Commissioners agree to engage on South Florida Water Management District rulemaking and back PD&E study for Del Prado/I‑75 interchange

At the Feb. 17 meeting, Lee County commissioners directed staff to fully engage in the South Florida Water Management District’s rulemaking process on restricted allocation areas and asked staff to draft a letter—signed by the chair—requesting that the district hold public workshops on Lee County’s coast so affected residents can participate.

Natural Resources representative Roland Adolini briefed commissioners on the district’s recent resolution to begin rulemaking for two restricted allocation areas in the county—North Cape Coral (northern Lee County) and the Sandstone Aquifer in Lehigh Acres. Adolini said the district’s process uses hydrologic triggers tied to aquifer levels; one potential outcome is to restrict irrigation withdrawals from the sandstone aquifer in Lehigh Acres to prevent aquifer compression and long‑term damage. County staff have been meeting with the district and Cape Coral staff and will continue engagement in the rulemaking.

Separately, commissioners agreed to support continuing work on a Del Prado / I‑75 interchange: the state has tentatively funded half of the PD&E (Project Development & Environment) study, and the board approved drafting a letter of support to Congressman Byron Donald to pursue federal funding for the remaining PD&E costs. The board asked staff to draft the letter and authorized the chair to sign it.

Commissioners characterized both items as important for local water supply management and long‑term transportation capacity and asked staff to return with updates as the processes progress.