Sanibel and Captiva are subject to the wild, natural processes that make islands especially unique. As barrier islands, they are naturally susceptible to change imposed by nature’s forces, and in the future, we can expect certain stressors to increase because of climate change. Find out about the goals of this two-year program funded by the Captiva Erosion Prevention District being spearheaded by SCCF Coastal Resilience Manager Carrie Schumer. Photo by Shane Antalick

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To combat the illegal saw palmetto berry harvests on Lee County Conservation 20/20 Preserve lands, the county recently implemented a berry-picking pilot program on Pine Island Flatwoods Preserve by hiring a contractor to extract most of the berries and splitting the profit from the sale of the berries with the contractor. While eliminating the temptation for illegal pickers, this practice creates undesirable ecological problems for wildlife and the long-term health of the preserve.

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Some valued supporters have called to ask why they can’t find their names listed in the Donor Recognition pages of the FY2020-2021 annual report. To devote more space to the work our members support, we changed the way we recognized our generous members who made gifts. The annual report featuring the entire list of much-appreciated donors is posted here under the News section of sccf.org.We sincerely thank all the individuals, families, and businesses who support our mission with your gifts of time, talent, and treasure!

Did you know that Wednesday, Nov. 17, is National Hiking Day? Take the opportunity to visit SCCF’s Shipley Trail or Periwinkle Preserve Trail to explore the beauty of our natural world. Sanibel has miles of trails to explore. Enjoy the fresh air and sunshine while observing the beautiful coastal plants and wildlife residing on Sanibel.

Returning for a second year, the Natives in the Garden exhibit brings whimsical and original works of art to the Native Landscapes & Garden Center demonstration gardens at the Bailey Homestead Preserve. In partnership with the Sanibel-Captiva Art League, the outdoor exhibit features vibrant pieces set among lush native plantings. Unlike years past, this exhibit will change throughout the season as new works are added on a regular basis. All pieces are available for purchase and a percentage of each sale benefits SCCF. READ MORE

Diana Chin, Ph.D., a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Biology at the University of Florida, recently collaborated with SCCF staff to complete the first of several quarterly surveys of lucinid clams in seagrass beds in western Pine Island Sound. Chin will link these surveys to water quality data collected by SCCF and other Charlotte Harbor agencies to determine whether the clams’ metabolism is responding to nutrient levels in the bay, and what implications this has for the health of Pine Island Sound’s seagrass. READ MORE

Established in 2007, SCCF’s River, Estuary and Coastal Observing Network (RECON) was the first real-time water-quality observation network in Southwest Florida, and it remains the largest today. However, the system has exceeded its lifespan and SCCF is working on a complete upgrade to create RECON. 2 with state-of-the-art components. The work is being made possible by Lee County, City of Sanibel, and the generosity of concerned, longstanding donors and is being delayed by supply chain issues.

Another unexpected event for the sea turtle team this week was the return of a signal on one of our satellite-tagged turtles! Pepper is a loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) that was outfitted with a satellite telemetry tag in July 2020. She was one of three loggerheads satellite-tagged last season, but her tag stopped transmitting in April. After 209 days offline, SCCF was thrilled to begin receiving her signal again. Pepper is tied with a turtle named “Nutmeg” as the largest nesting turtles observed on Sanibel. READ MORE

Find out about the strategic collaboration between SCCF and the University of Florida’s newly established Center for Coastal Solutions (UF-CCS) to strengthen resiliency and sustainability in Southwest Florida. Sign up at Evening at the Homestead: Coastal Solutions and READ MORE to learn more about the partnership and presentation speakers. Evenings at the Homestead will take place Thursday, Nov. 18, 7pm-8pm, at Bailey Homestead Preserve.

The following day, SCCF is hosting a student/professor symposium to address the Sanibel Plan, best practices for mangrove trimming, and building a strategic plan for the Captiva Erosion Prevention District. This symposium will be held 9am-noon on Friday, Nov. 19, at the Bailey Homestead Preserve and no registration is required.

Join SCCF and MacIntosh Books + Paper for stories from the Everglades with authors Anne McCrary Sullivan and Holly Gentzen on Thursday, Nov. 18, 1pm-2pm, at Bailey Homestead Preserve. Sullivan and Gentzen will tell stories from their latest book, The Everglades: Stories of Grit and Spirit from the Mangrove Wilderness. Books will be available for purchase and signing, with half of the proceeds benefitting SCCF. READ MORE and register today: Everglades Authors Presentation and Book Signing.

Natalie Von Tress is a third-year graduate student and National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellow at North Carolina State University studying biological and agricultural engineering. Her graduate work has focused on using satellite imagery to look at the frequencies of harmful algal blooms in Lake Okeechobee to better understand bloom dynamics over time. Through her research, she became interested in the impacts policy decision-making has on water quality in South Florida. READ MORE

Each week, SCCF provides information regarding red tide and blue-green algae based on satellite imagery maps published by NOAA’s National Center for Coastal Ocean Science. The processed satellite images NOAA provides are powerful tools for understanding when and where algae occur in Lake Okeechobee and along the Gulf coast. The images are captured by two European Space Agency Sentinel-3 Ocean Land Color Imager (OLCI) sensors that can capture almost-daily images of Southwest Florida and inform water management decisions. READ MORE

Sanibel Sea School staff recently met with representatives from The Deaf & Hard of Hearing Center (DHHC) of Fort Myers for an American Sign Language “Lunch and Learn.” Its mission is to empower Southwest Florida’s deaf and hearing-impaired citizens and their families through education, advocacy, and community involvement. Sanibel Sea School learned about Americans with Disabilities Act laws and deaf culture and discussed ways we can make our programs more accessible to the deaf community. READ MORE

Sunday's sold-out Pine Island Sounds inaugural cruise of this season was a huge success and all the attendees said it was a fun and memorable afternoon. Don't wait to sign up for one (or all!) of the remaining three cruises. Thanks to Captiva Cruises, the Marcums, Jack and Janie, and Catering by Leslie Adams for a wonderful experience! Save your seat today for a Pine Island Sounds cruise in December, January, or February: Pine Island Sounds Registration