SFWMD Hydrology and Hydraulics Staff Gauges

Starting in Orlando along the Kissimmee River Chain of Lakes, WGI was contracted to construct, install and calibrate staff gauges at over 1000 select sites throughout the District. These staff gauges are utilized for manual reading at monitoring well sites and to calibrate the electronic telemetry at various locations. Site locations varied from well sites on platforms out on lakes to sites adjacent to operational flood control structures. Due to heavy water flow, WGI coordinated with the District on the closing of control structures and access past the barriers. Specialty equipment included a customized pontoon boat and water pumps with nozzles made to hydraulically jet the 4” galvanized pipe 10 feet into the ground or lake bottom. Scaffolding and a gas-powered jackhammer with specialty bits were fabricated to drive the pipes in where hydraulic methods were not practical. Weekly status reports were sent to the District to keep them informed and up to date on our progress. Gauges have been completed on time and a Certified Surveyor’s Report was delivered at each task completion. WGI maintains a 4.88 (out of 5) grading from SFWMD.