By Orange County Commissioner Christine Moore
Orange County Commissioner Christine Moore (District 2) sent the following statement to The Apopka Voice about a potential solution to the Border Lake issue that she wanted to present at the Apopka City Council's February 5th meeting but was denied the opportunity, according to Moore:
"Orange County Public Works Staff and I were denied the opportunity to present a short-term pumping solution after severe flooding after Hurricane Milton in 2024 for Border Lake at the Apopka City Council Meeting on Wednesday, February 5th.
Border Lake is a closed-drainage basin with impacts from SR 436, Seminole County, Orange County, and the City of Apopka. The Border Lake watershed responsibilities include the City of Apopka at 45%, Seminole County at 35%, FDOT at 19%, and Orange County at 1%. Orange County is committed to funding 25% of the costs of the temporary pumping solution.
Prior to the late 90s widening of SR 436, there was a drain well located near SR 436 and Lake Ruden. FDEP has not allowed replacement. For the past 20 years the area has received significant summer rains and hurricane impacts, and thus, the lake has continued to rise. In fact, Border Lake is 3-4 ft. higher now than at the same time last year.
After Hurricane Milton in October of 2024, portions of SR 436 and Piedmont-Wekiwa roads severely flooded. The shopping center also flooded, and the Wekiva Townhomes required the installation of a tiger dam to prevent the loss of residential units. Border Lake flooding has been a severe problem since 2017. Multiple joint meetings have taken place. As the major governmental entity with responsibility for the watershed, Mayor Nelson has never brought a solution to fruition. Orange County Government also approached FDEP on trying to find the aging drain well, replace it and this has not been successful.
Since the devastating fall 2024 hurricane impacts, I worked with Orange County Public Works staff to research a short-term pumping operation through the Piedmont Chain of Lakes and under Piedmont Wekiva Road to the Lake Page drain well. County staff has developed a study and a preliminary cost analysis for the project. It is deeply troubling those affected by Hurricane Milton flooding near Border Lake, Lake Ruden, and the unnamed lake west of the Wekiwa Townhomes were denied the opportunity to discuss a short-term solution at the February 5th Apopka City Council Meeting. County staff if they had authority with city lakes would follow the short-term plan. Shopping center officials and residents of the Wekiva Townhomes are concerned that Mayor Nelson’s non-action potentially subjects them to additional flooding this summer and fall.
Local media well documented the flooding in 2024.
Time is of the essence to begin the slow draining down of Border Lake. Just permitting and set-up could take two-three months. I simply want the opportunity to present the solution at the next city council meeting to determine if there are three council votes for the temporary short-term solution while waiting for approvals for a new Border Lake drain well or Mayor Nelson’s plan, currently without funding, to pipe the excess Border Lake water to Cleveland Street."
This developing story will be updated in future editions of The Apopka Voice.