Connecting You to SCCF: Protect Captiva Initiates Legal Action

Jan. 10, 2024

Protect Captiva Coalition Files Petition with County

Challenging Land-Use Changes

Representing the Protect Captiva coalition, the Captiva Civic Association filed a petition with Lee County on Jan. 8 challenging new land development regulations that increase building heights on Captiva, and building heights and hotel density on South Seas Island Resort.

“The new land development regulations and the increases in heights and density sought by South Seas are totally inconsistent with Captiva’s current infrastructure, its limited hurricane evacuation capability, and its environmental resources,” said James Evans, SCCF CEO. “Captiva is a fragile barrier island which cannot absorb the development projects sought by South Seas. The community has no choice but to contest these unwise and unacceptable changes in the court of law.”

Support Legal Actions to Protect Captiva

Now that South Seas Island Resort has announced its intentions to radically increase density from 247 to 707 units with three-story buildings up to 64 feet in height – and now that our County Commissioners have paved the way for this overdevelopment on Captiva – it’s time for the “Protect Captiva” coalition to pursue every responsible legal option that we have the resources to undertake. That's why we’re now seeking donations to our Legal Fund.

DONATE NOW

Oppose Florida Senate Bill 738

Join us in opposing Senate Bill 738, which will effectively eliminate Floridians’ last method of challenging bad development by requiring the losing party of a legal challenge against Department of Environmental Protection and Water Management District actions to pay $50,000 toward prevailing parties attorney’s fees.

Today, the bill passed the Senate Natural Resources Committee 5-2. It will now head to the Senate Judiciary Committee. If you haven’t already done so, please take action below.

TAKE ACTION

6.9K Birds Spotted During Christmas Bird Count

SCCF volunteers and staff recorded 6,891 birds belonging to 93 species on Sanibel and Captiva as part of a local effort to contribute to the National Audubon Society’s 124th Christmas Bird Count. This year’s count total is higher than last year, but lower from prior years.

Florida Legislative Session

Now Underway

Yesterday marked the beginning of Florida’s 60-day 2024 Florida Legislative Session, and the SCCF environmental policy team is already hard at work advocating for our ecosystems. Find our real-time Legislative Tracker and sign up for our action alerts at the link below.

SCCF Supports C-43 Reservoir Progress

SCCF recently celebrated a ribbon cutting for the Caloosahatchee River (C-43) West Basin Storage Reservoir pump station, a key component in reducing harmful water flows to the Caloosahatchee. This project is part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan.

Restoration Underway at Erick Lindblad Preserve

Due to Hurricane Ian, most of the boardwalks as well as the iconic SCCF Observation Tower in the Erick Lindblad Preserve are currently being removed by contractors as the first step in getting the interior trail system reopened.

Connect with Nature on

SCCF Hiking Trails

SCCF hiking trails are a vital part of giving the public opportunities to interact with the unique nature of Sanibel. All public SCCF hiking trails are currently open, except for those behind the newly remodeled SCCF Headquarters Building at the Erick Lindblad Preserve.

CHECK OUT TRAILS

Ringing in the New Year with Winter Camp

Sanibel Sea School hosted a Winter Camp wonderland over the holiday break. From daily surfing sessions to the formation of the first-ever Sanibel Sea School Jingle Shell Band, every moment was a splash of marine magic! The themed weeks — 'Jingle All the Way' and 'Chiton Countdown’ — explored the beauty of shimmering jingle shells and the wonders of mollusks and chitons.

NEW VIDEO!

Beach Buckets on Sanibel

Is your New Year’s resolution to spend more time on the beach, be more active, or help preserve your local environment? We have a way you can do all three! Grab a bucket and enjoy our beautiful Sanibel beaches all while collecting debris and cleaning up the beach. Our beach bucket stations are at Bowman’s Beach, Lighthouse Beach Park, and Tarpon Bay Beach. Follow along with us as we go through the simple process in our new video.

