Lee County gets help from SFWMD keeping up flood-prone canals

Lee County is turning over management of more than a dozen canals, from urban settings to rural outposts, to the region's water control district for help in keeping the waterways free of debris that contributes to flooding.

County commissioners Tuesday approved an agreement with the South Florida Water Management District to take over maintaining 13 canals. The water district will assume responsibility for the waterways as part of its overall flood control operations and perform routine maintenance.

In a statement, County Manager Roger Desjarlais called the agreement "a plan of action to increase flood protection to the citizens of Lee County."

Work in the first year will include maintenance in three areas in which significant flooding was found after Hurricane Irma.

First on the list will be the Orange River in east Lee County, Mullock Creek in south Fort Myers and Oak Creek in Bonita Springs.