Coastal Watch - FY 2021-22 SCCF Annual Report

Beach Cleanups

Coastal Watch hosted three beach cleanups on the Causeway Islands that invited the community to show their appreciation of our local waters and help make sure they stay pristine. Over 85 local volunteers participated in the cleanups — collecting more than 1,000 pounds of trash and debris!

Beach Buckets

Coastal Watch partnered with the City of Sanibel and Bailey's General Store to install Beach Bucket Stations at Lighthouse Beach, Tarpon Bay Road Access Beach, and Bowman’s Beach. The objective of this project is to provide beachgoers with a 5-gallon bucket to collect trash as they enjoy our wonderful beaches. We had noticed people stuffing trash into their pockets, tackle boxes, shell bags, etc., so we made a more convenient way to collect it.

Adopt-A-Mangrove

Coastal Watch kicked off its Adopt-A-Mangrove program, with an overwhelmingly positive response from the local community! In February, over 500 red mangrove propagules were picked up by “foster” parents and brought back to loving homes to be cared for until they are returned and planted at a shoreline restoration site. Through this program, mangrove seedlings are currently being grown at homes all over Lee County.

MANGROVE AND OYSTER RESTORATION

BENEDICT KEY

9 Trips

405 Volunteer hours

1,108 Buckets of fossil and oyster shell (~27,700 lbs)

217 Mangrove seedlings planted

HEMP KEY

18 Trips

755 Volunteer hours

2,083 Buckets of fossil and oyster shell (~62,492lbs)

15,200 Propagules planted

1,080 Mangrove seedlings planted