Report on “Sustainability of the Estuary” available

On September 29th, the Northwest Cape Coral Neighborhood Association, Inc. (NWNA) and the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program (CHNEP) held a day-long workshop at the Northwest Regional Library. The meeting was convened to explore current and future challenges, and to identify strategies for balancing current and future growth with restoring and sustaining estuary health in Northwest Cape Coral. This report provides a summary of presentations given during the workshop, as well as input from attendees on goals and future strategies for the area to help residents in Northwest Cape Coral decide priority environmental issues and take actions to address those issues.

The workshop included subject matter expert presentations and brainstorming sessions to accomplish four objectives:

Identify hydrology, water quality, and fish and wildlife habitat issues facing the watershed and estuary. Discuss build out projections and future estuary health concerns related to historic alteration of the system, current and future development, and sea level rise. Show the potential for tidal creek restoration west of the North Spreader Canal and discuss the value of such restoration. Provide an opportunity for local residents, regulatory entities, and environmental organizations to consider the varied issues and to begin exploring strategies for ensuring ecosystem preservation and sustainment of area wetlands and estuaries while also achieving economic and quality of life goals of the Northwest Cape Coral community.

The workshop was made possible because of the generosity of the Northwest Neighborhood Association (NWNA), the Northwest Cape Coral Foundation, the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program (CHNEP), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Friends of Charlotte Harbor Estuary.