ANNA MARIA – City officials are pursuing a coastal resiliency grant to fund a study that identifies the best locations to install underground pumps and pipes to speed the removal of floodwaters from storms and high tides.
On Sept. 11, Mayor Dan Murphy and Anna Maria commissioners discussed the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) grant application.
Murphy did not disclose the amount of the grant request or the anticipated study costs.
He said that flooding is a major concern shared by Anna Maria property owners and noted that heavy rains that fall in short timespans are now more common.
“When you get that much saturation, there’s not much you can do,” he said.
He said short of building a dike around the Island, there’s nothing that will stop Tampa Bay waters from rising over the seawalls and sand dunes that help protect the city.
“The object is to get rid of the water as quickly as possible once the tide goes down,” Murphy said.
Anna Maria’s stormwater and drainage system relies primarily on stone-covered, granite-filled underground vertical infiltration trenches that absorb and help transport floodwaters to the designated outfalls.
“Vertical filtration has exhausted itself. It works in some locations and it does not work in other locations. Now it’s down to pipes and pumps,” Murphy said.
Murphy mentioned several flood-prone locations – the entrance to the city, Archer Way, Allamanda Road, the Bayfront Park area, North Bay Boulevard, South Bay Boulevard, the City Pier area, Magnolia Avenue and the area behind Ginny’s and Jane E’s Café. He said a different approach is needed in those areas.
Murphy said the study won’t be cheap, but he’s optimistic the city will receive the state funds in the October timeframe. Using two engineering firms, Murphy estimates the city could have the study and the engineered pump and pipe installation plans completed in approximately 14 months, with the entire project taking approximately two years to complete.
He noted the maintenance of pumps and pipes located in a saltwater environment will be ongoing and expensive.
“Pumping is expensive, especially when it’s buried underground,” Murphy said.
He noted additional funds might be obtained from FEMA and the Southwest Florida Water Management District to help offset the maintenance costs.
After 10 years in office, Murphy’s final term as mayor expires in November. He said the next mayor will have to spearhead the project and he advised the commission to maintain close relationships with the state officials and state legislators who can provide the needed funds.
“This is a very expensive proposition,” he said. “You need to be prepared to pony up and get the money to finish this if you want to solve this problem. The answer is getting the water out as quickly as possible and that’s what pumps and pipes will do.”
Commissioner Mark Short noted the study might also identify other drainage options to consider.
