Services Provided to the Community
Storm Water Management System
Lake systems are designed to adequately handle a 25-year storm event. The lake system is designed not only to receive and convey storm water but also to store and improve the storm water quality.
The lake system is divided into drainage basins. These basins usually consist of a series of inter-connected lakes that receive storm water run-off from the surrounding area and store that storm water to a certain control elevation. While the storm water is staged in these basins it seeps into the surrounding ground and is stored for future use (i.e. irrigation water). Additionally, sediments and impurities are allowed to settle out, be absorbed by aquatic plants, or broken down by natural bacteria in the lake thus improving the storm water quality.
Once the water has been stored up to the designed control elevation it will flow over a weir or control structure for that particular area of the community. The storm water then continues down stream through the system and eventually exits the community.
For additional Storm Water Information please view the following PDF documents supplied by outside sources:
Lakes
The lake shore (or littoral zone) is the shallow area along the shoreline of a lake or pond which supports diverse communities of rooted plants and serves as food, habitat and protective shelter for fish, insects, amphibians and other aquatic animals. These diverse plant communities also provide cover and nesting materials for a variety of wild birds and mammals. Management of littoral zones is often necessary in systems altered by humans.
For more information on lake management, please visit the dedicated page.
Preserves
The Colonial Country Club CDD occupies +/- 160 acres of preserve within Lee County, Florida. The Preserve protects important water resources, diverse natural habitats, scenic landscapes and historic and cultural resources in the rapidly developing southwest Florida corridor. Public recreational opportunities include hiking and wildlife / natural vegetation viewing.
Wildlife that has been also observed in the preserves include: Boat Tailed Grackle, Anhinga, Mockingbird, Red Shouldered Hawk, Black Vulture, Northern Cardinal, American Crow, Great White Egret, Little Blue Heron, White Ibis, Mottled Duck, Red-Bellied Woodpecker, Red Winged Blackbird, Snowy Egret, Feral Hog, Raccoon, Eastern Cottontail Rabbit, Armadillo and Southern Black Racer.
Boardwalk and Walking Path
The walking path connects community sidewalk to a 1040 foot elevated boardwalk behind lake 31 and into the preserve area off Hemingway Lane. The pathway is made of composite materials to resist the depredations of Florida’s sunshine and seasonal rains. There are two 16 foot square observation areas and one 30 foot bump out. The pathway overlooks natural greenery and wetlands. The entire preserve loop is 2.89 miles of mixed trails.
Butterfly Gardens
There are two butterfly gardens. One at the entrance to the Boardwalk one on the south side of Lake 21.