The Lakes & Ponds of Spanish Wells
Image courtesy of the Fairwinds Community, Bonita Springs.
Did you know that Spanish Wells lakes are not really lakes or ponds? They are actually engineered Stormwater Retention Ponds (SRPs.) Click button below for details.
The Directors of the Master HOA Board: SWCA, in coordination with the Directors of the 8 sub-association HOAs, are ultimately responsible for the health and function of Spanish Wells 42 stormwater retention ponds. Click button below for details.
Find your Lake on this map below, its number and discover how its waters flow. You might be surprised. Click below.
The SWCA Lakes Committee is dedicated to keeping residents informed about our Stormwater Retention Ponds (SRPs). It has held several Educational Presentations with speakers from Lee County Pond Watch, Naples Botanical Gardens, FGCU Water School and a local Bonita Springs HOA. The Committee will continue to invite experts from both the industry and the academic worlds. Click below to see these Zoomed Presentations and other short videos of a variety of Stormwater Retention Pond issues.
The goal of creating demonstration lakes in Spanish Wells is to show how using contemporary stormwater retention pond practices can extend the lifespan of ponds and transform them into beautiful, healthy ecosystems that look natural, provide habitat for a wide variety of species, and function properly to remove nutrients and pollutants. Click below to see how these lakes were created.
On January 27th, 2026, Dr. Ernesto Lasso de la Vega, from the Lee County Hyacinth Control District in Fort Myers, presented updated results of the analysis of water samples taken from the Spanish Wells retention ponds. Over 120 residents attended as he discussed some of the challenges and methods of improving the condition of these ponds. Many thanks to Chris Ketterer and Madeleine Pancirolli - Spanish Wells Citizen Scientists, who collect samples monthly. Konrad Schultz of the Spanish Wells Water Quality Subcommittee updated work in progress. To watch the presentation, click on the button which includes a Q&A session at the end.