Written by guest author Brandi Freeman, FGCU Southwest Florida’s coastal communities face ongoing environmental...
Environment Articles
Myth vs. Fact: Navigating Environmental Claims in Our Community
Written by guest author Brandi Freeman, FGCUConversations about growth, development, wildlife, flooding, and water...
Larry Kiker Preserve
The Larry Kiker Preserve, which was originally intended for conservation, is currently being redesigned as a large...
Corkscrew Road: The Land Remembered
Up to 52 million taxpayer dollars were budgeted for the expansion of Corkscrew Road, but up until now, residents have seen nothing but traffic and nuisance in return. Before Fort Myers and Corkscrew Road became what it is today, there was a rugged settlement of...
East Corkscrew Road
East Corkscrew Road was erected in the 1930s, and in the early 2020’s, major expansions were implemented, transferring it from two to four lanes (2 on both sides). This change is due to the increasing population in Lee County. In another Engage Estero article it...
The Unseen Water Map: Wetlands, Drainage, Storm-Water Systems, Flood Concerns
East Corkscrew Road has continued to grow with improved accessibility and supported economic expansion. Due to the increase in new housing, commercial spaces, and road expansion, the water systems including wetlands, drainage patterns, and stormwater infrastructure...
Keeping Estero Beautiful: A Tribute to Julie Yellig and Our Adopt-A-Highway Volunteers
On Saturday, March 14th, the Estero Recreation Center was filled with a well-deserved sense of community pride as Julie Yellig hosted a pizza party to recognize the dedicated volunteers of the local Adopt-A-Highway program. For the past few years, Yellig has been the...
Understanding the Ecology and Function of Estero’s Storm Water Ponds
Spring 2026 FGCU Student Essay Series East Corkscrew became a channel for conveying water because of increased development and stormwater systems and channel runoff through the area, but the tradeoff is increased pollution risk and environmental strain on local...
Sustainability in Estero
Our guest author this semester is Brandi Freeman, a senior at Florida Gulf Coast University majoring in Health Science. Her column will focus on sustainability - the impacts of environmental health, community well-being, and equitable access to resources on public...
Another 360 pounds of litter removed from US 41!
Thanks to the incredible teamwork of our volunteers, 360 pounds of litter were removed from our community this month alone—now that’s impact! This month’s volunteers proudly came from Rapallo, Pelican Sound, RiverCreek, Bella Terra, Copperleaf, and The Vines, showing...
What’s Behind This Major Cold Snap? Could Climate Change Play a Role?
Adapted from an article by Eric Niiler, Feb. 7, 2026 If the planet is warming, many people are asking the same question: Why does this winter feel so brutally cold? It sounds like a contradiction—but some scientists say it actually makes sense. One of them is Judah...
Climate Risks: Sea-level Rise, Storm Surge, Flooding in Estero
Introduction Estero is a beautiful place to live. The tropical weather year-round, as well as quick access to the beaches, are also perks of living in Estero. This comes with risks though, due to hurricane season and copious amounts of rain, water level rising and...