New developments creating new standing water problems on island
To the Editor,
When a developer fills in wet lands (that naturally drain and filter storm water run off) HIGHER than the surrounding areas, that water now is going to run off into the LOWER surrounding areas. That is what has happened with the development of Calusa Cay / Publix and now in that same area, Orchid Cove, 90 townhouses to be built in the near future. Last summer, during rainy season, this caused flooding all around Pine Island Center, in front of and behind Pine Island Elementary School, The Baptist Church and spilled right onto Pine Island Road in front of the Water Company. With nowhere for all this water to go, it was there for days and unfortunately for the school, months of stagnate water saturated the back part of the campus. I guess you could say, the wet lands were now in the school’s backyard. But this backyard is where our island kids look forward to playing every day on the playground at recess. Some seem to think, that is the best part of the school day — but not this year. After shutting down for Covid in March of last year and finally returning in August, there was no playground. It was a wet mess!
In the peak of rainy season, the mountain of fill dirt was brought in for Calusa Cay and Orchid Cove. The water ran downward and will continue to do so and the townhouses aren’t even built yet. So, are we the only school in Lee County without a playground? This just doesn’t seem fair to our kids.
Now, I’m wondering what kind of environmental impact this development is going to have on Pine Island Creek and Little Pine Island Preserve? How much run-off of pollutants, pesticides and fertilizers are going to make their way through the mangroves into that estuary?
Pine Islanders have always been vocal about protecting our waterways and fisheries and will continue to do so. I just don’t know how a development like this got approved being right next to a state preserve. I’m beginning to smell something fishy and I hope it’s not dead fish.
This is not the place for 90 townhouses and 90-plus more cars going in and out on Pine Island Road. There are other places on the island that would not have such a devastating impact on the environment, school and surrounding neighborhoods.
Rhonda Dooley
Bokeelia