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Beach marine task force tackles agenda

By Staff | Feb 18, 2009

The Fort Myers Beach Marine Resources Task Force (MRTF) held their monthly meeting Wednesday, introducing a new member and discussing issues on beachfront ordinances and regulations for visitors and residents.

Al Durrett, owner of Fish Tale Marina behind Villa Santini Plaza, was introduced as a new member to the board.

The six members in attendance scheduled a shorebird workshop in April; reviewed an investigation by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection on mangrove and vegetation cutting; approved their updated educational brochure; focused on the beachscape program; and discussed the aspects of commercial application of fertilizer from their ordinance as part of their hour-long agenda.

The shorebird workshop, tentatively scheduled for a mid-April afternoon at the Holiday Inn, centers on the awareness of shorebird nesting mostly on the south end of the beach.

Keith Laakkonen, MRTF board member and the town’s Enviromental Sciences Coordinator, is coordinating the event along with Nancy Douglas, regional biologist for the Florida Wildlife Commission, and involvement from Friends of Little Estero.

The workshop will feature Mayor Larry Kiker with opening introductory remarks on how the town can lend assistance, and include Brad Smith, researcher for the Sanibel/Captiva Conservation Foundation, on biology research on snowy plovers; and Eve Haverfield, who runs the nonprofit group Turtle Time Inc., on sea turtles issues.

“We’re really trying to gear it down for the laymen and promote some active stewardship down there,” said Laakkonen. “We’re also looking to start some potential volunteer programs such as counting the nestings and checking interactions (between the birds).”

The board then spoke on the ‘unauthorized cuttings of mangrove and dune vegetation in the critical wildlife area across from Terra Mar’ Condominiums, according to Laakkonen.

“DEP (Department of Enviromental Protection) is conducting on ongoing investigation in that area,” said Laakkonen. “We’re not saying that anyone from Terra Mar did it but (their association) was sent a letter and we basically said ‘please tell whoever is doing it to stop.’ Hopefully, the word gets out and, if it doesn’t happen again, we’ll be happy. We’re looking to do a restoration in that area.”

MRTF then showed its updated brochure which featured enhanced print graphics, changes in font and a revised map complete with mileage key, compass and new typographical layout.

“The map is the biggest revision in the brochure,” said MRTF chairman Charles Hester. “Keith put in the GIS (Geographic Information System) system that we have here at Town Hall. There are no other substantial changes to the text. We did call out all of the beach accesses. The map is not meant to be a comprehensive street map, but we added a few things to attract the visitors.”

The next agenda item dealt with the beachscape program which involves voluntary participation on what and where to plant and possible beach nourishment issues. Laakkonen brought up possible funding sources for this program.

“There is a grant out there right now,” Laakkonen said. “The funding cycle, I believe, is in June and it’s got potential.”

The fertilizer ordinance involving portion aspects of commercial applicator was the next topic.

“There is a requirement that commercial fertilizer operations have to be certified,” said Laakkonen. “I have been talking with Lee County and they have a class that I will sit through and then see if there is a way to dovetail our ordinance with what they do, and potentially send out a mailer to all commercial operators on the beach.”

The board then set an agenda for its upcoming meeting next month including tackling ways to reduce red tide and reviewing the town requirement for licensing beach raking. The meeting is scheduled for March 11 at 6 p.m.