PRESERVING PARADISE

Sea turtle nesting picking up despite storms

On May 3, the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation reported that 20 loggerhead sea turtle nests had been documented on the islands since April 22 when the first nest was discovered by SCCF volunteers on Captiva

It noted that unfortunately, some recent extreme high tides and winds left several of the new nests washed over, but staff explained that it is not a certain loss

“While wash overs can create inundation of egg chambers, it is possible for some of these nests to still produce viable eggs, and we will continue to monitor them over the next several weeks,” sea turtle technician Carley Nolan said “While the start of the nesting season has been unpredictable, we are thrilled to see what the remainder has in store ”

April 22 is the third-earliest documented loggerhead nest laid on Sanibel or Captiva, with the earliest being on April 15 in 2020 Before that, the record was April 16 in 2018

To learn how to keep sea turtles thriving on the islands, visit https://sancaplifesavers org/sea-turtles/

Island students to plant mangroves for habitat restoration

By OLIVIA KAUFFOLD and SAMANTHA WELLS

The Sanibel School's eighth-graders will plant mangroves at a local restoration site on May 12

Determined to rebuild their shorelines, the students will plant approximately 200 mangroves some of which were part of a year-long study started before Hurricane Ian as part of a project led by Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation environmental educator Richard Finkel

“After the hurricane, many mangroves were wiped out by the strong storm surge, which has affected the ecosystem greatly,” eighth-grader Siena Young said “Mangroves are home to many animals like egrets, herons, crabs, snails, and spoonbills Mangroves' tangled roots also work as a barrier to protect coastlines from flooding ”

Finkel will accompany the students at the site along Woodring Road on Sanibel as they work hard to make a difference for the island's environment

“By planting new mangroves, we hope to provide homes for many organisms, restore damaged beaches, and protect Sanibel from future storms,” eighth-grader Emma Knight said

Those interested in assisting with future habitat restoration projects can contact Coastal Watch Director Kealy McNeal at kmcneal@sccf org Part of the SCCF family, Coastal Watch creates and implements conservation initiatives that promote and improve the future of marine resources and coastal heritage

Olivia Kauffold and Samantha Wells are eighth-grade students at The Sanibel School

CROW patients move into enclosure post-stor m

The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife reported that its first set of patients moved into one of the outdoor enclosures on its Sanibel campus last week to continue rehabilitation and flight conditioning prior to release After Hurricane Ian, CROW has relied heavily on its partnering wildlife centers to help continue care and rehab for patients The use of its own outdoor enclosures is a huge step in CROW's hurricane recovery efforts An

Volunteers sought for San-Cap Road cleanup

adult osprey with several embedded fishing hook barbs that had to be surgically removed was moved into the enclosure, along with a fledgling osprey that was admitted after continually landing on vehicles in a parking lot while learning to fly CROW reported that once the two patients show evidence of good sustained flight, they will be candidates for release

CLINIC FOR THE REHABILITATION OF WILDLIFE

In partnership with the city of Sanibel, Coastal Watch is signing up volunteers for a post-hurricane cleanup on May 17 from 8 to 10:30 a m on Sanibel-Captiva Road Cleanup gear will be provided As of May 4, 13 of the available 33 spots were taken For more information or to sign up for a spot, visit https://dash pointapp org/events/58284 Coastal Watch is part of the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation family

Organizations call for veto of ‘radioactive roads’ bill

The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation recently joined 33 organizations and businesses to ask Gov. Ron DeSantis to veto HB1191

Use of Phosphogypsum

Phosphogypsum is the radioactive waste from processing phosphate into phosphoric acid for fertilizer The bill would permit the use of phosphogypsum in Florida road construction

In a letter dated May 1, the danger of the bill was outlined The SCCF reported that while HB 1191 would require the Florida Department of Transportation to complete a study on the feasibility of phosphogypsum for road construction, the short study period ending on April 1, 2024, cannot begin to thoroughly review the health and safety consequences To even begin the study would be a waste of taxpayer dollars; the U S Environmental Protection Agency has already extensively studied the use of phosphogypsum in roads and

Concluded It Is Not Safe

The SCCF continued that water quality and public health are especially threatened by HB 1191

Phosphogypsum is radioactive, releasing cancer-causing radon gas It can also contain other carcinogens and toxic heavy metals, like antimony, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, copper, fluoride, lead, mercury, nickel, silver, sulfur, thallium and zinc Phosphogypsum presents high levels of gross alpha and beta radiation 10-100 picocuries per gram (pCi/g) relative to levels in typical soils, which are approximately 1 pCi/g

The SCCF noted the following:

∫ The EPA has prohibited the use of phosphogypsum in roads since 1992 because it found numerous scenarios that would expose the public particularly road construction workers to an unacceptably dangerous cancer risk It found that phos- phogypsum “contains appreciable quantities of radium-226, uranium, and other uranium decay products.” Radium-226 has a 1,600-year halflife and will outlive many roads throughout the state

∫ The EPA found that the use of phosphogypsum in roads can cause adverse effects to nearby surface and groundwater resources through the leaching of trace metals and radionuclides, and that the toxins may also be resuspended into the air by wind and vehicle traffic

∫ Using radioactive phosphogypsum in roads is not a solution to the fertilizer industry's toxic waste problem Florida should not be a test subject in the industry’s reckless experiment

“To protect the health and safety of Florida residents, and to preserve water and air quality across the state, we respectfully ask that you veto HB 1191,” the letter stated