| |
The Gator Slough Watershed is located in the northwest area of Lee County. This watershed covers an area of approximately fifty-five square miles, thirty of which are located in Charlotte County. Much of the watershed's upstream (northern) area is within the Webb Wildlife Management Area in Charlotte County. The east boundary in Lee County is along portions of an abandoned railroad and U.S. 41, the south boundary is along the south section lines of 24, 28 & 31, Range 23 East, Township 43 South and Sections 19, 20 & 21, Range 24 East, Township 43 South, the west boundary is the Cape Coral perimeter canal. This perimeter canal outfalls to a mangrove marsh, which in turn outflows to Matlacha Pass. See the Boundary Map on page 5-W3. A second map showing the Charlotte County area in addition to the Lee County portion is located in Section 1, Volume III.
From its downstream origin, the canal runs in a generally easterly direction to the old Seaboard Airline Railroad grade, then in a northerly direction along the grade into Charlotte County. The area in Charlotte County is not shown on the Lee County Surface Water Management Master Plan (LCSWMMP) watershed boundary map. The Lee County portion of the Gator Slough Watershed is relatively narrow, varying from one to three miles in width.
This watershed was studied in the 1983 "Gator Slough Watershed Analysis and Preliminary Plan" report by Johnson Engineering, as well as the 1979 "Water Management in Lee County" report. The boundary established in the 1979 report sustained the boundary described in Smally, Wellford & Nalven's 1961 report on Lee County watersheds. The current boundary is essentially similar to the 1983 and 1979 report boundaries. One change is the portion of Section 16, Township 43 South, Range 24 East (see page 5-WM) that is west of U.S. 41 is now within the watershed. This altered portion of Section 16 was removed from Yellow Fever Creek - East Branch by development. The current boundary will be perpetuated throughout the LCSWMMP effort. The boundary information was verified through a combination of Johnson Engineering field reconnaissance, USGS quad sheets, Lee County one foot contour maps and Johnson Engineering in-house data, both historical and current.
Surface water in Gator Slough Watershed in the vicinity of I-75, the Lee/Charlotte County line and the abandoned railroad grade intermingles with Powell Creek surface water. The co-mingled waters then part again one and one-half miles to two miles south of Lee County's north line. Water flowing west remains in the Gator Slough Watershed with Powell Creek conveying the water that flows south.
The Gator Slough Watershed map is located on page 5-WM. It includes the overall boundary as well as data for structures along the primary channel. The stationing shown on the map relates to the flood profile as well as the structures. The structural facilities are shown in the relative area of their actual location. Limitations of scale do not permit structures to be shown at their exact locations on the ground. This map is intended for general information only. Lengths and widths of structures should not be determined by scaling the symbols shown. |
|