FORT MYERS – The Lee Board of County Commissioners voted Tuesday to authorize staff to pursue the purchase of about 100 acres in southeastern Lee County for the Conservation 20/20 land acquisition program.

The land is a former orange grove adjacent to the northern boundary of Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.

The Conservation 20/20 Land Acquisition and Stewardship Advisory Committee (CLASAC) voted unanimously to support this nomination. Any negotiated purchase agreement will be returned to the Board for consideration.

The National Audubon Society, which operates the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, has been supportive of the acquisition of the adjacent land. Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary occupies more than 13,000 acres and provides habitat for the Florida panther, white-tail deer, otters, wading birds and birds such as painted buntings and the Florida sandhill crane.

Lee County’s Conservation 20/20 program includes more than 31,500 acres and 52 preserves.

Lee Commissioners award $39.2 million contract to nourish Lovers Key and Bonita Beach shoreline

Commissioners also award a design and permitting contract to restore Bonita Beach Park and accesses

LEE COUNTY – The Lee Board of County Commissioners voted Tuesday to award a nearly $39.2 contract to nourish beaches on Lovers Key and Bonita Beach to address chronic erosion as well as damage caused by Hurricane Ian in September 2022.

The main project consists of 1.1 miles of shoreline within Lovers Key State Park and 0.8 miles of shoreline at the northern end of Bonita Beach (Little Hickory Island). In addition, in cooperation with the City of Bonita Springs, hurricane damage to the upper beach and dunes will be repaired on a one-time basis extended south on Bonita Beach to the Lee-Collier County line. Weeks Marine Inc. will excavate, transport and place beach-compatible sand from a Gulf of Mexico sand source to nourish multiple beach segments.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has designated the main project area as critically eroded. The Lovers Key segment will be completed using funds from Lee County’s Tourist Development Tax – a tax on short-term lodging – funding from FDEP, and Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund. The Bonita Beach segment will include funding from the Tourist Development Tax, FDEP, FEMA, and City of Bonita Springs. A south Bonita Beach segment will be solely funded by FDEP through the City of Bonita Springs.

The funding sources are:

• FDEP − $23.6 million
• Lee County − $7.7 million
• City of Bonita Springs − $5.8 million
• FEMA − $2 million

The project is scheduled to begin Oct. 15, and will be complete by mid-June 2025. Beaches will remain open, except in the safety zones where sand is actively being placed.

In related business, the Board of County Commissioners voted to:

• Adopt a resolution supporting an application for additional grant funding from FDEP. The grant funding will be used to reimburse expenses for beach nourishment and inlet management projects including Bonita Beach Nourishment, Bonita Beach Groin Repair, and Lover’s Key Nourishment projects.
• Awarded a $571,100 contract to Weston & Sampson Engineers, Inc. to provide design, permitting, and construction administration services to restore Bonita Beach Park, Bonita Beach Access 1, and Little Hickory Island Beach Park.

The project includes restoring three public beach access points along Bonita Beach, which sustained significant structural damage from Hurricane Ian. The affected structures include the restroom and county office building at Bonita Beach Park, two restroom buildings at Little Hickory Island Beach Park, and the wooden boardwalks and pavilions at all three parks. The restroom buildings at Little Hickory Island Beach Park will be replaced, while the Bonita Beach Park restrooms and county office building will be repaired.

This project will be funded through FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund.

The City of Cape Coral will host a Water Conservation Town Hall for residents and homeowners Monday, October 7, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

This informational town hall will be held in City Council Chambers, 1015 Cultural Park Boulevard. City Staff will offer brief presentations, followed by breakout sessions for resident Q&A. No RSVP is necessary to attend.

Topics covered at the town hall include:

• soil sensors and smart controllers
• how to qualify for a $500 rebate
• irrigation schedule variance for smart sensors
• current irrigation schedule
• water quality
• how to prepare for the dry season

Those who cannot attend the town hall can watch the live broadcast on CCTV or www.CapeCoral.gov.

CHARLOTTE COUNTY — Charlotte County invites the public to provide input into a forward-looking study effort identifying and defining potential climate vulnerabilities of county assets at 5 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 8 at the Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center, 75 Taylor St., Punta Gorda, FL 33950.

The county is beginning work on a study to assess the risks and impacts to Charlotte County from existing and future climate conditions. Understanding these risks will guide decisions related to public policies and investments, and will help support county businesses and residents to prepare for future challenges together. This state-funded vulnerability assessment will use data to understand at the neighborhood level how changing environmental conditions could increase local flooding, especially from the impacts of stronger and more frequent extreme storms. By addressing these concerns head on, the county will provide valuable information relating to insurance concerns, real estate investments, and capital investments made by the county to support a more resilient future.

The study is planned for completion in spring 2025, and we are actively seeking community engagement and input. Come learn about this assessment process, and bring your questions and insights.

For more information, please contact Brandon Moody at brandon.moody@charlottecountyfl.gov.

