Stormy Weather Plan

The stormwater plan for Bonita Springs, Fla. was initiated to cut runoff pollution into the Imperial River.

A stormwater study by Intera Corp. for Bonita Springs (southwest Florida on the Gulf of Mexico) reports the city needs up to 16 dry and wet retention areas to lessen the number of pollutants entering the Imperial River watershed. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has defined the Imperial River as "impaired" because the amount of dissolved oxygen in its freshwater portion is too low.

The plan calls for retention and detention ponds, constructed wetlands and filtering devices such as baffle boxes to remove nitrogens from stormwater and increase the amount of oxygen in the Imperial River and other local surface waters. As nitrogen increases, dissolved oxygen decreases, threatening aquatic life.