Lee County proposes $713K Orange River project to address flooding risks

On Wednesday, Lee County leaders are discussing the possibility of making a $713,000 state funding request to address flooding risks along the Orange River, a major drainage system serving approximately 80 square miles, including Lehigh Acres and Buckingham. In 2017, Hurricane Irma caused significant flooding in Buckingham, leaving homes submerged and roads impassable. Lisa Brantly rode out the storm. "The next thing we know, the water started to rise, and it rose quite fast." She said, "We all sat on the bed for the entire night while it was just flooded all around us. Everything was floating." The county said the proposed project would include removing a sandbar that formed in the Orange River after Hurricane Irma and realigning the upstream ditch near the Florida Power & Light discharge canal. The draft legislative agenda outlines $500,000 for dredging and $213,000 for ditch realignment. Officials said the improvements would help address chronic flooding risks, particularly during heavy rain or storms, and reduce emergency response costs over time. These funding requests are still preliminary, and Lee County commissioners are scheduled to review their legislative policy at a workshop Wednesday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV