EDGEWATER, Fla. \u2013 Edgewater city leaders are expected to discuss a $14.7 million grant Monday night aimed at repairing two canals that residents say frequently flood during heavy rain.<\/p>\n
The funding would go toward improvements to the G-2 and G-11 canals, which run through parts of the city and have long been a concern for nearby homeowners.<\/p>\n
While the canals are owned and maintained by the county for mosquito control, they also serve as major stormwater routes within Edgewater\u2019s designated flood hazard area. <\/p>\n
The system drains roughly 350 acres of low-lying, urbanized land, but heavy rainfall combined with tidal backflow from the Indian River can overwhelm the canals and lead to flooding.<\/p>\n
[EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it\u2019s FREE)<\/a> | PINIT! Share your photos<\/a>] <\/p>\n Residents say the flooding can become severe.<\/p>\n \u201cTo stop flooding. I was like, it gets really bad. People will be on kayaks at certain points,\u201d said Edgewater resident Joshua Jamell. \u201cIt\u2019s not like 100% of the area, but 20, 30% of Edgewater will be underwater after certain rains and stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n The proposed improvements are intended to help mitigate flooding. It\u2019s an issue News 6 has covered extensively over the years<\/a>, particularly in neighborhoods where streets can become impassable after storms.<\/p>\n Longtime resident Peggy Beauvais said increased development has only added to the problem.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s been so much development and the infrastructure can\u2019t support it,\u201d Beauvais said. \u201cSo, yes, they need to fix the canals. That\u2019s what this is. That\u2019s what this city was based on. The canals.\u201d<\/p>\n