NO NESTING SNOWY PLOVERS - This time NO plovers at all were observed along at least 2 miles of beach where constant human impact is now the norm. Two weeks ago there was one pair about a mile north of the path coming from the illegally permitted dock Captiva Cruises uses to offload up to 100 people per day. This past week, no snowies were observed at all.Last year there were many nesting pairs all along this stretch of beach. They are GONE.
EMERGING DUNE LINE CONTINUES TO BE COMPROMISED - The tour operator can't keep people away from the dunes because it is impossible to watch them when they go wherever they want to. Because of this, the frontal boundary of the sea oat dune line is still being severly compromised to the point it will never grow forward. Sea oat roots trav
SAVING THE LONE DUNE HOLDOUT - I took matters into my own hands to try to save one dying sea oat cluster that remains at the GAP where the commercially used path spills onto the beach. The negative impact Captiva Cruises is having on the island has the potential to create a weak point where a washover (in the event of a storm) can split the island. I staked out this sea oat and watered it and it is showing signs of life. I also posted a sign to remind people to please stay off the dunes. As you can see from most pictures taken this past week, it's not doing much good. I hope this dying sea oat (with trash imbedded in the plant I left there to show everyone how no one cares to pick it up from the commercial tour boat group) becomes a poster child for enlightening people to the cause.
PRIVATE BOATERS DON'T FEEL WELCOME - The illegally permitted, non ADA compliant dock has a gate that is always closed. Originally it was locked but they unlocked it because of pressure from media and those of us who pushed to question how they could lock the public off their own land. There is also a locked gate we hear at Don Pedro State Park. We spoke to more than 8 boaters who had to tie off to the mangroves and beach their boats up in the mangroves to get to the beach because they do not think they can use this dock. Mangroves are what hold the island in place, is this a good practice? The gate structure should be removed to these people feel welcome and should be able to tie off. SEE LAST PHOTO BELOW, THERE IS NO PLACE FOR PRIVATE BOATERS TO TIE UP EXCEPT TO RED MANGROVES..these mangroves are just growing back after being completely destroyed by Charley in 2004.
LARGE TOUR BOATS TEARING UP GRASSFLATS - We observed Captiva Cruises boats revving the two outboard engines so much to reverse off the sand (low tide) it churned up the sand badly. They take a heading over the grassflats in an area that is only about 2 to 3 feet deep in spots, too. As a result there is a "hole" where these motors are dredging material from the bottom and marks where the twin hulls are parked. This tiny dock is not appropriate for large vessels and we believe tearing up the bottom and grassflats is illegal, right?
NO COMMERCIAL USE OF SOUTH END OF CAYO COSTA - The south end of Cayo Costa is very fragile. The south point is eroding and it is important to have large groups use the north end docks and infrastructure designed to handle so many people at once. Visiting the south end by small boaters is the way it has always been and should remain.
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