Fall 2008 - Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program

Charlotte Harbor
National Estuary Program
Working together to protect the natural environment of Florida from Venice to Bonita Springs to Winter Haven
Effective October 1, 2014, our contact information is:
Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program
326 West Marion Ave., Punta Gorda FL 33950-4416
941/575-5090 • Toll-Free 866/835-5785
Fax 941/575-3365
www.CHNEP.org
chnep@chnep.org
Please visit the website to learn more about the program and products.
Lake
Hancock
STATE OF
FLORIDA
Polk
County
TAMPA
BAY
Kissimmee
River
Hardee
County
SARASOTA
BAY
GULF OF
MEXICO
SOUTHWEST
FLORIDA
Manatee
County
Sarasota
County
Myakka
River
Lemon
Bay
CHARLOTTE
HARBOR
Charlie
Creek
Horse
Creek
Lake Wales
Ridge
DeSoto
County
Peace
River
Shell Creek
Fisheating Creek
Charlotte
County
Caloosahatchee
Canal (C-43)
Caloosahatchee
River
Pine
Island
Sound
Lee
County
Estero
Bay
Lake
Trafford
Big Cypress
Lake
Okeechobee
CHNEP National Estuaries Days 2008
. . . an annual celebration of the majestic places where rivers meet the sea.
T
he Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program is pleased to announce National Estuaries Days, a time to
highlight the importance of estuaries. The official day is Saturday, September 27, but the CHNEP is pleased to
announce that special events, guided walks, boat and paddling tours, wading trips and cleanups will be held through
the Charlotte Harbor Nature Festival on November 22. This newsletter describes many of the events; however, be
sure to check the website at www.CHNEP.org for additional events and changes to those listed in this newsletter.
© Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau
CHNEP Harbor Happenings Fall 2008, 12(3):2008
1
Program update
INational
t’s time to celebrate!
Estuary Day
is Saturday, September 27. Once again
the Charlotte Harbor
National Estuary Program (CHNEP) and
our fabulous partners have dozens of events
that will help you explore and protect the
wonder of our estuaries and watersheds. (Because we have too many events for one day,
CHNEP celebrates it as National Estuaries
Days!) These events are described in this
issue of Harbor Happenings; however, be
sure to visit our website at www.CHNEP.org
for last-minute changes and additions.
National Estuary Day also marks the end of
the fiscal year. It’s time to take stock of our
accomplishments and make bold, new plans
for the coming year. What have our accomplishments been this year? Though we have
pages and pages of accomplishments that
we have completed with our partners, here
is a list of a few of them. Others have been
mentioned in recent issues of this newsletter.
Additional information about these accomplishments is posted on the website.
• On March 24, the CHNEP Policy Committee adopted an update of our Comprehensive Conservation and Management
Plan (CCMP). The plan is available on
the website at www.CHNEP.org as a PDF
file; a printed copy can be requested by
completing an online form.
• A month later, we updated our environmental indicators.
• We now have a historic basins map to help
identify restoration projects and natural
systems water budgets.
• Several wonderful volunteers mapped
shoreline conditions. This information is
being coupled with professional aerial photograph interpretation for a powerful dataset
of shoreline conditions found in 2007.
• Data from the volunteer shoreline conditions mapping project were used to help
identify sites to restore the mangrove
fringe that Hurricane Charley destroyed.
This project was a partnership of FishAmerica, Charlotte Sea Grant, CHNEP,
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission and Florida Gulf Coast
University. It also included a research
component to help identify the best,
most cost-effective methods to restore
mangrove shorelines.
2
Charlotte Harbor
• The Florida Department of Environmental
Protection Coastal Partnership Initiative
funded a Florida-friendly homeowner outreach program in San Carlos Park within
the Mullock Creek basin in Lee County.
• I was invited to speak on climate change
at Capitol Hill Ocean Week (CHOW).
• We added quarterly Science Forum to
allow for presentation of latest scientific
findings and broad discussion by area scientists and citizen scientists. The Science
Forum is always exciting and interesting.
Everybody is invited to join us!
• The CHNEP hired a new program scientist, Judy Ott. If you have participated in
any of CHNEP programs, you probably
already know Judy. She has been involved
with CHNEP before CHNEP was CHNEP.
As a representative of the Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserves, Judy was integral
to the management conference and the
development of the CCMP in the late
1990s. She served as a Technical Advisory
Committee (TAC) cochair for more than
a decade and presented TAC concerns to
the Management and Policy committees.
Help me welcome Judy to her new role as
CHNEP program scientist.
I am proud of our accomplishments and look
forward to next year. We have so much more
in store! As we reflect and look to the future,
let me be the first to wish you…
Happy National Estuaries Day!
Dr. Lisa B. Beever, Director
I am very pleased to be joining the CHNEP
as the program scientist. I truly believe our
comprehensive watershed management is
the most effective approach for sustaining
our rivers and estuaries over the long term.
Please feel free to contact me when you
have questions or information to share. I
hope to see you “around the Harbor.
