May 2025
FACT SHEET
Daytona Beach Flood Control Study, FL
Investigations (I)
Congressional Districts: 6, 7
1. DESCRIPTION
This study is authorized by Section 1201(11) of the Water Resources Development Act of 2016 (P.L. 114-322) (11). As identified in the report titled “Report to Congress on Future Water Resources Development” submitted to Congress on January 29, 2015, and January 29, 2016, respectively, pursuant to section 7001 of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 (33 U.S.C. 2282d) - Request for study authority for a flood risk management project that would protect the citizens and economic vitality of Daytona Beach in Volusia County, Florida.
The current study is focusing on a 2.1-square mile area bordered by Nova Road, Orange Avenue, Ridgewood Avenue and Beville Road, referred as the Area of Concern where frequently flooding occurs. The area is home to about 8,000 residents and 2,800 structures including houses, apartment complexes, businesses, churches and government buildings where chronic flooding has caused up to $80 million in property damage. The area of concern is within the Nova Canal Watershed where the primary drainage is towards the Halifax River by an open channel system, known as Nova Canal. The Halifax River is tidally connected to the Atlantic Ocean by Ponce Inlet that is approximately 11 miles south of the mid-point of the area of concern.
Several factors contribute to the flooding such as topography and drainage into and out of the area. The low-lying, bowl-shaped topography of the area is vulnerable to excess stormwaters from large rainfall events not being able to leave the area naturally. In addition to the rain falling directly into the area, a large amount of runoff breaches into the area from the Nova Road, via Navy Canal. The Navy Canal is an open channel trench built in the 1940s by the Naval Air Station to drain the eastern portion of the Daytona Beach International airport. Nova Canal is owned and managed by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and Navy canal is owned and managed by Volusia County.
Drainage of excess stormwaters varies due to the presence of the existing class II railroad that is west of Ridgewood Avenue which the railroad parallels. East of the railroad tracks, 14% of excess rainwater collected within the area drains eastward towards Ridgewood Ave. The remaining 86% drains towards the Nova Canal. In this area when a large rainfall event occurs and when the river is high, the Nova Canal typical flow southward is reversed, and the excess waters are backed up and spill into the area of concern. Couple that with excess waters from Navy Canal, the area floods that impede travel along the Nova Road and emergency vehicles entering the area of concern. In summary, the project will reduce flood risk in the area, known as Area of Concern, where flooding is a recurring problem due to its low elevation, the frequent breaching of the Nova Canal along the western reaches of the study area due elevated high tides and incoming flood waters that are above the design capacity of the current Nova Canal.
2. FUNDING
| Estimated Total Cost |
$3,000,000 |
| Estimated Federal Cost |
$3,000,000 |
a. Regular Civil Works Funds:
| Allocation thru FY24 |
$0 |
| Allocation for FY25 |
$0 |
| President's Budget FY26 |
$0 |
| |
|
b. P.L. 117-328A: 2023 Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act:
| Current Working Estimate |
$3,000,000 |
| Allocation thru FY23 |
$900,000 |
| |
|
3. SPONSOR
City of Daytona Beach
301 S. Ridgewood Avenue
Daytona Beach, FL 32114
4. STATUS
On 22 Jan 24, the Federal Cost Share Agreement was signed where on 14 Mar 24, a government only charrette occurred where various stakeholders from state and federal agencies met to discuss the risk informed planning process as well as discuss the problems, opportunities, objectives, and constraints on the project. After the Alternative Milestones Meeting (AMM) that occurred on 22 May 24, a Vertical Team Alignment Memorandum (VTAM) was drafted and ultimately signed by the Major Subordinate Command (MSC) on 18 Aug 25. The document is currently with Assistant Secretary of the Army (ASA) for their review and authorization. The VTAM documents the aligned scope, schedule, and funding stream for the Daytona Beach, FL Flood Risk Management Study.
The VTAM schedule and budget has a shift based on the selected Course of Action, which also requires an increased budget of $4.2M. Currently, this study is 100% Federally funded, and appropriations are from the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023 (DRSAA 2023). Given the increased budget, an additional amount of $1.2M is estimated to be needed to complete the study where the primary driver is modeling the complex scenario noted above. The Jacksonville District is exploring all funding options, such as accepting Contributed Funds. If no additional funds are obtained, Article II of the Feasibility Cost Sharing Agreement that was executed on January 22, 2024, specifies what must be done (i.e., upon exhaustion of funds, the Government shall suspend the Study).
