Bonita Springs City Council to talk flood prevention

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Flooding and damaged houses along Rosemary Drive in Bonita Springs. (Photo via viewer Elliott Smith)

BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. Potential solutions to flooding will be discussed Wednesday at a City Council meeting.

District 6 Councilman Fred Forbes, whose constituency covers some of the areas hardest hit by flooding this summer, will lead a presentation that could include input from the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council and Adkins Engineering, a firm the city chose to study the issue.

Some ideas range from proactive removal of debris from drains to more time-consuming options, like the replacement of bridges and the adjustment of canals. Forbes’ presentation will look into the necessary costs and funding options available.

MORE: Bonita Springs remains underwater, residents looking for solutions

Bonita resident Caroline Carlton urged the council to hurry the effort along.

“I know these things take time but, you know they could be thinking for months and months and months, and then it will be hurricane season again,” she said.

The council is exploring the idea of securing FEMA funding to put homes in the flood plain on stilts. It’s also looking at sending water south into the Cocohatchee River watershed and dredging the Imperial River, Mayor Peter Simmons said.

MORE: Bonita Springs flood victims relocating, raising homes after Irma

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