SCCF Annual Report 2008-2009 Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation We wish we could enclose a cup of coffee with this year’s Annual Report. That’s right, a cup of coffee. Why you may ask? Because we know if you could take an hour, maybe less, to read this report over a nice cup of joe, it would give you countless answers to the question: “Why am I part of the SCCF Family?”” You would read about the unique role we are playing to ensure that local, state, and federal natural resource policy and regulation do not harm what we have worked so hard to protect for the last 42 years. Across different program areas, you would read how our Wildlife Habitat Management, Native Plant Nursery, Sea Turtle Conservation, and Marine Research Laboratory professionals are working daily to protect the land on and the water around Sanibel and Captiva - and the wildlife and islanders who call this special place home. You would read how our environmental educators are multiplying the number of individuals and generations who have gained a passion for conservation by attending our thoughtful, informative and fun programs. You would read about all the Foundation’s activities for Fiscal Year July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2009, a time in the nation’s history which challenged everyone, every business and every nonprofit organization. The Foundation wasn’t immune, but the combination of belt-tightening and diehard member support allowed us to end the year in the black and continue making significant progress in all program areas. If you could take the time to read the Annual Report and familiarize yourself with our work in this past year, we feel strongly it will motivate you to support us once again this year. Hold on a minute. Here’s an idea. Come by the Nature Center any weekday with your Annual Report. We’ll show you to one of our comfortable porch rocking chairs and run to the kitchen for you. Regular or decaf? Happy reading. We couldn't do it without you, Bill Fenniman Erick Lindblad President, Board of Directors Executive Director www.sccf.org Page 1 Board of Directors & Staff The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of natural resources and wildlife habitat on and around Sanibel and Captiva. Board of Trustees Jim Haggart Greg Tolley, Ph.D. Bill Fenniman, President Janie Howland Barbara Von Harten Linda Uhler, Vice President John La Gorce Dr. Art Weissbach Ron Gibson, Treasurer Tom Lagan Carol Ann Zell Bruce Rogers, Secretary David Lowden Committee Chairs Ron Gibson, Finance Cheryl Giattini, Annual Fund Drive Linda Uhler, Nominating Dr. Greg Tolley, Marine Laboratory Linda Uhler, Membership Dean Skaugstad, Hammerheads (Carpenters) Janie Howland, Special Events (formerly Resource Development) Staff and Volunteer Support Staff Administrative: Marine Laboratory: Erick Lindblad, Executive Director Dr. Loren Coen, Director Wendy Cerdan, Business Manager Dr. Rick Bartleson, Research Scientist Marti Bryant, Member Relations Director Dr. Eric Milbrandt, Research Scientist Cheryl Giattini, Legacy Programs Dr. Alex Rybak, Research Scientist, GIS/Database Admin. Karen Nelson, Communications Coordinator Lucy Pongetti, Grant Administrator Molly Dawson, Grant Administrator Environmental Education: ***Keleigh Provost, Research Associate ^Kristie Anders, Education Director A.J. Martignette, Research Assistant Melissa Upton, Nature Center Manager/Educator Jeff Siwicke, Research Assistant Richard Finkel, Environmental Educator ***Mark Thompson, Research Associate Dee Serage-Century, Landscaping for Wildlife *Dr. Art Weissbach, Visiting Research Scientist **Brooke Kosar, Intern, Sovereign People Internship Fund ~Dr. Marcela Trevino **Christine Raczka, Intern for Education and the *Maree Elowson Marine Lab, Sovereign People Internship Fund Natural Resource Policy: Native Plant Nursery: Rae Ann Wessel, Director Jenny Evans, Native Plant Nursery Manager Lewis Fort, Nursery Assistant Manager Wildlife Habitat Management Andrea Biitig, Landscaping Supervisor Brad Smith, Director Em Hayes, Part-time Assistant Chris Lechowicz, Herpetologist/I.T. Specialist **Kellyn Bechtold, Intern Amanda Bryant, Biologist **Kristen Saksa, Intern Victor Young, Field Technician **Josie Thurmond, Intern ***Cara Faillace, Shorebird Researcher, **Jackie Wagner, Intern USFWS Challenge Cost Share Grant •Toby Clark, Field Technician Nature Shop and Bookstore: ***Joel Caouette, Shorebird Technician, *Jan Egeland, Nature Shop Coordinator USFWS Challenge Cost Share Grant *Fran Cameron, Volunteer Coordinator **Bill Pence, Intern *Carol Gestwicki, Book Buyer **Alexi Padover-Dart, Intern * Volunteer *** Grant-supported ^ Partial Support from “Ding” Darling Conservation Education Fund ** Intern ~ Collaborator • Position shared with USFWS/J.N. “Ding” Darling