— Judy Ott
CHNEP Harbor Happenings Fall 2008, 12(3):2008
National Estuary Program
1926 Victoria Ave
Fort Myers FL 33901-3414
239/338-2556
Fax 239/338-2560
Toll-Free 866/835-5785
www.CHNEP.org
Dr. Lisa B. Beever, Director
lbeever@swfrpc.org | ext 235
Liz Donley, Contracts & Grants Mgr
ldonley@swfrpc.org | ext 234
Maran Hilgendorf, Communications Mgr
mhilgendorf@swfrpc.org | ext 240
Judy Ott, Program Scientist
jott@swfrpc.org | ext 230
THE CHARLOTTE HARBOR NATIONAL
ESTUARY PROGRAM is a partnership
that protects the natural environment
from Venice to Bonita Springs to Winter
Haven. This partnership gives citizens,
elected officials, resource managers and
commercial and recreational resource
users in the 4,700-square-mile study
area a voice to address diverse resource
management concerns, including fish
and wildlife habitat loss, water quality
degradation and flow, and stewardship.
Harbor Happenings
Volume 12, Issue 3: Fall 2008
Request a free subscription
by contacting the editor at the CHNEP.
EDITOR/DESIGNER: Maran Hilgendorf
News items, photographs and letters are welcome and may be submitted to the CHNEP
office by mail or email (mhilgendorf@
swfrpc.org). Deadlines are February 15,
May 15, August 1 and November 15. The
newsletter is typically distributed in January,
April, July and September.
CONTRIBUTORS: Lisa Beever, Betsy Clayton, Maran Hilgendorf, David R. Jackson,
Stephen Koury, Nadine Meyer, Dotty Motta,
Melissa Nell, Judy Ott, Rogene Patterson,
Susanne Schraeder, Rachelle Selser, Janice
Sylvain, Angela VanEmmerick, Chelle
Koster Walton, Toni Westland and the many
organizers of the events.
The views expressed herein are those of the
authors and do not necessarily reflect the views
of the CHNEP or its cooperating agencies and
associations. The mention of trade names or commercial products does not in any way constitute
an endorsement or recommendation for use.
Printed on recycled paper.
CHNEP Harbor Happenings Fall 2008, 12(3):2008
3
–––– Special Events –––
Other special events are described throughout this newsletter. * These events are sponsored by CHNEP.
Florida State Park free admission
Through Tuesday, September 30
Show this newsletter and receive free admission into the state
parks within the CHNEP study area!
World Water Monitoring Day
September 18 to October 18
W
orld Water Monitoring Day is actually a month-long, international outreach program that builds public awareness and
involvement in protecting water resources around the world. The
annual event invites students to monitor the quality of their local
rivers, streams, estuaries and other water bodies from September
18 to October 18, and enter the results of their efforts in an international database. For more details, visit the website at www.
worldwatermonitoringday.org. Schools within the Southwest
Florida Water Management District may request support from the
district. For details, call 352/796-7211 ext 4757.
Mote’s Mobile Exhibit at Fishermen’s Village
Saturday, September 27, from 10 A.M. to 3 P.M.
C
ome see some of the local estuary residents in Mote’s 850gallon mobile tropical fish tank, including snook, bar soldierfish,
queen angelfish, Cuban hogfish, Spanish hogfish and Spanish
lobster. You’ll also see marine invertebrates, shells and other
touchables in the sensory awareness area. The self-contained mobile exhibit is a 14-wheeler trailer truck.
Directions: Fishermen’s Village is in Punta Gorda, Charlotte
County. Take Exit 164 from I-75, travel three miles west and
watch for Fishermen’s Village on the right side.
Native Peoples of Southwest Florida *
Saturday, September 27, from 9 A.M. to 1 P.M.
Join Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center to celebrate the na-
tive peoples who inhabited southwest Florida and were nourished
by our estuarine waters. This free program will take place at the
Alligator Creek site in Punta Gorda. Participants can tour the site
and visit the Animal Clubhouse and Butterfly Garden, view The
Domain of the Calusa film at 10 A.M. and listen to the Matlacha
Drum Circle perform at 11 A.M.
Directions: From Punta Gorda, take US 41 southeast, then turn
south on Burnt Store Rd (765). The entrance is one mile ahead on
west side of road. 941/575-5435
Geocaching for Burrows *
Saturday, October 4, from 9:15 to 11 A.M.
Challenger Middle School EnviroClub students are teaching
the adults how to use handheld GPS units, learn about burrowing
owls and will then put into practice what they’ve learned by going
outside to locate the owls’ burrows using GPS.
Registration: Space is limited. To register, call Sheryl at
239/887-0216 or email sthom51259@embarqmail.com.
Directions: This program will be held at the Cape Coral Library
at 921 SW 39th Terrace. It’ll begin in the meeting room and then
move outside. Once in Cape Coral, follow the signs for the libary
as you turn onto Mohawk from either Skyline or Chiquita boulevards.
