The Howell Creek Watershed is located with in Seminole County and spans roughly 32 square miles. It contains 28 named lakes or ponds along with six named rivers, streams, or canals.

County officials are now looking at different watersheds around the county for possible improvement plans, improving flooding control, updating the 100-year flood maps, and water quality.

The sun was shining over the Bentley Green community in Winter Springs on Wednesday. It’s hard to envision the community was under water following Hurricane Ian, but it was.

Bob Dougert, who lives in the community, was one of the lucky ones. The water just inches from his front door, but never reaching it.

Some of Bob’s neighbors did not have the same luck.

“The water got right up to this level, which I am going to say approximately two feet higher than that slab,” Bob says while pointing at a fire hydrant in a neighbor’s yard to show how high the water got. “Probably two feet higher than the actual road level.”

Currently, the water level of Howell Creek is so low you can see the bottom surface. Behind Bentley Green, the creek looks to be at least 15 feet below back yards. The water that flows through the creek eventually gets in to Lake Jesup.

According to Bob, 16 of the 66 homes in his Winter Springs neighborhood saw severe flooding damage, which was reported to FEMA.

His hope is that the county can potentially find ways for better water flow or see Howell Creek be dredged or possibly widened to hold more water.

It’s part of the effort going into the Howell Creek Watershed Management plan.

“Due to the change in the environment, we believe this is going to happen again, and that something needs to be done,” Bob says.

Results will not be ready for at least a year, to start this year many in Seminole County, including Bobs’ neighbors, are still putting the pieces back together again.

The Howell Creek Watershed Management plan update will take place next Wednesday at 6 o’clock at Tuskawilla Middle.

Another meeting will take place for the Lake Monroe basin study on April 13th in at the Lakeside United Methodist Church in Sanford.

At the conclusion of the surveys, it is possible those that were not in a flood zone before or currently can be in one in 2024. It’s also possible if you are in a flood zone now, you may not be in one next year.