Estero • Lee County
Drainage & Grading in Estero, FL
Estero was incorporated on December 31, 2014, and its first major disaster came less than three years later. In its FEMA narrative the Village says Hurricane Irma brought substantial riverine flooding, and Lee County described historic flooding in the Estero River watershed after Invest 92L and Irma struck within weeks of each other in 2017. In 2019 the Village bought 62.5 acres on Broadway Avenue East that lie entirely in the flood hazard area. About 45 percent of the Village is in a Special Flood Hazard Area. The Village's floodplain page encourages rain gardens and less pavement, and in 2025 the mayor told WGCU the Village is clearing swales and channels and may install larger pipes. At the yard level, Hodges looks at grading toward the house, downspouts that dump onto walkways, and side yards that stay wet, then uses French drains, regrading or routed downspouts to move water toward the swale.
or call (239) 301-9455
Where it comes up in Estero
West Broadway
Pelican Sound
Coastal Village
Estero Parc
Plants and materials that suit it in Estero
- Fakahatchee grass
- Muhly grass
- Pigeon plum
- Simpson's stopper
- Perforated pipe in washed stone and filter fabric
- Pop-up emitters at the swale
Questions
How do I know if my Estero property is in a flood zone?
The Village's flood information pages explain the FEMA flood zones and how to look up an address, and the Village floodplain staff can help with elevation certificates. About 45 percent of the Village is in a Special Flood Hazard Area.
Will a French drain stop flooding from the Estero River?
No. When the river or the community lakes are high, water has nowhere to go. A French drain handles everyday rainwater that sits against a foundation or in a side yard after summer storms, moving it to the swale faster.
Is a rain garden worth considering?
The Village recommends low-impact practices like rain gardens. A shallow planted basin where a downspout already discharges can soak up runoff and filter it before it reaches the drainage system, as long as it is sized and placed away from the foundation.