Fort Myers Removed Invasive Plants at Billy Creek

City crews cleared vegetation to improve water filtration at the local preserve in September 2026.

Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Botany

Dense invasive aquatic plants removed from a muddy marsh embankment in a subtropical wetland area. — Fort Myers city crews cleared invasive vegetation from the Billy Creek Preserve and Filter Marsh in September 2026 to improve regional stormwater filtration. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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In September 2026, Fort Myers city stormwater crews and a contractor removed truckloads of invasive vegetation from the Billy Creek Preserve and Filter Marsh. The effort focused on maintaining the marsh's capacity to filter pollutants before water discharges into the Caloosahatchee River.

Why it matters

The maintenance is part of a broader city effort to address long-standing pollution issues and comply with state-mandated bacteria source elimination plans. Ensuring the marsh remains effective is critical for managing stormwater and sewage runoff quality in the area.

The Billy Creek Preserve and Filter Marsh spans 13 miles of drainage canal. Crews utilized a contractor to manually haul out truckloads of excess invasive plant growth to restore water flow and filtration efficiency.

The players

Fort Myers

The municipality manages local stormwater infrastructure and is responsible for the maintenance of the Billy Creek Preserve and Filter Marsh.

Lee County

The county government began monitoring bacteria levels in the local waterway in 2001.

The details

City staff and contractors focused on manual removal of excess vegetation that had accumulated throughout the preserve. This maintenance ensures the wetland continues its intended function of filtering stormwater before the water reaches the Caloosahatchee River.

2001: Lee County started monitoring Billy's Creek for fecal bacteria.
2005: The state officially classified the creek as polluted.
2010: Fort Myers installed the initial filter marsh plants.
2018: State testing identified human waste markers and animal contamination.
2021: The state required the city to develop a bacteria source elimination plan.

Deeper Dive

The vegetation management follows the requirements established in the city's 2021 bacteria source elimination plan. This project serves as a key component in the broader regional effort to mitigate urban runoff contamination following state pollution findings.

Residents may notice improved drainage performance and water quality monitoring updates along the creek. Continued maintenance of the preserve helps protect the local waterway from excess pollutants originating in urban runoff.

The takeaway

Maintaining urban wetlands is a primary tool for municipalities to filter pollution before it enters local river systems. Consistent removal of invasive species is essential to ensure these natural systems continue functioning as intended.