Water quality targeted by Lee 20/20 land buys and fertilizer education campaign

As Southwest Florida braces for its next rainy season, Lee County is buying more coastal land for its preservation program and launching a campaign to reduce use of fertilizer that encourages spread of red tide and blue-green algae.

It's part of a strategy of providing more and better protection for the region's prized bodies of water.

Two large parcels on Pine Island, one in Bokeelia, another near mid-island in St. James City, will be preserved for conservation under the county's 20/20 program. Meanwhile, the county is preparing an extensive ad campaign intended to spread the word about using fertilizer near rivers, lakes and wetlands.

Commissioners on Tuesday approved buying a three-lot parcel west of Stringfellow Road in St. James City for $1.1 million and a smaller piece of land just west of the Alden Pines golf course community in Bokeelia for $235,000.