Good Morning,
Thank you for taking a few minutes to review the following Lake Bonny community response to the recent update regarding the Emergency Field Authorization (EFA) for Lake Bonny water level adjustments. While we appreciate that action is being taken, we want to express our deep concerns that this adjustment does not provide a real, long-term solution to the flooding issues that continue to threaten our community.
Our Key Concerns with the Recent Adjustment:
The change is minimal – The new threshold of 129.60 NAVD is only a slight modification from the previous limit and does little to prevent prolonged flooding in severe weather conditions.
This is only a temporary fix – The 90-day Emergency Field Authorization (EFA) does not provide a sustainable flood prevention strategy, meaning restrictions could return to previous levels, leaving us at risk again.
Failure to address pump performance – There has been no transparency regarding whether local pumps were fully operational and effective when needed. Running a pump does not necessarily mean it was working properly. While the city cites an electric bill as proof that the pump was running, this does not confirm it was working effectively. A broken air conditioner still uses electricity even if it’s not cooling a house—similarly, a running pump does not mean it’s properly moving water.
No commitment to infrastructure improvements – Without meaningful drainage upgrades and preventative measures, this adjustment does nothing to stop future flooding disasters.
The EFA appears to be a “workaround” for an expired permit– Based on a review of public records, it appears that the City of Lakeland failed to renew the original pump permit, which raises concerns about whether this emergency authorization was granted to compensate for that oversight rather than to provide meaningful flood prevention for residents. Did the City request this temporary adjustment to cover for the lapse? This change does little to improve flood mitigation and raises concerns about transparency and accountability in how and why these decisions are being made.
Our Community Demands Real Flood Prevention Action
Our petition asks for:
A neutral third-party investigation into the flooding response and infrastructure failures. Public disclosure of maintenance records and emergency response timelines. A Lake Bonny Citizen Oversight Committee to ensure transparency and ongoing accountability. Permanent improvements to the drainage system and pumps to prevent another disaster.
To ensure these changes happen, our community has launched a petition demanding immediate action from the City of Lakeland, Polk County, and SWFWMD. Our petition is being made available both in-person and online to allow all concerned residents of Polk County to participate.
We Invite You to Review & Support Our Petition
Sign & share: https://www.change.org/LakeBonnyFloodingInvestigation
Our community deserves real solutions, not temporary band-aids.. We would be happy to speak with you about our petition, community concerns, and the need for real flood prevention solutions. Please feel free to reach out to us at [email protected]—we welcome your engagement and look forward to further discussion.
Sincerely,
Jan Morsey
Citizens for Flood Prevention – Lake Bonny