You’ve likely driven past it on State Road 7 countless times. Officially called the E-1 Equalizer Canal, the drainage conveyance is vital to providing flood control and water supply in western Palm Beach County.
This month, the Lake Worth Drainage District (LWDD) named the waterway to honor the 35 years of public service by LWDD Supervisor John I. Whitworth III.
“John has always been a guardian of this agency, its work to provide flood control and water supply, and its dedicated staff,” LWDD Executive Director Tommy Strowd said. “He remains committed to ensuring that flood control and water supply remain a top priority. His leadership has reinforced the vital importance of these canals, which must continue to serve future generations.”
The Whitworth Canal runs the entire span of the LWDD, which covers 200 square miles from Okeechobee Blvd. to the north to the Broward County line in the south, and serves more than 800,000 residents. The canal, which once bordered the Whitworth family farm, is 26 miles long and was designed to convey 2,768 gallons of water a second.
Equally as critical to the region is Whitworth himself. Part of a longtime Palm Beach County farming family, Whitworth never missed a board meeting in 35 years.
Respected for his knowledge of agriculture and water management, Whitworth has helped direct operations for the LWDD to meet ever-changing community needs.
During 35 years of public service, Whitworth has been a steadfast guardian of the LWDD’s canals and rights-of-way, along with the agency’s water control structures and staff.
His leadership continues to ensure that the agency operates to serve the region’s ongoing growth and transition from an agricultural landscape to residential communities.
Whitworth attended school at Gordon Military College in Georgia and the University of Florida. He was elected to the LWDD Board of Supervisors in October 1990.
