Willow Lake to be restored
To the Editor,
The South Florida Water Management District, Army Corps of Engineers and the landowner’s representatives have all agreed on a plan that would result in the restoration of Willow Lake, a former swamp near the corner of Stringfellow Road and Alcorn Street. Before its destruction in 2007, Willow Lake was the only natural freshwater ecosystem on Pine Island.
The restoration plan requires that the land be returned to its original topography, including the removal of fill down to the muck (or water) level so the swamp remains hydrated year round. Thousands of live oaks, willows, swamp ferns, grasses, palmettos and other plantings will be installed (and assured survival for a minimum of 5 years) that should eventually make the swamp area look somewhat similar to its original form. The entire 7.88-acre swamp area plus another wetlands area to the south of the swamp (a total of 19.08 acres) will be placed in a permanent conservation easement and made available for passive recreational use.
The restoration plan is a part of a consent agreement that resolves environmental violations issued by the SFWMD and ACOE in 2007. The consent agreement does not require an admission of liability by the landowner or even require that he acknowledge that Willow Lake ever existed, but it does legally require that he pay for and accomplish the restoration actions listed above, plus pay $20,600 in fines and fees. If the landowner satisfies all requirements of the consent order over the next five years, the violations will be excused.
It should be noted that no restoration plan can be successful in restoring a swamp that Mother Nature took thousands of years to create; however, the plan outlined in the consent agreement (and accompanying documents) does a reasonable job of trying.
We owe thanks to Melissa Roberts and Phil Flood of the SFWMD and Cynthia Ovdenk of the ACOE, as well as to the landowner and his representatives, for their work. Thanks also to all five Lee County commissioners, particularly Commissioner Bob Janes, for their very active support. Most of all, thanks to the Greater Pine Island Civic Association officers and members for dozens of meetings, e-mails, and letters, and the thousands of hours they have devoted to this issue over the past two years – without them this result would not have been obtained.
Phil Buchanan
St James City