Our Mission
The purpose of the Environment Council (EC) is to serve as the voice of the residents of greater Estero to improve environmental quality. Fighting for what’s right and striving to right what’s wrong, it seeks opportunities, offers solutions, challenges threats, and monitors local, county, and state government environment performance. It communicates reliable and accurate information to Engage Estero leadership and residents to make informed decisions and encourage community engagement.
Collaborating with local, state, and national organizations and other conservation organizations, Engage Estero will be active in many issues that affect greater Estero’s environment, including but not limited to:
- Improved water quality
- Improved air quality
- Mitigating the effects of climate warming
What we’re doing…
The Engage Estero Environment Council monitors threats to Southwest Florida habitats, wetlands, water quality, wildlife and any issue that affects the quality of the environment affecting Estero. We work with agencies including The Conservancy of Southwest Florida, The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, and others to inform residents of actions they can take to preserve and protect our paradise.
Southwest Florida Eagle Cam
Watch our local eagle nest, with a countdown to eggs hatching, courtesy of Dick Pritchett Real Estate. Click the image to be taken to the website.
Resources
Lee County: Our Water Story
Environment Campaigns…
Water Quality
DR/GR
Lake Okeechobee Releases
Algae Blooms
Red Tide
Flood Prevention
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Wildlife Protection
Florida Panther
Sea Turtle Nesting
Manatee Protection
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Limerock Mining
Protection of DR/GR
Traffic Impact
Blast Damage
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Parks & Public Lands
Preservation
Access
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Take Action
Act Now: Protected Species at Risk
An environmentally sensitive site of 1,800+ acres in eastern Lee County, which is home to the endangered Florida panther and surrounded by preserves, is at risk of becoming a 781-acre mine pit, permanently removing habitats for state and federally protected species...
The DR/GR – What is it and why you should care about it
DR/GR stands for density reduction – groundwater resource. It is a large area of land (over 80,000 acres) just east of Estero that was established jointly in 1990 by the State of Florida and Lee County with the specific purpose of protecting the principal water supply...
Featured Reports
Septic to Sewer
A primer on the dangers of septic systems to the Greater Estero area’s environment, and the changes coming in the next few years.
Seeking Volunteers
None at this time.
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Articles
How You Can Protect Wildlife in Lee County
How You Can Protect Wildlife in Lee CountyMost people are familiar with the looming climate change crisis in the form of extreme weather events and natural disasters. However, human lives aren't the only thing at stake when discussing the need for climate action. As...
Adopt a Highway March 2023
Congratulations To Our Adopt A Highway Team And All Volunteers Keeping Estero's Roads Clean! The Engage Estero's team of volunteers collected 780 pounds of bagged litter and debris during the weekend of March 11th. Since early November, this season has amounted to...
The Dangers Associated with Septic Systems
The Dangers Associated with Septic SystemsEstero has changed dramatically since the first inhabitants settled in the early 1900s. These early settlement areas did not have sanitary sewer systems, and homes relied on wells and septic systems. Some of those holdover...
Estero’s Volunteers Recognized at Awards Ceremony
Estero's Volunteers Recognized at Awards Ceremony for Keeping Our Roads Clean On March 2, at the Keep Lee County Beautiful (KLBC) Environmental Stewardship Awards Ceremony, Estero volunteers were recognized as "Outstanding Adoption Groups" for removing tons of litter...
Volunteers Continue to Keep Hwy 41 in Estero Looking Pristine!
Volunteers Continue to Keep Hwy 41 in Estero Looking Pristine! The ECCL will, on February 1st, officially become "Engage Estero." Since October 2020, we have collaborated with the Florida Department of Transportation's Adopt-A-Highway Program to help...
Great Results from the Second Adopt-a-Highway Season
The Adopt a Highway Program has Re-commenced its Third Season to Keep Estero Looking Beautiful Want to help? The ECCL has embarked on its third season collaborating with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to help clean Hwy 41 between the Vines entrance...
How Greenhouse Gases Threaten Our World from CBS Sunday Morning.
https://youtu.be/El2vWfFrn8sApril Sets Record For Highest CO2 Levels In Human History Andrew Freedman, author of Axios Generate Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere reached the highest levels on record for any calendar month during April, averaging 420 parts per...
Act Now: Protected Species at Risk
An environmentally sensitive site of 1,800+ acres in eastern Lee County, which is home to the endangered Florida panther and surrounded by preserves, is at risk of becoming a 781-acre mine pit, permanently removing habitats for state and federally protected species...
Great Results from the Second Adopt-a-Highway Season
The second ECCL "Adopt a Highway" season has officially and successfully concluded. The ECCL and Julie Yellig, who organized the program in 2020, would like to thank all those volunteers who have participated in helping clean Hwy 41 in Estero. Volunteers from over 30...
More Volunteers are Stepping up to Keep our Greater Estero Roads Free from Rubbish
Through the efforts of the ECCL's Adopt A Highway volunteer team this month, 520 pounds of litter was collected from Hwy 41. This month brings this season's total to 3,760 pounds and the total since October 2020 to a staggering 8,800 pounds (4.4 tons). Volunteers over...
Get Involved
Find Your Representatives
Contact information for local, state and national legislators.
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Engage Estero is made up entirely of volunteer residents, businesspeople, and you!
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