We have a major issue in Lehigh Acres -----
We have a major issue in Lehigh Acres – and it’s so serious it could jeopardize everyone in Lehigh. Lee County Government just completed a new ground water study but it shows that Lehigh Acres is discharging too much water down stream through the ECWCD canal system and it’s not recharging our own ground water -- this makes the community more habitable, but without recharge, how long will it stay livable? In the old days, getting rid of the water was what was wanted. Now with all the private wells going in Lehigh (and some of our older wells even drying up) and FGUA working on an interlocking system with Lee County Utilities for portable water, we are in the danger zone. We did such a fine job of getting rid of the water in SW Florida we now need a national effort to fix our fix.
My main question -- what is the ECWCD Chairman Desmond Barrett going to do about this one? We need a long term plan with feasible goals to fix these issues today. We can not afford a politician that flip – flops from one issue to another without resolving anything. What can we expect from him? We can’t wait any longer; it’s too severe of an issue for the health and welfare of the citizens, residents, voters & stakeholders of Lehigh Acres.
Response from the ECWCD Chairmam ----
From Mr. Anderson's Letter. (in orange)
that Lehigh Acres is discharging too much water down stream through the ECWCD canal system.
At East County this flow rate that Mr. Anderson is speaking about is monitored by staff on a weekly bases. As this is a function related to the Southwest Florida Water Management District permit. If flow rates are to high the water is held back or diverted to other areas. If not the district would be faced with a fine for discharging to much water down the orange River Basin.
Mr. Anderson is right. The East County Water Control District must work with outside agencies to solve this issue, which we have been. In 2004 a study was done by AIM Engineering that addressed this problem. The board spoke about widening our canals near Harns Marsh (next to Sunshine) , and other canals in the Southeast portion of the district to expand the water capacity in the area, along with supporting man made lakes that would tie into our system, thus helping recharge the aquifers. A pilot project was supposed to be developed by the staff and brought back to the board of supervisors. This project is supposed to be approved sometime this fiscal year. The district board is wading for staff to bring this proposal to the board for a vote. But with the recent storms the project was delayed due to structure failure related to the storms last fall.
Also, water quality has become a concern to our district. We have testing sites throughout the district on our canals that test for water quality. District staff and our engineering firm has meet with the Lee County Health Department concerning contamination of our drinking water due to septic and wells. The district is addressing this issue with staff, and also our local leaders at the county. Any support that we can get from the citizens would be very helpful in solving this health issue.
As always, thank you for your input and feedback on the East County Water Control District.
Desmond Barrett; Chairman
Now – Chairman Barrett brings up the most important issues --- contamination of our drinking water and the contamination of the canal system in Lehigh Acres do to fecal bacteria generated by private septic and wells systems. And the other issue -- ECWCD structure failure – why hasn’t the Chairman pushed harder the get this structures that 20, 30 and even 40 years old fixed – instead his working on a Adopt a Canal program in which would spend a minimum of $34,000 of your tax payer money just on signage. Couldn’t this money be spent on helping resolve the contamination issues or even trying to fix a structure that is going to fail?
Sincerely,
Robert Anderson
President
Lehigh Acres Watchdog, Inc
My main question -- what is the ECWCD Chairman Desmond Barrett going to do about this one? We need a long term plan with feasible goals to fix these issues today. We can not afford a politician that flip – flops from one issue to another without resolving anything. What can we expect from him? We can’t wait any longer; it’s too severe of an issue for the health and welfare of the citizens, residents, voters & stakeholders of Lehigh Acres.
Response from the ECWCD Chairmam ----
From Mr. Anderson's Letter. (in orange)
that Lehigh Acres is discharging too much water down stream through the ECWCD canal system.
At East County this flow rate that Mr. Anderson is speaking about is monitored by staff on a weekly bases. As this is a function related to the Southwest Florida Water Management District permit. If flow rates are to high the water is held back or diverted to other areas. If not the district would be faced with a fine for discharging to much water down the orange River Basin.
Mr. Anderson is right. The East County Water Control District must work with outside agencies to solve this issue, which we have been. In 2004 a study was done by AIM Engineering that addressed this problem. The board spoke about widening our canals near Harns Marsh (next to Sunshine) , and other canals in the Southeast portion of the district to expand the water capacity in the area, along with supporting man made lakes that would tie into our system, thus helping recharge the aquifers. A pilot project was supposed to be developed by the staff and brought back to the board of supervisors. This project is supposed to be approved sometime this fiscal year. The district board is wading for staff to bring this proposal to the board for a vote. But with the recent storms the project was delayed due to structure failure related to the storms last fall.
Also, water quality has become a concern to our district. We have testing sites throughout the district on our canals that test for water quality. District staff and our engineering firm has meet with the Lee County Health Department concerning contamination of our drinking water due to septic and wells. The district is addressing this issue with staff, and also our local leaders at the county. Any support that we can get from the citizens would be very helpful in solving this health issue.
As always, thank you for your input and feedback on the East County Water Control District.
Desmond Barrett; Chairman
Now – Chairman Barrett brings up the most important issues --- contamination of our drinking water and the contamination of the canal system in Lehigh Acres do to fecal bacteria generated by private septic and wells systems. And the other issue -- ECWCD structure failure – why hasn’t the Chairman pushed harder the get this structures that 20, 30 and even 40 years old fixed – instead his working on a Adopt a Canal program in which would spend a minimum of $34,000 of your tax payer money just on signage. Couldn’t this money be spent on helping resolve the contamination issues or even trying to fix a structure that is going to fail?
Sincerely,
Robert Anderson
President
Lehigh Acres Watchdog, Inc
posted by Editor Facts & Myths at 12:43 AM
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