Integrating Water Resource Management Conference:
Total Water Management *
Tuesday, October 7, from 8 A.M. to 5 P.M.
This conference will provide information about water manage-
ment and all components of water that are interrelated and dependent on one another. Presentations will address how we presently
manage water resources, how they are interconnected and what
the future holds for managing water resources.
Registration: Contact 863/221-5323 or lakeseducation@hotmail.
com to register. There is a $25 fee per person and the deadline is
September 19.
Directions: The conference will be held at the PCC/USF Lakeland Campus at 3433 Winter Lake Rd. in Lakeland. Enter the
campus from US 98.
Estuaries Day Every Day at Bunche Beach
Saturday, November 1. from 8 A.M. to 1 P.M.
Enjoy a day of fun, walking, talking with local environmental
groups, paddling and viewing the wildlife with birding at its best
(8), kayaking (8:30 and 10:30) and walking tours of beach habitat
(9 and 11). This event is offered by Lee County Parks & Recreation. Be sure to bring sunscreen, bug spray, old shoes, clothes to
get wet, hats and a sense of humor.
Directions: San Carlos Bay-Bunche Beach Preserve is located at the
west end of John Morris Rd. off Summerlin Rd. on the way to Sanibel in Lee County. Parking is free. 239/707-3015 or 239/432-2158
Water, Wings & Wild Things Polk Naturefest *
Saturday, November 1, from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M.
Spend the day learning about local natural resources and nature-
4
based recreational opportunities and enjoy presentations, music,
educational exhibits, nature-based arts and crafts, children’s activities and native wildlife demonstrations that highlight people’s connection to the natural resources in Polk County. The festival will be
held at Polk’s Nature Discovery Center within the Circle B Bar Reserve along the northern shores of Lake Hancock in the upper Peace
River watershed. For additional information, call 863/534-7377.
CHNEP Harbor Happenings Fall 2008, 12(3):2008
–––– Boat Tours –––
* These events are sponsored by CHNEP.
Literary Passage: Charlotte Harbor to Cabbage Key *
Lemon Bay Watershed Nature Cruise *
Saturday, September 27
Tuesday, September 30, from 10 to noon
ake a daylong trip in Charlotte Harbor with a lunch stop at historic Cabbage Key Inn, built in 1938 as the winter home of mystery writer Mary Roberts Rinehart. A naturalist will comment on
the wonders of the harbor and writers will share readings of nature
poetry and prose inspired by the harbor environment. This seventh
annual cruise on a King Fisher Fleet vessel docked at Fishermen’s
Village in Punta Gorda is offered by the Peace River Center for
Writers and the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program.
Registration: There is a charge and advance registration is required. Call 941/637-3514 or email prcw@edison.edu for registration process.
Directions to King Fisher Fleet/Fishermen’s Village: Take Exit
164 from I-75 in Charlotte County, travel three miles west and
watch for Fishermen’s Village on the right.
oin Charlotte County Natural Resources Division on a guided
cruise of the Lemon Bay watershed. Bring your own drinks, hat,
sunscreen and binoculars.
Registration: Contact 941/764-4392 or missy.christie@charlottefl.com by September 24 to register for this free event or with
questions. Seating is limited to 40 people.
Directions: The boat will leave from Englewood Bait House at
1450 Beach Rd. in Englewood, Charlotte County, near the Tom
T
J
–––– Guided Walks –––
Wet Walks for National Estuaries Days
Wet Walks on the Wild Side
Saturday, September 20
Saturday, September 27, from 9 A.M. to noon
wetwalk tour, both beginning at 10 A.M., at the beautiful Six Mile
Cypress Slough Preserve, a Lee County Parks & Recreation site.
These walks are co-sponsored by the Friends of Six Mile Cypress
Slough Preserve.
Registration: The boardwalk tour is free with paid parking, no
registration is required. The wet walk tour is $5 for those 12 and
older, but includes parking. Registration is required by calling
239/461-7440 or online at www.leeparks.org.
Directions: From I-75, take Exit 131, turn west then north on Six
Mile Cypress Parkway. The preserve is on the east side of the road.
edge of the 5,000-acre sawgrass marsh. Come see the headwaters
of the Corkscrew watershed that feeds into Estero Bay by way
of the Imperial River. Fall wildflowers will be blooming and the
water will be cool as we explore this wonderful wetland habitat.
Registration: Call 239/657-2253 to preregister. There is a $3 fee
for CREW members and a $5 fee for non-members.
Directions to CREW Marsh Hiking Trails: Travel 18 miles east
of I-75 from Exit 123; trailhead is on the right but not marked
on the highway. Look for brown road signs that direct you to the
grassy parking area on the right.
Naturalist will offer a guided boardwalk tour and a guided
This is a 2.5-mile hike at CREW Land & Water Trust along the
National Estuary Day is a yearly celebration that takes place during CoastWeeks, an annual
event that began in 1981 to provide people the chance to recognize and honor the beauty of our coasts to foster
awareness, understanding and improved management of the coast.
