Ian’s aftermath and Lee County’s future

Ray Judah
·3 min read
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Hurricane Ian ravaged Lee County -- taking lives, destroying property and leaving scars that will be imprinted on our community for years. The storm’s heavy winds and unprecedented storm surge laid waste to much of the county, especially along rivers, canals and coastal areas.

Work continued on the Sanibel Causeway in January following Hurricane Ian's destruction Sept. 28. Restoring the causeway with a low level fixed span bridge extending the entire length of San Carlos Bay would substantially reduce the risk of Sanibel Island from being cut off from future severe storm events.
Work continued on the Sanibel Causeway in January following Hurricane Ian's destruction Sept. 28. Restoring the causeway with a low level fixed span bridge extending the entire length of San Carlos Bay would substantially reduce the risk of Sanibel Island from being cut off from future severe storm events.

Given the catastrophic impact, I’m proud of the recovery efforts and resiliency of a community that my family has called home for 39 years. Despite this unparalleled tragedy, reconstruction efforts can be viewed as an opportunity to build back better and smarter, providing a safer community for present and future generations.

To that end, the Lee County Commission needs to reinstate language in the Lee County Comprehensive Land Use Plan to reduce density in the coastal high hazard areas as defined by the SLOSH ( Overland Surges from Hurricane ) storm surge model. To minimize future damaging impacts to life and property, Conservation 2020 funds should be used to purchase beachfront property destroyed by Hurricane Ian. This action would provide the dual benefit of safeguarding residents by buffering coastal areas and barrier islands during future hurricanes and providing more accessible land and beaches for the public.

Residents and businesses, on Sanibel and Captiva, endured a tremendous hardship post Hurricane Ian due to the destruction of the Sanibel Causeway and access being cut off from the mainland. Interestingly, in 1979, Hurricane Frederic destroyed a causeway to Dauphin Island, Alabama, requiring ferries to transport people for three years afterward. A new replacement bridge was built with federal funds and opened to traffic in 1982. Since then the bridge has withstood severe tropical weather along the Gulf Coast without damage.

Lee County, and Sanibel in particular, was fortunate in that the state was able to secure federal funds to expedite the repair of the causeway within approximately three weeks. A massive amount of sand and dirt was needed to rebuild eroded causeway islands which were the weak links of the causeway due to low elevation and vulnerability to storm surge.

Consideration to restore the Sanibel Causeway with a low level fixed span bridge extending the entire length of San Carlos Bay would substantially reduce the risk of Sanibel Island from being cut off from future severe storm events. Removal of the causeway islands would prevent further destructive backfilling of San Carlos Bay and substantially enhance water circulation conducive to improved water quality and finfish and shellfish habitat. A compromise to retain one of the islands could be facilitated with a on/off-ramp for water related recreational activities.

The original Sanibel Causeway, including the placement of the two artificial islands, was constructed in 1963. Shortly after the project was completed, the once thriving scallop fisheries collapsed. The causeway islands changed the direction and flow of the fresh water released from the Caloosahatchee and altered the salinity gradient harmful to the scallops. The scallops were an indicator species reflecting on the damage to the marine environment in San Carlos Bay.

A low level fixed span bridge would greatly enhance public safety and access between Sanibel Island and the mainland and result in significant improvement to water quality and fisheries habitat.

Lee County recently received word that $1.1 billion dollars from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will be available for recovery work from the damage caused by Hurricane Ian. The funds can be used for a variety of activities including “infrastructure repair.“ Reconstruction of the Sanibel Causeway would qualify for a portion of the funds.

A coordinated effort between Sanibel, Captiva, Lee County government, Florida Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation and the FGCU Water School, Captains for Clean Water and the Calusa Waterkeepers would be a productive first step in moving forward to discuss the merits and cost/benefit review for the most viable option in reconstruction of the Sanibel Causeway.

Ray Judah is a former Lee County commissioner.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Ian’s aftermath and Lee County’s future