FORT MYERS, Fla. – DRMP’s design of the London Waterway Stormwater Expansion project for the City of Palm Coast earned an Outstanding Achievement Award from the Florida Stormwater Association (FSA).
DRMP accepted the award on behalf of the City during FSA’s annual conference, held June 11–13 at the Sanibel Harbour Marriott.
“We appreciate the recognition of this project from the Florida Stormwater Association,” DRMP Vice President Scott Garth, PE, LEED AP ND, said. “This project was a true partnership with the City of Palm Coast, and it’s rewarding to see the results making a difference for the community and the local environment.”
The City of Palm Coast tasked DRMP with designing a multi-purpose flood storage lake on 19.5 acres of city-owned property along the London Waterway canal in the northern part of the city, an area that has experienced chronic street and yard flooding, including a major event on Bird of Paradise Drive in September 2014.
DRMP's Construction Services team played a key role in the successful delivery of this project, working in coordination with the contractor, City of Palm Coast, and St. Johns River Water Management District representatives to ensure quality and timely completion. The inspection staff worked extensively to administer the contract, design documents, and specifications. Completed in January 2025, the London Waterway project addresses flooding issues while providing long-term environmental and community benefits. Located in the Matanzas Woods neighborhood, the project improves both flood protection and water quality.
Instead of a traditional retention pond, DRMP designed a 13-acre lake with curving shorelines, two half-acre islands planted with trees to support wildlife, scenic boardwalks, short trails, and native vegetation that promotes habitat creation and controls shoreline erosion. The design takes advantage of the hydraulic head stepdown across the existing LO-1 canal structure to manage water levels efficiently – allowing the lake to remain stable under normal conditions while storing floodwaters during peak events. The result provides flood relief to a broad section of northern Palm Coast.
Community feedback shaped the project’s final form. After reviewing two design options – one with limited access and one with more amenities – concerns about parking and loitering led to a more passive park design.
The project required permitting and coordination with the St. Johns River Water Management District, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
“This project is a testament to the power of collaboration, smart planning, and a commitment to building a more resilient community,” said City of Palm Coast Stormwater Project Manager Andrea Mudryk. “This effort will provide benefits to the residents of Palm Coast for generations to come.”
About DRMP
DRMP is a multi-discipline firm serving clients in the public, private and industrial sectors in the development of infrastructure and has been in business since 1977. DRMP currently employs 700 professionals in 23 office locations spread strategically across our service area. Today, DRMP is ranked among Engineering News-Record’s “Top 500 Design Firms” in the United States. For more information, please visit www.drmp.com.