WATCH NOW

Meet the Natives:

Walter's Viburnum

The standard Viburnum (Viburnum obovatum) grows 10 to 15 feet tall. It forms a small thicket with new plants growing from the roots. There are many variations or cultivars ranging in mature height of 2 to 3 feet up to 16 feet tall. This small shrub works well as a hedge or as an accent plant. It has small leaves and stiff branching, making it a good habitat for small birds. The showy flower groupings that appear in the early spring are fragrant and attract many pollinators. The reddish berries that appear later in the year are a good food source for wildlife. These plants like moist acidic soils but will tolerate higher pH and periods of drought. This hearty species is not plagued by insects or diseases.

Our Native Landscapes & Garden Center, located in the Bailey Homestead Preserve at 1300 Periwinkle Way, is now open on Tuesday - Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

UPCOMING EVENTS & PROGRAMS

Pulitzer Prize-winning science writer Elizabeth Kolbert — author of “The Sixth Extinction” — will present our 2024 Paul McCarthy Memorial Lecture on Feb. 15.

Stay tuned for a ticket announcement later this week!

Jan. 15: Calling All CITs!

Our free Community Camp is approaching fast, and we want your teen to be a part of the magic! Join us for our Crazy About Crustaceans Day, on Monday, Jan. 15, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Registration is free! The day will be filled with excitement, challenges, and rewarding experiences as we introduce older campers to the world of being a Sea School Counselor in Training!

Mondays: Weeds 'n' Seeds Walks

SCCF is happy to announce that our weekly, free Weeds 'n' Seeds plant walks are back! Enjoy being out in nature while observing and learning about plants. No reservations or fees required.

Jan. 15: Frannie's Preserve
Jan. 22: Lakes Park

LEARN MORE

Painting by Maureen Ginipro

Still Time for WILD Artists to Submit Works!

SCCF is once again partnering with the Sanibel-Captiva Art League on an exhibit at the Bailey Homestead from January to March. Dropoff of artwork that fits with the theme "wild" is scheduled for Jan. 18 from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. The exhibit begins Jan. 23, and will be open Tuesday-Fridays, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. in the historic Bailey home.

LEARN MORE

Jan. 22: Are You or a Neighbor New to the Islands?

Explore Pine Island Sound by boat, tour SCCF’s properties, and learn about our island community's remarkable and historic commitment to stewardship in a free, day-long program on Monday, Jan. 22! This program, which includes lunch, is targeted to new residents and businesses on Sanibel and Captiva. "New" refers to those who have joined our island community within the past two years. A second program will be held on March 4.

LEARN MORE & RESERVE A SPOT

Jan. 25 & Feb. 1: Make A New Year's Commitment to Conservation

Coastal Watch is seeking volunteers to kickstart 2024 and help us with two upcoming preserve cleanups! Volunteers will help remove this debris from our conservation land so our local wildlife and native plants can thrive.

Jan. 25: Gretchen C. Valade Preserve Cleanup
Feb. 1: Mitchell Preserve Cleanup

Sunset Birding Cruises: Register for 2024 Dates!

Help support the SCCF shorebird program with a beautiful and educational sunset cruise focused on observing shorebirds and seabirds, thanks to our partnership with Captiva Cruises. There are still tickets available for next Saturday, Jan. 20!

Jan. 20: Register
Feb. 16: Register
March 4: Register

Next SanCap Resilience Community Event Feb. 1

Join SanCap Resilience and the City of Sanibel from 6-8 p.m. on Feb. 1 at BIG ARTS for the fourth in a series of community events focused on "Emerging from Hurricane Ian Stronger and More Resilient." The event will explore the resiliency of our power grid, water supply, and wastewater management and will also be streamed live on the city’s Facebook page.

LEARN MORE

LEARN MORE & REGISTER

SCCF Presenting Seagrass Study at Climate Summit

SCCF seagrass surveys and SFWMD aerial survey data that suggest areas of J.N. "Ding" Darling Wildlife Refuge, Matlacha Pass, and Estero Bay have lost significant amounts of seagrass in recent years.

The SCCF Marine Lab has been analyzing the available data and Research Associate Mark Thompson will present its findings

during the CHNEP Climate Summit on February 28.