The Lee Board of County Commissioners continued its commitment to flood mitigation with a vote Tuesday to award a contract to remove vegetation that can impede the flow of water in Ten Mile Canal south of US 41.
The contractor, Sandhill Environmental Services LLC, expects to begin the work in late October and work for about two months, weather permitting.
The $289,000 maintenance contract is part of a multi-phase approach that began in 2017 to reduce the threat of flooding due to stormwater runoff. As part of that effort, a consultant developed a comprehensive plan to reduce potential flooding throughout Lehigh Acres, Southeast Lee County, South Lee County and Whiskey Creek watersheds. Last year, the Board awarded a contract to design and permit improvements in the Ten Mile Canal area, and the recommendations included efforts to remove vegetation. Further improvements to Ten Mile Canal are in design and permitting.
For more information on the types of flooding that may be experienced in Lee County, go to www.leegov.com/flooding. That site outlines the difference between riverine, sheet flow, storm surge and flash flooding and explains how hurricanes Charley, Irma, Ian, Helene and Milton resulted in different damage impacts based on storm tracks, size, strength and forward speed.
Residents who want to learn more about Ten Mile Canal can revisit Commissioners’ 2025 workshop on South Ten Mile Canal Flood Improvements. View the Natural Resources presentation as well as commissioners’ discussion at www.youtube.com/watch?v=gg6obPLZkiI.
In other action Tuesday, Commissioners also accepted a $15,000 grant from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to plant trees in John Yarbrough Linear Park, within 200 feet of the Ten Mile Canal. The goal is to increase the density of trees to decrease erosion, improve stormwater runoff capture, and protect the water quality of the watershed. The planting area includes about 0.6 linear miles by Page Field south to Crystal Drive.
