Estero River (Florida)
Encyclopedia
The Estero River is a 6.4 miles (10.3 km) waterway in south Lee County
, Florida
, near the census-designated place
of Estero
. It flows from east to west, emptying into Estero Bay
, an inlet of the Gulf of Mexico
.
Access to the river can be gained at the follow Latitude/Longitude coordinates,
(26.434917225242593°, -81.81058287620544°)
River boundaries: Western boundary is the Estero Bay; Eastern boundary is three miles east of I75
The northern and southern river banks are surrounded by developing housing communities towards the Eastern part of the river, with a greater biodiversity along the Western banks of the river.
Wildlife:
The great blue heron: Ardea herodias File:Great Blue Heron - Nova Scotia.jpg
Ardea herodias, inhabits and breeds in both salt and fresh water habitat, Estero river is a perfect habitat for this heron, since this bird nests anywhere from “5 to 20 m above ground” –Audubon Florida, the trees surrounding the river make for a great nesting habitat. These herons feed mostly on aquatic and terrestrial insects that can be found along the Estero River.
The Great Egret: Ardea alba
Ardea alba does not directly compete with the great blue heron, instead it consumes small mammals, amphibians, and sometimes insects.
Tri colored heron Egretta tricolor
Similar diet and habitat to the Great Egret, the tri colored heron can be spotted at the Estero River and estuary in the early mornings.
Egretta tricolor; This heron nests closer to the ground and therefore can coexist with the great blue heron; its diet consists of insects and small amphibians.
Human impact on the ecosystem of the Estero River:
The water quality in the eastern part of the river is of much lesser quality compared to the Western part; this is attributed to the increasing human development in the Estero area and the subsequent waste generation/ disposal. (Refer to abiotic section)
The water quality increase dramatically with distance from the drainage outlets and surrounding houses,
Since the majority of development occurs on the banks of the eastern parts of the river the water quality decreases inland.
The mangroves present on the banks of Estero river support a variety of wildlife and play a vital role in supporting the large biodiversity of the river. The majority of mangroves can be found at the point where Estero River merges into Estero bay.
Alligator mississippiensis can be found along the Estero river, even though the numbers are relatively small, this animal plays a crucial role in maintain the biodiversity of the Estero river by keeping the raccoon population in balance. Reported sightings are along the western part of the river with isolated sightings in the eastern region. Diet consists of small mammals, birds, and larger amphibians.
Procyon lotor is one of the most common nocturnal mammals that inhabit the area surrounding the Estero river, diet is mostly omnivorous consisting of berries, plant foods, and smaller vertebrates and invertebrates. It is not uncommon to see one during the day on one of the river banks, this mammal has grown used to human presence along the river.
Insects
Estero River is a rich habitat for insects;
Culicidae(Mosquito)
Abundance of mosquito species can be found in the vicinity of the river, a perfect habitat for proliferation. Diet: females consume blood for the vital proteins required for egg development, both males and females are pollinators and will consume plant nectar for sustenance.
Araneidae the orb weaver spider is found in abundance along the river banks, this spider is easily identified by the shape of the web, and its diet consists of small insects.
Hymenoptera Bee’s can be found nesting on overhanging trees; they play an important role of pollinators, the diet consists primarily of nectar and honey.
As depicted in the picture a bee hive can be seen descending from this tree, this bee colony is estimated to be anywhere from four to five thousand bees, it can be spotted at the 2 mile marker from the eastern river point at coordinates. (26.43699232626178, -81.81930541992188)
Indians around 7000 years ago. They often used the river for transportation and food. The Calusa
Indians were a culture heavily dependent on fishing
. Even though they lived on the river, much of their history is located around the Caloosahatchee River
, where they first encountered Europe
an settlers. More artifacts have been and are still being discovered in neighboring locations, such as the Estero River, in the past few years.
The Calusa’s first encounter, around 1513, was with the Spaniard, Juan Ponce de León
. After that they began to diminish, and it is assumed that the river at that time was still being used for mainly the same purposes by the Europeans. Even though they used the Estero River they also stayed centrally located around the Caloosahatchee River
, which was the much more sophisticated and reliable river.
