Cayo Costa State Park is the largest, relatively undisturbed barrier island in Florida. It is part of the Charlotte Harbor Estuarine System and a critical storm barrier that protects the mainland and Pine Island in Lee County, FL. With the exception of about two dozen private homes it looks much the same as it did when the Calusa Indians lived in the area many years ago. The north end of Cayo Costa State Park has infrastructure t designed for handling large groups of people and is where large charter boats normally land. It has big docks, restrooms, trams to take people to the beach and ADA compliant services.
A newly built, very tiny, illegally permitted dock installed in January 2016 by Captiva Cruises on the south "narrows" end of Cayo Costa island has begun to offload up to 100 people per day over a narrow part of the island exactly where Hurricane Charley hit in 2004. The south end HAS NO FACILITIES. When they first built this dock it was locked so that none of the private boaters who traditionally used it could access the public property. After a call to the media, the state unlocked it but warned that "if the public got in the way" the lock would go back on.
This dock was arranged for and is being condoned by the Park Service who's work it is to protect the natural resources. As a result of this assault, an emerging dune line and protected snowy plover nesting areas have been destroyed. This path is between several private properties and people are trespassing on their properties. As well, there are Pre-Columbian Indian mounds in the area with evidence of tampering since this happened.
In just a few short weeks hundreds of people have trampled the beach that was once pristene without this new commercial use and concentrated impact. Since that time, critical sand dunes and foliage have been destroyed. On February 27 and 28th Captiva Cruises held a private event/party for their clients and erected a huge tent, dragged equipment over the beach and served alcohol on state property.
If you remember the beach on the south end, it was very pristene and a true testament of how Florida used to be. This is a bridgeless island and the normal usage was day trippers who come by private boat and "leave no trace" behind except a few feet prints. IT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE THAT ANY MORE.
Take up to 100 people per day = up to 3,000 per month x 2 feet and you have up to 6,000 feet as opposed to about 6 to 12 people per day over the same area. This is a huge change for the island's resources. As well, they have chopped down native vegetation and raked a path clean to the beach which is the equivalent of chopping an interstate system across the island. This is the narrowest part of the island commonly called "the narrows" and an area which is very fragile. Stanley Herwitz stated in his "Natural History of Cayo Costa" (1971) this would be the next place to "breach" should in a water-event storm.
If you care about preserving Florida's largest undisturbed barrier island from commercial use on the south end, follow this blog for more information. Write the park service, voice your concern for the island because at this rate of impact it will become commercialized to the point of extinction. Now there are no limits as to how many groups they can bring, how many events/tents they can put up or how much use this illegally permitted dock can receive. The park has the infrastructure for groups on the north end where it's about a mile wide and has facilities designed for group visits.
Keep the group visitors on the north end, no groups on the south end. Continue the visits all over the island by locals and other private boaters who love and respect the island. Don't lock them off!
Thank you for caring.
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The photo image on the left is from 2012 showing how the visitors respected the beach foliage which keeps the island intact. The railroad vine (shown left) and sea oats (which are protected species) are being destroyed.
The images below are what it looks like today after just over a month of excessive use. Notice the ATV tracks above the dune line made by park staff showing complete lack of respect for the island resources. This has to stop.
If you are used to well traveled public beaches this may look normal to you but if you are a frequent visitor to Cayo Costa's south end you will be shocked to see what is happening to this land...There are NO MORE islands like this in Florida. The most critically imperiled bird species such as snowy and Wilson's plovers along with turtles nest on these beaches. They are coming here because all of their other habitats are overtaken by buildings, lights and many, many people. Cayo Costa is the only place they have been thriving and numbers increasing with each year. We can't allow this to happen.
I'm horrified. I have been lucky enough to visit twice-once camping in the park and 2 years ago staying in a private home. I was amazed.. enchanted.. thrilled.. to see Cayo Costa similar to how I remembered Captiva in the early 70s. What can we do to help?
ReplyDeleteI wrote you back from my email, did you get it? I am new at this so hoping you were able to get some names to express your feelings to about this gross injustice to the island. Thanks and I will keep your contact info as things move forward, we need an army.
ReplyDeleteHow is this allowed? Does the State so they can collect $200 a day from Captiva?!
ReplyDeleteCaptiva Cruises pays them $2 a head out of the $50 or so they charge. The issue is the north end is for groups this large where they have facilities and more natural and man-made infrastructure to handle it.