Since its inception in 1988, National Estuary Day has strengthened the partnership between the National Estuary
Program (NEP) and the National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS). The two programs protect more
than 50 estuarine habitats that have been federally designated as living resources.
The Environmental Protection Agency established the NEP in 1987 to identify, restore and protect nationally
significant estuaries of the United States. Unlike traditional regulatory approaches to environmental protection,
the NEP targets a broad range of issues and encourages communities to develop common solutions. In 1995, the
Charlotte Harbor was recognized as an “estuary of national significance” and became one of the 28 national estuary programs.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration established the NERRS in 1972 as a network of federal, state and local partnerships that link programs of stewardship, education and research to enhance informed
management and scientific understanding of the nation’s estuarine and coastal habitats. Rookery Bay NERRS is
located in southwest Florida.
CHNEP Harbor Happenings Fall 2008, 12(3):2008
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–––– Paddling –––
Other special events are described throughout this newsletter. * These events are sponsored by CHNEP.
Estero Bay Guided Paddle *
Myakka Wild and Scenic River Canoe Paddle
Saturday, September 27, from 8 A.M. to 12:30 P.M.
Wednesday, October 29, from 9 A.M. to 1 P.M.
oin Estero Bay Buddies on their annual canoe/kayak paddle
on one of three guided trips on the Estero River upstream and
downstream from the Estero River Outfitters. At 8:30 A.M. beginner paddlers will canoe/kayak upstream for an hour. At 9:00 A.M.,
intermediate paddlers will also canoe/kayak upstream but for two
hours. At 8 A.M., advanced paddlers will travel downstream to
Estero Bay for a four-hour trip. Each participant will be asked to
sign a waiver before the trip.
Registration: There is a $10 charge. Call 239/992-4050 to register those in your party and to give kayak/canoe and trip preferences. Space is limited.
Directions: Estero River Outfitters (20991 South Tamiami Trail)
is located 1/4 mile north of Corkscrew Road on US 41 in Estero,
Lee County.
oin a Myakka River State Park biologist on an ecological tour
of the Myakka Wild and Scenic River. If conditions allow, paddlers will travel through Big Flats and into Lower Myakka Lake,
exploring Deep Hole and learning about the river’s wildlife and
plants, hydrology, environmental sensitivities and the park’s
commitment to resource management in this unique ecosystem.
Bring your own canoe or kayak, hat, sunscreen, ample water,
lunch, insect repellent, binoculars and whistle. Participants should
have an intermediate level of paddling experience and stamina.
Life jackets are required. Be prepared to get wet and muddy. This
paddle is offered by the Myakka River State Park.
Registration: Space is limited, reservations are required. Call
941/486-2052 to register for this free program and receive directions. The park entrance fee is $5 per car.
Matlacha Pass Estuary Day Paddle *
Caloosahatchee Creeks Guided Kayak Paddle
Saturday, October 4, from 8 A.M. to noon
Thursday, October 30, from 8:30 A.M. to noon
oin the Friends of the Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserves on
their annual canoe/kayak paddle through the meandering tidal
creeks and mangrove forest of Matlacha Pass Aquatic Preserve.
The shallow waters of the estuary support mangroves, seagrass
beds, mudflats and oyster bars, which provide habitat and foraging areas for fish, crabs, shrimp, wading birds, sea turtles, marine
mammals and other aquatic critters. Intermediate two-hour and
advanced four-hour paddling options are available. All paddlers
must return to the launch site by noon.
Registration: There is a charge but children under 16, accompanied by an adult in a double kayak, are free. Advance registration
is required. Call 239/246-4460 to register.
Directions: Matlacha Community Park (4577 Pine Island Rd.
NW/SR 78) entrance is next to the Mulletville Restaurant on the
south side of Pine Island Rd. Matlacha is located between Cape
Coral and Little Pine Island in Lee County.
oin Lee County Parks & Recreation on a one-way paddle from
Manatee Park down the Orange River, across the Caloosahatchee
River and through the Caloosahatchee Creeks area, ending at the
new Caloosahatchee Creeks landing. A certified interpretive guide
and master naturalist will provide the history of the area, flora and
fauna. Transportation will be provided back to Manatee Park.
Registration: There is a $35 charge for each person, with participants using tandem kayaks. Registration is required by calling
239/461-7440 or online at www.leeparks.org.
Directions: Manatee Park is located 1 1/4 mile east of I-75 at exit
141 on the south side of SR 80/Palm Beach Blvd.
J
J
Coral Creek Kayak/Canoe Adventure & Picnic *
Sunday, October 5, from 3 to 7 P.M.
Join Lemon Bay Conservancy for a kayak tour led by Jack Taylor
(3 P.M.) followed by a barbecue with a brief history of the Calusa
Indians.
Registration: Call 941/475-9021 to register by September 30.
Participation is limited to 40 people. There is no charge for this
event but donations to Lemon Bay Conservancy, the local land
trust, will be appreciated.
Directions: Take CR 776 to CR 775/Placida Rd. in Charlotte
County, south to Grande Tours, located south of the Boca Grande
Causeway.
