ANALYZE
WATER
QUALITY
Quality cannot be improved or maintained unless we measure various components of water quality.
Each month, we selectively sample our lakes and send the samples to Lee County Pond Watch for analysis. The results are compared over time.
AVOID
FEEDING
WILDLIFE
Feeding wild birds changes the natural balance in the environment, leading to overpopulation around a given lake and bird illness.
For us, this also results in nutrient loading in small bodies of water, creating more algae.
AERATE
Added Oxygen supports aquatic life and greatly reduces the occurrence of fish kills and stagnation as nutrient levels increase.
Cape Royal is studying aeration alternatives for our problem areas moving forward.
PLANT LITTORALS
A residential lake’s ability to mimic nature begins with installation and maintenance of native littorals (shoreline plants).
These plants provide protective health benefits to our lakes by serving as perimeter marsh filters, trapping and processing runoff nutrients from turf and street areas, and stabilizing shoreline sediments.
Additional Resources:
TREAT FOR
ALGAE AND
INVASIVES
Solitude Lake Management is contracted to inspect and treat our lakes. They provide algae and invasive weed control services. They selectively treat lakes twice a month in hot season and monthly in cooler months.
Additional Resources:
https://www.sfwmd.gov/who-we-are
Fertilizer link: https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/residents/florida-friendly-landscaping/florida-friendly-fertilizing
AVOID TRIM & CLIPPING WASTE IN LAKES
Guidelines will be created to serve as a reference for homeowners who maintain their lawns and to be provided to all contracted landscape vendors within Cape Royal.
Additional Resources:
(coming soon)
Landscaper Tools and Lawn Waste Considerations
Contractors Role in Water Management
Septic System Maintenance for Homeowners
Resources to Help You Learn More About Surface Water Management
Archive of Cape Royal Community Newsletter Articles
Lee County 'Pond Side Talk' videos on a variety of topics, i.e. Algea Blooms, Littorlal Plantings, Do's and Don'ts and More