Long plagued by flooding after heavy rain, McCoys Creek is the focus of a major restoration project breaking ground Wednesday in downtown Jacksonville.

President Donald Trump's new budget bill wiped out $147 million earmarked for the Emerald Trail project.

Roads in the area of McCoys Creek were flooded Thursday afternoon as showers and storms made their way through Northeast Florida.

A crew with the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department rescued a driver from floodwaters Wednesday near McCoys Creek.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. North Florida Land Trust was awarded a contract to serve as the real estate consultant for the City of Jacksonvilles McCoys Creek Restoration Project. NFLT will provide technical and real estate work needed for the acquisition of parcels associated with the proposed improvements within the plan. They will also coordinate with Groundwork Jacksonville, its nonprofit partner and the leader of the Emerald Trail effort, to identify the landowners. McCoys Creek is a wonderful example of Groundwork Jacksonvilles ongoing partnership with NFLT, said Kay Ehas, CEO of Groundwork Jacksonville. As part of the restoration project, the City will make improvements to prevent flooding, restore fish and wildlife habitat and create a more resilient ecosystem.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - If you've lived in Jacksonville during hurricane season -- or just a strong thunderstorm -- you've probably caught on that McCoys Creek is prone to flooding. Groundwork Jacksonville is hoping to make us look elsewhere -- and we're fine with that. The grant will take Phase 2 of the McCoys Creek restoration plan from 30% to 100% design, the trust said. GWJax will also work with the Environmental Quality Division of the City of Jacksonvill on water quality sampling. My administration values our partnership with Groundwork Jacksonville as we work together to restore McCoys Creek to a beautiful natural resource and recreational amenity for our citizens, said Mayor Lenny Curry.

Anytime it rains, water pours from the creek into the St. Johns River carrying trash with it. Volunteers showed up Sunday to clean up the waterway and filled a big plastic bucket with all sorts of garbage after just 15 minutes of scavenging for trash. Environmentalists say it's an ongoing problem, which is why a group called Rising Tides got together to help pull the trash out of the creek. Rising Tides is a young professional group that wants to help keep the St. Johns River clean. "The St. Johns River in Jacksonville is one of the most beautiful gems, and special to Florida.