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CHNEP Harbor Happenings Fall 2008, 12(3):2008
J
J
Coral Creek – Cape Haze Estuary Day Paddle *
Saturday, November 15, from 8 A.M. to noon
J
oin the Friends of the Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserves on
their annual canoe/kayak paddle at Cape Haze. Paddle along the
shallow mangrove shorelines of Gasparilla Sound and Cape Haze
Aquatic Preserves. Highlights of paddles will include a close look
at mangrove shoreline, seagrasses, oyster bar communities and
the opportunity to view magnificent coastal birds. Intermediate
two-hour and advanced four-hour paddling options are available.
All paddlers must return to the launch site by noon.
Registration: There is a charge but children under 16, accompanied by an adult in a double kayak, are free. Advance registration
is required. Call 239/246-4460 to register.
Directions to Grande Tours: In Charlotte County, drive south on
CR 771/Gasparilla Rd. approximately 8 miles to Placida. Turn
east (right) into the entrance of Grande Tours (12575 Placida
Rd.), just after CR 771 and 775 merge, and before the stoplight
near the Boca Grande Causeway.
–––– Cleanups ––––
* These events are sponsored by CHNEP.
Charlotte County and Lee County Coastal Cleanups **
Monofilament Madness *
Saturday, September 20, at many sites throughout Charlotte and
Lee counties
Sunday, October 26, from 8 A.M. to noon
V
olunteers of all ages are needed to help in this international
grass-roots effort to rid our coastlines of litter, pollution and
debris. The annual cleanups are organized internationally by the
Ocean Conservancy. The goals of the project are to remove and
record unsightly and environmentally harmful debris from Florida’s coastline and waterways and raise public awareness about
this preventable litter problem. Volunteers will be asked to record
the amounts and types of debris they collect, using provided data
cards. The data is part of the vital research needed to ultimately
prevent illegal and improper disposal of solid waste.
Registration: For more information or to register for cleanups
in Lee County’s Sanibel, Captiva, North Captiva and Causeway,
contact Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation at 239/4722329. For more information or to register for Charlotte County
cleanups, contact 941/764-4390 or Glenda.Anderson@charlottefl.com.
T
he goals of the cleanup are to remove unsightly and environmentally harmful fishing line and marine debris from the
waterways and mangroves of Lee County. In order to raise public
awareness about this preventable litter problem and the lifethreatening circumstances it poses for marine life, the volunteers
will spend their morning cleaning up the mess left by others.
More than 200 boaters, kayakers and jet skiers are expected to
launch their boats and physically remove the floating debris and
monofilament fishing line.
Registration: To register or for more information, contact the
Keep Lee County Beautiful office at 239/334-3488 or email at
klcb32@cs.com.
One out of every three acres of America’s land – 600 million
acres – is public land. Consider spending a day of your time
preserving it.
RESOLUTION
W
hereas: Charlotte Harbor was designated as an “estuary of national significance” in 1995 and accepted into
the National Estuary Program, one of four in the state of Florida and one of only 28 in the entire United States;
and
Whereas: The Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program, a partnership of citizens, elected officials, resource
managers and commercial and recreational resource users who are working to improve the ecological integrity
of the Greater Charlotte Harbor Watershed, jointly developed and approved a Comprehensive Conservation and
Management Plan for the Charlotte Harbor watershed in February 2000 that was updated in 2008; and
Whereas: Estuaries are unique environments where rivers meet the sea, are vital components to the world’s ecosystem, serve as nursery grounds for the majority of commercial and recreational fish and shellfish consumed
by Americans as well as improve water quality by filtering pollutants, act as buffers to protect shorelines from
erosion and flooding, and provide essential food and habitat for birds, fish and other wildlife; and
Whereas: National Estuaries Days is a time to celebrate the importance of estuaries; and
Whereas: Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program will celebrate National Estuaries Days with its program
partners offering wading trips, guided walks, paddling events, boat tours, marine exhibits and much more from
September to November 2008, with event details posted on the Internet at www.CHNEP.org.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, we do hereby proclaim September 27, 2008, as NATIONAL ESTUARY DAY and urge the general public to recognize the importance of this important natural resource.
Duly Executed by the Boards of the County Commissions of Charlotte, Lee, Manatee and Polk counties; Councils of the Cities of Cape Coral, Punta Gorda, Sanibel, and the Boards of the Peace River/Manasota Regional
Water Supply Authority, the SWFWMD Peace River Basin Board, Central Florida Regional Planning Council
and the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council.
CHNEP Harbor Happenings Fall 2008, 12(3):2008
7
“Ding” Darling Days and Family Fun Day
Mark your calen- Junior Duck Stamp Awards will fill the week
dars for “Ding” Darling Days birding
and eco-festival at
J.N. “Ding” Darling
National Wildlife
Refuge on Sanibel
Island, Florida, the
week of October 19
to 26. Family Fun
Day culminates the
week with free fun on Sunday, October 26.
