Wekiva Basin Study

The Wekiva Watershed comprises the western most areas in Seminole County that drain to the Wekiva River. This watershed is approximately 56.2 square miles (~36,000 acres) and resides within the St. Johns River Water Management District. This watershed is comprised of three drainage basins: LittleWekiva, Big Wekiva, and Yankee Lake.

Overview of the Plan

The primary goal of this study is to develop the tools necessary to effectively manage flooding and water quality within the Wekiva Watershed.

The most recent update of the Wekiva Watershed Management Plan was completed in July 2023, and you may find documents for download under the Project Documents section below. The findings of of the July 2023 update included the following objectives:

• Collected and compiled relevant watershed related data and develop existing GIS representations of watershed characteristics.
• Compiled flooding and water quality problem areas from various sources including; previous studies, county staff, and the public.
• Developed a detailed hydrologic and hydraulic (H&H) model to evaluate flooding issues.
• Assessed current flood protection level of service (FPLOS) for roads, primary drainage facilities, and structures.
• Developed a detailed pollutant loading assessment (PLA) model to identify water quality improvement target areas.
• Developed updated floodplain information.
• Performed a special hydrologic assessment of the Lake Markham and Lake Sylvan areas to assess possible causes for recent high stages.
• Evaluated Little Wekiva River conditions and opportunities for additional sediment control.

The Wekiva Watershed Management Plan is currently being updated. The updates are expected to continue through spring 2025.

To abate flooding issues and improve water quality, the study is being revisited to include updating the Alternatives report and the Basin Study report with new results. This update will enhance the County’s modeling for the area and help better understand how lake levels and surrounding properties interact.

Project Location Map

Project Presentation

A Public Meeting was held on March 9, 2023, to provide an overview of the project and summary of the scope of work.

Project Documents

• 2023: Wekiva Watershed Report
• 2023: Wekiva Alternative Project Report
• 2023: Wekiva Watershed Report Exhibits

Contact Us

There are several opportunities to submit questions and comments regarding this project.

The Seminole County Project Manager can be contacted as follows:
Jorge Jimenez, P.E.
Professional Engineer - Stormwater
Seminole County Public Works Engineering Division
O: (407) 665-5753
100 East First Street Sanford, FL 32771
jjimenez@seminolecountyfl.gov

In all cases, please provide the following helpful information:

• Name and phone number
• Address and/or location of drainage issue
• A brief description of the issue, including when/how often it occurs

Inclusion of photos or other relevant documentation is helpful. Please note that any material submitted will become the property of Seminole County and will not be returned. Depending on comment volume, individual responses to comments or information submitted may not be possible.