NWR Page 2 Staff www.sccf.org Photo by Charlie McCullough Table of Contents Board of Directors & Staff 2 Special Events 24 Grants Received 4 Membership 24 Wildlife Habitat Management 5 Fundraising Events 25 Marine Laboratory & RECON 9 Legacy Fund Endowments 26 Natural Resource Policy 14 Land Protection 27 Education & Outreach 18 Annual Fund Drive 27 Native Plant Nursery 21 Annual Fund Drive Donors 28 Volunteers 22 Member Lists 30 Finance 23 www.sccf.org Table of Contents Page 3 Grants Marine Laboratory Proposals Funded: on drift algae production component Drift Algae • 2008 - Seagrass Recovery, Inc. Replant Vallisneria Project, 2009-2010, $14,722. americana upstream of S-79 (W.P. Franklin Lock), • 2009 - J.N. “Ding” Darling NWR continuous $15,000. landscape-scale assessment of water quality and critical • 2008 - Subcontract through Mote Marine Lab from seagrass habitats, including datasonde management, CHNEP (Charlotte Harbour National Estuary 2009-2011, $57,218. Program) for bay scallop monitoring stations in • 2009 - The Nature Conservancy-National Oceanic & Tarpon Bay and Pine Island Sound, $2,400. Atmospheric Administration Community Restoration • 2008 - Lee County Tourist Development Council Program, Community-based restoration of oyster through the Captiva Community Panel. A study habitat, 2009-2011, $77,781. to identify potential sources of impaired waters and • 2009 - National Association of Counties, National associated habitat status in nearby waters surrounding Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Restoration Captiva Island, Florida, 2008-2009, $114,123. of critical marine habitats (mangrove, SAV, oysters), • 2008 - Florida Gulf Coast University/City of Sanibel/ $70,500. Lee County. Bioavailability and sources of nutrients • 2009 - WCIND. SCCF water quality observing and the linkages to nuisance drift algae, 2008-2010, system (RECON), 2009-2010, $83,000, funded. $151,562. • 2009 - Lee County Tourist Development Council • 2008 - Florida Gulf Coast University/City of Sanibel/ through the Captiva Community Panel. A study Lee County with NOVA University and University of to identify potential sources of impaired waters and New Hampshire. Bioavailability and sources of nutrients associated habitat status in nearby waters surrounding and the linkages to nuisance drift algae. Subcontract Captiva Island, Florida, 2009-2010, $91,294. related to acoustic determination of bottom types and video mapping, 2008-2010, $94,000. Marine Laboratory Proposals Pending • 2008 - The Nature Conservancy and South Carolina • 2009 - USFWS Coastal Program, Using living Sea Grant provided grants totaling $800 to support shoreline as a landscape-scale approach for the the Oyster Restoration Working Group website @ restoration/enhancement of lost marine habitats, http://www.oyster-restoration.org/. 2009-2011, $107,237, pending. • 2008 - Lee County Tourist Development Council • 2009 - FishAmerica Program, Constructing living through City of Sanibel. SCCF water quality shorelines as a landscape-scale approach for the observing system, Year 2, 2008-2009, $74,000. restoration/Enhancement of Lost Fish and Marine • 2008 - Lee County/West Coast Inland Navigation Habitats, 2009-2011, $46,313, pending. District. Ruppia transplantation and monitoring in the Caloosahatchee. 2008-2009, $10,000. Wildlife Habitat Management • 2008 - South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium. • $27,000 from the USFWS Challenge Cost Share Evaluating the potential impacts of elevated boat Program for on-going research on the Snowy Plover traffic and related anthropogenic effects with regard to • $30,000 from the USFWS Coastal Program for shoreline changes and intertidal oyster habitat status ongoing exotic control on conservation lands and trends, $4,325 (balance transferred from SC). • 2009 - Florida Sea Grant for Program Development. Environmental Education/Natural Resource Policy Reopening a Tidal Pass: Implications for SAV • $32,550 Everglades Foundation grant to extend our (Submerged Aquatic Vegetation) habitats and water reach to inland audiences along the Caloosahatchee quality, 2009-2010, $6,593. and educate island visitors about Everglades restoration • 2009 - SFWMD, RECOVER Northern Estuaries and its importance to the islands. Monitoring and Assessment Plan: Caloosahatchee • $3,000 from the Lee County Tourist Development Estuary SAV Monitoring, 2009, $5,500. Council through the City of Sanibel for signs at the • 2009 - City of Sanibel and Lee Co., Grazing impacts Lighthouse Beach kiosk. Page 4 Grants www.sccf.org Wildlife Habitat Management Sanibel's first leatherback sea turtle nest, completion of initial restoration of the Bob Wigley Preserve and successful prescribed burns of 120 acres highlight a productive WHM year. Wildlife