Client Name: Miami-Dade County
Client Contact Person: Wes Scott, PE,  Senior Project Manager
Project Name: Miami-Dade County Canal Engineering/Design Services
Location: Miami-Dade County,  Florida
Project Duration: 12/00 through 2003

Project Summary

SFRC&D in affiliation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Florida Department of Community Affairs (DCA) and the Miami-Dade County Department of Environmental Resources and Management (DERM) began the repair and restoration of 160 miles of secondary canals to improve the secondary canal drainage system and relieve the community from extensive flooding after major storm events.  SFRC&D was assigned the management and oversight of over 50 miles of the canals to begin this flood recovery and mitigation program.  The assigned canals vary widely in length, width, depth, condition, embankment characteristics, ancillary structures, culverts, roadways, traffic, and other features. Following the solicitation of qualified firms for this work and individual contract negotiations, the Council engaged 4 engineering firms to perform surveys, develop detailed engineering drawings, and to provide construction management for the repair and restoration work for these canals.  This project also included the collection of sediment samples, laboratory testing, and characterization of the sediments.  This phase of pre-construction data collection and engineering is absolutely essential to insure safe and cost effective disposal.

Project management responsibilities included the review of engineering drawings that encompass canal cross sections, plan and profile views, plus culvert and embankment assessment reports.  The Council project management staff reviewed and presented the detailed plans to Miami-Dade DERM personnel and other County engineers and flood control staff.  The Council presented a comprehensive report for each canal to the County regarding the repair or replacement of severely damaged or ineffective culverts.  Proper culvert flow is an integral part of the canal restoration project.  Mitigation work for these canals was funded jointly by FEMA, FDCA and Miami-Dade County.

During the design process for each canal, the mitigation approach was optimized based on such factors as:  existing soil characteristics, hydraulic analysis of each canal segment’s drainage characteristics based on the existing culvert size and condition, and the amount of embankment and culvert damage attributed to the effects of the subject storm event.

Project Summary

The South Florida Resource Conservation & Development Council (SFRC&D) was the project manager for both the design and the construction phases for the repair and restoration of the Russian Colony Canal under the Miami-Dade County Secondary Canal Repair and Restoration Project.  The Russian Colony Canal, located in the Town of Medley, was the first of the 19 canals assigned to the Council.

The Russian Colony Canal is located in NW Miami-Dade County and is surrounded by very heavily trafficked thoroughfares.  Land use adjacent to the 2.25 mile long canal is a mix of commercial/industrial with the major businesses consisting of warehouses, container storage yards and cement product manufacturing. This area regularly suffers from severe flooding.  The primary purpose of the project was to remove accumulated sediments from the canal to restore drainage and flood control.  The project began with a detailed survey of the canal including assessment of the existing culverts and embankment condition.  The Council screened prospective contractors, and developed a list of pre-qualified firms with demonstrated ability to perform the work.  We also wrote the bid documents, conducted pre-bid meetings, prepared a bid analysis and awarded the contract to complete the repair and restoration work.  Approximately 20,000 cubic yards of sediment was trucked to a landfill facility consistent with environmental requirements.  Extensive drying of sediment was conducted at the canal site reducing both the volume and weight of the sediment transported for disposal.  Vegetation was cleared and mulched adjacent to the canal.

Project management responsibilities included the review and oversight of all construction phases of the job.  This required the examination of dredging depth, embankment repair,  on-site staging of sediment for temporary dewatering and drying, and transport of sediment for final disposal.  Project management required the continual interaction between the contractor, the construction manager, and various County inspectors, municipal officials and water drainage and quality control managers. 

Project Summary

SFRC&D completed the design and construction of the Broad Canal Improvements Project which consisted of dredging the canal to its design depth, the repair of a large portion of deteriorated embankment with rock rip rap and the installation of new sand cement rip rap headwalls for two unprotected culverts.  This project came in on-time and $300,000 under budget.

Project Summary

SFRC&D completed an extensive canal dredging project in the Village of Pinecrest, Florida.  The SFRC&D Sr. Project Manager, Wes Scott is the Engineer of Record and overall project manager for this project.  This project is came in approximately $700,000 under budget due to cost containing efforts by the SFRC&D and the Village of Pinecrest.  These cost containing efforts involved the productive re-use of the dredged materials versus the high of cost conventional sediment disposal at a local landfill facility.

Project Summary

SFRC&D provided project management and contracting support for the sediment sampling and characterization of approximately 50 separate secondary canals within Miami-Dade County.  The results of the sediment sampling and characterization work provided important information about the quality and quantity of in-situ canal sediment which was used to determine the most cost effective means of removal and disposal.

SFRC&D projects include:  Project Help,  which coordinates corporate donations of goods and services in Broward County in partnership with the United Way; The Freshwater Shrimp Hatchery and Production Demonstration Project and the Aquaculture Park, projects to help develop a new aquaculture industry in Florida; The propagation of a new plant accession of low-maintenance perennial peanuts to use as an alternative to grasses for ground cover along roadways and in greenbelts; And, the restoration of the secondary drainage canal system in Miami-Dade County to help alleviate flooding issues in low-lying areas of the county.

2001 BACK TO SCHOOL PROJECT

During August 2001 our Organization participated in a CORRECTIONS CARES-BACK TO SCHOOL CAMPAIGN sponsored by the Miami-Dade County Corrections & Rehabilitation Department. This was a great opportunity to help underprivileged children in the North and South Dade communities. We provided them with the essential supplies that were needed to help them achieve a great start during the school year.  The purpose of the campaign was to reach out and touch children that are normally overlooked and do not have the resources that are needed to begin the school year.  We knew that this project could not be accomplished alone.  That is why SFRC & D decided to give a helping hand with a donation of $500 worth of backpacks and assorted school supplies from WAL MART.  The backpacks were distributed to two different inner-city schools:  Phyllis Wheatly Elementary located at 1801 NW 1st Place (August 27 at 11:00 AM) and 500 Rule Model Academy of Excellence Alternative School (Middle School) located at 6300 NW 27th Avenue (August 10 2:00 PM). 500 needy children were provided with much needed school supplies.These type of programs encouraged children to stay in school and further their education. This is the kind of effort that helps children in our community to succeed.

2001 CHRISTMAS DRIVE

September 11, 2001 was a tragic day for America resulting in major financial aid going to New York to help families of the World Trade Center victims. Charitable donations for South Florida communities were diminished. This is when South Florida RC & D Council decided to make a difference and help bring the Christmas spirit to children in Monroe, Broward and Miami-Dade Counties. We distributed K-Mart gift certificates to children in the Florida Keys. Through the Rural Health Network of Monroe County distributions were made to the Foster Care Center, U.S. Fellowship, Samuel's House and The Florida Keys Outreach Coalition. In Broward County SFRC & D assisted the Girls Scouts from Troop # 814 in preparing care packages for men and women seeking refuge at Camillus House.  The packages contained essentials such as soap, shampoo, lotion, toothbrushes, a washcloth, razors and other necessities.  We also contributed with toys to Sharlene's Angels On Earth, Inc. who operate a Holiday Program called "Adopt a Child For the Holidays". They work with several local elementary schools to find children who are in need. In Dade County we collaborated with the Corrections Department and distributed diaper products to the COPE Center (Continuing Opportunities for Purpose Education). The program is designed to provide uninterrupted learning opportunities for expectant teens or teen parents.