Cape Coral seeks state funding for reservoir pipeline

Last year's drought was a real eye opener for Cape Coral officials struggling to keep enough water in city canals to be able to fight fires and for residents to water their lawns.

This year, the city has asked for help from the state and its state representative to make sure it is prepared in the future.

State Rep. Dane Eagle, R-77, has filed an appropriations bill requesting $1,115,000 in state funds for the city of Cape Coral to engineer, design and permit a 3.5-mile pipeline from Southwest Aggregates Mining reservoir in south Charlotte County to Gator Slough in northeast Cape Coral.

The pipeline would provide an additional freshwater supply for the city's canal system, which provides irrigation and fire protection in Cape Coral.

Eagle said the issue is both qualitative and quantitative. The pipeline project into the reservoir would allow the city to use that water during drought and for a variety of purposes.