Lee County has undertaken several watershed projects to improve water quality and comply with regulatory requirements. The county has spent over $34 million on capital improvements and land conservation. Several specific projects are highlighted, including the Powell Creek and Popash Creek Preserve projects, which involve constructing filter marshes and restoring hydrology. The county is also maintaining existing best management practices, enforcing a fertilizer ordinance, and has acquired over 25,000 acres of conservation land through the Conservation 20/20 program to protect water resources.
Lee County has undertaken several watershed projects to improve water quality and comply with regulatory requirements. The county has spent over $34 million on capital improvements and land conservation. Several specific projects are highlighted, including the Powell Creek and Popash Creek Preserve projects, which involve constructing filter marshes and restoring hydrology. The county is also maintaining existing best management practices, enforcing a fertilizer ordinance, and has acquired over 25,000 acres of conservation land through the Conservation 20/20 program to protect water resources.
Original Description:
ROLAND OTTOLINI
Director, Lee County Natural Resources
Lee County Watershed Projects
Lee County has undertaken several watershed projects to improve water quality and comply with regulatory requirements. The county has spent over $34 million on capital improvements and land conservation. Several specific projects are highlighted, including the Powell Creek and Popash Creek Preserve projects, which involve constructing filter marshes and restoring hydrology. The county is also maintaining existing best management practices, enforcing a fertilizer ordinance, and has acquired over 25,000 acres of conservation land through the Conservation 20/20 program to protect water resources.
Lee County has undertaken several watershed projects to improve water quality and comply with regulatory requirements. The county has spent over $34 million on capital improvements and land conservation. Several specific projects are highlighted, including the Powell Creek and Popash Creek Preserve projects, which involve constructing filter marshes and restoring hydrology. The county is also maintaining existing best management practices, enforcing a fertilizer ordinance, and has acquired over 25,000 acres of conservation land through the Conservation 20/20 program to protect water resources.
600,000+ residents 50 miles of white sand beaches along Gulf of Mexico Hundreds of miles of marine and fresh water shorelines
#SAVEOURWATER
Lee CountyInitiatives Proactive role in addressing the quality, quantity , timing and distribution of surface waters in Lee County Major driver is TMDL/BMAP compliance Capital Improvements Source Control Conservation Land
#SAVEOURWATER
Represents $34.3 m commitment
Represents $37.2m commitment
#SAVEOURWATER
Powell CreekPreserve
20 ac filter marsh on 77 ac parcel Reduction of 1188 lbs/yr TN
#SAVEOURWATER
Popash Creek Preserve
Interconnection of former mine pits, filter marsh and sheet flow restoration on 307 ac parcel 3700 acre watershed Reduction of 6600 lbs/yr TN
#SAVEOURWATER
Lakes ParkWater QualityImprovements
3o ac meandering flow- way added to regional park 1749 ac watershed Reduction of 4533 lbs/yr TN
#SAVEOURWATER
Nalle Grade Stormwater Park
76.8 Acre Park Site
720 Acre Watershed Reduction of 1350 lbs/yr TN #SAVEOURWATER
Fichters Creek
53 ac project on 768 ac park
4580 ac watershed Reduction of 800 lbs/yr TN
#SAVEOURWATER
Yellow Fever Creek /Gator Slough Watershed
Restoration Restore historic basin boundaries to relieve excess flows to Matlacha Pass Cooperative effort with the City of Cape Coral
#SAVEOURWATER
Hendry Creek WestBranch
Restoration 11 ac parcel Tidal influence TN reduction
#SAVEOURWATER
Lakes Park Littoral Zone Project
#SAVEOURWATER
Deep Lagoon Preserve
Hydrologic Restoration Source identification study TN reduction C2020 lands
#SAVEOURWATER
FPL Powerline Easement Project
#SAVEOURWATER
14
Filter Marsh /BMP Maintenance
#SAVEOURWATER
Water Quality Source Control
Lee County Fertilizer Ordinance
#SAVEOURWATER
Nitrogen Reduction
#SAVEOURWATER
Technology
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C2020 $316m, 25,000 acres
State/Federal and other
conservation lands /preserves: acres
69,536
Private: 3605 acres
#SAVEOURWATER
19
Lee County Investments in Water
Quality/Storage
25,000 acres purchased ($316m) from C2020 land acquisition program
$25m spent on projects in past 10 years $12.2m planned future projects Significant project expenditures over next 15 years for balance of TMDL compliance $96m spent over the last 5 years in capital and operations towards stormwater management activities (per NPDES reporting data) Granted over $2.5 m for 10 projects from State Water Project Appropriations in last 2 years
