With regard to the maintenance issues on Pine Island Road, there are no activities that we could undertake that would significantly improve the flow of water down the roadside ditch/canal to the lagoon.  The water is flowing to the capacity of the system.  The fact is that the distance from the road in question (East Crisafulli Road) to its outfall (the lagoon) is extreme and the fall is very small (at one point the lagoon level was only 6 inches below parts of the road over five miles away).  The water in these circumstances can not move quickly.  As the lagoon has dropped the  flow has improved as expected. 

As to understanding the way the drainage system for the area works our Stormwater program has studied this area extensively and has a clear understanding of how it works.  The unfortunate fact is that when you get about 20 inches of rain in an area that historically floods with far less rainfall (because the drainage system that was originally intended to service agricultural property) simply will not function in a manner we would prefer.

What we are doing to help is to provide supplemental pumping at the one location that will be both effective and not flood other properties.  When the water levels reced below Pine Island Road we may be able to pump other areas but that is not clear at this time.  We have been working this storm since prior to  the first drop of rain and we will continue to do so until normal water levels are achieved.

The current status of East Crisafulli Road is that the water has receded below either the edge of pavement or the crown of the road for its entire length.  That represents a recovery of 3 inches in the last 24 hours over many square miles of land.  We will continue with our current efforts and further supplement those when we are able to, assuming we can do so and both be effective and not damage other properties.  A side note has been that nearly all suggestions I have heard recently would either not work or would flood other properties.  We of course will not consider those options.

Also, concerning our knowledge of the area, aside from the aforementioned studies by our Stormwater program; my staff has fought flooding in this area for years (since homes started to be built in the area gradually replacing the groves) I myself have lived here for decades.  We are confident we are exploiting our options appropriately but are willing to consider reasonable proposals for immediate relief. 

As for a more permanent solution, the County's Stormwater program does have a permitted plan to provide some relief but the funds required far exceed the revenue available for the plan.  If there are questions regarding that project the director of that program is Ernest Brown.

John Denninghoff
Brevard County Transportation Engineering