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That was the question posed 30 years ago this week as neighboring communities like Cape Coral, Pine Island and Sanibel struggled with the threat of saltwater intrusion.

The picture was bright for Bonita Springs, however. Durwood Boggess, of the U.S. Geological Survey, said Bonita had the "largest untapped reserves" of water available in Lee County.

Boggess, whose office maintained a monitoring well at the Bonita Springs Water System on East Terry Street, said Bonita's aquifer should continue to provide ample water for many years if officials planned ahead.

"We have recommended that the Bonita Springs Water System could ultimately expand eastward to the wider part of the aquifer," Boggess said. "The company should anticipate that the path to the east might be blocked in the future and should make alternate plans such as ownership of land on which to drill wells."

At the time, the water company was planning the third phase of its development, including six new wells to be built east of existing wellfields.

Plans were continuing for what was then being called Bicentennial Park, a new county facility on Pine Avenue. County officials decided to enlarge the park from its original 5 acres to 20 acres, including a 5-acre lake. Initial plans called for a playground, gazebo, shuffleboard courts and a cookout area. A groundbreaking was expected sometime that spring.

In Estero, the Golden Dragon Chinese-American Restaurant, owned by Bing and Betty Mark, was about to open on U.S. 41 in the building formerly housing the Estero Lodge Restaurant (now Estero River Tackle and Canoe Outfitters).

In other news, alarmingly dry conditions led Fire Chief Cecil Harvard to declare a ban on outdoor burning.

At Gary Murphy's Posttime Tavern at Bonita Beach Road and Old 41, a breakfast special of eggs, toast, grits and bacon was $1.29 and the lunch special of a steak sandwich with grilled onions was $1.60.

In the classifieds, two lots on Tarpon Road, with canal frontage, were offered for $20,500.

At the Trail Drive-In, Peter Fonda was starring in "92 in the Shade" and Isaac Hayes had top billing in "Truck Turner."

Contact Editor Cathy Cottrill at 213-6031 or cccottrill@bonitanews.com.