💧 County allocates $250K to study Fort Walton Beach’s flood-prone Gap Creek watershed.
🌳 The project will map the creek, assess infrastructure, and propose restoration solutions.
🏘️ Officials say the study is critical to protecting neighborhoods like Lovejoy from chronic flooding.
SHALIMAR — The Okaloosa County Commission unanimously approved Tuesday the allocation of $250,000 in surtax reserves to help fund a long-awaited study of the Gap Creek watershed, a project aimed at reducing flooding and improving water quality in one of Fort Walton Beach’s most flood-prone areas.
The county’s contribution will serve as a 50-50 match for a state appropriation already secured for the study. The Infrastructure Surtax Advisory Committee recommended approval in August.
Public Works Director Scott Bitterman told commissioners the planning study will provide a physical assessment of the creek between Jonquil Avenue and Beal Parkway, where the waterway disappears from view onto private property.
The work will map the channel, document existing stormwater infrastructure and evaluate both nature-based and traditional improvements.
“Possible recommendations from the study could be help residents clean up fallen trees that are blocking the creek flow, or identify fences that pose no problem on a nice day like today, but if it’s raining and the creek leaves its banks, perhaps the fence blocks the flow of the river,” Bitterman said.
He added that the project may also highlight the need for filtration devices on stormwater structures and identify environmental projects to improve creek flow.
County Administrator John Hofstead said Gap Creek has posed problems for decades.
“I will tell you this system has been a problem for the 15 years I’ve been with the county, and it predates my time with the county when I was with the city as well,” Hofstead said. “It greatly impacts the Lovejoy community. They’ve been after this project for some time.”
Commissioner Trey Goodwin, who made the motion to approve, emphasized the project’s significance.
“It’s an area of significant concern for quite a large watershed,” Goodwin said. “This is the next step in trying to do something with it. … I really hope this will help address water quantity, to help mitigate flooding … but also the water quality.”
Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel, who seconded the motion, pointed to recent infrastructure failures as evidence of the need.
“This has been a huge issue ever since we took our seats and culminated with the recent blowout, not a sinkhole, I’ve been told over and over again, not a sinkhole, on Beal,” Ketchel said. “This really affects a lot of people throughout a large neighborhood, so I thank you for bringing this forward.”
The measure passed unanimously.
Once the Florida Department of Environmental Protection finalizes the grant award, the county will move ahead with the planning study.
Pro Communi Bono
St. Francis De Sales, Ora Pro Nobis!
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