prepare for the effects of sea level rise, more severe storms, and increased flooding. For the 23/24 Fiscal Year, Nassau County applied for and received two grants under this program.
The Thomas Creek watershed management has been a priority to Nassau County dating back to the desnagging efforts of 2007. Since then, a Planning Assistance to States Grant (PAS) study was performed with the Army Corps of Engineers that concluded the best course of action is a voluntary buyout program. Staff presented the Thomas Creek Implementation Plan in March of 2023 to the Board of County Commissioners for approval. Subsequently, the Stormwater and Drainage Management, as part of the Thomas Creek Implementation Plan initiative, applied for the Implementation Grant to purchase homes in the Thomas Creek watershed. This $2.8 million dollar grant requires a 50% which $1 million was approved for by the Board. The other $400,000 will be in work in-kind funds.
On June 20, 2024, the County held on Open House regarding the Thomas Creek Implementation Plan. Dozens of residents were in attendance to learn more about on-going efforts to mitigate flooding in the area. Booths with County staff were set up in the Callahan Community Center to allow for specific questions that summary presentations have not answered to date. During the Open House, citizens were able to discuss the County's Bicentennial efforts and the Nassau Vision 2050 initiative. They were also able to give input for the County's vulnerability study and learn about the Conservation Land Acquisition and Management (CLAM) program in which Thomas Creek lands were ranked in the top 25 identified priority projects. Citizens that have already volunteered for the program learned more about the purchasing process. Some reviewed the preliminary floodplain elevations to be submitted to FEMA later this year. Others learned about the study for the first time and were added to this cycle’s volunteer list.
As the project progresses, updates can be found on the Thomas Creek webpage. You can also reach out to Stormwater Drainage Director Katie Peay at (904) 530-6390 or via e-mail at [email protected].
-Sabrina Robertson
Public Information Officer
Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 1954 into law on May 12, 2021, creating the Resilient Florida Program. This legislation provides funding for initiatives to protect Florida's coastlines and inland waterways from sea level rise, storms, and flooding. It represents the largest investment in Florida’s history to help communities prepare for the effects of sea level rise, more severe storms, and increased flooding. For the 23/24 Fiscal Year, Nassau County applied for and received two grants under this program.
The Thomas Creek watershed management has been a priority to Nassau County dating back to the desnagging efforts of 2007. Since then, a Planning Assistance to States Grant (PAS) study was performed with the Army Corps of Engineers that concluded the best course of action is a voluntary buyout program. Staff presented the Thomas Creek Implementation Plan in March of 2023 to the Board of County Commissioners for approval. Subsequently, the Stormwater and Drainage Management, as part of the Thomas Creek Implementation Plan initiative, applied for the Implementation Grant to purchase homes in the Thomas Creek watershed. This $2.8 million dollar grant requires a 50% which $1 million was approved for by the Board. The other $400,000 will be in work in-kind funds.
On June 20, 2024, the County held on Open House regarding the Thomas Creek Implementation Plan. Dozens of residents were in attendance to learn more about on-going efforts to mitigate flooding in the area. Booths with County staff were set up in the Callahan Community Center to allow for specific questions that summary presentations have not answered to date. During the Open House, citizens were able to discuss the County's Bicentennial efforts and the Nassau Vision 2050 initiative. They were also able to give input for the County's vulnerability study and learn about the Conservation Land Acquisition and Management (CLAM) program in which Thomas Creek lands were ranked in the top 25 identified priority projects. Citizens that have already volunteered for the program learned more about the purchasing process. Some reviewed the preliminary floodplain elevations to be submitted to FEMA later this year. Others learned about the study for the first time and were added to this cycle’s volunteer list.
As the project progresses, updates can be found on the Thomas Creek webpage. You can also reach out to Stormwater Drainage Director Katie Peay at (904) 530-6390 or via e-mail at [email protected].
-Sabrina Robertson
Public Information Officer
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