by SC Reporter Emilie Alfino
In response to requests from residents of the Sea Oats subdivision to open the west basin weir to provide relief to wet conditions surrounding their residential structures, the City opened the weir for two weeks in March. In response, staff made a presentation to Council about the Sanibel Weir System and Weir Control Policy.
The 2024 Strategic Objectives commit to updating the City’s watershed plan by September 2024.
Sanibel’s weir system maintains more than 1,600 acres of unique interior freshwater wetlands. The benefits of proper hydrology include desirable wetland plant communities and wildlife, the wetlands filter and absorb excess nutrients, reduce wildfire risk, and minimize saltwater intrusion. The system minimizes the frequency of discharges of stormwater runoff from the interior portions of the island to Sanibel’s coastal waters. The Sanibel Slough, Pine Island Sound, and San Carlos Bay have all been designated as “impaired” by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection due to nutrient enrichment
The Weir Control Policy was developed in 1994 following the adoption of the 1992 update to the Surface Water Management Plan, and was placed into action in 1997. The objective is to obtain as much fresh water on the island as possible to benefit the island’s Interior Wetland System, so long as developed areas are not adversely impacted.
“There are no other barrier islands having a fresh water system on the island, said Councilmember Holly Smith.
As far as relief for the Sea Oats subdivision, City Manager Dana Souza said, “I want to emphasize we hear what our neighbors are saying.” Developed areas are not to be adversely impacted. “We’ll see what adjustments might we need in the future,” Souza added.
“This illustrates how complex this water system is,” said Mayor Richard Johnson. “It’s not that we haven’t been paying attention, it’s that we have been working with nature.”
Councilmember Arlene Dillon added that people are supposed to keep their own stormwater, not drain it onto other people’s property. “We live in a swamp,” Dillon said. “People with water on their property, I encourage them to communicate to the City Manager and City Council. Don’t sit around and moan and groan to your neighbors.”
It was suggested that the City reach out to The Water School at Florida Gulf Coast University.
Citizen Barbara Cooley, who lived in Gulf Pines, called herself a friend of the weir who understands the importance of the weir. “But I do think I’m unusual in that I know about the weir. We need to do more communicating about it. We need a fact sheet explaining the whole thing. I hope there will be more information in an obvious place where people can go and get that information,” Cooley concluded.
Several Sea Oats residents came forward to say they are very encouraged by what they’re hearing and are optimistic now going forward.
“We will be looking at sea level rise as part of our master plan, which is looking longer-term,” Souza explained.
On another water-related matter, City Director of Buildings, Craig Mole’, addressed new Flood Plain Management Software.
City staff initiated a full review and evaluation of the city’s program and found that data varied enough to create operational inefficiencies when reports are required for FEMA. Evaluation of the new Forerunner Flood Plain Management Software was shown to provide immediate improvement in customer service as well as improve staff efficiency. The software provides the following capabilities:
• offers one application that streamlines NFIP management,
• it helps achieve Community Rating System credits to maintain and improve the City’s CRS rating, and
• includes a resident-facing app to engage and inform homeowners of their risk in special flood hazard zones.
“This is a way to preserve institutional knowledge,” said City Manager Dana Souza, “and to increase the use of electronic tools both to increase efficiency and make information available to the public.”
The review resulted in the decision to recommend moving forward with the cloud-hosted Forerunner software system, which the City Manager approved and which was approved by City Council April 2.
The water being held back is SALT water. You have to drain if you want FRESH water. All the fish etc. have died. If we want to return to our previous eco system lower the water. Salt does not evaporate.