Yellow Fever Creek/Gator Slough Transfer Facility Project

Background

The project site is located at the jurisdictional line of North Fort Myers and the City of Cape Coral adjacent to the Yellow Fever Creek Preserve. Gator Slough once fed the Yellow Fever Creek, but this is no longer, due to urbanization. During the Northwest Spreader Ecosystem Management Agreement process, the stakeholder group identified excess discharges from the Gator Slough Canal system as one of the factors impacting scouring, mangrove fringe degradation and tunicate die-offs occurring during high-flow events downstream in Matlacha Pass. In reviewing historic aerials (circa 1950), it is apparent that there are drainage features indicating that water historically flowed from the northeast of the Gator Slough canal to the Yellow Fever Creek.

The Project This project is intended to create a controlled interconnect between Gator Slough and Yellow Fever Creek thereby reducing freshwater flows toward Matlacha Pass and restoring historic base flows to the Yellow Fever Creek watershed. The project plans include capturing some of the excess flow in the Gator Slough drainage canal and transfer excess stormwater to Yellow Fever Creek. The transfer of water will enhance of rehydration of wetlands south of Del Prado Boulevard.

Benefit

The project would restore base flows to Yellow Fever Creek ecosystem and enhance minimum flows to the Caloosahatchee, reducing negative water quality impacts to Matlacha Pass. This would improve salinity for oyster recovery. The Gator Slough Canal (GCS) system serves as a tributary to the Matlacha Pass, then to the Charlotte Harbor. To aid in the protection of the Charlotte Harbor and Matlacha Pass, we propose to reconnect the GCS system to the Yellow Fever Creek. This project implements the restoration goals of the Northwest Spreader Ecosystem Management Agreement by reducing fresh water flows from Gator Slough into Matlacha Pass as well as the Caloosahatchee Minimum Flows and Levels Rule by restoring base flows to Yellow Fever Creek.

Water Quality Improvement Projects FY 2015-16 Funding Request  Requested dollar amount - $350,000  Local matching funds pledged, along with a written copy of the vote or other commitment by a local elected official. Local match = $350,000  Total project cost/phase amount - $700,000 Vital Southwest Florida Facts

• More than 75% of Florida’s population lives within an estuary watershed and 78% of Florida’s GDP is generated within estuary regions. Yellow Fever Creek/Gator Slough Transfer Facility Project

• Southwest Florida is experiencing the fastest growth in population, employment, and GDP among all U.S. estuary regions. Protecting or enhancing the region’s estuaries is essential to support the regional economy.

• Lee County tourism, which depends on a healthy natural ecosystem, employs 1 in 5 workers. This includes the restaurant and hotel industries as well as ecosystem-based industries such as fishing and boating.

• Sources: Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program, South Florida Water Management District, and NOAA. Vital Southwest Florida Economic Facts: Completed t Date: Vital Southwest Florida Economic Facts: