Agriculture Projects The SWFRPC is involved in a variety of regional agriculture sustainability projects to assist local growers in research and planning activities designed to strengthen the local agriculture industry. Completed projects include:
Resiliency & Climate Change Projects The Climate Change Planning Section of the SWFRPC is involved in a variety of research and planning activities designed to provide technical assistance and decision services based upon the best available contemporary science. Completed projects include: Beever, III, J.W., W. Gray, D. Trescott, D. Cobb, J. Utley and L. B. Beever 2009, Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council and Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program, Technical Report 09-3, 298 pages View PDF Beever, III, J.W., W. Gray, D. Trescott, D. Cobb, J. Utley David Hutchinson, John Gibbons, Moji Abimbola and L. B. Beever, Judy Ott [...]
Ecosystem Services Projects The Environmental Planning Section of the SWFRPC is involved in a variety of research and planning activities designed to provide technical assistance and decision services based upon the best available contemporary science. Completed projects include: Beever III, J.W. 2008, SWFRPC View PDF Beever, III, J.W., W. Gray, D. Trescott, D. Cobb, J. Utley and L. B. Beever 2009, Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council and Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program, Technical Report 09-3, 298 pages View PDF Beever, III, J.W., W. Gray, D. Trescott, D. Cobb, J. Utley David Hutchinson, John Gibbons, Moji Abimbola and [...]
Executive Summary This project demonstrates the effectiveness of local government scale mitigation planning coordinated with future public works projects in achieving the goals of wetland and water quality protection, watershed hydrologic restoration, and completion of necessary public infrastructure projects. We will develop an improved model local government watershed scale wetland mitigation strategy for wetland restoration, wetland protection, and water quality improvement and public project mitigation at the local government scale that is transferable to other Florida counties. Depending upon the parameters in other States this will likely be transferable to other local governments in other States that have a governance [...]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Regional Planning Council Awarded Grant to Promote Southwest Florida Agricultural Products Fort Myers, FL – (August 10, 2018) – The Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council (SWFRPC) is pleased to announce that they have been awarded an Economic Adjustment Assistance grant in the amount of $206,545.00 from the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. Senators Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson called Margaret Wuerstle, Executive Director of the Council, to congratulate Council staff. The purpose of the grant is to increase resilience and sustainability for small and medium-sized farms in southwest Florida. The goal of [...]
Executive Summary The Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council (SWFRPC) assisted the City of Bonita Springs in developing a City of Bonita Springs Flood Reduction and Watershed Restoration Plan that includes proposals for projects to reduce flooding in the City of Bonita Springs suitable for legislative funding support and plans for reduction of flooding, restoration of functional healthy hydrology, and subsequent improvements in water quality and habitat. The project encompasses the Imperial River Watershed, the Spring Creek Watershed and the Coastal Island Watershed within the City of Bonita Springs City of Bonita Springs Flood Reduction and Watershed Restoration Plan [...]
Executive Summary Climate change resilience is the capacity of an individual, community, or institution to dynamically and effectively respond to shifting climate impact circumstances while continuing to function at an acceptable level. It is the ability to survive, recover from, and/or live with the effects of climate change. It includes the ability to understand potential impacts and to take appropriate action before, during, and after a particular consequence to minimize negative effects and maintain the ability to respond to changing conditions. On October 1, 2016 the City of Cape Coral contracted with the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council (SWFRPC) to [...]
Executive Summary The Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council (SWFRPC) is assisting the Pelican Cove Community in developing a climate change adaptation plan in the areas of shoreline and water quality, drainage and erosion, and landscaping (CCAP) for the Pelican Cove Community. The climate change stressors of changes to water temperature and chemistry, and air temperature and chemistry can be expected to have a variety of effects on shoreline and water quality, drainage and erosion, and landscaping and the local infrastructure and environment. It will be the goal of the CCAP to identify those effects and the local vulnerabilities to them, [...]
Executive Summary The Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council (SWFRPC) assisted the City of Bonita Springs in developing a Spring Creek Restoration Plan that included plans for restoration of hydrology, water quality, habitat, and navigation. The Spring Creek Watershed is located in the southern area of Lee County. It is approximately ten (10) square miles in size. The watershed mouth originates at Estero Bay approximately 6,000 feet south of Coconut Road. The watershed is approximately two miles wide and five miles long. This watershed is generally located south of the Halfway Creek Watershed and north and west of the Imperial River [...]
Executive Summary Filter Marsh Functional Assessment Method: Development of a functional assessment method to evaluate the water quality benefits of wetland restoration and designed freshwater and brackish water ecosystems used for water quality treatment. This project will develop a functional assessment method to evaluate the water quality benefits of wetland restoration and designed freshwater and brackish water ecosystems used for water quality treatment. This method would be utilized for evaluating and crediting water quality improvements in Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs) to address non-attainment of Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs). The methodology would be developed in coordination with an interagency [...]