The history of the Estero River starts with Gustave Damkohler, whom founded the river in 1882 and lived alongside the banks in a small shack with his family. In 1894 he decided to travel back to his hometown in Chicago
, Illinois
where he met Cyrus Teed
, the leader of Koreshanity
. Damkohler offered Teed 300 acres of the land in Estero, including access to the river. Cyrus and a small group of followers moved to Florida, arrived at Estero Bay, and made their way up the Estero River to what is now the Koreshan Historical Site. They gradually started to build a community and called more and more believers to come down from Chicago
. The Koreshans had a major ecological impact on the river when they were living there. They traveled it every day, going in and out of the Estero bay
. They hunted and gathered foods from Mound Key
, an island just west of the Estero river inlet and used canoes, which were the fastest way of traveling at the time. They also fished the river every day and used the river for all of its possessions. The Koreshans believed the earth was like a cell, not concave, but convex and they were living on the inside looking at the center of the cell as the atmosphere of Earth
. They lived in Estero
alongside the river until 1961 when their land was given over to the state of Florida
. The Koreshan cult, being believers in immortality and celibacy, had already been in decline since 1908 when Cyrus Teed had died. After this point all that exist of the Koreshans is the state historic site where people may visit the land and observe the history of the Koreshan people. Canoeing, kayaking, boating, and fishing are still available at the local dock of the Estero River Outfitter store.
The Estero River has an ongoing connection to the History of Florida
. During modern times, new developments have been built by the river and it has become a landmark moreover than what it was originally used for in the passed. The river is still accessible from about 6.4 miles inland to the outlet at the Estero Bay. Many boaters that live on the river visit the island of Mound Key and do a little exploring as the Calusa’s did in the past. The river is now used for mainly sports fishing and sight seeing. Although the river was hit hard by major hurricanes Wilma
and Charley
in the past couple of years it has stayed available to boating traffic and it is still habitable by different wildlife and vegetation.
Lee County, Florida
Lee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. Located in southwest Florida, the principal cities in the county are Fort Myers and Cape Coral...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, near the census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
of Estero
Estero, Florida
Estero is a census-designated place in Lee County, Florida, United States. As of the 2010 census, the CDP population was 18,176. It is the home of Germain Arena, which hosts the home games for the Florida Everblades ECHL hockey team and the Florida Firecats af2 arena football team...
. It flows from east to west, emptying into Estero Bay
Estero Bay (Florida)
Estero Bay, Florida, is an estuary located on the west coast of the state southeast of Fort Myers Beach. The bay, an inlet of the Gulf of Mexico, is long and very shallow, and covers about . Estero Bay is bordered on the west by a chain of barrier islands: Estero Island, Long Key, Lovers Key,...
, an inlet of the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
.
General Information
Topography:Access to the river can be gained at the follow Latitude/Longitude coordinates,
(26.434917225242593°, -81.81058287620544°)
River boundaries: Western boundary is the Estero Bay; Eastern boundary is three miles east of I75
The northern and southern river banks are surrounded by developing housing communities towards the Eastern part of the river, with a greater biodiversity along the Western banks of the river.
Biotic factors
Estero River is located in South West Florida; the river is 6.52 miles long, it flows west and spills into Estero Bay estuary. The estero river itself has an abundant variety of wildlife and is an important habitat for some of Florida’s endangered species such as the American alligator ( Alligator mississippiensis), key largo cotton mouse ( Peromyscus gossypinus allapaticola), gray bat (Myotis grisescens), whooping crane ( Grus americana), among others.Wildlife:
The great blue heron: Ardea herodias File:Great Blue Heron - Nova Scotia.jpg
Ardea herodias, inhabits and breeds in both salt and fresh water habitat, Estero river is a perfect habitat for this heron, since this bird nests anywhere from “5 to 20 m above ground” –Audubon Florida, the trees surrounding the river make for a great nesting habitat. These herons feed mostly on aquatic and terrestrial insects that can be found along the Estero River.
