120+ Sea Turtle Nests; Night Tagging Underway | | |
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As of today, 125 sea turtle nests have been documented on Sanibel and Captiva, including three green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) nests!
Typically, green sea turtles begin nesting later than loggerhead sea turtles, the most common nesting sea turtle on the islands.
Staff have also begun our nighttime sea turtle tagging project, which includes nightly beach patrols in search of nesting females.
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Snowy Plover Nesting Season Having a Successful Start
Sanibel is having a successful snowy plover nesting season, with six chicks already hatching on the island since April!
From fewer people to more natural food availability, Hurricane Ian's destruction may be having a positive impact on the state-threatened shorebirds.
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Volunteer Shortage! Join our Captiva Beach Cleanup
We need your assistance! Help SCCF’s Coastal Watch clean Captiva’s shores this Friday, May 19 as we approach peak nesting for sea turtles and shorebirds on the island.
The cleanup will take place from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
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DePaolis Advocates for 'Green Heart of Everglades' Project
On May 11, SCCF Environmental Policy Director Matt DePaolis advocated for the 'Green Heart of the Everglades' land acquisition, adding a Stormwater Treatment Area to the C-43 reservoir, and lowering Lake Okeechobee levels before the rainy season at the South Florida Water Management District Governing Board meeting.
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BAD Bills! SCCF Advocates for VETOES | | |
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SB 170 Threatens Local Ordinances
Senate Bill 170 - Local Ordinances will limit local governments' ability to enact and enforce ordinances.
If SB 170 is passed into law, future regulations aimed at protecting our natural resources will be impacted. Ordinances relating to sea turtle lighting, mangrove and dune preservation, single-use plastic bans, and manatee and gopher tortoise protection could all be at risk. Join your fellow Floridians in asking Gov. DeSantis to VETO SB 170.
Click to add your voice!
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SB 540 Jeopardizes Local Input on Land Use Decisions
Gov. DeSantis has only days left to VETO SB 540 - Local Government Comprehensive Plans. This legislation would threaten ordinary Floridians with financial ruin for exercising their right to legally challenge amendments that conflict with their communities’ comprehensive plans. This bill will effectively end citizen input in local land use decisions. If you haven't yet, please ask Gov. DeSantis to VETO SB 540!
Click to add your voice!
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Keep An Eye Out for These VETO Action Alerts Next Week | | |
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'Radioactive Roads' Bill Endangers Public Health & Water Quality
House Bill 1191 - Use of Phosphogypsum would permit the use of radioactive waste from processing phosphate into phosphoric acid for fertilizer in Florida road construction. Water quality and public health are especially threatened by HB 1191. Phosphogypsum is radioactive, releasing cancer-causing radon gas. SCCF signed a letter with 33 other organizations calling for a VETO of this dangerous bill, which has not yet been presented to the governor.
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Save Local Fertilizer Ordinances from Sneak Attack!
Line item 146 in SB 2500 - Appropriations would ban future local fertilizer ordinances and lead to excess nutrients in our waterways. Excess nutrients are one of the leading pollution issues across the state, causing harmful algal blooms, red tide, fish kills, and dangerous conditions for both people and wildlife. Runoff from fertilizer is a common
source of excess nutrient pollution. Strong residential fertilizer ordinances are needed to protect and improve water quality.
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Marine Lab Collecting Water Samples from Island Canals
In partnership with the City of Sanibel, the SCCF Marine Laboratory is analyzing water samples from island canals to understand the health of Sanibel’s waterways, which can provide early detection of large environmental issues.
“The data we collect for this project is unique. There is no other water quality data existing for canals around Sanibel,” said Research Associate Mark Thompson. “We send this data to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and they then evaluate the waterbodies to see if they meet state water quality criteria. Many of these sites do not. This brings the problems to light.”
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Pulte Homes Helps Rebuild Pick Preserve Boardwalk
A big thanks to the volunteers from Pulte Homes who helped SCCF start rebuilding the boardwalk at our Pick Preserve, which was destroyed during Hurricane Ian. Their assistance nearly completed the boardwalk!
In addition to time and labor, Pulte Homes made a generous gift to SCCF.
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'Ladybug' Tractor Supported by Mariel Foundation
A generous $55,000 donation from the Mariel Foundation has allowed SCCF to purchase a new tractor to replace the one that was lost to storm surge from Hurricane Ian. SCCF has officially dubbed the new equipment the “Ladybug” tractor, honoring the memory of the late Mariel Alice Talbot, who was known by the nickname Ladybug.
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Emerging from Hurricane Ian: Part 3
At 6 p.m. on Monday, May 22, join the SanCap Citizens for a Resilient Future and the City of Sanibel for the third community event regarding lessons and paths forward from Hurricane Ian.
This event will feature a panel of first responders who led the Sanibel, Captiva, and Lee County emergency response to the hurricane — from the leader of the Lee County Emergency Operations Center to the individuals who first set foot on the islands to rescue hurricane survivors. The topic is timely with the 2023 hurricane season quickly approaching!
EVENT DETAILS
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Thanks to Victor Young for 17 Years as Land Steward
After nearly 17 years, SCCF Land Conservation Steward Victor Young celebrated his last day with fellow staff on May 12. As a teenager, Victor started as a habitat management intern in 2005 and was hired full-time in 2006.
“Victor’s passion for SCCF and the conservation lands he helped manage was evident through his hard work and dependability,” said Wildlife & Habitat Management Director Chris Lechowicz. “His wide-ranging knowledge, skilled work, and humor will be sorely missed.”
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8th Graders Help Restore Mangroves
Eighth graders from the Sanibel School helped SCCF plant mangroves at one of our restoration sites last week. They were assisted by staff from Coastal Watch and Sanibel Sea School.
The event was the culmination of the students' project raising red mangrove propagules and studying their growth.
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Meet the Natives:
Cinnamon Bark
Cinnamon bark (Canella winterana) is a 20- to 30-foot-tall shrub or small tree that is a wonderful addition to the landscape either as a focal point, accent shrub, or understory tree.
Cinnamon bark has attractive dark green foliage, as well as clusters of flowers that start off as purple buds, eventually open to bright red flowers with yellow anthers, and finally red berries.
This plant is very showy both while blooming and fruiting, attracting pollinators and other wildlife. Cinnamon bark likes full sun to partial shade, and dry to moist soils. It's listed as an endangered species by the state of Florida.
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WATCH: Redefining the Island Aesthetic
On May 9, SCCF Adult Education Director Jenny Evans and Principal CO-G Architect Elle Gerdeman led an in-depth and insightful virtual discussion on redefining island style in architecture and landscapes.
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SCCF is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) founded
in 1967 on Sanibel Island, Florida
EIN 59-1205087
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