Flood control structure rehabilitation work begins in November near Stick Marsh

Some access to be closed during construction
PALATKA, Fla. Oct. 25, 2021 — Access to the southern portion of the Three Forks Conservation Area and T.M. Goodwin Waterfowl Management Area will be intermittently closed beginning in early November as the St. Johns River Water Management District rehabilitates a water control structure at the public property in Brevard County.

The S-96 structure is scheduled for rehabilitation beginning in early November.

Three Forks Conservation Area is part of the larger Upper St. Johns River Basin Project area, a partnership between the District and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to restore the headwaters of the St. Johns River. As the local sponsor of the upper basin project, the District operates and maintains water control structure S-96 and other structures within the river’s headwaters in Brevard and Indian River counties. The S-96 rehabilitation project is to repair the damaged and aging concrete, repair and paint the sheet pile wing walls and roller gate, replace the hydraulic gate operation system with electric drum and cable hoists, replace the upstream and downstream staff gauges, provide safety barriers, fencing, handrails and other miscellaneous site work. This work is necessary to ensure the operational readiness of S-96 and to support USACE flood control structure requirements.

Structure S-96 is a flood control structure located between the St. Johns Water Management Area (locally known as the Stick Marsh) and C-54 Canal in southern Brevard County. The structure is a 58-ft wide concrete structure with two 26-ft wide steel roller gates and serves as the emergency water outlet for Stick Marsh. This structure is one of the earliest components of the federal upper basin project and was constructed by USACE in 1971. On rare occasions, S-96 discharges surface water and stormwater from the upper basin into the Indian River Lagoon via C-54 Canal for flood protection purposes.

The contractor is expected to begin work in early November, mobilizing equipment and driving a sheet pile cofferdam around the structure and pumping it dry before any repairs are made. All work should be complete by July 30, 2022.

Stay updated on construction and property closures at this location and all District public lands  by visiting www.sjrwmd.com/lands/recreation/announcementsand by following the District’s social media.