Florida Construction News staff writer

More than $30 million was awarded for water and wastewater and stormwater infrastructure in the Caloosahatchee River and Estuary watershed.

Projects will help address excess nutrients, which are known to contribute to increased algal blooms, by investing in wastewater and stormwater infrastructure.

“The Caloosahatchee River Estuary, along with other key waterbodies, is vital to the environment and way of life for Southwest Florida,” said Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Shawn Hamilton. “With funding from the Governor and Florida Legislature, these priority water quality improvement projects are being implemented and progress is being realized.”

Projects include:

• Lehigh Acres Municipal Services Improvement District and Lee County ($15,500,000) – Frank Mann Preserve Water Quality Improvement Project.
• Florida Governmental Utility Authority ($7,000,000) – Wastewater Treatment Nutrient Reduction and Effluent Disposal Project.
• Florida Governmental Utility Authority ($2,764,706) – Lehigh Acres Advanced Wastewater Treatment Project.
• Lee County ($2,500,000) – Bob Janes Preserve Nutrient Reduction Project.
• Lee County ($1,500,000) – Palm Creek Water Quality Filter Marsh.
• Glades County ($1,250,000) – Northeast Service Area Septic-to-Sewer Project.

Extensive modifications to Lake Okeechobee and the Caloosahatchee River Watershed have affected the region’s natural hydrology, and key environmental initiatives in Executive Order 19-12 and Executive Order 23-06 focused on reversing negative trends affecting Florida’s water quality and America’s Everglades.