Concerns rise over vegetation removal on Ten Mile Canal in Lee County

LEE COUNTY, Fla. —

Lee County's efforts to reduce flooding risk along the Ten Mile Canal have prompted concern from neighbors over the impact on the waterway and wildlife.

Crews have been removing vegetation over several weeks along the canal, cutting down mangroves and nonnative plants.

"All of this was, just was probably a good 75% to 80% mangroves, and it was intermixed with some Brazilian pepper, which should go," said Captain Brett Low. "They're an invasive species, but now it's just completely denuded."

Low said he grew concerned after seeing the mangroves removed, noting the native plants protect the bank from erosion, filter the water and provide habitats for marine life.

"Hundreds of snook used to be here, and they'd pop at the surface in the summertime, and we have predominantly brackish or fresh water. I can catch snook and freshwater bass right here, and I just don't see that happening," Low said. "There's no sanctuary for these fish. There's no purpose for them to be here. It's only left with a sterile environment."

While some residents believe the canal work is necessary to ease flood risk, others, like Zeke Perez, said the project is a double-edged sword.

"I'm a big fisherman, so I'm concerned about the estuary, value of the, of the mangroves, and I thought it was terrible," Perez said. "You know, yin yang. There's always some positives if it's going to help the flooding."

A Lee County spokesperson said the roots of the mangroves were left intact to stabilize the bank and protect from erosion. Crews have been cleaning up the removed plants and will do a final sweep before work wraps up at the end of the week.

Low said he still worries the project did damage.

"Why are we in Southwest Florida? We're here for a wonderful climate, the abundance of fish," Low said. "If we keep destroying the habitat, you're not going to have those things, and it becomes purposeless for us to be here."

While the current project wraps up at the end of the week, the county is finishing up permitting to remove large berms in the canal between Hidden Harbor and Terra Verde.

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