Plantation Island Waterways Pre-Design Study Public Information Meeting

The Plantation Island Waterways Pre-Design Study Public Information Meeting will be held from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM on Thursday, February 2 at Everglades Community Church, Fellowship Hall, 101 S Copeland Ave., Everglades City, FL 34139. Residents, business representatives and visitors are welcome to attend this open house style meeting. Attendees may review displays detailing the proposed project and talk one-on-one with county staff and the county’s consultants. The displays are also planned to be posted on the county’s website at www.colliercountyfl.gov/stormwater prior to the meeting.

In 2017, the severe winds and storm surges of Hurricane Irma deposited heavy amounts of vegetative debris and silt throughout the Plantation Island Waterways canal system leading to degradation of the water quality and navigability of the waterways on which the community relies. Plantation Island is a census-designated rural community with approximately two miles of man-made and natural waterways. The waterways serve as stormwater conveyance and some navigability to the Barron River and neighboring tidal waters.

In 2019, the county was awarded a grant of $312,500 to conduct a water restoration study of this system. County funds will cover the remainder of the project cost which is approximately $111,000.

Based on the analysis and coordination completed during the study, the recommended alternative is to dredge the canals of Plantation Island and the entrance channel leading up Halfway Creek. This alternative provides ecological improvements comparable to the other alternatives that were studied while also providing the additional socio-economic benefits of unimpeded navigation to

Plantation Island from the Chokoloskee Bay.

Two or more members of the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) may be present and participate at this meeting. The subject matter of this meeting may be an item for discussion and action at a future BCC meeting.

Anyone who requires an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication, or other reasonable accommodations to participate in this proceeding, should contact the Collier County Facilities Management Division located at 3335 Tamiami Trail E., Naples, Florida 34112, or 239-252-8380 as soon as possible. Such reasonable accommodations will be provided at no cost to the individual.

For more information, call the Transportation Management Services Department at 239-252-5728.