Category: Island Update

June is peak nesting season for sea turtles, so it is an exciting month for the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation as it monitors nests and addresses a few on-the-ground projects.

SCCF Sea Turtle Program staff are relocating nests on Captiva in preparation for the upcoming beach re-nourishment project by the Captiva Erosion Prevention District, officials reported. Existing nests within the project area will have hatched prior to mobilization at the end of July. The SCCF is operating under a permit issued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to do the work.

Although nesting activity is rarely reported on the Sanibel Causeway Islands, the SCCF has been contracted to monitor Island B daily to document and relocate nests before construction begins on the island on Aug. 1. Additionally, the SCCF is launching a research project to study the impacts of sand quality on nest temperature, moisture and how the water moves through the sand surrounding the nest.

Three new interns joined the team to help with monitoring, relocation and research efforts. Emily Skinner, Taylor Lawrence, and Malina Baker arrived two weeks ago.

SCCF’s team had recorded 228 loggerhead nests and three green sea turtle nests as of June 2. There appears to be a high proportion of returning turtles nesting on Sanibel. Sixty-three percent of the turtles have been previously tagged by the team.

Those who come upon a female during nesting season are asked to keep their distance, be quiet, do not use a flashlight or white light, and enjoy the moment. For information, visit SanCapLifeSavers.org

Captiva ISLAND Beach Brief

Great Lakes Dredge and Dock (GLDD) has provided CEPD with both a best-case, and a worst case scenario for the Captiva Beach-Nourishment Project Timeline. The worst-case scenario accounts for unplanned delays such as storms or other inclement weather, equipment issues, or other unforeseen challenges. Below are two timelines for the project, which have been provided to CEPD by the contractor. CEPD anticipates hosting a Town Hall via zoom and in person for late July with the Project Manager from GLDD. This meeting will allow residents and members of the public to ask questions prior to the start of the project.

Project timeline

Best case scenario

• Dredging and Beachfill South ½ of Island – August 5th to 18th August
• Dredging and Beachfill North ½ of Island – August 18th to 6th September
• Demobilization – September 6th to 18th September

Worst case scenario

• Dredging and Beachfill South ½ of Island – August 5th to August 30th
• Dredging and Beachfill North ½ of Island – August 30th to September 24th
• Demobilization – September 24th to October 6th

During the Captiva Erosion Prevention District board meeting on June 7th, 2021, staff received direction from commissioners to prepare the Benefits Based Model of the beach nourishment apportionment and set the public hearing date for tentative apportionment as June 28th, 2021, at 5:01PM. The Benefits Based Model has a section for storm protection benefits applied to all gulf front properties as derived from the analysis performed by the coastal engineers at APTIM. It also separates the recreational benefits associated to each of the properties on Captiva Island into commercial, residential, and homesteaded residential properties based upon the study done by economist Dr. Stronge, commissioned by the CEPD.

This model attributes the highest millage rate to the commercial properties, followed by the residential non-homesteaded properties, and offers a 42.1% discount to the homesteaded properties. CEPD will be sending out letters to property owners explaining the apportionment by June 17th and will be placing an advertisement in the paper for the Tentative Apportionment Hearing on June 28 at 5:01 p.m. where all residents and property owners will have the opportunity for their concerns to be heard.

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Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corp. announced the receipt of several major dredging awards totaling $112.8 million including the $15.6 million Captiva Island Beach Renourishment Project. The Captiva Island Beach Renourishment Project involves placement of sand to improve and support five miles of sea shore along Captiva Island. This project will help protect and reinforce the island’s shoreline. Great Lakes worked on renourishment of the beach in 2013. the Captiva Erosion Prevention District and is privately funded for this project. Work is likely to commence in the third quarter with anticipated completion in October of 2021.

Source: workboat.com

Below is the list of all Captiva Island active listing for sale.

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Got Sand?

The recent Beach Renourishment Bid Selection means Captiva renourishment will commence July 2021 and likely go through October 2021.

During the May Board Meeting of the Captiva Erosion Prevention District (CEPD), Commissioners accepted the engineering and CEPD staff recommendations on the selection of the dredging contractor. Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company (GLDD) was awarded the contract with a low bid of $15,625,485.

The bids were submitted with the condition that the Commissioners may decide to adjust the amount of sand placed on the project by as much as 25%. The low bid unit price per cubic yard for sand came in only marginally greater than the last project by $0.05 per cubic yard. This attractive and highly competitive bid provides an opportunity for the CEPD to increase the volume of the project as appropriate. The CEPD has authority to elicit a change work order to increase the project sand volume even higher should our sand needs extend beyond the +25% threshold. Total project costs are still being estimated.

The CEPD is planning a public Town Hall meeting once the timeline for the project has been finalized, tentatively in late June or middle July. This meeting will provide Captiva residents, property owners and businesses an opportunity to meet with the contractors, Commissioners, CEPD staff and SCCF for questions surrounding the project.