The Great Egret: Ardea alba
Ardea alba does not directly compete with the great blue heron, instead it consumes small mammals, amphibians, and sometimes insects.
Tri colored heron Egretta tricolor
Similar diet and habitat to the Great Egret, the tri colored heron can be spotted at the Estero River and estuary in the early mornings.
Egretta tricolor; This heron nests closer to the ground and therefore can coexist with the great blue heron; its diet consists of insects and small amphibians.
Human impact on the ecosystem of the Estero River:
The water quality in the eastern part of the river is of much lesser quality compared to the Western part; this is attributed to the increasing human development in the Estero area and the subsequent waste generation/ disposal. (Refer to abiotic section)
The water quality increase dramatically with distance from the drainage outlets and surrounding houses,
Since the majority of development occurs on the banks of the eastern parts of the river the water quality decreases inland.
The mangroves present on the banks of Estero river support a variety of wildlife and play a vital role in supporting the large biodiversity of the river. The majority of mangroves can be found at the point where Estero River merges into Estero bay.
Alligator mississippiensis can be found along the Estero river, even though the numbers are relatively small, this animal plays a crucial role in maintain the biodiversity of the Estero river by keeping the raccoon population in balance. Reported sightings are along the western part of the river with isolated sightings in the eastern region. Diet consists of small mammals, birds, and larger amphibians.
Procyon lotor is one of the most common nocturnal mammals that inhabit the area surrounding the Estero river, diet is mostly omnivorous consisting of berries, plant foods, and smaller vertebrates and invertebrates. It is not uncommon to see one during the day on one of the river banks, this mammal has grown used to human presence along the river.
Insects
Estero River is a rich habitat for insects;
Culicidae(Mosquito)
Abundance of mosquito species can be found in the vicinity of the river, a perfect habitat for proliferation. Diet: females consume blood for the vital proteins required for egg development, both males and females are pollinators and will consume plant nectar for sustenance.
Araneidae the orb weaver spider is found in abundance along the river banks, this spider is easily identified by the shape of the web, and its diet consists of small insects.
Hymenoptera Bee’s can be found nesting on overhanging trees; they play an important role of pollinators, the diet consists primarily of nectar and honey.
As depicted in the picture a bee hive can be seen descending from this tree, this bee colony is estimated to be anywhere from four to five thousand bees, it can be spotted at the 2 mile marker from the eastern river point at coordinates. (26.43699232626178, -81.81930541992188)
History of Estero River
The first inhabitants that have been known to occupy the Estero River were the CalusaCalusa
The Calusa were a Native American people who lived on the coast and along the inner waterways of Florida's southwest coast. Calusa society developed from that of archaic peoples of the Everglades region; at the time of European contact, the Calusa were the people of the Caloosahatchee culture...
Indians around 7000 years ago. They often used the river for transportation and food. The Calusa
Calusa
The Calusa were a Native American people who lived on the coast and along the inner waterways of Florida's southwest coast. Calusa society developed from that of archaic peoples of the Everglades region; at the time of European contact, the Calusa were the people of the Caloosahatchee culture...
Indians were a culture heavily dependent on fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
. Even though they lived on the river, much of their history is located around the Caloosahatchee River
Caloosahatchee River
The Caloosahatchee River is a river on the southwest Gulf Coast of Florida in the United States, approximately long. It drains rural areas on the northern edge of the Everglades northwest of Miami...
, where they first encountered Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an settlers. More artifacts have been and are still being discovered in neighboring locations, such as the Estero River, in the past few years.
The Calusa’s first encounter, around 1513, was with the Spaniard, Juan Ponce de León
Juan Ponce de León
Juan Ponce de León was a Spanish explorer. He became the first Governor of Puerto Rico by appointment of the Spanish crown. He led the first European expedition to Florida, which he named...