The City of Lakeland Parks Division will be on Lake Morton at 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, for the 44th Annual Swan Roundup. Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts employees will be carefully gathering the swans by boat to get them ready for their annual veterinary check-up. The swans will be confined in large holding pens on the south side of the lake for their annual wellness examinations with My Pet’s Animal Hospital that will start the morning of October 9, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. The Annual Swan Round-Up allows the City’s Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts Department to closely monitor the health and vitality of Lakeland’s swan population.

The original swans on Lake Morton were donated by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom in 1957. As Lakeland’s swan flock grew, it became paramount to give the regal birds an annual health check, so the Swan Roundup began in 1980 and has continued every year since then. The swans were first cared for by veterinarian (emeritus) and original Swanvet W.G. Gardner. Dr. Patricia Mattson oversaw the birds for several years and now My Pet’s Animal Hospital contributes their expertise in caring for Lakeland’s swan flock. It is important to know that My Pet’s Animal Hospital gives back to the community by donating their veterinary services year-round as today’s official Swanvet for the City of Lakeland.

The City of Cape Coral's 2024 Floodplain Management Plan, Annual Progress Report is now available online.

Each year, City staff prepares and provides this document to City Council and City Management in accordance with FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS). Cape Coral retained a Class 5 status, allowing a 25% discount on flood insurance.

According to FEMA, CRS is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management practices for cities that exceed the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requirements.

In CRS communities, flood insurance rates are discounted to reflect the reduced flood risk resulting from the City's efforts that address the three goals of the program:

• Reduce and avoid flood damage to insurable property
• Strengthen and support the insurance aspects of the National Flood Insurance Program
• Foster comprehensive floodplain management

To learn more about flood protection and view Cape Coral's Floodplain Management Annual Report, visit CapeCoral.gov/floodprotection.

FORT MYERS – The Lee Board of County Commissioners voted Tuesday to award a contract to build a water treatment system to improve the quality of water flowing from Lakes Park into Hendry Creek south of Fort Myers.

This is the third in a series of water quality projects to be built at Lakes Park, 7330 Gladiolus Drive, and a continuation of the Board’s commitment to water quality throughout the county.

The $4.29 million project will build an alum treatment facility, including installing housing shelters, alum tank, pump, control panel and pipe network on lake bottom.

Based on water conditions, the treatment facility will add alum to the West Lake. The alum will bind with and settle out excess nutrients and algae. This will help remove about 3,300 pounds of nitrogen annually before it enters the Hendry Creek watershed. An additional benefit of this settling process is improved water clarity within the lake.

Excess water from Lakes Park discharges into the Hendry Creek West Branch and eventually flows into Estero Bay. The watershed of the West Branch includes the urbanized areas west of Summerlin Road and north of Lakes Park. Hendry Creek West Branch is a tributary to the Hendry Creek, which has a regulatory plan for total nitrogen and is currently subject to a State of Florida Basin Management Action Plan.

Lakes Park began as a man-made area where rock was quarried during the 1960s. The water comes from groundwater influx, surface water run-off and rainfall. The depth varies from a few inches to more than 20 feet. Water covers 158 acres of the 279-acre park.

Previous water quality projects at Lakes Park include:

• Littoral Zone Project - Littoral shelves were added with native plants to remove nutrients from the water.
• Water Quality Restoration Project – Rerouted the flow of run-off through a filter marsh to remove nutrients.

For more information on water quality projects throughout Lee County, go to leegov.com/water.

In other business Tuesday, the Lee Board of County Commissioners approved an agreement to continue cooperative work with U.S. Geological Survey to provide critical data for water resources modeling and assessment of flood conditions.

The agreement includes water resources data collection at 12 sites on various rivers and streams throughout Lee County and is for a one-year period beginning Oct. 1.

Lee County has contracted each year with the Geologic Survey since 1973. The total cost of the agreement is $294,660, with Lee County cost share of $212,541 and U.S. Geological Survey Cooperative matching $82,119.

Registration has opened for the 19th Annual Sustainable Communities Workshop, featuring expert information about building and maintaining thriving, healthy, resilient communities.

The Nov. 7, 2024 event, developed by Sarasota County Extension, will explore the vital roles of earth, air, water, and fire within our ecosystem, along with strategies to tackle local ecological challenges.

“This immersive workshop will highlight the intricate relationships among all living beings and the essential elements of earth, water, air, and fire," said Alia Garrett, sustainability outreach coordinator for Sarasota County UF/IFAS Extension and Sustainability.

Sarasota County’s continuing growth in popularity has made the area a destination for many, while also highlighting the need to protect limited resources and foster sustainable, equitable communities that respond to change.

The day-long workshop showcases the latest sustainability approaches. And this year’s event features a unique perspective from headline speaker John Francis. Known as the "Planetwalker" for his 17-year environmental journey across America, he advocates for environmental stewardship through silence.

Francis adopted this approach after a prolonged period of listening more deeply to the world around him, particularly to the voices of nature and the communities he encountered. This allowed him to foster a profound awareness and respect for the environment, demonstrating that meaningful change can often begin with thoughtful reflection and a deeper understanding of our connection to the Earth.

