County of Lee recently issued the following announcement.
Lee County Natural Resources and the Lee County Department of Transportation are reminding San Carlos Park residents of the ongoing flood mitigation project. The work
will directly benefit more than 2,000 residences in the area and will ultimately improve storm water drainage through the East Mulloch watershed to benefit the entire community.
Crews have begun working in the canals and in the road right-of-way in the area. Work near each individual property is expected to take less than a week once it commences. The full scope of the project is ongoing and will take about two years to complete.
San Carlos Park was particularly hard hit by flooding in 2017 when heavy rains in August were followed by Hurricane Irma in September. The need for flood mitigation measures led the Board of County Commissioners to pursue a community development grant in 2019 that would assist with the cost of these efforts.
In June 2020, the Board accepted a $7.1 million Community Development Block Grant from the State of Florida for repairs to the drainage infrastructure and sidewalks. The Board awarded contracts for the work in August 2021.
Residents are reminded that obstructions in the easements, both along and in canals and along roadside swales, will need to be removed prior to the work. Crews will place stakes indicating the work areas about one to two weeks prior to work beginning in a certain area, but property owners are encouraged to clear any obstructions they wish to keep as soon as possible.
Items that need to be removed include, but are not limited, to:
• Fences
• Hedges
• Sheds
• Ornamental plants
• Fruit trees
• Pet burial sites
• Self-installed irrigation pumps
• Bridges
• Docks
Once the work is complete, the easements will need to remain free of obstruction so that the drainage system may be maintained to help protect property from flooding.
The county mailed a letter to affected property owners about the project work and what needs to be removed. In advance of work in a specific area, crews will use door hangers to alert residents. For updates, additional information and a searchable map of the work area, visit www.leegov.com/flooding/sancarlos. Residents may also call 533-9400 or email flooding@leegov.com with any questions.
Original source can be found here.
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