Lee County calls this drought historic. Officials say it’s the worst in 25 years, and they aren’t sugarcoating it, as this dry spell isn’t ending soon. Federal climate experts just confirmed that the drought in Fort Myers has gotten even worse. So, county leaders rolled out new rules to help everyone get through it.
Wildfire risk is up. Water is scarce. The landscape across Southwest Florida is taking a real hit from the drought and the recent cold snaps. Scientists have spent years trying to predict droughts, but it’s not like tracking a hurricane or a big storm. There’s no single warning sign. By last February, the rain had faded away. Then a heat dome settled in for the summer and just stayed. The usual rainy season never came, leaving Fort Myers more than a foot short on rainfall. Now, drought covers the region.
Half of Florida’s counties have burn bans right now. That means no campfires, no burning trash, as the soil is bone dry, right down to the top eight inches.
Lee County has a Water Smart rule: water your lawn only once a week. Odd-numbered addresses get Saturdays, even numbers get Sundays. And you can only water before 9 a.m. or after 5 p.m., never during the heat of the day or on weekdays.
Skip raking up your grass clippings, as they act as a natural fertilizer if you leave them after mowing. Mulch helps too; it keeps moisture in, blocks weeds, and shields your plants. And don’t forget to pick up after your pets. Pet waste that washes into waterways can spark dangerous algae blooms.
“Don’t panic,” the county says. “Just follow these steps to keep your yard healthy through the dry season.”
For more information, go to the Florida Forest Service website at fdacs.gov.
