Hall releases priority Surface Water Management projects
After a town hall meeting on the area’s Surface Water Management Plan, Commissioner Tammy Hall released a list of priority projects.
Hall hosted the meeting with Lee County’s Division of Natural Resources Surface/Ground Water Operations Manager Anura Karuna-Muniat.
The meeting was to update the public about study findings and discuss the road map to implement the study recommendations. The project focus area includes North Fort Myers from U.S. 41 east to SR 31; and from the Lee/Charlotte County boundary south to the Caloosahatchee River.
“We mapped existing storm water conveyances and control structures, identified roadway and structure flooding along main creeks and tributaries, looked at establishing level of service standards and proposed improvements,” said Karuna-Muniat. “The main focus was frequent flooding.”
Projects will be prioritized and done as funding becomes available. “The probable cost of all the proposed projects is $33 million,” he said.
In her water project update Hall also provided some background.
“The Surface Water Section at Natural Resources Division plans and implements projects that improve water quality, water conservation, drainage and flood reduction,” she said. “These projects fall into three different categories: capital improvement, clean and snag, and neighborhood improvement.”
The following is a list of projects planned at this time and scheduled completion dates:
CIP Projects:
1. Hydrological restoration of Powell Creek preserve – July 2012
2. Restoration of natural creek (Powell) – January 2012
3. Popash Creek restoration – May 2011
4. Poling Lane drainage improvement – July 2012 (subject to obtaining easements from property owners)
5. Powell Creek Valencia weir restoration – March 2012
6. Prairie Pine environmental enhancement – July 2013
Clean and Snag Projects:
— Daughtrey’s Creek – Tributary north of Nalle Grade of natural creek on south side of Nalle Grade – May 2011
— Stroud Creek – Accessible parts of trunk system from Quail Hollow south to Caloosahatchee River (approximately four miles) – September 2011
— Popash Creek Preserve – Western perimeter canal at Popash Creek Preserve upon completion of restoration project – June 2011
— Powell Creek – Natural Creek from Bayshore Road south to Caloosahatchee River prior to Maintenance Dredging Project (approximately 1.5 miles) – June 2011
Neighborhood
Improvement Projects:
— Payne Lane Drainage Improvements (Suncoast Estates) – Replace/install culverts and regrade swales – September 2011
Details of these projects including all other county wide projects are on Natural Resources web page under Surface Water with the link being www.lee-county.com/gov/dept/NaturalResources/SurfaceWater/Pages/NorthFortMyersSurfaceWaterMasterPlan.aspx.
To contact Natural Resources call 533-8131 or to reach Commissioner Hall’s office at call 533-2226.
Hall encourages anyone who wants to keep updated on meetings of interest to submit their e-mail to her at dist4@leegov.com.