Services Provided to the Community
Storm Water Management System
The community lakes are an integral part of the storm water management system which is 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 system includes catch basins, dry retention areas, water control structures, and other collection systems to prevent flooding within the community.
The lakes are 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 click the links to view the following PDF documents supplied by outside sources:
- A Beginner’s Guide to Water Management [HTML and PDF]
- Storm Water Systems [HTML and PDF]
- Storm Water Detention Ponds [HTML and PDF]
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.
Preserves
The Renaissance CDD has +/- 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. The preserve often provides wildlife and 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, pileated, and downy woodpeckers, red-winged blackbird, snowy egret, feral hog, raccoon, eastern cottontail rabbit, American bald eagle, white-tailed deer, armadillo, and southern black racer. On rare occasions, bobcat and Florida panther have been observed.