County Launches First Assessment Of Ridge Canals

The 112 canals running along the Lake Wales Ridge in Highlands County have never been inspected or maintained by the county.

But that's changing, as the county's Natural Resources Department has launched the first-ever inspection of the Ridge canals, designed to set a future maintenance program.

Each of the 92 Ridge canals with waterfront homes, running for a total of about 26 miles, will be assessed for maintenance needs over the next several months.

Scheda Ecological Associates has been awarded an $88,600 contract to assess the canals and began work Thursday in the Lake Grassy area.

Erin McCarta, the county's lakes management assistant, said the assessments will provide the information needed on canals and canal systems to set maintenance program and priorities.

"Some canals and systems are in good shape at this time and may not require maintenance any time soon," McCarta said. "Other canal systems are not so lucky. This assessment will allow lake management staff to generate a prioritized list based on maintenance needs."

Funding will be sought for the next fiscal year, starting Oct. 1, to launch maintenance of the residential canals, she said.

"We want to bring the canals back to their original design and depths and widths," McCarta said.

All of the residential canals on the Ridge are least 34 years old, since none have been built since 1974.

Most of the assessment work will be from boats. But, McCarta said, Scheda Ecological personnel will at times need to work from the banks and walk through private yards.

The canal assessment workers will each carry a letter from the county explaining their work, and residents can ask to see identification, McCarta said. She said county staff will make every attempt to notify communities when the canal assessment staff is working in the area.