The theme of this year’s event is “Let’s Go
Outside!”
The 19th Annual “Ding” Darling Days celebrates the birthday of the refuge’s namesake, father of the Duck Stamp program
and Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist, Jay
N. “Ding” Darling.
Birding and kayaking tours, environmental
speakers, a nature photography contest, and
with environmental activities for all ages.
Family Fun Day features all-free refuge tram
tours, live wildlife presentations, hot dogs,
kids’ activities, the current 75th Federal
Duck Stamp artist presentation, and more.
“This year’s event promises to be the best
‘Ding’ Days ever,” said Jim Scott, “Ding”
Days committee chair for the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society. “Last year we had
a record crowd. This year, we’re moving
the event back a week to catch more of our
snowbirds.”
Event details and contacts will be linked to
the website at www.CHNEP.org.
Directions: The refuge is located on Sanibel
in Lee County. Once on Sanibel Island, turn
right on Periwinkle Blvd., right on Tarpon
Bay Rd., left on Sanibel-Captiva Rd. The
refuge is approximately two miles on the
right side of the road.
CHNEP Offers Chance to Explore Estuaries Up Close and Personal
Wade into the shallow waters for Ponce de Leon Park in Punta Gorda
a closer look at the creatures buried
beneath the sand, clustered within
an oyster shell, swimming among
the seagrass blades, or hidden in a
tangle of mangrove prop roots.
CHNEP is pleased to sponsor the
wading trips listed here.
at 9:30 A.M. Call CHEC Alligator Creek
Site at 941/575-5435.
• Saturday, January 17, 2009
• Saturday, January 31
• Saturday, February 21
• Saturday, March 7
• Saturday, March 21
Cedar Point Park/Lemon Bay in Englewood at 9 A.M. Call CHEC Cedar Point
Environmental Park at 941/475-0769.
• Dates have not yet been selected
Sarasota County at 9 A.M. Call CHEC Cedar Point Environmental Park at 941/4750769.
• Dates and locations have not yet been
selected
Pine Island Sound on Pine Island at 9:30
Call Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserves at 941/575-5861.
• Friday, October 17, 2008
• Friday, February 6, 2009
• Saturday, March 14
• Friday, April 3
A.M.
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CHNEP Harbor Happenings Fall 2008, 12(3):2008
Estero Bay at Big Carlos Pass near Lovers
Key. Call Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve at
941/463-3240.
• Saturday, November 15, 2008, at 11:30 A.M.
• Thursday, December 18, 2008, at noon
• Thursday, January 15, 2009, at 11:30 A.M.
Bunche Beach in Fort Myers at 9 A.M.
Call Calusa Nature Center at 239/275-3435.
• Saturday October 4, 2008
• Saturday, November 1
• Saturday, February 7, 2009
• Saturday, March 7
• Saturday, April 4
• Saturday, May 2
• Saturday, June 6
• Saturday, July 11
• Saturday, August 1
• Saturday, September 5
Great Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival
Waterway cleanups, eco-activities and
Susanne Schraeder, Lee County Parks & Recreation
an emphasis on canoeing and kayaking Lee
County will headline the Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival, October 25 to November 2.
The festival happens over nine days in every
waterfront community in Lee County along
the Great Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail, a
190-mile marked trail that guides everyone
from beginners to advanced kayakers and canoeists. The trail has been recognized as one of the best U.S. kayaking destinations by both Paddler and Canoe & Kayak magazines.
“Cleanups and the environment are a focal point of the Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival,” said Betsy Clayton, waterways coordinator
for Lee County Parks & Recreation and the festival co-coordinator.
“Last year, we saw couples, families, seniors and singles coming
out to help.”
More than 50 events are scheduled for the third-annual festival,
including many that help explain the natural environment and how
to access it. In addition to the waterway cleanups, activities include
a free nightly speakers’ series, a catch-and-release kayak fishing
tournament, nature photo contest, clinics and seminars, kayak races,
family eco-tours, outdoors fests and hospitality events.
The festival coincides with CHNEP National Estuaries Days, the J.N.
“Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge’s “Ding” Darling Days
and Keep Lee County Beautiful Inc.’s Monofilament Madness. Many
events are described in this issue of Harbor Happenings and you’ll
find a link to the other events on the website at www.CHNEP.org.
It’s all about enjoying the paddling trail and attending a one-ofa-kind eco event. Festival attendees will walk away with kayak
and environmental know-how as well as memories of mysterious
mangrove mazes, schools of silver-hued fish darting beneath their
boats and lumbering manatees feeding on seagrasses.
The 190-mile Great Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail was created to
help people safely experience the natural magic of Lee County’s
waterways, with leggy mangrove forests, more than 300 species
of birds and slivers of sugar-sand beaches. Forget The Discovery
Channel. Come paddle yourself, one-on-one with nature.
“With Americans everywhere becoming more environmentally conscious
while also watching their household
spending, this festival is a win-win
experience,” Clayton said. “Why not
revisit paradise in your own backyard
– no passport needed.”
