Our Sanctuary Islands

By SCCF Coastal Resilience Manager Carrie Schuman, Ph.D.

“If we’ve learned anything from Hurricane Ian, it’s that we must move swiftly to implement projects to make our communities more resilient to the impacts of climate change,” said SCCF CEO James Evans. “We need to work with nature, not against her.”

Since the Calusa Indians first inhabited Sanibel and Captiva, people have had to coexist with the modifying forces of nature. These have ranged from subtle changes imposed by tides, vegetation, and wildlife to the sometimes dramatically potent influences of storms.

For instance, a series of hurricanes in the 1920s cut new channels, including Redfish Pass, through the islands and redirected residents away from agriculture. Hurricane Charley in 2004 forced rebuilds of many homes across the islands, especially Captiva, and the replanting of more resilient native tree species in many areas.

And now, it is certain that September 2022’s Hurricane Ian will have left an especially indelible mark on our recent island history. However, while Ian has revealed some of our most immediate vulnerabilities, it has also illuminated some of our greatest current assets and opportunities.

Intact beaches, healthy dune systems, subtropical interior wetlands, thriving stretches of mangroves, and other natural features undoubtedly decreased the damage that Ian could have imposed. Their persistence into the future will be key to helping us sustain ourselves and our prized, local wildlife.

Becoming a more resilient island community requires not just thoughtfully re-establishing ourselves post-hurricane, but also examining our needs through a long-term lens.

Rather than being an anomalous event, Ian is part of a trend of intensifying and slowermoving hurricanes that are joining other unfolding climatedriven impacts such as increased sea level rise, heavy rain events, and high-heat-index days.

“If we do nothing, the need to retreat from the islands may soon come knocking at our doors,” said SCCF CEO James Evans. “Alternately, we can explore and implement various solutions that — while unlikely to completely eliminate risk — can help to promote better outcomes, including reducing the time it takes to get back to normal.”

Some solutions are aimed at greenhouse gas mitigation to tamp down the warming temperatures that underpin long-term climate trends. For Sanibel and Captiva, that means incorporating money-saving renewable energy and energyefficiency options, adopting electric vehicles, and relying on the powerful ability of living organisms and ecosystems to “draw down” carbon.

There are also opportunities for the adaptation to or accommodation of hurricanes and flooding across many sectors. “Retrofitting older buildings or rebuilding to stronger codes is crucial for the protection of our homes, businesses, and facilities,” said Evans

Island transportation may need to be re-imagined — not just in response to the continual uptick of traffic, but also in the face of changing climate conditions.

Prioritizing native planting can give local wildlife a boost in their chances of recovering after extreme events. Living shorelines that incorporate both manmade and living components can provide shoreline protection along with other benefits like water filtration.

“SCCF is committed to doing our part in building this resilient future and supporting our community in making this crucial transition,” said Evans. “Our vigilance in protecting and caring for our ecosystem is our greatest hope.”

The Sanibel Plan In Action

“What went right?” is difficult to ask after the devastation of Hurricane Ian. The September 2022 storm created a swath of destruction that left Southwest Florida reeling. As roadside debris piles are dwindling and our islands are seeing hints of normalcy, we can now evaluate how we weathered the storm and what tools allowed us to do so.

There is no doubt we were lucky to have the Sanibel Plan. When visionary founders incorporated Sanibel in the 1970s, they had a natural ethos in mind to protect the island as a sanctuary for humans who would co-exist with native plants and wildlife. Establishing density and land-use restrictions that were unheard of at the time was a hard-fought battle, but the strength of the vision persisted. Decades later, it’s clear that nature repaid the favor.

Without the protection of healthy dunes and mangroves, the storm’s devastating impacts could have been much worse. Native plants have been withstanding hurricanes for millennia, and their deep and intertwined roots have evolved to stay standing, even in the face of Category 4 winds. Wetlands absorbed water, while mangrove fringes slowed surge and winds.

Following Hurricane Charley in 2004, Periwinkle Way was choked with fallen, invasive Australian pines because their shallow roots proved no match for the storm’s intensity. There was a vocal contingent that demanded that the exotic pines be replanted. Instead, the city pushed back and planted a mix of native species. The results are clear.

After Ian — which was stronger and longer than Charley — Periwinkle remained largely free of whole trees that had filled the road in Charley. Native plantings withstood this storm better than engineered infrastructure. Working with nature made our island more resilient, which allowed us to focus on vital rescue operations.

As we rebuild, resilience and vigilance must be at the forefront. By following the Sanibel Plan’s legendary guidance, we will be better prepared than ever for the next storm.

—Matt DePaolis Environmental Policy Director

EXAMPLES OF HOW SCCF IS LEADING THE WAY:

• SCCF is an engaged member of SanCap Citizens for a Resilient Future – a group formed in February that is exploring resilience solutions.

• SCCF co-founded Sanibel Captiva Energy Working Group and has partnered with Solar United Neighbors to offer membership in the Lee and Collier County Solar Co-op through April.

• SCCF’s Native Landscaping & Garden Center issued a timely Post-Hurricane Ian Replanting Guide.

• SCCF created and released Rebuilding for Resilience: A Guide to Incentives which — paired with a companion workshop — highlights ways that residents and business owners can make more resilient choices while also saving money.

• SCCF is hosting Thomas T. Ankersen, emeritus director of the Center for Coastal Solutions Coastal Policy Lab at the University of Florida, as an inaugural Pfeifer fellow. He will be examining how the Sanibel Plan has performed in the wake of Hurricane Ian.

• SCCF works regularly with the Captiva Erosion Prevention District and the Captiva Community Panel to support their resilience efforts.

While we can ride the wave of action and urgency catalyzed by Ian, becoming a more resilient community will require the combination of many solutions and sustained dedication and vigilance.