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Record-Breaking Number of Loggerhead
Nests on Sanibel & Captiva!
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A record number of loggerhead sea turtle nests have been laid this year on Sanibel and Captiva, with months of nesting season remaining.
As of July 11, there have been 1,078 sea turtle nests documented across Sanibel and Captiva, including record-breaking-totals of 769 loggerhead nests on Sanibel and 267 loggerhead nests on Captiva. The remaining nests were laid by green sea turtles. The previous loggerhead records were 671 on Sanibel in 2021 and 264 on Captiva in 2020.
Please call our Sea Turtle Hotline at 978-728-3663 to report any issues with nests, nesting turtles, or hatchlings.
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Help Prevent Sea Turtle Disorientation
Please remember to turn off or shield all lights visible from the beach after 9 p.m., as light disorientation has contributed to several hatchling mortalities on Sanibel this summer.
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Lee County to Host Community Workshops
Lee County Commissioner Kevin Ruane and county staff will be holding on-island workshops to get community input on proposed building height and density changes at South Seas and the rest of Captiva. Various stakeholders, including SCCF, the Captiva Community Panel, and the City of Sanibel, will participate in roundtable presentations at a July 13 workshop on Captiva. A workshop is also planned for Aug. 2 on Sanibel.
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Coalition Considering Renowned Law Firm
SCCF has pledged a lead donation of $10,000 to a legal fund that the Captiva Civic Association is considering setting up in case litigation is needed to prevent Lee County from taking action on proposed land use changes on Captiva. A coalition of island organizations is in discussion with top-tier land use/zoning firm Holland & Knight for potential legal representation.
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Restoration Progressing on Puschel Preserve
SCCF’s Puschel Preserve has transformed drastically since serving as a processing site for mountains of Hurricane Ian debris. Contractors have cleared all construction and demolition debris, and restoration efforts are now progressing quickly on the critical 12+ acre preserve. Last week, cabbage palms were planted in the Periwinkle Way frontage area, which will feature a walking/biking trail, sculpture garden, pollinator garden, and demonstration marsh.
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Snowy Plover and Least Tern Chicks Fledge
Shorebird nesting season will soon come to an end. Sanibel and Captiva saw two state-threatened species fledge chicks on the islands this year!
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Credit: South Florida Water Management District | |
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Lake O Levels Threaten Ecological Health
As of today, Lake Okeechobee is about two feet higher than the level that supports a healthy ecosystem for the lake and its marshes and prairies, which provide habitat to wading bird and fish communities. Currently measuring 14.88 feet, the lake is 1.9 feet higher than the top of the ecological envelope, which defines the optimal range. High lake levels lead to the potential for damaging releases later in the wet season, particularly as tropical storm activity increases.
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Lake O Featured on Front Page of New York Times
On July 9, a photo of an algal bloom on Lake Okeechobee dominated the front page of The New York Times, illustrating the threat of recurring summertime blooms.
"Things get further complicated when lake levels climb so high that contaminated water must be released into canals — toward coastal cities like Fort Myers and Stuart — to protect the structural integrity of the 143-mile-long dike holding back the lake.
The coming weeks will offer a serious test."
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Campers Make Mark on Restored Kennedy Building
Sanibel Sea School‘s Kennedy Building sustained significant flood damage last fall from Hurricane Ian, but renovations are quickly progressing! Sea School campers recently had the opportunity to sign their name, favorite memory, or message to the ocean on the subfloor before new flooring is placed.
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Volunteers Help Build Sea Turtle Nest Cages
Volunteers jumped to action today to help SCCF better protect sea turtle nests from predation during this record-setting nesting season. Using zip ties, wire cutters, some geometry skills, and lots of determination, around 20 volunteers helped carefully construct dozens of 3’x3’ wire nest cages that SCCF staff will install over active and future sea turtle nests. These self-releasing cages are designed to prevent large predators from accessing eggs while still allowing hatchlings to emerge when the nest hatches.
We will be holding another cage-building workshop in the coming weeks to address the high number of sea turtle nests on the islands. Keep an eye on our social media for details.
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Mangroves Donated for Preserve on McGregor
Last week, Coastal Conservation Association Florida and Duke Energy Mariculture Center donated 200 black mangroves and 50 white mangroves to SCCF's Coastal Watch program. The mangroves will be planted at SCCF's McGregor preserve in the fall to provide shoreline stabilization, marine habitat, and increased storm protection.
Special thanks to the Lee County Natural Resources Department for facilitating the donation.
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SCCF Pfeifer Fellow Delves into Sanibel Plan in Forum Article
In the current issue of the Florida Humanities magazine, SCCF Pfeifer Conservation Fellow Thomas Ankersen considers the future implications of Sanibel's pioneering land use plan in post-Ian times.
"The destruction throughout Southwest Florida was horrendous, yet on Sanibel, it could have been worse. A visionary 1976 land-use plan limited development to a third of the island while protecting many of the areas most vulnerable to storms. And as the island crawls back to life, its environmentally conscious plan is providing a framework for its recovery.
Created nearly 50 years ago, the Sanibel Plan, considered one of the most influential local government planning documents in American history, may have been written for this moment."
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Thanks to Congress Jewelers for Supporting SCCF!
SCCF CEO James Evans was thrilled to receive $3,000 last week from Congress Jewelers for their sales of custom mangrove pendants to support our Coastal Watch program.
"We're delighted by the response we have had for these custom-made necklaces," said Melissa Congress. "It's a great way to support SCCF’s work, and we will continue to make them available for our customers."
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Sea Turtle Nest Predation Intern
SCCF’s Sea Turtle Department is seeking a part-time intern available as soon as possible to help place cages around sea turtle nests on Sanibel and Captiva to protect them from predation.
To apply, email a resume and cover letter to Coastal Wildlife Director and Sea Turtle Program Coordinator Kelly Sloan at ksloan@sccf.org.
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Two Internship Openings!
Native Landscapes & Garden Center Intern
This six-month internship at SCCF’s Native Landscapes & Garden Center will include assisting in day-to-day garden and nursery operations and working with our landscape installation and maintenance services. The NLGC intern will have the opportunity to obtain in-depth knowledge about South Florida plants and gain firsthand experience in all aspects of an environmentally friendly garden, nursery, and landscaping business.
Apply by sending your resume, statement of interest in the position, and references to NLGC Manager Becca Grotrian at rgrotrian@sccf.org.
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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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