Species diversity on these islands areįlorida’s coastal areas, especially uplands adjacent to water, often have a rich history of human settlement. The total peak nesting effort for these three islands combined from 2009-2016 is 5,032 nests. The three largest colonial rookeries are in Pine Island Sound Aquatic Preserve: Broken Islands, Hemp Key and Useppa Oyster Bar. Pine Island Sound Aquatic Preserve contains 16 of the 32 colonial rookery islands monitored monthly as a part of the Wading and Diving Bird Colonial Nest Monitoring Program. Monthly water quality monitoring since 1996 at five sites indicates that water quality and clarity is good within Pine Island Sound due to the proximity of the Gulf of Mexico and small watershed size. Some of the deepest-growing seagrass beds in CHAP occur within Pine Island Sound. With more than 17 years of monitoring data, results indicate that seagrasses vary significantly throughout the five Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserves, but they generally appear healthy and diverse. To see more, visit WGCU.In Pine Island Sound, waters from Charlotte Harbor, San Carlos Bay and the Caloosahatchee River mix with water from four passes to the Gulf of Mexico.Īnnual seagrass monitoring at 11 different sites in the Pine Island Sound Aquatic Preserve examines types, density, distribution and other parameters. Mike Walcher is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the FGCU Journalism program, and also works as a reporter for WGCU News. "You don't know what to do, how to help, when you need help yourself." Victims like Serina Berry said they're holding out for better times. The spirit of Pine Island is to rebuild, and we will." "It is not hopelessness, but a feeling of despair," he said. But even Barreda said he is noticing that the on-going disaster is taking a toll on some people. People describe Barreda as a whirlwind of energy, always working to bring help to people. He founded the Pine Island Alliance to coordinate recovery efforts. McCollum said he will move to the highest ground he can find in central Florida, far from either coast and from large bodies of water.Īaron Barreda is a retired Lt. We got out with the clothes on our backs. McCollum said he wife is so traumatized that she will not even come to Pine Island. "If I even see a puddle on the road, I think of the flood. "I think about it every day," he said of the afternoon and evening of September 28 of last year. He said a rescue crew saved him and his wife after Ian roared through. Seventy-two-year old Jack McCollum said he feared he would drown as he waded through chest-deep waters, fleeing his destroyed mobile home in St. Solinger said Ruane has come to Pine Island often to meet with people and gather information on what is needed for recovery. Solinger also gave a lot of credit to Lee County Commissioner Kevin Ruane. He gave credit to people putting aside their differences and working for a common goal: to reopen businesses and regain a sense of normalcy. "Thankful and hopeful would be the two words I would use to describe the attitude of Pine Island," Solinger said. He said that shows the spirit of Pine Island. But he added that she has reopened in another location along the road through Matlacha. Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce President Larry Solinger said his wife lost her Matlacha Menagerie business to the hurricane. Those were the places where local artisans sold their wares. Ian also wrecked many of the colorful cottages in Matlacha. Shattered homes sit vacant, crews pick up huge piles of debris, crews work to restore power to everyone, and the hum of generators still can be heard in some neighborhoods of St. People in Matlacha and some parts of Pine Island are dealing with catastrophic damage. Others on the island are focused on rebuilding and regaining some sense of normal. Crews still are rebuilding the electrical grid, and some people are living in trailers or campers. This is happening nearly six months after Hurricane Ian caused massive damage to the area. That's reality for some people at the south end of Pine Island and in Matlacha.
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