In 2019, Captiva residents voted with a significant majority in favor of a referendum to borrow an amount not to exceed $18,000,000. This authorizes the CEPD to finance the cost of the beach nourishment project until all costs are known and the apportionment of the costs can be appropriately assessed to property owners. At the May Board meeting, the CEPD Board also voted to finalize negotiations for a municipal bond loan with Synovus Bank; Mr. Mark E. Raymond, Esq., was approved by the board to serve as the district’s bond counsel and has worked on the CEPD loans for past projects.

Turn off your lights!

We are currently up to 36 nests since the May 1st start date of turtle season. Sea turtle hatchlings emerging from the nests can be found heading in the wrong direction when artificial lighting emanating from nearby beachfront properties. Instead of finding their way toward the Gulf of Mexico, the disorientated hatchlings will head into the dune vegetation and towards the artificial light.

Unshielded interior lighting, even from just a single beachfront condominium, resort unit, or residence is enough to disrupt the normal sea-finding behavior of sea turtle hatchlings. Hatchlings are guided to the ocean by an instinct to travel away from the dark silhouettes of the dune vegetation and toward the brightest horizon – light from the sky reflecting off the ocean. Artificial lights near the beach can deter females from nesting and disorient hatchlings. Most hatchlings that wander inland will die of exhaustion, dehydration or predation. Please protect the sea turtles by and remember to turn off lights, close curtains and blinds after dark. This simple practice is a true life-saver for sea turtles. Sea turtle hatchling disorientations are 100% preventable and it is our responsibility to ensure that these amazing creatures survive for future generations to enjoy.

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The arrival of the first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season – Ana, which formed Saturday – is a reminder that the official start of the storm season is June 1.

If you missed the hurricane preparation discussion by Chief Jeff Pawul and Lt. Mike Sawicki at the last Community Panel meeting, Chief Pawul has put together a summary f what you’ll need to know in advance of any storm. Click here to download a copy.

2021 Sea Turtle Season Officially started from April 15 to October 31, you can be a life saver.

Sea turtle hatchlings emerge after dark and use the light of the night sky to find the water. Hatchlings will crawl away from the water and toward light sources, so turn off all artificial lights visible from the beach and never use flashlights or cell phone lights on the beach during nesting season. If necessary, use only approved amber or red LED bulbs.

While sea turtle hatchlings are particularly vulnerable to disorientation due to artificial light sources, nesting female turtles may also be disturbed by bright lights, loud noises, and people approaching too close. These disturbances may cause a female turtle to become disoriented leading to a “false crawl,” where the female fails to lay her eggs and returns back to the Gulf.

You can help sea turtles that nest on Florida’s beaches, you just need to follow below rules

• Turn off or shield all lights that are visible from the beach. Do not use flashlights or cell phone lights on the beach. If necessary, use amber or red LED bulbs.
• Do not disturb the screens covering nests. They prevent predators from eating the eggs and the hatchlings emerge through the holes without assistance.
• Remove all beach furniture and equipment from the beach at night.
• Dispose of fishing line properly to avoid wildlife entanglement.
• Fill in large holes that can trap hatchlings and nesting sea turtles.
• Do not disturb nesting turtles – please do not to get too close, shine lights on, or take flash photos of nesting sea turtles.
  Pick up litter.

The Lee County Mosquito Control District has scheduled spray truck activity for Sanibel.

The district reported that the following areas will be treated for adult mosquitoes from between sunset today and 2 a.m. May 7 by Ultra Low Volume spray trucks:

• East end from the Sanibel Lighthouse west to Dixie Beach Boulevard and the west end of Middle Gulf Drive at Casa Ybel Road

The district provides mosquito control for the islands and all of Lee County. “Mosquito season” typically runs from May through October and mosquito activity increases with rain, particularly after heavy rains that produce large areas of standing water. Due to the abundance of mangroves, wetlands and salt marshes, the islands are a prime breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Residents experiencing a high number of mosquitoes at their home can submit an online service request at www.lcmcd.com or they can call 239-694-2174. If the district receives complaints from a specific area or neighborhood, it will dispatch personnel to conduct a mosquito count and will fog or spray the area if warranted.

For more information or updates on treatments, visit the Lee County Mosquito Control District at www.lcmcd.org or follow the district on Twitter @leecomosquito.

‘Tween Waters to host weekend music celebration for resort guests​

‘Tween Waters Island Resort & Spa on Captiva will host its third annual Captivaville Songwriters Weekend on June 18-20, featuring singer-songwriters from Florida and Nashville, Tennessee.

Free and open to resort guests, the event can be enjoyed through specially-priced weekend packages available at https://tween-waters.com/captivaville/ or by calling in-house reservations at 800-223-5865.

The lineup includes Sheena Brook, Kayley Bishop, Brian Sutherland, Trick Savage and Will Jones.

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