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Protect Captiva Coalition's Legal Counsel
Files Comments with State Agencies
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After the disappointing decisions by the Lee County Commissioners earlier this month, the proposed amendments to the Land Development Code and the Lee Plan were passed by a 4-1 vote. As required, the amendments were then transmitted to the state for comments by concerned agencies. The Protect Captiva coalition has retained legal counsel that has submitted comments to the state agencies and is evaluating next steps. To read the complete legal update, click below. | | |
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114 Sea Turtle Nests Washed Away due to Hurricane Idalia
The SCCF sea turtle team has finally concluded its sea turtle nest recovery efforts following Hurricane Idalia in late August. A total of 114 nests were washed away during the storm, while 52 nests were found.
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Fall Shorebird Migration Ramps Up on Islands
Fall migration is here, which means you'll be seeing lots of new shorebirds on Sanibel and Captiva’s beaches. Migratory shorebird species that can be spotted this time of year include red knots, ruddy turnstones, semipalmated plovers, dunlins, and black-bellied plovers.
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Caloosahatchee HAB Research Results In
Researchers from the SCCF Marine Lab and the University of Florida have completed the second year of a 3-year study funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers to monitor and model harmful algal bloom (HAB) events in the Caloosahatchee. Results show phytoplankton shifts and correlations with dissolved organic nitrogen.
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SCCF Scientists Present at First Herpeton Conference
This week, the first Herpeton Conference took place at the Florida SouthWestern State College campus in Fort Myers, which SCCF helped sponsor. Staff from our Wildlife & Habitat Management department gave two presentations, and staff from our Coastal Wildlife department also gave two presentations and a poster presentation.
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SCCF Staff to be Featured in Ian Anniversary Coverage
NBC-2 will be commemorating tomorrow's one-year anniversary of Hurricane Ian with live coverage from the islands. Several SCCF staff will be interviewed during the program's 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. segment.
WATCH LIVESTREAM
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Survey Respondents Say Mangroves
and Dunes Protected Their Property
Nearly 250 coastal property residents in Southwest Florida say that mangroves or dunes protected their homes or businesses last year during Hurricane Ian — from storm surge, debris, flooding, and wind.
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The results are part of SCCF’s survey that seeks to gather qualitative data about perceptions of these ecosystems and their role in storm protection. The survey was created by SCCF’s Pfeifer Fellow, University of Florida Levin College of Law Professor Emeritus Thomas T. Ankersen, and SCCF Coastal Resilience Manager Carrie Schuman, Ph.D.
“It was interesting to see the high percentage of respondents who noted the ‘debris trapping’ value of mangroves,” Ankersen said. “This is an underappreciated ecosystem service in the broader literature on storm protection provided by mangroves.”
The complete results of the survey will be forthcoming later in the year.
TAKE SURVEY BEFORE IT CLOSES SEPT. 28
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Lake O Vegetation Too Low
The rise in Lake Okeechobee levels has slowed down in the past few months, and major blue-green algae blooms have ended. The concern now is that the lake has been too high for too long, compromising the submerged aquatic vegetation that provides habitat for wading birds and filters out phosphorous.
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Say Hello to New Sanibel Sea School Website | |
Introducing the new-and-improved Sanibel Sea School website! More intuitive and user-friendly, it’s now easier than ever to get updates on our program offerings, register for events, keep up with our amazing students, and more. Keep an eye on our blog page for new updates on all of our Sea School adventures! | | |
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Heights Foundation: A Chance to Sea at Bunche Beach
Last week, students from the Heights Foundation joined Sanibel Sea School marine science educators for an exciting after-school adventure at Bunche Beach. The day was marked by a simple yet profound rule: kindness, not just to one another, but to the marine life they encountered.
