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Imperial River

The Imperial River Watershed (IRW) is located in the southern area of Lee County. It is the largest watershed in Lee County. This watershed covers an area of approximately eighty six square miles. The northern boundary of the watershed is SR 82, the east boundary is along the Lee County /Collier County border in Township 47 South, the south boundary is near the Lee County/Collier County border and the west boundary is Fish Trap Bay (a back bay area of Estero Bay). A large segment of the westerly boundary is by contour generally from Fishtrap Bay to SR 82. The IRW boundary map is located on page 49-W3.

The Imperial River originates at its outfall into Fish Trap Bay. There are two major tributary channels that outfall into the river. The Imperial River watershed is surrounded by the Estero River and Spring Creek watersheds to the northwest, Orange River to the north, Corkscrew Swamp, that is the part of the Cocohatchee Watershed in Collier County to the east and south. The Cocohatchee Watershed is not part of the Lee County Surface Water Management Master Plan (LCSWMMP). The area west of the Imperial River watershed is coastal.

This watershed was studied in the 1979 Johnson Engineering "Water Management in Lee County" report. A specific needs analysis was completed in 1983 by Johnson Engineering and Hole, Montes and Associates titled "Surface Water Management Study for the Bonita Springs Area." SFWMD is in the process of initiating a water management plan for the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed (CREW) and future planning for the IRW should be coordinated with their efforts. The Bonita Springs report gave recommendations for local drainage problems within an area of nine square miles. The watershed has, due to development over the years, lost several square miles that are now considered part of the Cocohatchee Watershed in Collier County. The Smally, Wellford and Nalven 1960 report indicated a watershed area of 108 square miles in comparison with the 86 square miles shown today. The majority of this lost watershed area now overflows into the Cocohatchee River basin in Collier County. The current boundary will be perpetuated through the Lee County Surface Water Management Master Plan (LCSWMMP) effort. The current boundary information was verified through a combination of actual field reconnaissance (both Johnson Engineering and the USDA Soil Conservation Service), USGS quad sheets, Lee County one foot contour maps, Johnson Engineering in-house data, both historical and current and coordination with Collier County.

The Imperial River watershed boundary map delineates the overall land boundary and adjacent watersheds. The map in the Appendix, 49-WM, has data for structures along the channel. The stationing shown on page 49-WM relates to the flood profile as well as the structures. The structural facilities are shown in the relative area of their actual location. Limitations of scale do not permit structures to be shown at their exact locations on the ground. This map is intended for general information only. Lengths and widths of structures should not be determined by scaling the symbols shown.