Connecting You to SCCF: 1,500 Mangroves Planted at Clam Bayou

May 21, 2025

Volunteers Plant 1,500 Mangroves at Clam Bayou

SCCF's Coastal Watch is thrilled to report on another successful restoration project! Thanks to the support of over 40 volunteers and our partners at the City of Sanibel and MANG, about 1,500 mangroves were planted last weekend at Clam Bayou on Sanibel near Blind Pass. This area was severely impacted by recent hurricanes, and these mangroves will eventually provide a shield against future erosion and storms, as well as provide habitat for juvenile fish and wading birds.

Thank you to MANG for donating over 1,000 mangroves to this project and to our Mangrove Mamas and Propagule Papas who adopted and nurtured mangrove seedlings this season!

PROTECT SEA TURTLES

First 2025 Green Sea Turtle Nest Laid by Dellora

On May 19, our sea turtle nighttime tagging staff documented the first green turtle (Chelonia mydas) nest on Sanibel or Captiva of 2025. This nest was laid by Dellora, a green turtle that’s been encountered 12 times on Sanibel over the last seven years! SCCF has also documented 81 loggerhead nests on the islands since April 25. Please call the SCCF Sea Turtle Hotline at 978-728-3663 to report issues related to nests or sea turtles.

Volunteers Needed for Memorial Day

Help Protect 65 Least Tern Nests on Causeway Islands!

SCCF is seeking volunteers to help protect nesting least terns on the Causeway Islands during the upcoming Memorial Day weekend! These state-threatened birds have laid over 65 nests, and minimizing human disturbance during the busy holiday weekend is crucial during the vulnerable incubation time. Please click here to sign up.

Volunteers will be stationed in three-hour shifts along with an SCCF staff member.

Huge Thanks to All of Our Sea Turtle Volunteers

With over 700 sea turtle nests laid on Sanibel and Captiva each year, and 18 miles of beaches to survey every morning, SCCF relies on permitted volunteers like Julie Saldana (left) and Jeannie Cooke to help our staff get the job done.

With long, hot hours in the sun, it’s truly a labor of love that keeps our volunteers coming back year after year, and we couldn’t be more grateful for their work.

Learn how a total of 90 volunteers are making morning monitoring possible this season!

Many Volunteers Still Needed for Island-Wide Clean Up!

Mind Your Line is seeking volunteers for an Island-wide monofilament cleanup on Saturday, June 7 from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m. Volunteers will collect and properly dispose of discarded fishing line along mangrove shorelines, canals, and popular fishing areas on Sanibel and the Causeway Islands.

REPORT ALGAE

Marine Lab Tracking Mats of Cyanobacteria in Estuary

SCCF Marine Lab scientists are tracking floating mats of cyanobacteria fed by excess nutrients that have been sighted on both sides of the Sanibel Causeway since last Friday. The main species isn't toxic, but there could be other cyanobacteria and dinoflagellates mixed in that are toxic and could cause contact dermatitis.

To help the Marine Lab track these mats, please report algae sightings through our Algae Reporting App.

MEETING DETAILS

Join Us to Support Wetlands Acquisition by 20/20

The previously announced May 21 Conservation Land Acquisition and Stewardship Advisory Committee (CLASAC) meeting, where the 34-acre Sanibel Community Church property nomination was to be reviewed for Lee County’s Conservation 20/20 program, has been tentatively rescheduled to June 18. Join us at the meeting to voice your support for this important land acquisition, which would protect sensitive wetlands from being developed.

Prep for Active Hurricane Season with New Podcast

SCCF Environmental Policy Director Matt DePaolis and Policy Associate Allie Pecenka discuss how to effectively navigate hurricane season, which begins on June 1, in their latest podcast. From the importance of both adaptation and mitigation to the value of sourcing accurate forecasts, they offer insightful and useful tips to share with family and friends!

LISTEN NOW

SCCF Supports Resilience at Planning Commission

The Sanibel Planning Commission met on May 13 to consider multiple resolutions that would benefit the resilience of our island. Two resolutions were of particular interest to SCCF, and Environmental Policy Director Matt DePaolis attended to give comments in support.

SCCF Monitoring Extended Legislative Session

Florida’s 2025 legislative session has been extended due to the House and Senate’s inability to reach a budget agreement. The House passed a resolution to extend the session to June 30, one day before the start of the July 1 fiscal year, but the Senate has yet to agree to the second session extension. SCCF will be closely monitoring this budget process to watch for items that could impact the priorities we have been following.

In the meantime, we encourage you to thank Florida Sen. Gayle Harrell and Florida Reps. John Snyder and Meg Weinberger who each played key roles in both passing beneficial bills and blocking harmful legislation this session to protect the natural resources in our state.

Invasives Removed at West Sanibel River Preserve

What was a large, entangled patch of mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria hyacinthoides) at SCCF’s West Sanibel River Preserve is now open space ready for native habitat restoration thanks to the efforts of a group of Americorps volunteers.

Huge Thanks to Allyn International for Donating $5K to Sanibel Sea School!

Allyn International recently raised over $5,000 through employee donations and their company match initiative for new lab equipment for Sanibel Sea School. Employees from the global company went beyond monetary funds to show their support by participating in a beach cleanup and taking a guided paddle trip.

Image: Federally Endangered Florida Bonneted Bat by Shalana Gray

Thanks for Comments on Proposed Endangered Species Act Changes

If passed, proposed changes to the Endangered Species Act will fail to adequately protect the habitats that threatened and endangered species rely upon for survival. Thanks to those of you who submitted your comments during the public comment period that ended on May 19. SCCF will be providing updates after the next communications on this proposal are made from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service.

Meet the Natives: Horizontal Cocoplum

The horizontal cocoplum (Chrysobalanus icaco) is lesser known than the popular red tip cocoplum, but the horizontal cocoplum cultivar is actually more tolerant to hurricane conditions including high winds, salt, and inundation with brackish water.

Learn more or purchase this native shrub at our Native Landscapes & Garden Center.

Applications Open for Preserving Paradise!

Join SCCF, Captains for Clean Water, the Everglades Foundation, and the SanCap Chamber this summer and fall for our 2025 Preserving Paradise leadership program. Founded last year, Preserving Paradise is targeted to regional business and community leaders who wish to enhance their environmental advocacy, leadership skills, and understanding of water quality, Everglades restoration, and the connection between our ecosystems and our economies.

LEARN MORE

APPLY HERE

Keep up with ongoing SCCF news by following us on social media or by visiting our Latest News webpage anytime.

SCCF is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) founded

in 1967 on Sanibel Island, Florida

EIN 59-1205087

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