MRTF, Council hold meeting on activity
Another Town of Fort Myers Beach advisory board sat down with Council members to review its goals and objectives recently.
The Marine Resources Task Force, a committee that promote stewardship of the island’s marine resources, listed its ongoing programs and proposed items of interest in seeking Council approval. The committee meets at Town Hall on the second Wednesday of every month at 6 p.m.
Here is a capsule look at each topic discussed:
– Beachscape program – MRTF members are looking into beginning a second round of voluntary dune plantings within the next couple of months. A few property owners are willing to participate in it. The first project -performed on the beachfront adjacent to Connecticut Street beach access- was completed roughly one year ago.
“The plants from last year did very well,” said MRTF chair Bill Veach, whose home was involved. “We didn’t just plant a barrier between the property and the (Gulf). We actually put two islands of vegetation out in the sand, away from other vegetation. They grew faster, and they collected sand that was blowing down the beach faster. In some places, we have a good foot of sand more than we did before we put the plants in. It presented to me more options for places to plant that are beneficial to our Beach.”
Veach said the “islands” provided a form of shelter from the wind for many beach goers, who placed chairs near the vegetation.
The next phase of plantings will cost participants roughly $1 per plant. Lee County Tourist Development Council funds may wipe out the cost, however.
MRTF hopes to plant at certain beach accesses along the beachfront without blocking the access to and from the shoreline. Dune plantings are viewed as a critical component to maintaining beach stability and serving as a source to rebuild the beach after a storm event.
– Adopt-A-Beach program – The aim of this program is for residents to become sponsors and gain responsibility of each beach access by patrolling each particular area and inform about beachfront regulations on a regular basis, says program coordinator Tree Andre. T-shirts are available with the committee acronym on front and ‘volunteer’ on back.
“The idea is that we are there as helpers and to pass on information,” she said. “We have some people who have already committed to taking over an access. As we begin to fill the accesses, we will have a min-training program to tell people what tasks we are looking for. We would also like to include the Beach Patrol, so that everyone is on board.”
The un-launched educational program is still in its developmental stages. MRTF members have sponsored some beach accesses. Tasks include filling in holes to prevent injury, informing visitors who are picking up live shells to please not take them, informing pet owners to clean up after their dogs and picking up trash.
Those interested in sponsoring a beach access can contact Town Hall at 765-0202.
– Community Outreach – MRTF members are looking at events to gain visibility and participation to the advisory board or facets within the Town. One such information event being planned includes having Earth Day activities at Mound House.
“We thought it would be a really fun thing to do, especially with the Mound House being completed, to have different representatives of local environmental groups and a drum circle,” said MRTF vice chair Keri Hendry Weeg.
Another proposed event would be an end of turtle season celebration. MRTF could also set up a booth at the annual Monofilament Madness event at Fish-Tale Marina.
– FAQs – MRTF has assembled a beachfront list of the ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’ on its website and on a sheet for dissemination.
“It’s a useful thing we have given to our receptionist and public interaction staff like Beach Patrol so that we have answers to questions ready to go,” said Town staff liaison Keith Laakkonen.
– Marine Stickers – MRTF is looking into creating stickers to supply marinas for their rental boats. The stickers would have links to general information regarding boat renting. MRTF members have polled marina owners if they would be interested in such accepting the stickers and reported that some are definitely interested.
“I think we have people on board,” said Veach.
– Brochures – MRTF has printed a new brochure that informs the public of crucial points to assist residents and visitors in protecting the beauty and natural resources of the island for generations beyond.
The re-published brochure, which has been distributed to area businesses, replaces an older version with tighter content with sub-titles including beach-nesting birds, dunes, live shells, sea turtles, Little Estero Critical Wildlife Area, Dogs on the Beach, Trash & Litter, Open Containers/Alcohol and Fireworks/Firearms.
“We probably reduced the language by 75 percent, but still kept the message,” said Laakkonen. “It’s much more user-friendly.”
– Dredging Canals – Member Glenn Thompson has been doing research on the subject and found that the problem with “dirty” canals goes back to 2003. He would like to review the Waterway Evaluation Methodology Report and look into others means of addressing cleaning canals.
“The canal’s water quality obviously is related to the Back Bay water quality,” he said. “”There are ways to deal with surface water, runoff water running into the canals and how to treat that.
Restore Act funding may be available. Coast & Harbor Engineering, a firm that has analyzed the beach shoreline, may factor in as well.
Thompson stated there are roughly 30 canals on the Beach, but not all are impacted as bad as some. Depth surveys and grant options are also being looked into.
MRTF is also proposing a few other programs/projects, including green building certifications, eco-tourism efforts, rain garden program and restoring the Mulholland Stewardship Award.
According to Town records, the responsibilities of MRTF include the rehabilitation of Estero Bay and its surrounding waters, including all wildlife, plant life, and air and water quality and to bring Estero Bay and its surrounding waters including the Estero Island shoreline to the point that they will continue to be the driving force of our economy, sustaining the quality of life in cooperation with all whose livelihoods or lifestyles depend upon the health of Estero Bay.