DeleteI realize the issues Margi. I was just commenting as to why the State even allows it. I was a volunteer tram driver on Cayo for 3 years from 2012-2015 on Wednesdays and worked the sea turtles as well for 2 1/2 seasons. It is sad what is happening. The shelling is better at the south end and it saves travel time for Captiva, so they rarely brought large groups to the docks. I hope something can be done and that high rises are never built...
DeleteAlso, boaters let their dogs run on the beach and so do some of the island dwellers. Unfortunately, it cannot be enforced.
DeleteFirst of all, thank you for your service to Cayo as a tram driver and everything else you have done for the park. As a result of this issue I had to resign from the group I co-founded, Friends of Cayo Costa SP. I have worked hard over many years to protect the land and educate others about it. I am most familiar with the south end and have served in a volunteer "ranger" capacity reporting things, literally putting out fires, actually saved someone's life from drowning a year ago off the beach. Over the years I have witnessed a lot more people coming but it has been what I call "casual" not "commercial". The advent several weeks ago of these large groups coming all at once to this tiny dock is a different type of issue. Captiva Cruises said the south point was getting eroded so they had to move their landings. Well guess what? Those people being offloaded, crushing down the natural sand layering processes, seaweed, etc has contributed to that erosion. The private land owners are infrequently there and there are not that many. Fortunately during the 1980s and 1990s we worked hard to identify and purchase as much of the island as possible for preservation to save it from more development. I was a big part of that process and also want to continue that process now with Lee County funding. So, I am up on a soap box and it's not all about me, I truly care about what this beautiful piece of land looks like many years from now, way after I am gone. The state should insist all groups go up to the north end facilities, bring small boats to the south end but don't offload these huge groups with no oversight to trample the dunes. The park staff even has driven ATV's in the dune systems, unreal. Thanks again for your service to the park and I hope to see you out there some day.
DeleteUndisturbed Island? Hardly, since people live on it and there is camping. It's a case of those who live there don't want anyone else there. I first discovered the Island by taking one of those tour boats there 25 years ago. No other Islands like it? How about N Captiva. It just has more houses on the north end, otherwise it's just like it. There I've seen the nesting areas roped off and everyone lets their dogs run loose and kids run in that area.
ReplyDeleteLouken, I understand where you are coming from. Cayo Costa, however, is not like N Captiva as you state. There are very few houses there in comparison. By the way, we want people to enjoy the island just like they have for years so I don't buy your "don't want anyone else there" angle. Private boaters were shocked to be locked off the tiny dock in question. For more than 38 years I have seen this end of Cayo be home to many who visit in their boats, anchor off or on that dock, enjoy the day and leave. I have pictures of what that has looked like for more than 38 years. It does not look like that anymore (see pictures). I am not sure where you see nesting areas roped off and kids and dogs running around but not here because it was never necessary. People respected the dune systems and stayed away. Now it is not like that anymore (see pictures). North Captiva is not like Cayo Costa, it has been almost fully developed except for the areas that washed out during Charley because of the Australian Pine monoculture and lack of native vegetation. Cayo Costa is much more primitive and wild and that is why so much of it was purchased with endangered lands funding to keep it that way. If it weren't for the few of us who have been around as long as I have fighting for it, Gov. Scott would have sold it off and there would be condos there just like all of the other barrier islands. Anyway, I am sorry you are angry about this but at some point maybe you will see a bit of what I am trying to save. Once you set a precedent with no limits what will it look like in 50 years? 100 years?
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DeleteSo take out the illegal dock. Problem solved.
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DeleteMargi, I am sadden to hear that this has happened to Cayo and you. I had not heard of it till I saw your post. I hope something does get worked out to save the Island! Valerie
DeleteThanks. Everyone knows how much you love Cayo. Please let others know and also know how much I care.
DeleteThis situation is absolutely heartbreaking! I am concerned about the environmental damage, but especially about the impacts to the nesting birds and even more so the upcoming turtle nests.
ReplyDeleteI hope the charter company and associate parties all return to their senses and stop this horrible situation...Cayo Costa needs to be protected!
Kathy, thank you for your concern. Please read the other posts. We have to be concerned for the future of these resources. There is only one wild and natural Cayo Costa, we need to protect her. Take the large groups to the north docks where there is infrastructure to support them!
