Alva residents blame new construction for unprecedented flooding problems

ALVA, Fla. (WINK)—A quiet, riverside community in Alva where neighbors say history runs deep and floodwaters never did is now facing a new reality.

After decades without problems, residents say water is rising where it never has before. Peaceful properties are turning into problem areas, prompting concerns about what could be driving the change.

Robert Young has called the Caloosahatchee River home for 26 years. "It's like being on vacation every day," Young said.

That changed with Hurricane Ian. "In seven hurricanes, it's never crested the property; it's always stopped," Young said. "But this time it came up."

"The water just kept on coming up, coming up," Young said. "You just had to save what you could and get out."

The neighborhood went underwater. Yards turned into pools, and streets like Dukes Highway looked more like rivers.

"Families have lived here for 75 years, it never flooded, and to have a storm that comes up two to three feet into their house, they had to swim out," said Susan Allen, an Alva neighbor.

Some neighbors are now lifting their homes. They say it's not just hurricanes anymore—flooding can happen even during a heavy downpour.

"Anytime there's a heavy rain, especially with a high tide, my yard is underwater," Allen said.

Allen says something's different. "This is an acute change in our waterways and in the way that the water drains," Allen said.

"Many of us in the neighborhood believe that the construction out here in the rural lands are affecting… where you have Babcock Ranch with an average of 30 feet above sea level, and all that water has to go somewhere," Allen said. "They do retaining ponds. But can it retain at all?"

Lee County provided the following statement:

"Hurricanes Ian, Helene and Milton caused significant tidal surge within the Caloosahatchee River, which is the predominate source of flooding for the homes on Duke Highway. Otter Creek has a small drainage area with most of the rainfall draining to Trout Creek and Telegraphy Creek.

Improvements have been made: Lee County Natural Resources in partnership with the South Florida Water Management District completed removal of vegetation restricting flow. This project was just completed the week of April 20."

The county recommends that those with questions visit this link.

Allen is worried about the future. "They want to build another 1100 houses right behind Duke Highway," Allen said. "Again, where's that water going? They're going to be building it 12 feet. I'm at nine feet. So, you know, water goes downhill."

For Young, leaving isn't an option. "I'm not going nowhere, because this place is just like paradise to me," Young said.