Lee Commissioners accept $22.7M state grant for water management project at Larry Kiker Preserve

Writer: Carolina Guzman
Published: Updated:
Commissioner Larry Kiker. Credit: leegov.com

The Lee Board of County Commissioners voted Tuesday to accept a $22.7 million Resilient Florida Grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to design and construct the Larry Kiker Preserve Water Management Project Phase 1.

The project plan is to restore flowways, protect habitat, improve regional flood control, improve water quality, and enhance aquifer recharge. 

The Lee Board of County Commissioners acquired the 3,921 acres in 2017 and renamed the property Larry Kiker Preserve in 2019, shortly after the death of Lee County Commissioner Larry Kiker, who advocated for preserving the land.

The grant requires a 50/50 cost share. The county met local match requirements from the initial $42 million purchase of the preserve lands.

Given its location at the Estero River, Halfway Creek, and Imperial River confluence, the site contains natural flowways.

Restoration through site improvements is intended to enhance water quality, flood attenuation, and aquifer recharge, protect a significant, diverse population of wildlife and plant communities, and provide opportunities for nature-based recreation in the southern part of Lee County.

This project was identified in the Southern Lee Flood Mitigation Plan in Aug. 2020.

The plan proposes constructing a regional flood protection project that benefits the Village of Estero, Bonita Springs, and unincorporated Lee County. 

In 2023, the Lee Board of County Commissioners voted to accept $1 million in Florida State Resiliency Grant Funds from FDEP to support design and permitting fees.

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