ST. LUCIE COUNTY — A federal grant will assist St. Lucie County’s Public Works department in removing debris caused by tornado damage along the Eastwood Canal in Lakewood Park. The cleanup is part of a larger effort to repair the canal, which was damaged by tornadoes spawned by Hurricane Milton in October 2024.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), through its Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program, is funding the project. The estimated cost of construction for the cleanup is $168,410, with USDA-NRCS covering up to 100% of the construction costs. The agency will also reimburse up to 10% of costs related to technical services such as surveys, design, and contract administration.
The tornadoes caused significant damage to the canal, including uprooted trees, windblown debris, washouts, slope erosion, and the accumulation of heavy vegetative debris. This damage has disrupted water flow in the canal and increased the risk of flooding, property damage, and personal injury for nearby residents…