Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Action News Jax
Open house held for Thomas Creek Watershed flooding management plan in Nassau County
By ActionNewsJax.com News Staff,
23 days ago
Nassau County held an open house on June 20th at the Callahan Community Center to discuss plans to manage and reduce flooding in the Thomas Creek area . This effort is part of the Thomas Creek Implementation Plan, funded by the Resilient Florida Program, which was created to protect Florida’s coastlines and waterways from sea level rise, storms, and flooding.
The Resilient Florida Program was established by Senate Bill 1954, signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis on May 12, 2021. For the 2023/24 fiscal year, Nassau County received two grants under this program, including $2.8 million to buy homes in the Thomas Creek watershed area. The county is covering part of the cost, with $1 million approved by the Board of County Commissioners and another $400,000 provided through in-kind work funds.
Thomas Creek watershed management has been a focus for Nassau County since 2007. A study with the Army Corps of Engineers recommended a voluntary buyout program for homes in flood-prone areas. In March 2023, the county presented the Thomas Creek Implementation Plan to the Board of County Commissioners, outlining steps to address the issue.
At the open house, residents learned about the ongoing efforts to mitigate flooding. County staff were available to answer questions and provide information. Attendees also discussed the county’s Bicentennial efforts, the Nassau Vision 2050 initiative, and the Conservation Land Acquisition and Management (CLAM) program, which ranks Thomas Creek lands among the top 25 priority projects.
Those who had already volunteered for the buyout program received more details about the purchasing process, while new volunteers were added to the list. Residents also reviewed preliminary floodplain elevations that will be submitted to FEMA later this year.
Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.
Comments / 0