ReplyDeleteCayo Costa is my home away from home. I love that island, and have had the pleasure of exploring most of the island over the last 17 years. The southern section is by far the most beautiful part of the entire island. What I'm sick and tired of is more and more places in SW Florida are being relegated to the self entitled. Anyone who isn't part of the 'club', an association, a patron, or privileged enough is relegated to designated, overcrowded public access points few and far between. I bet everyone on this bandwagon feels he or she has the right and privilege to access this new public area, but no one else should be allowed there. So whom is it that decides who or how many get to access certain areas on public land? A select few self righteous 'protectors of their private interests'? If the state decides to open up areas for the public to enjoy, I am all for it. I plan to book a trip with Captiva Cruises to see what all the hubbub is about. I would suggest that anyone that lives in Florida who claims to care about preservation should immediately tear down their homes, move, and let nature take its course. But I suppose of course, everyone feels they are the exception to the rule, including the house built on top of the Calusa shell midden, which was incorrectly labeled as an Indian Mound. I would also like to hear what the state's perspective is on all this. It has been several years since I spoke with any of the state park rangers, but I would like to hear their side of this issue before I make any further judgments about this issue.
ReplyDeleteI understand the way you feel about this but I do not feel I am a "self righteous protector of private interests" by any means. There are few volunteers who have put in the number of hours my family has on Cayo Costa working for the entire island. The fact the south end is not overrun by Australian pines is one example of the hundreds of hours we have worked to assist. There are a few homes on Cayo, yes, but those are mostly owned by the same people for many generations. It's not fair to judge them or call them "privileged" since most have also worked hard to protect the interests of the park lands. Personal attacks are certainly expected and you certainly can dole out the attack without even knowing me. If you really understand and read the concerns you may care a bit more about the big picture, not just your ability to "go see that the hubbub" is all about.
DeleteAnyone can come to this area any time they want so it's not EXCLUSIVE by any means. The issue is large commercial groups and what is an appropriate place to offload them. A tiny, non ADA compliant, dock on the island's most narrow, fragile point with no facilities is not the place for a number of reasons. Removing the native vegetation to create a path is like making an interstate through it should a water event storm arise (North Captiva) and there are other reasons such as the interruption of the nesting areas for protected shorebirds, turtles and trampling of protected sea oats along the emerging dune line (defense system for the island). .
You state "the house on top of the Calusa shell midden is incorrectly labeled as an Indian Mound", doesn't that very sentence contradict itself? Are you an archaeologist? Look it up in the Florida site files.
Yes, of course I expected attacks. I would rather talk to you in person or over the phone rather than sit here and type words. I am happy you plan to visit and talk to the rangers. They will tell you it's all wonderful.
I am taking the 36,000 foot view for what the island will look like in 50 years, in 100 years. It's not just about me as a self righteous, privileged person...I am proud to support something I believe in even if it means I have to defend our position publicly. I have done that many times in the passt 38 years so this is not new to me.
I think places like Cayo Costa have souls and this land is happy I am here to help. If you want to call me I invite it.
Ha, calm down there now. My discussion was not a personal attack against you, Margi, but you certainly made it about yourself. I am 'attacking' this idea that if someone cannot afford their own private boat or small expensive charter, then they will never get to see the beauty of that part of the island if not for the larger, cheaper boats. I am not going to waste time giving a dissertation on what makes a midden and what makes a mound, but you sure skirted the issue of the house being built on top of it either way. So I guess you are ok with that? Maybe not, I hope not. In any case, my colleagues and I are planning our trip to Cayo Costa again soon, and we will speak with the rangers, look at the new dock, and decide for ourselves what is fact and fiction. Besides, according to climate change theorists, the Island will mostly be under water in 50 years due to rising sea levels, so none of this will matter anyway, am I right?
ReplyDeleteGlad you are coming to Cayo.
ReplyDeleteInteresting you mention the house on the "mound", I am very familiar with its history and the man who built it. When he passed he "gave" the state most of the land. Later I worked very hard to get it in state hands and if that had happened, the house would be raised and no discussion here. The appraisal the state land acquisition folks did fell $40,000 short of the asking price but we were petitioning for the additional funds when the owner sold it. We missed it by several weeks. In any case, the house is there and the owners care very much about the history of Cayo and the Calusa.
It would be futile to debate climate change and what may/may not be here in 50 years. It remains, many of us (who visit the south end regularly as well as property owners) are concerned about a lot of things and don't expect everyone to agree.
I guess that is the great thing about being an American and having the freedom to express oneself and defend what we believe in. I believe the island needs to be protected and the south end is very fragile.