Featuring an "Elements of Sustainability" theme, the workshop dives into those connections, Garrett said. “Participants will gain a deeper appreciation of these interconnected elements that sustain life and the critical need to preserve this delicate balance.”

Running from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 7, 2024, the workshop offers both online and in-person participation options, with tickets costing $20-45 ($5-30 for students). In-person registrations include breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snack by a Sarasota County Green Business Partner. Learn more and register at tiny.cc/ufsaraext_scw2024

In-person attendance at the University of South Florida Selby Auditorium and Pavilion, 8350 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, is limited to 125. Register early to save your seat. Questions? Visit www.scgov.net/sustainablecommunities, email sustainablesarasota@scgov.net, or call 941-861-9901. If you require special accommodations to attend one of our events, please contact us in advance at 941-861-9901 or sustainablesarasota@scgov.net.

District to Hold Virtual Public Workshop on Ranking Water Bodies

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is seeking public input to determine the priority of minimum flows and levels (MFLs) establishment for lakes, wetlands, rivers, streams and aquifers in the District as well as the establishment of water reservations. Legislation requires the District to review and, if necessary, revise this schedule each year.

The District will hold a virtual public meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29. Members of the public can join the meeting via Microsoft Teams. To join the meeting, please click on this link to register https://bit.ly/MFLPriority. Use of the Chrome browser is recommended for best compatibility with Teams.

To join the meeting by telephone only, dial (786) 749-6127 and when prompted enter the conference ID: 121-548-175#.

A minimum flow or level is the limit at which further water withdrawals will cause significant harm to the water resources or environment. A water reservation defines a quantity of water set aside from the water use permitting process for the protection of fish and wildlife or public health and safety. The District’s Governing Board establishes MFLs and reservations as part of achieving the balance between meeting water needs and sustaining Florida’s natural systems.

The adopted minimum flows and levels priority list and schedule for 2023 is available on the District’s website here. The draft 2024 list will be published on the site following the Governing Board’s Aug. 27 meeting and will be considered for approval at the Board’s Oct. 22 meeting.

Written comments on the draft priority list and schedule may be submitted to Gabe Herrick, Lead Environmental Scientist, at gabe.herrick@watermatters.org or to 2379 Broad Street, Brooksville, FL, 34604, no later than Sept. 7.

Commissioners also vote to buy parcels in southeast Lee County for conservation

FORT MYERS – The Lee Board of County Commissioners voted Tuesday to acquire 40.56 acres east of Moody Road and fronting on the Caloosahatchee River in North Fort Myers for the Conservation 20/20 land conservation program.

The land along Moody Road was unanimously recommended for purchase by the Conservation Land Acquisition and Stewardship Advisory Committee (CLASAC). The land also has some frontage on Hancock Creek along with a known bald eagle nest, as well as deer and rabbits on the site. The purchase price of the property along Moody Road is $7.9 million, plus closing costs.

The Lee Board of County Commissioners remains committed to conservation lands and the Conservation 20/20 program. There are 31,444 acres of land in the Conservation 20/20 program.

To watch a video about this property, go to https://youtu.be/WoqaPH5HskE.

In other business, Commissioners voted Tuesday to:

• Acquire 5 acres in the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed for $7,500 for the Conservation 20/20 Land Acquisition Program. The property is wooded and lacks improved access. It was recommended for purchase by CLASAC.
• Acquire 2.5 acres in the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed for $4,200 for the Conservation 20/20 Land Acquisition Program. The property is wooded and lacks improved access. It was recommended for purchase by CLASAC.
• Pursue acquisition of a 2.02-acre improved in-fill parcel located in Charlotte Harbor Buffer Preserve in northwest Cape Coral. The recommendation to pursue acquisition activities was unanimously approved by CLASAC. Any purchase agreement will be returned to the Board for future consideration.

The City of Cape Coral is pleased to announce that the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has officially issued the City’s Environmental Resource Permit (ERP) for the South Spreader Waterway Enhancement Project, which includes removal of the Chiquita Boat Lock, following the issuance of the Final Order. This milestone marks a pivotal moment in the City's efforts to improve waterway access and environmental conditions in the area.

The City has already begun taking immediate steps to secure the necessary permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to advance the lock removal project. Additionally, City officials have been in communication with the contractor responsible for the lock’s removal to ensure the project progresses without delay.

This announcement follows a significant development in June 2024, when an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) issued a Recommended Order authorizing FDEP to grant the ERP to the City. This recommendation came after a multi-week evidentiary hearing concluded on December 20, 2023.

The Final Administrative Hearing was a crucial step in the permitting process, with the ALJ ordering the Petitioner(s), the City, and FDEP to submit their proposed recommended orders by April 29, 2024. After careful consideration, the ALJ determined that the City’s ERP application met the necessary standards under Florida law and the Florida Administrative Code, leading to the issuance of the favorable Recommended Order.

The City of Cape Coral recognizes the importance of the South Spreader Waterway Enhancement Project and is committed to moving forward with the utmost care, adhering to any permit conditions.

View the FDEP ERP permit.