Connecting You to SCCF: Peak Time for Sea Turtle Nesting

May 31, 2023

Sea Turtle Night Surveys as Busy as Morning Patrols

Over 350 sea turtle nests have been laid on Sanibel and Captiva since April 22, and SCCF’s nighttime sea turtle tagging program has been as busy as morning monitoring. Staff have encountered a total of 86 unique sea turtles so far!

Staff apply tags to turtles that haven't been previously tagged, as well as assign them unique identification numbers and “names.” The naming theme this year is female musical artists (welcome, Dolly Parton!).

Sea Turtle Volunteer Spotlight

Meet two longtime SCCF volunteers, Irene Nolan and Diane Clark, who attend required state training each year to help our staff conduct permitted sea turtle nest monitoring activities.

READ THEIR STORY

WATCH THE INSTAGRAM REEL

9 Bald Eagle Chicks Fledge on Islands This Season

Despite Hurricane Ian wiping out all the bald eagle nests SCCF monitors across Sanibel, Captiva, and North Captiva, most breeding pairs were able to rebuild. A total of nine chicks fledged this year!

Lake O Levels High as We Head Into Rainy Season

As of May 30, Lake Okeechobee was at 13.87 feet. The “sweet spot” for the lake for this time of year is closer to 12.5 feet. A lower level benefits the ecology of the lake and provides assurance that the lake can safely act as a reservoir. When the lake is too high before the wet season, damaging, nutrient-rich releases could be made to the Caloosahatchee River. If there are toxic algae in the lake, they can end up in the river. To keep up with lake levels and impacts, sign up to receive our Weekly Water Conditions Updates every Friday morning.

Impacts of Ian Advance Native Habitat Restoration

The current clearing of dead organic debris that created a fire hazard on many SCCF preserve lands will have the long-term effect of accelerating the restoration of native habitats.

"State contractors are doing their best to maneuver through the habitats with minimal disturbance to living native flora," said Wildlife & Habitat Management Director Chris Lechowicz.

SCCF Supports Everglades Restoration Project

Everglades restoration is continuing in a big way with the Central Everglades Planning Project North, which will help re-establish natural, historic, south-bound water flows to the Everglades and Florida Bay. SCCF attended the groundbreaking for the project on May 18.

DePaolis Attends Taylor Slough Ribbon Cutting

Another effort to restore natural southward freshwater flows through the Everglades, the Taylor Slough Improvement Project, was completed this month. SCCF Environmental Policy Director Matt DePaolis attended the ribbon cutting on May 30.

Use Your Voice to Request VETOES

'Radioactive Roads' Bill Endangers Public Health & Water Quality

In a session where a number of environmentally damaging bills were passed, one of the most egregious was HB 1191 - Use of Phosphogypsum.

This bill promotes the use of a radioactive waste byproduct from phosphate mining to be used in road construction. Send the Governor a message to VETO HB 1191 to protect our waterways, public health, and to hold the phosphate industry accountable for their own costs of production.

TAKE ACTION TO URGE VETO

Take Action to Protect our Water Quality

Please join SCCF in urging Governor DeSantis to VETO line item 146 of SB 2500, a complete ban on creating or modifying local fertilizer ordinances. This line was included in the budget in the final days of session. By using the budget bill, the preemptive language was able to be inserted with a complete lack of public input or debate. It is unacceptable that our leaders would attempt to eradicate home rule and increase water pollution in such a clandestine manner.

TAKE ACTION FOR OUR WATERS

SB 170 Threatens Local Ordinances

Senate Bill 170 - Local Ordinances has yet to be sent to the Governor. The bill 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.

TAKE ACTION FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

DeSantis Signs 'Sprawl Bill'

Last week, Gov. DeSantis signed SB 540 - Local Government Comprehensive Plans. This bill will have a significant chilling effect on citizen challenges to local comprehensive planning decisions. We are grateful to the thousands of anti-sprawl advocates from around the state who called and emailed the Governor’s office to urge him to veto this bill.

Beach Bucket Stations Re-Installed

Beach buckets for collecting debris are once again available at Tarpon Bay Beach and Bowman's Beach, thanks to a partnership between Coastal Watch, the City of Sanibel, and Bailey's General Store.

VOLUNTEER TO MONITOR STATIONS

Bayous Preservation Association Gifts SCCF

SCCF is grateful to its longtime water quality advocate and partner, the Bayous Preservation Association, for gifting its remaining assets to SCCF upon the nonprofit's dissolution. Over a decade ago, the BPA funded the SCCF Marine Laboratory to collect water samples throughout the Blind Pass area.

Sanibel Sea School Staff Complete Safety Training

Summer camps are right around the corner for Sanibel Sea School, which begins hosting its week-long programs on June 12. In preparation for the fun-filled summer, staff completed Lifeguard, CPR, AED, and First Aid training through the American Red Cross. They ran drills, learned rescues, and perfected life-saving skills.

Audience Questions from Resilience Event Answered

Read an audience Q&A from the SanCap Citizens for a Resilient Future’s event that focused on resilient building and the environment.

SCCF is one of 14 partner organizations within the SanCap Citizens group, which aims to help the island community as it rebuilds from Hurricane Ian, with a focus on long-term resilience measures.

Q&A ON ENVIRONMENT AND LANDSCAPING

Q&A ON RESILIENT BUILDING

June 21: CEO James Evans at SanCap Chamber Business Luncheon

SCCF CEO James Evans will be a speaker at the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce business luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on June 21. Evans will give an update on water quality and environmental policy with Capt. Daniel Andrews of Captains for Clean Water.

Keep Up with Coastal Watch!

SCCF Coastal Watch Director Kealy McNeal sends out "The Watch" at the beginning of each month with updates on volunteer opportunities and recaps of past efforts. Sign up to keep up!

Kids Learn About Sea Turtles at Sanibel School

Kindergarteners at the Sanibel School learned all about sea turtles with SCCF Environmental Educator Richard Finkel. Students discussed what life would be like as a sea turtle and explored ways they can help nesting females, such as filling in holes in the sand and keeping beaches free of artificial light.

Meet the Natives:

Sea Oats

Sea oats (Uniola paniculata), the ubiquitous and charismatic dune species, is beginning to show off its summer glory! The gentle swaying "oats," which are the plant's seedheads, typically form spikes — or panicles, in botanical terminology — in the early summer. Despite Hurricane Ian's storm surge and strong winds, the areas where sea oats remain are recovering quite well and are thriving despite last fall's difficult conditions. Sea oats are perfectly suited for shifting winds; with roots that can grow until they hit the water table, they can often extend in our area downwards of 10 feet or more! In addition, clumps will spread horizontally by underground stems, the seeds provide food for birds and small mammals, and the grass blades trap windborn sand to create and build new sand dunes.

Visit our Native Landscapes & Garden Center at 1300 Periwinkle Way, Tues. - Thurs. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. On-island deliveries are now available for orders of $100 or more!

WATCH: 8th Grade Students Plant Mangroves

NBC-2 coverage captures students planting mangroves with Coastal Watch on the shoreline of Woodring Road.

WATCH NOW

SEEKING WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS

Thanks to Barbara Shingleton for reporting this gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus).

Please report your post-Ian wildlife sightings. SCCF is grateful for citizen science as we build an inventory of species that survived the hurricane.

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in 1967 on Sanibel Island, Florida

EIN 59-1205087

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