In 1995, the greater Charlotte Harbor
estuary system was recognized as an
“estuary of national significance” and
became one of
28 National Estuary Programs.
Upper Peace Kayak Environmental
Education Program (UPKEEP)
Rachelle Selser, Winter Haven Natural Resources
The City of Winter Haven, with assistance from a grant from the
CHNEP, has purchased a fleet of 12 kayaks — 3 tandem kayaks and
9 single-passenger kayaks with paddles, personal flotation devices,
back rests, tie downs and a trailer to transport the fleet.
With this addition, UPKEEP was created to provide nature-based
recreation and environmental education to help citizens explore
the Peace River watershed by kayak. Paddling along lake edges,
stormwater treatment ponds, down sections of the Peace River, into
the Charlotte Harbor Estuary and, ultimately, the Gulf of Mexico
will provide participants with firsthand experiences and knowledge
about our water resources and the ways we are all connected through
these resources.
In celebration of CHNEP National Estuaries Days, UPKEEP is
paddling a different section of the Peace River each Saturday in September. If you’d like to find out about the trips that remain, visit the
website at www.CHNEP.org and then call the City of Winter Haven’s
Natural Resource Division at 863/291-5600 ext. 247 for information
about outings, nature-based recreation and natural resources. Be sure
to R.S.V.P. even if you are bringing your own vessel.
We are all connected! UPKEEP provides nature-based recreation
and environmental education to help reveal those connections.
CHNEP Harbor Happenings Fall 2008, 12(3):2008
9
Sarasota County Watershed Awareness
Watershed Awareness Week, October 13 –19, is a collaboration
between the Science and Environment Council of Sarasota County
(SEC) and the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s
Manasota Basin Board. SEC member organizations will host a
number of fun, nature-based interactive activities for all ages at
various locations during this weeklong celebration of the county’s
watersheds.
These educational events not only showcase a commitment to protecting watersheds, but help create awareness about watersheds and
foster proper stewardship.
Some of the events planned during the week include:
• How to be a good bay neighbor: Landscaping your yard to benefit
the bay, hosted by New College of Florida.
• Sunset stroll through the mangroves, a native plant program and
boat rides at Historic Spanish Point.
• Walk and canoe trip highlighting the local watershed and the
importance of a varied and healthy ecosystem, hosted by Oscar
Scherer State Park.
• Sunset sail aboard Aquarian Quest’s large sail ship, with discussion about environmental issues.
• Family-oriented watershed talks and water testing at Crowley
Museum & Nature Center.
• Lisa Bramlage of Myakka River State Park and Dick Pfaff of
Economy Tackle talk about the watershed during a canoe trip.
• Educational walks and tours at various Sarasota County parks
and open spaces. Plus watershed DVDs viewable from home on
Channel 19.
• A walk and talk at Ken Thompson Park, organized by Sarasota Bay
Estuary Program and the City of Sarasota.
While not all of these events occur within the portion of Sarasota County
that is part of the CHNEP, information received will also help those who
live in the Myakka, Coastal Venice and Lemon Bay watersheds. You’ll
find a link to these events on the website at www.CHNEP.org.
Event participants will also have the opportunity to join in a dialogue
about the watershed by posting their responses, comments, pledges
and questions on a specially created visitor interactive at select SEC
locations. These artistic, watershed-inspired panels carry provocative statements and questions about the watershed posed by local
decision-makers and scientists. Visitors are encouraged to reflect
about their role in conserving Sarasota County’s watersheds and
take action around a particular issue.
During and after Watershed Awareness Week events, visitors to
SEC-member sites can continue to learn about watersheds through
educational kiosks and outdoor interpretive signs.
W
hile we always strive to provide accurate information, sometimes
the best attempts fail. Thanks to Dave R. Jackson with the Florida
Natural Areas Inventory at Florida State University for providing corrections to the list of frog species that appeared in the summer 2008
issue of Harbor Happenings newsletter. The barking treefrog and the
pinewoods treefrog are not “listed” species and the bullfrog is a native
species. The scientific name of the Florida gopher frog was changed
to Rana capito.
green treefrog
Hyla cinerea
Painting by Stephen Koury (skoury@skoury.com, 863/647-1490, www.skoury.com)
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CHNEP Harbor Happenings Fall 2008, 12(3):2008
Salterns: Rare wetland habitat
Melissa Nell, Manatee County Conservation Lands Management Department
L
ooking at the seemingly barren landscape at Robinson Preserve,
one might wonder where the restoration work has occurred. The
answer to this question is that the lifeless landscape is, in fact, a
habitat success story!
These apparently empty wastelands are, in reality, rare habitats.
These special spots known as salterns require a delicate balance
of salt water, sand and a very specific ground elevation in order to
thrive. Salterns (also called salinas, salt flats and salt barrens) are
open areas where tidal waters pool and salt is concentrated through
evaporation.
