Haley Jacobs
•7/7/2026
ESTERO, Fla. (WINK) — A long-planned flood mitigation project in Estero is moving one step closer to reality.
Village leaders approved the next phase of design and permitting for the Estero River North Branch Regional Pond, a project they say is designed to reduce flooding in neighborhoods near Three Oaks Parkway by slowing stormwater before it reaches one of the area's biggest drainage bottlenecks.
The pond would be built on Village-owned property behind the post office on Three Oaks Parkway.
READ MORE: Estero River project aims to boost flood resilience and habitat preservation
According to Village documents, the project stems from severe flooding the area experienced in 2017. Engineers determined that water flowing through the North Branch of the Estero River becomes restricted near Villages at Country Creek and Rookery Point, causing water to back up during major rain events. Officials say building a regional pond would temporarily hold stormwater, reducing the amount of water moving through that constrained section of the river during heavy rainfall.
During Wednesday's Village Council meeting, Village Manager Steve Sarkozy called the project "good news" and announced that Estero had secured funding through two separate grant programs.
"These grants then fund 100% of the project," Sarkozy told council members.
The Village received a $4.9 million FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant and a $1.6 million Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery, bringing total funding for the project to approximately $6.5 million.
While some residents say floodwaters have never reached their homes, they still worry whenever major storms move through Southwest Florida.
Aimee Collins has lived in the Copper Oaks neighborhood for seven years. Her backyard backs up to a drainage ditch that fills during periods of heavy rain.
"It's always a concern," Collins said. "Whenever we do have hurricanes and stuff like that that come in."
She said she has watched the ditch rise enough to make her wonder whether it's time to prepare.
"There's been times where I've asked my husband, 'Do we need to go get sandbags just in case?' because when you do see the ditch start rising, and it is so close to our houses, it can be a major concern to us."
Although Collins says the water has never reached her home, she believes the project could help residents feel more secure.
"It's going to be very helpful, I think, to us and for people who are on the roadways, not just here in the community, but for people who are driving out on Three Oaks Parkway."
Other neighbors who spoke with WINK News but declined to appear on camera said they have experienced flooding from hurricanes, including Irma and Ian. Several also said they previously believed the property behind the post office would become a school and were relieved to learn it is instead planned as a stormwater pond.
Village leaders say timing is critical.
The FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant requires the project's design and permitting to be completed by March 31, 2027. Missing that deadline could jeopardize grant funding, which is why council approved an additional $107,000 contract with JR Evans Engineering, plus a $10,000 contingency, to continue engineering, permitting and construction planning.
Sarkozy told council members the Village decided to continue working with JR Evans Engineering because the firm is already familiar with the project and can help keep it on schedule.
"We've been waiting forever for these grants," Sarkozy said during the meeting. "Now that we've got the grants, the state and federal government are saying you've got to get it done in a fast manner."
According to Village documents, the next phase includes preparing final construction plans, completing environmental and utility permitting, performing geotechnical and structural engineering work, and developing bid documents before construction can begin.
Village leaders say they expect design work to begin immediately, with design and permitting scheduled for completion by March 2027 to meet grant requirements. After that, the project will move into the bidding process before construction begins.
