Lake County Water Authority lands $525,000 state appropriation for Hicks Ditch restoration

Lake County Water Authority lands $525,000 state appropriation for Hicks Ditch restorationFlorida State Representative Nan Cobb presented a $525,000 check to the Lake County Water Authority to fund the Pine Meadows Hicks Ditch Restoration, a critical stormwater and flood control project. The funding will clear the currently stagnant ditch to restore flow and mitigate local flooding.

State Rep. Nan Cobb presented the $525,000 appropriation check during the August 26 meeting.

The Hicks Ditch has been at a complete standstill, prompting the restoration effort to improve stormwater flow into Trout Lake and Lake Eustis.

The Authority's lobbying efforts also successfully protected state funding for its Nutrient Reduction Facility (NuRF).

The Board approved $80,000 in FY2027 funding for the Trout Lake Nature Center's water resource education programs.

During its August 26, 2026, meeting, the Lake County Water Authority (LCWA) received a $525,000 state appropriation check from Florida House District 26 Representative Nan Cobb to fund the Pine Meadows Hicks Ditch Restoration project. The stormwater and flood control project aims to clear and restore flow to Hicks Ditch, which Cobb noted is currently at a "complete standstill." The stagnant ditch has contributed to localized flooding issues, making its restoration a top legislative priority for the Authority this year. Once cleared, the ditch will restore proper stormwater drainage flows into Trout Lake and Lake Eustis. The funding survived a challenging legislative process and $810 million in budget vetoes by the governor. Ashley Spicola of Continental Strategies, the Authority's lobbying firm, noted that the LCWA brought home a total of $675,000 in state funding this session. In addition to the Hicks Ditch appropriation, the Authority successfully defended state funding for its Nutrient Reduction Facility (NuRF). The NuRF has been a cornerstone of the LCWA’s water quality efforts. During a presentation by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) at the same meeting, biologists noted that the NuRF's downstream nutrient removal has significantly improved water clarity and aquatic plant growth in Lake Dora and Lake Beauclair, successfully shifting the lakes' ecological profile and improving the local bass fishery. In other business, the LCWA Board unanimously approved an $80,000 funding request for the Trout Lake Nature Center's FY2027 environmental education programs, which provide water resource education to local students. The Board also approved $90,000 in contract agreements for three resource educators.