2/6/25 @ 4:00 p.m. -
The Thomas Creek watershed management has been a priority to Nassau County dating back to the desnagging efforts of 2007. Previous efforts to mitigate flooding concerns along Thomas Creek were unsuccessful so the County sought assistance from the Army Corps of Engineers to determine the best path forward.
In 2019, a Planning Assistance to States Grant (PAS) study was conducted by the Army Corps of Engineers which included extensive modeling with multiple scenarios. The results of the study concluded that the best course of action was a voluntary buyout program. The BOCC directed staff from the Stormwater and Drainage Management Department to begin working on an implementation plan while simultaneously taking other steps to improve drainage in the area. Examples include working with CSX Railroad to clear blockages near the railroad bridge; adding a stream gauge to Thomas Creek to monitor stream levels and rain; conducting home visits to meet with residents about issues relevant to their properties; issuing work orders to have the road department make various drainage improvements; and removal of vegetation near US 1 to make the creek more navigable. The Thomas Creek Implementation Plan was ultimately adopted by the BOCC on December 21, 2022.
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% match, of which $1 million was approved for by the Board. The other $400,000 will be in work in-kind funds.
We are excited to report that the County has closed on two of the four properties that were identified in the Thomas Creek Implementation Plan. The two other remaining properties are slated to be purchased in February or March 2025. This is a crucial step in mitigating and reducing flooding in the future. Additional buyouts will be considered as funding becomes available.
All information related to the Thomas Creek Drainage Basin, including studies, community meetings and the timeline of the project can be found on our website. If you have any questions, please contact the Stormwater and Drainage Department at (904) 530-6390.
-Sabrina Robertson
Communications Officer
The Thomas Creek watershed management has been a priority to Nassau County dating back to the desnagging efforts of 2007. Previous efforts to mitigate flooding concerns along Thomas Creek were unsuccessful so the County sought assistance from the Army Corps of Engineers to determine the best path forward.
In 2019, a Planning Assistance to States Grant (PAS) study was conducted by the Army Corps of Engineers which included extensive modeling with multiple scenarios. The results of the study concluded that the best course of action was a voluntary buyout program. The BOCC directed staff from the Stormwater and Drainage Management Department to begin working on an implementation plan while simultaneously taking other steps to improve drainage in the area. Examples include working with CSX Railroad to clear blockages near the railroad bridge; adding a stream gauge to Thomas Creek to monitor stream levels and rain; conducting home visits to meet with residents about issues relevant to their properties; issuing work orders to have the road department make various drainage improvements; and removal of vegetation near US 1 to make the creek more navigable. The Thomas Creek Implementation Plan was ultimately adopted by the BOCC on December 21, 2022.
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% match, of which $1 million was approved for by the Board. The other $400,000 will be in work in-kind funds.
We are excited to report that the County has closed on two of the four properties that were identified in the Thomas Creek Implementation Plan. The two other remaining properties are slated to be purchased in February or March 2025. This is a crucial step in mitigating and reducing flooding in the future. Additional buyouts will be considered as funding becomes available.
All information related to the Thomas Creek Drainage Basin, including studies, community meetings and the timeline of the project can be found on our website. If you have any questions, please contact the Stormwater and Drainage Department at (904) 530-6390.
-Sabrina Robertson
Communications Officer
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