Several flood-relief projects across Volusia County are moving forward with the help of federal hurricane recovery funds.
On July 22, the Volusia County Council advanced four planning projects and approved funding for lift station upgrades in Daytona Beach.
“The projects will help reduce flood risk, modernize essential utilities, and advance long-term recovery efforts in communities impacted by recent hurricanes,” according to the county.
The funding is coming from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
HUD awarded the county close to $329 million to go toward Hurricane Ian recovery. The county launched its Transform386 initiative to handle those funds. HUD has also allocated the county over $133.5 million for Hurricane Milton recovery.
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Flood-relief projects include Daytona Beach lift stations, NSB master plan
On July 22, the county approved over $1.7 million for design services for lift station replacement projects to address “aging wastewater infrastructure located in flood-prone areas.” They are Lift Station 15 at 301 Wilson St., Lift Station 17 at 326 Parkway St., Lift Station 18 at 708 Madison Ave. and Lift Station 22 at 703 N. Beach St.
The County Council also approved $276,459 to CDM Smith, Inc., Maitland, Florida, to update the stormwater master plan for the Port Orange B-19 Basin. The basin is mostly in Daytona Beach and Port Orange. The update will incorporate current conditions, including development. The plan will focus on ways to reduce flooding.
The county also approved entering into contract negotiations with multiple firms for a watershed management plan in Daytona Beach, a stormwater master plan in New Smyrna Beach and drainage improvements in Orange City in the Mill Lake and Industrial Park basins. The contracts will come back to the County Council for a final vote.
The New Smyrna Beach project will be the second phase of the city’s stormwater master plan and “will support infrastructure upgrades and reduce flood vulnerability throughout the city.”
The Daytona Beach project “will help identify vulnerable areas and propose conceptual solutions to improve drainage, protect homes and businesses, and guide long-term capital planning,” according to the county.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Flood-relief projects ahead in Daytona Beach, NSB and beyond
Reporting by Sheldon Gardner, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
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