Environment Council
Engage Estero Environment Council is a volunteer group focusing on improving water and air quality and mitigating and eliminating the effects of climate warming in greater Estero.
Environment Council Chair
jcoleman3@law.pace.edu
Our Mission:
We communicate reliable and accurate information to Engage Estero leadership, community officials, and citizens to make informed decisions and encourage community engagement. Collaborating with local, state, and national conservation organizations, we are active in many issues affecting greater Estero’s environment. We focus on improving water and air quality and mitigating and eliminating the effects of climate warming in greater Estero.
Our Purpose:
We exist to serve as the voice of the citizens of greater Estero. Fighting for what’s right and striving to right what’s wrong, we seek opportunities, offer solutions, challenge threats, and monitor local, county, and state government water quality and environment improvement actions and performance.
Our Values
Values essential to success and longevity:
- Integrity
- Open and honest communication
- Respect for other ideas and expertise
- Shared responsibility and resources
- Follow through on what you say you will do
- Care about what we are trying to achieve
- Innovation and creative thinking (open to doing things in a new way)
Our Vision:
To have an informed citizenry engaged in improving the quality of water and environment, resulting in a community that delivers related programs that affect our desired quality of life.

Southwest Florida Eagle Cam
Watch our local eagle nest, with a countdown to eggs hatching, courtesy of Dick Pritchett Real Estate. Click the image to be taken to the website.
Resources
Lee County: Our Water Story
Environment Campaigns…
Water Quality
DR/GR
Lake Okeechobee Releases
Algae Blooms
Red Tide
Flood Prevention
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Wildlife Protection
Florida Panther
Sea Turtle Nesting
Manatee Protection
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Limerock Mining
Protection of DR/GR
Traffic Impact
Blast Damage
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Parks & Public Lands
Preservation
Access
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Take Action
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We don't have any articles on this topic at the moment.
Featured Reports

Septic to Sewer
A primer on the dangers of septic systems to the Greater Estero area’s environment, and the changes coming in the next few years.
Seeking Volunteers
None at this time.
We don't have any articles on this topic at the moment.
Articles
Unique way to improve water quality and habitats
This article by WINK news covers a unique use of manufacturing waste to improve our coastlines. "Sanibel’s shoreline is getting protected with help from overseas. Thanks to help from the Dutch government, scientists and volunteers on Sanibel Island installed...
The ECCL’s “Adopt a Highway Program:” A Fantastic Volunteer Achievement Benefiting Everyone in the Greater Estero area
As you may be aware, the ECCL has been collaborating with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) since October 2020 to help clean Hwy 41, between the Vines entrance (Breckenridge Road) north of Walmart and south to Coconut Road. During the weekend of December...
Pollution Notification: Right to Know
The ECCL believes residents have a right to know about pollutants in our waters. The Safe Waterways Act (SB 604 / HB 393) is designed to address this public health risk. We encourage our readers to learn more about this effort, and then contact legislators with your...
The Adopt a Highway program has been re-commenced to keep Estero looking beautiful. Want to help?
The ECCL has embarked on a new season working with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to help clean Hwy 41, between the Vines entrance (Breckenridge Road) north of Walmart and south to Coconut Road. In October, the team collected a total of 640 pounds of...
What We Know About the Quality of Southwest Florida Water – Isn’t Pretty
Water is essential to life, and in Florida, it is also an economic engine that fuels $94 billion in annual tourism spending and $12 billion in local and state sales, hotel, and excise taxes, according to Rockport Analytics LLC. When our waterways...
Microorganism’s Macro Impact
Corkscrew Road Wildlife Crossing Update
Work is planned to begin construction on a wildlife crossing across Corkscrew Road in October. It will be located approximately 1000 feet west of the entrance to Cypress Shadows Boulevard, which coincides with a regional flow-way that crosses under Corkscrew Road at...
Litter Harms the Environment
Litter is not just a land problem. Because storm drains empty into our local waterways with little to no filtering, any object tossed on the road, flying out of an open truck bed, or left in a yard can end up in our river, estuaries, and beaches.
Worth a Read: “Army Corps’ Choice of Plan CC for Lake O Presents Opportunity for Relief”
The Friends of the Everglades report that the Army Corps of Engineers has chosen a promising plan, but the need for advocacy is still urgent. “While we’re encouraged by the Army Corps’ selection of Plan CC, the new Lake O playbook won’t be successful unless it’s...
Worth a Read: “Is an Ounce of Red Tide Prevention Worth a Pound of Cure?”
In "The Bradenton Times", Glenn Compton writes about the need to study potential links between stormwater treatment facilities' regulated discharges and algal blooms. These discharges, he writes, are not monitored, and so their contribution to the overall water...
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