Cape Coral, Fort Myers seek funds in the name of saving our water

Worried about environmental threats to the region's water resources and its impact on the economy and Southwest Florida lifestyle, local leaders pressed members of Lee County's legislative delegation Tuesday for state help with safeguards.

In a couple of cases, the lawmakers heard requests for state help paying for water projects that local governments have already earmarked for funding. If successful in getting state help for water initiatives, local governments would have more cash available for undertakings lacking the popular appeal of water quality. 

Six members of the region's delegation to the state Legislature held their annual public meeting at Florida SouthWestern State College to listen to representatives of governmental bodies, public service organizations and individuals make pitches for legislation and more state funding. 

Money for water projects led most local government requests. Lee County delivered its pitch in a brief but pointed presentation. 

Assistant County Manager Glen Salyer called for state help with work to improve flood control in the East Mulloch Water Control District. The region was hard-hit by flooding after the heavy rains of August 2017 followed by Hurricane Irma. The county has spent $4 million on water projects in the Mulloch district since the hurricane, with more work needed.

"There is still a significant amount to go and we want to work with the state to try to get through that backlog," Salyer said.

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The county also wants state help to improve its emergency operations center in Fort Myers, from where public safety efforts are directed during crises such as hurricanes. 

At about the same time Salyer was suggesting the state help the county pay for the EOC upgrade, 10 miles away, at the Old County Courthouse, county commissioners were giving approval for $600,000 to pay for the project which they were told in a memorandum "was planned and budgeted."

Two Lee County cities went looking for water project money, but the lawmakers also heard explanations of how Fort Myers and Cape Coral would pay for it if the state doesn't. 

Fort Myers Mayor Randy Henderson and Cape Coral City Manager John Szerlag asked for up to $34 million for a two-city plan to reclaim sewage water in Fort Myers and use it as reclaimed water for lawns and fire suppression in Cape Coral. 

Reconditioned, or reclaimed, water is piped though a Cape water system separate from the drinking water pipeline. The reclaimed water contains higher levels of nutrients, which contribute to water problems such as algae blooms in the Caloosahatchee River and associated estuaries and waterways.

“We are asking for your support for $19 million to move (reconditioned) water, that goes into the river now, to Cape Coral,” Henderson said. “We are now organized to do that; we would appreciate your support to get to the finish line on that.”

More:Fort Myers, Cape Coral reach agreement to construct reclaimed water pipeline across river

On the other side of the river, Cape Coral faces $15 million for its share of the new pipeline from Fort Myers, across the Caloosahatchee River, parallel to the Midpoint Memorial Bridge, to a Cape facility on Everest Parkway. 

Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, R-Fort Myers, who arranged for the grant that got planning started on the project, told Szerlag that “given that is a lot of money, there is no guarantee” that the state can pick up the cost – $19 million for Fort Myers and $15 million for Cape Coral.

“You will be well-served to tell how you will react,” she said.

Szerlag laid out the plan under which the cities would pay their own way.

“We are budgeting for the pipeline with our own funds,” he said, adding that Fort Myers' share would come from Cape Coral's ongoing payment of  95 cents for every 1,000 gallons of water that is reclaimed. That would provide enough cash for Fort Myers to pay its share over time given a pipeline capacity of up to 12 million gallons per day.

Benacquisto said that state lawmakers often use matching programs, in which the state agrees to match local contributions up to a ceiling. 

"It will be up to us, as a delegation, to convince our colleagues that this is a warranted expenditure of state funds, taxpayer funds," she said. "But we also want them to know there is no expectation."

The recent pledge by Gov. Ron DeSantis to come up with $2.5 billion over four years for Everglades restoration and water-protection projects was referenced by several conservation groups and others who sought state action on water issues. One priority is to make sure the huge C-43 reservoir being built for runoff from the Caloosahatchee includes a system for cleaning the water. 

"We hope the Legislature fast tracks Everglades restoration and the C-43 reservoir," said James Evans, director of natural resources for Sanibel. "It is imperative that we have a water quality component for that project, that's one of the governor's priorities and we hope it will be one of the Legislature's priorities."

More:Everglades restoration project to get long-awaited water treatment