ECWCD NEWS

Here Comes the Rain Again.

But is it enough to help?

Before last weekend's rainfall, East County Water Control District (ECWCD) compared water level data from several of its structures to determine the state of our water system from 2006 to present.

Readings were analyzed from January to March for the past three years, as these are typically the driest months, to evaluate changes in the water system. This interconnected system has three major areas that must be examined: aquifer levels, rainfall and canal levels.

Nearly all of Lehigh Acres 35,000 wells and the FGUA potable water plant obtain their drinking and irrigation water from the sandstone aquifer. In times of drought, the levels drop leaving the aquifer in danger and the water supply short.

Readings over the last eight years from three of US Geological Surveys' (USGS) wells, in various locations along State Road 82, assess levels in the sandstone aquifer. According to the data collected:

· The drought began in the second half of 2006 as the rainy season did not meet the rainfall of the previous year.

· In 2007, the water level in the sandstone aquifer dropped five feet lower than the average of the seven previous years.

· In the summer of 2007, the system was unable to make a full recovery to previous levels; which lead to the enforcement of water restrictions.

· During the winter of 2007- 2008, the sandstone levels did not drop to drought levels. Since February 2008, the levels in the sandstone aquifer have been rising; a result of both increased rainfall and the water restrictions imposed by SFWMD.

According to ECWCD District Manager, Dave Lindsay, a rainfall average of six inches for the first three months of every year is healthy. In 2007, the average rainfall during this period was one and a half inches, while 2008 experienced an above average rainfall at seven inches.

Canal levels also play a large part in the recharge of the sandstone aquifer. ECWCD monitors various weirs on larger canals throughout the District. More canals have been dry during the drought because if a larger canal drops one to two feet at the weir, it may expose the bottoms of miles of shallower and smaller canals.

The purpose of the weirs is to maintain canal levels at permitted levels which in turn will increase groundwater. When groundwater levels are increased it pushes water down into the surface recharge aquifer. Once there is enough pressure on this level, water begins to seep into the sandstone aquifer and replenish the supply of water that we use daily.

From 2006 to 2007, the surface aquifer lost five feet of water depth in the dry season. In 2008, the surface aquifer has regained two feet, so though not fully recovered the system is still making strides.

"The big test is where we will peak this summer. A steady increase in rainfall during the dry season is a good indicator that the system will recover during the rainy season and may lead to the end of the drought," said Dave Lindsay, ECWCD district manager.

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Service Clubs Build Shelters at Jim Fleming Eco Park
Ten-member teams from Lehigh Acres Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs will flock to the site of East County Water Control District’s (ECWCD) Jim Fleming Ecological Park (JFEP) this Saturday for a shelter building construction competition.

The Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs have donated approximately $10,000 each for the purchase of shelter buildings for JFEP. The clubs were approached by ECWCD to help erect the structures in a friendly competition— which is also saving ECWCD close to $5,000 in labor costs.

“The competition is a great opportunity for local organizations to feel like they truly have been a part of the bigger picture,” said Dave Lindsay, ECWCD Manager. “We wanted the clubs to really feel the importance of their donation.”

The competition will begin at 9 a.m. conclude at 3 p.m.

“There has always been a friendly rivalry between clubs and we have now been given the chance to work together for the greater good of the community,” said John Boardman, Kiwanis President.

The event will end with a presentation of a golden hammer to the club who made the most progress with construction. According to Lindsay, ECWCD staff will finish any remaining construction of the shelter buildings.

“The golden hammer is a way to thank the clubs for their effort,” said Lindsay. “And of course to award bragging rights to the winner to help fuel the age-old friendly rivalry.”

With the completion of the shelter buildings ECWCD is one step closer to the opening of JFEP.
The $180,000 park is slated for completion in early March with a park dedication soon to follow.

The development of JFEP – a 3.5-acre parcel on the corner of Lee Blvd. and Xelda Ave. – is the result of East County Water Control District’s (ECWCD) effort to preserve one of the last remaining pieces of Lehigh Acres’ original wetlands.

The park is the decade-long vision of Jim Fleming, who served on the board of ECWCD. After Fleming’s passing in the spring of 2006, ECWCD decided to honor the man who turned this park from a mere dream into reality.

Carla Ulakovic
Community Project Specialist

East County Water Control District
601 East County Lane
Lehigh Acres, FL 33936
Phone: (239) 368-0044 ext. 17
Fax: (239)368-3412

January 9, 2008
Lehigh Water Interruption

A water main on Coolidge Avenue in Lehigh Acres broke this afternoon while a contractor, J.P. Murphy Inc., for East County Water Control District (ECWCD) was replacing a culvert at the outfall for Lake Jasmine.

"As required by state law, our contractor contacted Sunshine State One Call of Florida to pinpoint the location of the pipes-- they did not appear on FGUA's maps. "

While installing a new culvert, an excavator made contact with a 16-inch waterline pipe that runs along Coolidge Avenue.

"It is an unfortunate accident," said ECWCD District Manager, Dave Lindsay. "However, both ECWCD and J.P. Murphy Inc. are working together with FGUA in the best effort to achieve a quick resolution."

