BARTOW, Fla. — The city of Bartow is asking residents to attend a community meeting Thursday night to hear about the current state of Peace River’s water levels and discuss the recent emergency declaration.

What You Need To Know

  • On Monday, the Peace River was flowing at 7.9 feet

  • Spectrum Bay News 9 weather experts say the water level has dropped slightly since

  • Emergency declaration signed Tuesday

  • Community meeting to update residents set for Thursday at 6 p.m. 

The meeting is set for 6 p.m. at the Carver Recreation Center located at 520 Herbert Dixon Blvd. in Bartow. At the meeting, city staff will address their concerns with the wastewater treatment facility and potential impacts to residents.

The emergency declaration, which was signed by Mayor Trish Pfeiffer on Tuesday morning, allows the city to be proactive and prepare for any possible issues associated with the Peace River. The declaration is set to expire on Monday, but the city could choose to extend it. 

The declaration states that after the rains that followed Hurricane Debby, the Peace River was flowing Monday at a level of 7.9 feet. That level is considered the ”action stage” and is "0.1 feet" from entering the official minor flooding stage.

 

Now at the height of hurricane season, city officials expect the river to reach the 8-foot level at some point over the next few months, which would put it at flood stage.

Spectrum Bay News 9’s weather experts say the Peace River crested at the beginning of the week and as of Thursday, water levels have dropped slightly.

One of the city’s major concerns, as outlined in the declaration, is the wastewater treatment plant that sits by the river’s edge. When water gets high it can threaten its network of lift stations and other critical infrastructure.

City staff and an engineer are now coming up with plans to protect the plant should the waters reach flood stage.