Here follows a proposed Pine Island Eagle Quest Opinion:
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Quest Opinion

Willow Lake to be Restored

By Phil Buchanan

The South Florida  Water Management District, Army Corpes of Engineers, and
the landowner’s  representatives have all agreed on a plan that would
result in the restoration  of Willow Lake, a former swamp near the corner of
Stringfellow Road and Alcorn  Street. Before its destruction in 2007, Willow
Lake was the only natural  freshwater ecosystem on Pine Island.
The restoration plan  requires that the land be returned to its original
topography, including the  removal of fill down the muck (or water) level so
the swamp remains hydrated  year round. Thousands of live oaks, willows,
swamp ferns, grasses, palmettos,  and other plantings will be installed (and
assured survival for a minimum of 5  years) that should eventually make the
swamp area look somewhat similar to its  original form.  The entire 7.88  swamp
area plus another wetlands area to the south of the swamp (a total of 
19.08 acres) will be placed in a permanent conservation easement and made 
available for passive recreational use.
The restoration plan is a part  of a consent agreement that resolves
environmental violations issued by the  SFWMD and ACOE in 2007. The consent
agreement does not require an admission of  liability by the landowner or even
require that he acknowledge that Willow  Lake ever existed, but it does legally
require that he pay for and accomplish  the restoration actions listed
above, plus pay $20,600 in fines and fees. If  the landowner satisfies all
requirements of the consent order over the next  five years, the violations will
be excused.     
It should be noted that no restoration  plan can be successful in restoring
a swamp that Mother Nature took thousands  of years to create; however, the
plan outlined in the consent agreement (and  accompanying documents) does a
reasonable job of trying. 
We owe thanks to Melissa Roberts and  Phil Flood of the SFWMD and Cynthia
Ovdenk of the ACOE, as well as to the  landowner and his representatives, for
their work. Thanks also to all five Lee  County commissioners, particularly
Commissioner Janes, for their very active  support. Most of all, thanks to
the Greater Pine Island Civic Association  officers and members for dozens
of meetings, emails, and letters, and the  thousands of hours they have
devoted to this issue over the past two  years—without them this result would not
have been obtained.   

Phil Buchanan
3861 Galt Island Avenue
St James City, FL  33956
Phone/fax: 239-283-4067
cell: 239-789-6114
email:  coolcherokee@comcast.net