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River Ridge discusses storm‑surge planning as NPDES annual report is filed
Summary
Johnson Engineering filed the Lee County NPDES Cycle 4 Year 7 annual report for submission to FDEP ahead of Nov. 1; the board also discussed a multi‑year storm‑surge resilience plan and forming an advisory panel after topographic analysis showed a 10–12‑ft surge could flood 45–55% of the community in a hypothetical scenario.
District engineering staff and community managers updated the River Ridge board Oct. 22 on regulatory compliance and storm‑surge planning.
Mark Zordan of Johnson Engineering said the Lee County NPDES (FLS000035‑004) Cycle 4 Year 7 annual report was filed with Lee County and will be submitted to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection ahead of the Nov. 1, 2024 deadline. He told the board Johnson Engineering attends bi‑monthly Lee County NPDES meetings and will continue to forward minutes to the district manager as sampling or reporting requirements evolve.
Separately, Eric Long, PSGRC general manager, outlined a multi‑year resilience plan focused on storms and climate change and proposed creating an advisory/review panel to coordinate efforts with county, state and neighboring stakeholders. Mr. Long said a topographic review for a hypothetical Hurricane Milton indicated a 10‑ to 12‑foot storm surge could have flooded roughly 45% to 55% of the community, underscoring the need for long‑range planning and multi‑agency coordination. The board reached consensus to have Mr. Long and newly seated Keith Merrill assist with the initiative and authorized District Engineer Charlie Krebs to support as needed.
Board discussion noted that addressing storm‑surge risks could take a decade and would require funding and cooperation from West Bay, county and state agencies, including possible Army Corps involvement if funding becomes available.
What happens next: staff will develop action‑plan elements for the advisory panel, identify representation from the CDD and partners, and monitor NPDES reporting requirements for any changes to sampling or permit conditions.