Jim Fleming Ecological Park: A Dream Come True
July 3, 2007

By Carla Ulakovic

"Whoosh, whoosh!"
The chants of many danced through the air as Senator Dave Aronberg lead guests of East County Water Control District's (ECWCD) Groundbreaking Celebration in the University of Miami's 'Yamma Yamma Cheer' to honor Jim Fleming- the celebrated alumnus and unofficial mascot, Yamma Yamma, of the Miami Hurricanes.

ECWCD broke ground today on Jim Fleming Ecological Park (JFEP) in Lehigh Acres, FL, with the support of county commissioners, senators, community members, and the Fleming family and ECWCD friends.

The groundbreaking ceremony represented a culmination of more than a decade of planning, visioning and the great efforts of many for this $186,000 project. .

JFEP will both honor and continue Mr. Fleming's dedication to the local community by preserving a piece of the Lehigh Acres' natural beauty for community enjoyment.

The bulk of this four-acre parcel-which remains one of the only green spaces on the main road of Lee Blvd.-was donated to ECWCD by the Lehigh Corporation in 1999.

The Florida Department of the Environmental Protection contributed $112,500 grant, Lee County contributed $50,000, and ECWCD contributed $73,500 to the project.

In mere one-hundred-and-eighty days, this four-acre parcel will complete its transformation into JFEP.

Community members will be able experience the park's two pavilions, barbeque facilities and a 300 foot boardwalk with as much passion and joy as Jim Fleming and the members of ECWCD have expressed in the realization of this vision.

The park will be lanscaped with native plants-including Cypress, Red Maples and Oak trees-which should allow the wetland to turn into a prosperous Cypress Dome," said Dave Lindsay, District Manager, ECWCD." "ECWCD's mission is to manage, protect, improve and preserve the natural resources within our District," said Lindsay. "So, when Jim came to us, years ago, with the vision to preserve piece of Lehigh's original wetlands we saw an opportunity to give back to the community and make one man's dream into a reality."

By David E. Lindsay, District Manager of the East County Water Control District
The East County Water Control District is attempting to provide more local governmental control for the residents of Lehigh Acres. There are many serious issues that the residents will have to face in the next few years. New developments in the area are forcing many types of infrastructure improvements: the roads are either undersized or failing; more park land is needed; the water and sewer system is old and in need of serious repairs; and there are several water control issues that need to be resolved. As a result, more local services and projects are needed, but which agency is going to make these high budget decisions? Let's focus on water and sewer.

First of all, let us consider FGUA (Florida Government Utilities Authority). The FGUA is a government agency and was created to purchase private utility companies and convey them to a local government agency to own, operate and maintain. FGUA operates in five counties including Lee County. Only one in five monthly meetings of FGUA's Board is held in Lee County. Some very important decisions about plant expansions and capital projects may be made at meetings as far away as 150 miles from Lehigh Acres with most likely NO residents of Lehigh Acres present.

Secondly, Lee County has expressed an interest in investigating the purchase of the water and sewer system, possibly in 2008. The County already has the authority and currently operates utilities. They are a form of local control and should do a good job at operating Lehigh's utilities. It is easier to attend their Board meetings as they are held right in Fort Myers every Tuesday at 9:00 AM.

Lastly, there is East County Water Control District. The Board of Supervisors have begun the process of changing the law that would allow the District to "study" FGUA's facilities and financial situation to determine whether ECWCD could purchase the utility and keep water and sewer rates either comparable or less than they are at this point. This legislation will be decided by June, 2007. The best attribute that ECWCD has over the other two government agencies, is that the five "elected" Board of Supervisors will always be accessible because they must live in Lehigh Acres. They are your acquaintances, friends, neighbors and business associates. The District Board meetings are always held locally and in the evening giving the business community and working residents the opportunity to attend and voice their opinions. As decisions are being made that affect your wallet, your property values, the environment and the community, you will want to have the strongest possible voice at the most convenient location and time, with the government board that will listen. That is the East County Water Control District.

An additional press release will be coming in the near future to discuss proposed changes to the Districts legislation.

Residents and property owners are always welcome to visit the District offices. We love to tell our story and talk about the many projects going on in our District. We are located one block off Lee Boulevard at 601 East County Lane. Phone: 239-368-0044.

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Photo Below: Senator Bennett, Board members, Charlotte Fleming, wife of the late Jim Fleming, and Dave Lindsay, District Manager gather at the site of Jim Fleming Ecological Park to accept a check in the amount of $112,500 from the Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Recreation and Parks which is a grant for the District to assist in the construction of the park from the Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program.

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The East County Water Control District is issuing a statement to the public that there has been treated reclaimed water discharged from the Florida Governmental Utilities Authority's (FGUA) Wastewater Plant into its canal system. The FGUA will be correcting this problem by building a deep well injection system. This could take a few years.

East County Water Control District is recommending that citizens do not eat fish that are caught in Lehigh Acres in the Able Canal west of the Williams Street bridge, nor in Hickey's Creek Canal or in Canal 47-30-3, (just west of the Lehigh Regional Medical Center), until further notice or until the deep well injection system is completed.

The East County Water Control District's canals are not classified as recreational and swimming is never permitted.

Please call the FGUA at 368-1615 or the East County Water Control District at 368-0044 for more details.