Everglades Foundation Scientist Leads Airboat Tour Last Week

Last week, participants took an airboat tour through the Everglades, guided by Dr. Meenakshi Chabba, ecosystem and resilience scientist at the Everglades Foundation, where they further explored how restoring America’s Everglades will benefit Florida’s coastal communities, ecosystems, and economies.

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Group Visits EAA & C-43 Reservoir Construction Projects

Yesterday, Preserving Paradise ventured to the EAA and C-43 Reservoirs — two critical Everglades restoration projects that will increase water storage to better protect our coastal communities from nutrient-polluted water discharges.

It was the last day of the inaugural program, which will be held again next year!

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First Lake O Releases Since June Started Saturday

On Saturday, Oct. 26, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District implemented Lake O releases to the Gulf Coast for the first time since mid-June under the guidelines of the Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM). 

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Thanks to Love Sanibel Back Clean Up Partners & Volunteers!

We're excited to partner with the City of Sanibel for the Love Sanibel Back Beach Cleanup this Saturday! A big thank you to the Bank of the Islands for sending a big clean-up crew of bankers and sponsoring a delicious volunteer lunch from Doc Ford’s after the event. We also want to thank Hooked Dumpsters for providing a dumpster for proper trash disposal and give a special shoutout to Sanibel Moorings and Island Inn for allowing participants to park in their lots. Your support is vital to this event’s success! Thanks to all the groups and volunteers who filled up all available slots, too!

Sanibel’s recovery isn’t just about cleaning up—it’s about coming together as a community. This cleanup is part of a whole weekend of showing Sanibel some LOVE! The following day, join SCCF at the Love Sanibel Community Gathering from 12-3 p.m. at Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church to celebrate our island nonprofits.

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Salinities Back Up in Slough & Lakes on Sanibel

Following three intense surge events since August, salinity levels within the Sanibel Slough and in residential lakes are back up to marine environment levels, offsetting the 20 inches of rain above normal that had refreshed those habitats this summer.

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Hurricanes Impact Trees, Continuing to Promote a Natural Return to Grasslands

After Hurricane Ian, buttonwood trees were the dominant deceased tree on Sanibel. Following Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the Habitat Management team has noticed mostly Gumbo limbos and also strangler fig trees as most affected by prolonged saltwater inundation as well as recent high winds and surge events. 

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Keeping an Eye on Red Tide

SCCF is keeping an eye on red tide in Southwest Florida. Over the past week, the red tide organism, Karenia brevis, has been detected in varying concentrations in offshore samples along the Gulf Coast from Tampa to Fort Myers. The SCCF Marine Laboratory sampled the beaches on Sanibel today and yesterday and did not detect K. brevis. 

Analysis of Amendment 2: Right to Fish & Hunt

Florida voters will find Amendment 2 – Right to Fish and Hunt on their ballots next week. It’s important to understand what this proposed state constitutional amendment says, and what it does not say. 

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SanCap Kiwanis Donates $2.5K to Sanibel Sea School's Scholarship Fund

At Sanibel Sea School, we believe everyone deserves a chance to connect with the ocean, and thanks to The SanCap Kiwanis Club, we will be able to provide more summer camp scholarships! We were the proud recipients of $2,500 in this year's grant cycle to benefit island youth. 

The SanCap Kiwanis Club has a long-standing tradition of supporting our community, and we’re so grateful they chose to invest in our mission! Together, we’re empowering the next generation of ocean stewards!