The City of North Port is hoping that recent cleanup efforts along the Myakkahatchee Creek will help reduce the risk of future flooding.

In 2022, Hurricane Ian caused widespread flooding, displacing residents and turning neighborhoods into waterways for days. The storm left lasting impacts, prompting city officials to take action.

“This is probably the most important stormwater project we’ve ever done,” said Chuck Speake, North Port’s Public Works Director.

The project focused on a 5.5-mile stretch of the creek near Sumter Boulevard. Over three months, crews removed about 7,000 cubic yards of debris, including 3,600 cubic yards of invasive vegetation. Massive blockages—some 10 to 15 feet tall—had been choking the creek’s flow since Hurricane Ian.

“Entire oak trees had fallen into the creek,” Speake explained. “Debris from upstream piled up, stopping the water and forcing it to overflow into neighborhoods.”

In total, crews identified 193 major blockages. Speake said these obstructions slowed water flow, causing stormwater from retention ditches and neighborhoods to back up and increase flood risk.

The cleanup project cost about $3.45 million, with $2.76 million funded through a federal grant from the Natural Resources Conservation Service. One mile of the creek still needs to be cleared, but that work is on hold until after the rainy season. Fortunately, that section is already flowing relatively well.

For residents like Krystal Salkowski, who watched floodwaters creep up to her doorstep in 2022, the project brings cautious optimism.

“We never expected it to get that bad,” she said. “At one point, we couldn’t even see our mailboxes. We’re all hoping Ian was a once-in-50-years kind of storm. Hopefully, this work helps if it ever happens again.”

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