There may be a solution to flooding in Bonita Springs caused by Hurricane Sally

Residents of one Bonita Springs neighborhood say they’re tired of seeing huge puddles of water outside their homes every time it rains. Many fear that their drainage problems will only get worse if more homes are built.

City of Bonita Springs officials say that a long-awaited water project coming to the area will stop that from happening.

Shirley Tralewski and her dog Coco have had their daily routine interrupted by the flooding.

“She likes to go in the grass and everything and she doesn’t like to go in the water,” said Tralewski.

Standing water now covers her yeard. “I didn’t know I bought [a] lakefront property!” Trawelski said jokingly.

Heavy rain from now-Hurricane Sally caused standing water in many yards in the Paradise Road neighborhood. Two days later and huge pools of water are still covering driveways, front yards and backyards.

Not only is this not the first time, but Bonita Springs City Councilman Chris Corrie also says this is his district’s number one concern. “This is the number one issue for people in this part of my district,” Corrie said.

Corrie added that the council is working on a solution. “We need to get the water managed and we need to get the water out of here.”

The city wants to buy an abandoned golf course and build water retention ponds on it. Those ponds will release water slowly through swales into the Springs Creek Water Basin.

City officials hope this will reduce flooding while also improving water quality.

“The hope is that we can manage that water so that it’s not going up into people’s yards and to the front doors,” Corrie said.

They are also planning to clear ditches of vegetation so water can flow more easily.

Tralewski is excited about this. “Fix it. Figure out a way…so we don’t have water like this!”

Because for her and Coco, 15 years of flooding is far too much.

It may take some time before the flooding subsides. The city still needs proof that the project will work and to make sure they can secure the money and buy the property.

If the city chooses not to purchase the land, a developer is already interested, which means more homes could come to the area.