The photograph taken at Robinson Preserve shows how incredible
and dynamic this landscape can be. Taken in the fall, the explosion
of colored glasswort plants are Florida’s true fall colors. As with
maples trees that lose their leaves come winter, many of these annual
plants will die off in the colder months. They’ll be seen growing
again with bright spring greens as Florida’s weather warms. In areas
where the soil is overly salty, there may be few plants, but the system
still thrives and is yet another example of a unique wetland.
Much like the desolate America deserts, things in the salt barrens
are not always what they seem. Amongst the stunted plant growth
are thousands of small holes, home to miniature fiddler crabs. These
creatures play a vital role in this system, sifting through the sands to
feed, filtering and cleaning the sand as they roll it into tiny balls.
Public Issues and Conflict Management,
a workshop on effective collaboration
December 16–17, 2008
With special thanks to NOAA Coastal Services Center,
the CHNEP is pleased to offer this course to increase
participant’s ability to design, conduct and control meetings in public forums. The registration form and additional
details are posted at www.CHNEP.org.
Photographs: Robinson Preserve by Nadine Meyer and fiddler crab by Dotty
Motta.
Salterns have become one of our rarest landscapes in southwest Florida.
Restoring and protecting salt barrens is a goal for Manatee County
Conservation Lands Management Department and its partners.
CHNEP Meetings and Events – 2008
These dates are tentative. Confirm dates and obtain locations and
agendas at www.CHNEP.org. Additional meetings and events are
also posted on this website, as are grant deadlines.
National Estuaries Days
September 27
Celebrations are expected to be held over six weeks.
Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC)
October 15
Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)
October 22
Management
October 31
Policy
November 17
Charlotte Harbor Nature Festival
November 22
Public Issues-Conflict Management Workshop Dec 16-17
CHNEP Harbor Happenings Fall 2008, 12(3):2008
11
Celebrate National Estuaries Days 2008
with the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program
* These events are sponsored by CHNEP.
CHNEP is pleased to sponsor events throughout the year. Be sure to check the newsletter Harbor Happenings and visit the website at
www.CHNEP.org for details on these programs. Additional programs offered as part of National Estuaries Days and changes to these
programs will be described on the website.
Special Events
Paddling
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Until September 30: Florida State Park free admission
Until November 15: Mote Marine Laboratory 2:1 admission
September 18 – October 18: World Water Monitoring Day
September 27: Mote’s Mobile Exhibit at Fishermen’s Village
September 27: Native Peoples of Southwest Florida*
October 4: Geocaching for Burrows*
October 7: Integrating Water Resource Management Conference*
October 13 – 19: Watershed Awareness Week in Sarasota County
October 19 – 26: “Ding” Darling Days
October 25 – November 2: Great Calusa Blueway Paddling
Festival
• November 1: Water, Wings & Wild Things Polk Naturefest
• November 1: Estuaries Day Every Day – A Free Day at the Bay
• November 22: Charlotte Harbor Nature Festival
This festival is the signature event for the CHNEP. Come enjoy
the festival and learn from the experts about the natural environment of southwest Florida!
Boat Tours
• September 27: Literary Passage – Charlotte
Harbor to Cabbage Key*
• September 30: Lemon Bay Watershed
Nature Cruise*
• each Saturday in September: UPKEEP Guided Paddles Down
the Peace River
• September 27: Estero Bay Guided Paddle*
• October 4: Matlacha Pass Estuary Day Paddle*
• October 5: Coral Creek Kayak/Canoe Adventure & Picnic*
• October 29: Myakka Wild and Scenic River Canoe Paddle
• October 30: Caloosahatchee Creeks Guided Kayak Paddle
• November 15: Coral Creek – Cape Haze Estuary Day Paddle*
Wading Trips
•
•
•
•
October 4: Wading Trip at Bunche Beach*
October 17: Mucking About in Pine Island Sound*
November 1: Wading Trip at Bunche Beach*
November 15: Wading Trip in Estero Bay*
Cleanups
• September 20: Charlotte County Coastal Cleanup*
• September 20: Lee County Coastal Cleanup on Sanibel,
Captiva, North Captiva and Causeway*
• October 26: Lee County Monofilament Madness*
Guided Walks
• September 20: Wet Walks for National
Estuaries Day
• September 27: Wet Walks on the Wild
Side
Be sure you receive the CHNEP 2009 calendar
Because of the generosity of those who submitted images and
those who reviewed the images, the CHNEP will have another
beautiful calendar that depicts the natural environment of southwest Florida. The calendars are distributed free to subscribers
of this newsletter and are available for pickup at locations such
as libraries and nature centers. If you aren’t already receiving
Harbor Happenings, subscribe online at www.CHNEP.org by
October 15 to receive a free calendar.
Not receiving Harbor Happenings in the mail? Request a free subscription. Visit the website at www.CHNEP.org for details.
Please let us know of any address corrections by sending an email to mhilgendorf@swfrpc.org.
Harbor Happenings
Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program
1926 Victoria Ave
Fort Myers FL 33901-3414
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CHNEP Harbor Happenings Fall 2008, 12(3):2008