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Join Our Red Mangrove Propagule Collection Project
Coastal Watch needs your help to restore hurricane-damaged mangrove habitats in Southwest Florida by collecting mangrove propagules for us to use in restoration plantings. We’re asking residents to collect free-floating red mangrove propagules. You can find them while walking on the beach, kayaking, paddle boarding, or boating along creeks and waterways.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
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Adopt-a-Mangrove this Fall
Florida mangroves provide protection from storms, nurseries for wildlife, and recreation for people. Coastal Watch is inviting our community to consider adopting a mangrove this fall! Residents will “adopt” their own mangroves to nurture at home until they are ready for planting. The mangroves in this program will be planted at one of SCCF’s many shoreline restoration sites in 2024.
LEARN MORE ABOUT MANGROVE RESTORATION
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Resilience & the Everglades
In our latest “Land. Water. Wildlife” episode, we delve into the connection between resilience, the Everglades, water quality, climate change, and policy with SCCF’s Coastal Resilience Manager Carrie Schuman, Ph.D., and Environmental Policy Director Matt DePaolis.
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SCCF Partners with City on Boat Ramp Park Restoration
SCCF Native Landscapes & Garden Center staff recently collaborated with the City of Sanibel on a planting restoration project at the Boat Ramp Beach Park. The planting included dune plants as well as several types of trees that fared very well post-Ian.
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UPCOMING EVENTS & PROGRAMS | |
Help Us Plant a Pollinator Garden at Puschel Preserve | | |
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Volunteers are helping SCCF’s Coastal Watch plant a pollinator garden at our soon-to-be-restored Puschel Preserve on Perwinkle Way from 8-10 a.m. tomorrow, Sept. 28. We still have slots available! | |
Volunteers Needed: Mangrove Restoration Planting with MANG & SCCF | | |
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Sign up for a 1.5-hour shift to help SCCF plant mangroves in Fort Myers on Saturday, Oct. 14. SCCF has partnered with the clothing company MANG to help restore this SCCF property, adjacent to McGregor Boulevard. MANG is generously donating several hundred mangroves to this restoration effort. | | |
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The Watch Party is SOLD OUT!
Tickets are officially sold out for The Watch Party this Friday. We look forward to seeing all our guests!
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Attention Parents: Annual Community Camp on Oct. 16
Join us on Oct. 16 for a FREE day of Sanibel Sea School's annual Community Camp! Students will spend the fun-packed day snorkeling, using seine nets to find ocean treasures, playing beach games, and creating their very own masterpieces made from natural materials.
Registration begins Oct. 2.
This outreach effort is intended to provide an affordable childcare solution as part of our A Chance to Sea program. It’s a Professional Duty day so most parents have to work.
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30th Annual SCCF Tennis Tournament Nov. 11-12
SCCF’s 30th annual Tennis Tournament will be held Nov. 11 and Nov. 12 at Beachview Tennis Club on Sanibel. There will be men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles at the 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0 levels ($100 for one day or $150 for combined days of play).
To register, call Toni Halski at 239-472-9099. To become a sponsor, call Cheryl Giattini at 239-822-6121 or Lisa Cochrane at 239-246-8875.
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Wines in the Wild: Nov. 17
Save the date for SCCF’s annual Wines in the Wild, which will be held from 6:30-9 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 17. Tickets will go on sale Oct. 17.
During the signature event, guests will enjoy strolling the grounds of our Bailey Homestead Preserve while sipping wines specially selected for the evening and enjoying delectable dishes from our favorite local chefs.
Interested in becoming a gold ($1500 or more) or silver ($750) sponsor? Contact Tom Uhler at tom@uhler.com or 239-850-4545.
READ MORE
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Calling All WILD Artists!
SCCF is once again partnering with the Sanibel-Captiva Art League on an exhibit at the Bailey Homestead from January to March.
This exhibit will feature fresh works of art and is open to all members of the Sanibel-Captiva Art League and SCCF. Delivery of artwork that fits with the theme "wild" is scheduled for Jan. 18.
LEARN MORE
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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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