. After that they began to diminish, and it is assumed that the river at that time was still being used for mainly the same purposes by the Europeans. Even though they used the Estero River they also stayed centrally located around the Caloosahatchee River
Caloosahatchee River
The Caloosahatchee River is a river on the southwest Gulf Coast of Florida in the United States, approximately long. It drains rural areas on the northern edge of the Everglades northwest of Miami...
, which was the much more sophisticated and reliable river.
The history of the Estero River starts with Gustave Damkohler, whom founded the river in 1882 and lived alongside the banks in a small shack with his family. In 1894 he decided to travel back to his hometown in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
where he met Cyrus Teed
Cyrus Teed
Cyrus Reed Teed was a U.S. eclectic physician and alchemist turned religious leader and messiah. In 1869, claiming divine inspiration, Dr...
, the leader of Koreshanity
Koreshanity
Not to be confused with the teachings of David KoreshKoreshanity is the set of religious/scientific beliefs put forth by Cyrus Teed...
. Damkohler offered Teed 300 acres of the land in Estero, including access to the river. Cyrus and a small group of followers moved to Florida, arrived at Estero Bay, and made their way up the Estero River to what is now the Koreshan Historical Site. They gradually started to build a community and called more and more believers to come down from Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. The Koreshans had a major ecological impact on the river when they were living there. They traveled it every day, going in and out of the Estero bay
Estero Bay (Florida)
Estero Bay, Florida, is an estuary located on the west coast of the state southeast of Fort Myers Beach. The bay, an inlet of the Gulf of Mexico, is long and very shallow, and covers about . Estero Bay is bordered on the west by a chain of barrier islands: Estero Island, Long Key, Lovers Key,...
. They hunted and gathered foods from Mound Key
Mound Key Archeological State Park
Mound Key Archeological State Park is a Florida State Park, located in Estero Bay, near the mouth of the Estero River. One hundred and thirteen of the island's one hundred and twenty-five acres are managed by the park system...
, an island just west of the Estero river inlet and used canoes, which were the fastest way of traveling at the time. They also fished the river every day and used the river for all of its possessions. The Koreshans believed the earth was like a cell, not concave, but convex and they were living on the inside looking at the center of the cell as the atmosphere of Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
. They lived in Estero
Estero, Florida
Estero is a census-designated place in Lee County, Florida, United States. As of the 2010 census, the CDP population was 18,176. It is the home of Germain Arena, which hosts the home games for the Florida Everblades ECHL hockey team and the Florida Firecats af2 arena football team...
alongside the river until 1961 when their land was given over to the state of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. The Koreshan cult, being believers in immortality and celibacy, had already been in decline since 1908 when Cyrus Teed had died. After this point all that exist of the Koreshans is the state historic site where people may visit the land and observe the history of the Koreshan people. Canoeing, kayaking, boating, and fishing are still available at the local dock of the Estero River Outfitter store.
The Estero River has an ongoing connection to the History of Florida
History of Florida
The history of Florida can be traced back to when the first Native Americans began to inhabit the peninsula as early as 14,000 years ago. Recorded history begins with the arrival of Europeans to Florida, beginning with the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León, who explored the area in 1513...
. During modern times, new developments have been built by the river and it has become a landmark moreover than what it was originally used for in the passed. The river is still accessible from about 6.4 miles inland to the outlet at the Estero Bay. Many boaters that live on the river visit the island of Mound Key and do a little exploring as the Calusa’s did in the past. The river is now used for mainly sports fishing and sight seeing. Although the river was hit hard by major hurricanes Wilma
Hurricane Wilma
Hurricane Wilma was the most intense tropical cyclone ever recorded in the Atlantic basin. Wilma was the twenty-second storm , thirteenth hurricane, sixth major hurricane, and fourth Category 5 hurricane of the record-breaking 2005 season...
and Charley
Hurricane Charley
Hurricane Charley was the third named storm, the second hurricane, and the second major hurricane of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season. Charley lasted from August 9 to August 15, and at its peak intensity it attained 150 mph winds, making it a strong Category 4 hurricane on the...
in the past couple of years it has stayed available to boating traffic and it is still habitable by different wildlife and vegetation.