Orange County plans to spend $23.5 million on Orlo Vista flood mitigation plan

ORANGE COUNTY – Residents in Orange County’s Orlo Vista neighborhood heard from county leaders and engineers Tuesday night [March 21] regarding plans to solve flooding problems in the area.

The county has put into place a $23.5 million mitigation project that includes:

• Reshaping three existing ponds and create 10 feet of extra water space
• Installing pipes between ponds to ensure uniform water levels
• Installing a new pump station at Shingle Creek to pump in extra flood waters
• Using pumps to help lower water levels during major rainfall events
• Excavation on nearby retention ponds to make them deeper and water flow between them is already underway

After years of delays since Hurricane Irma in 2017, and two more hurricanes following that, county leaders reassured homeowners that these steps will solve their flooding problems.

Workers are currently working on laying out new pipe to stabilize water levels between three retention ponds in the neighborhood. They will also make the ponds deeper to hold more water during storms.

A new pump station at Shingle Creek, connecting the ponds, will allow the county to control water levels.

The project is funded through FEMA and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Engineers expect the project to be completed in 15 months or in the summer of 2024.