NewsPress.com

July 11, 2007

SWFMD announces $3.4 million funding plans

http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070711/NEWS01/70711083/1075

South Florida Water Management District officials announced $3.4 million in funding for 16 projects intended to improve water quality in the Caloosahatchee River and estuary.

“This funding will expedite local projects to bring early environmental benefits while the State and local governments begin developing a long-term and comprehensive plan to restore Lake Okeechobee and the coastal estuaries as a part of the northern Everglades initiative,” said board chairman Eric Buermann.

The funding includes $893,500 for stormwater improvements in Cape Coral, $427,700 for sewer expansion in Sanibel, $300,000 for surface water restoration in North Fort Myers, $308,000 for exotic plant removal for the Billy Creek Filter Marsh and $240,000 for a flood control project at Manuel’s Branch in Fort Myers.

Also funded: $145,000 for preliminary design of water quality projects run and $100,000 for Harns Marsh Sediment Removal, both managed by the East County Water Control District; $135,000 for Stormwater Analysis of Kickapoo Creek; $40,000 for sewer system infiltration and inflow improvements and $35,000 for Bayous collection and evaluation in Sanibel; $60,000 for a stormwater management study in Fort Myers Beach; $30,000 for the Ford Canal Filter Marsh and $15,000 for silt reduction at Manuel’s Branch in Fort Myers; and $11,000 for water quality spatial summaries at Charlotte Harbor National Estuary.