As most of you have figured out, our wonderful webmaster has just finished redesigning the website. I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for all of his hard work. As Mark mentioned in the previous post, the new island enhancement season is fast approaching and our schedules will be posted soon so keep a look out.

As for news from the Cocoa office, our recent construction and restoration efforts are almost complete and Sharon and I are trying to get things back inorder so we can actually work from here again. And in the spirit of our historic building's restoration I would like to invite all to participate in our Summer Social BBQ and Outhouse Raising. Sunday August 17th, 2008 from 1 to 5 pm we will be holding a BBQ for all East Central Florida Aquatic Preserves, Volunteers, Neighbors and Friends. So stop on by, visit, get a look at the recent restoration of the Brevard County Environmental Field Station (City Point Community Church), and pitch in for the relocation of the church’s outhouse. Bring the whole family to enjoy the food, friends, and pride for lending a helping hand.

This is to be the first event to relocate the church’s historic three-hole outhouse to a stable platform where it can be preserved and positioned for the education of future generations to the Environmental Field Station. Activities may include building disassembly, framing a new support structure, and/or bead-board application. While you are there you will be treated to a pot-luck BBQ and you can check out the progress on the recent restoration on the inside of the City Point Community Church. Bring a side-dish or desert to share, and equipment such as hammers, saws, and gloves and we will provide the main course and drinks. Parking will be available at the Glory of God Church located ¼ mile south of the Brevard County Environmental Field Station (formerly the City Point Community Church) and someone will be shuttling people between the two.

Organizers: East Central Florida Aquatic Preserves office, Brevard County Natural Resources, and the North Brevard Heritage Foundation
Where: Brevard County Environmental Field Station, (City Point Community Church), 3783 N. Indian River Drive, Cocoa, FL 32926
When: Sunday, August 17th, 2008, 1-5 pm (come when you like, leave when like)
What to bring: a side dish or dessert to share and equipment for construction efforts
Contact: Jeanene Bengoa at 634-6148 or jeanene.bengoa@dep.state.fl.us

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome all new volunteers, and to let everyone in on new volunteer opportunities. The Spoil Island season is quickly drawing near, and we will be posting that schedule on the website soon.www.spoilislands.org/ The planting of more than 115 plants on IR36 (5-21-08) was a huge success. Thank you to all who attended. Thanks to Graves Brothers Citrus who donated over 270 native plants, we will be planting again on 6/12/08. This time, we’ll only be planting 40-50 small plants and, we’ll install the plant identification signs along the nature trail. Starting time will be 9:00am from Vero Beach, at the Riverside Park boat ramp which is at the east end of Vero’s north bridge, (not at the end of the 17th St. bridge like I erroneously reported last time). Please let me know if you’d like to help. This will be about the last big project on IR36. We’re gearing up for a huge project on SL3 but, more on that later. We’re also in need of someone to report to our office here on Lewis Street for a couple of hours per week to water and weed our new plants. Anyone interested can contact our office (772) 429-2995 or me directly for info and directions.
Now for the ‘birders’ out there, we will be conducting our St. Lucie county islands bird survey on 6/22/08 and the Indian River county islands survey on 6/23/08. Please let me know, either by e-mail or phone as early as possible if you would be interested in participating. We need 2-3 volunteers for each of the days so please specify which day you would like to attend.
Finally, July 19th is the First Annual Treasure Coast Waterway Cleanup day sponsored by the Marine Industries Association of the Treasure Coast Waterway Cleanup (MIATC). As this event is not a DEP sponsored event, it is a most worthwhile endeavor. I will be captaining one of our DEP vessels from White City Park and working south to the Prima Vista boat ramp. I will be directly contacting a few of you with boats who expressed a desire to help. Once again, this is not a DEP sponsored event per say, but, if you would like to register and help out, you can contact Vera Locke at (772) 692-7599, or, online at www.miatc.com.
Our office has been shorthanded for quite a time now, and I have been helping Laura with some other projects. Our new permitting specialist will be on board soon and I will have time to be more diligent with my e-mails. To those of you who have not received a return e-mail, I apologize, but things will be better in the future and consequently, I will have more time to devote to your e-mails and questions.

Thank you so very much,


Mark McGee

Dear SIP volunteers,



As some of you know, my position here has always been temporary. Earlier this week I was offered a new position at the FDEP Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserve on the west coat. The permanent position will certainly be a change from the SIP, as there aren’t many spoil islands over there. I will be mostly working on regulatory issues, seagrass and water quality monitoring for 6 aquatic preserves. My last day will be Friday, April 4th; however the remaining SI events will be implemented by Laura Herren and SEFAP staff. I can’t fully express my gratitude to those I have worked with for almost two years in this position, but I can only hope that you enjoyed the time we spent together as much as I did.


Thank you.

Dana Moller, Estuarine Ecologist

FYI,


Yesterday the Tropical Trekkers chapter of the Florida Trail Association came out for another event on SL15. Last month the Trekkers did a great job of removing exotic plants from the north side of the island. Due to the high volume of trash they found while removing exotics, they wanted to return to make the island safer for wildlife. We returned armed with gloves, buckets and trash bags. Although the mosquitoes were plentiful, we managed to collect enough trash to fill half of our boat! Overall, the event only took 3 hours and made a tremendous difference. I want to thank those who made it to the event all the way from Stuart. Link to pictures here.

Spoil Island Project volunteers,


Last Saturday we had a turnout of 16 SIP volunteers and over 20 Scouts from troop# 551 for IR36. We managed to eradicate the last of the emerging exotic plants that have been hiding in the shadows of growing native vegetation. The weather was a bit windy, but several fires burned on the southern areas of the island without incident. The remaining stumps in the center of the island could not be burned due to the dense grassy vegetation and proximity to campers. Several dead pines trees were removed along the southwest shoreline to clear the area for fishing from the island. This area was also one of the sites for the new benches. The other bench was cemented-in along the mangrove strand on the east side of the island. The Green buttonwoods will provide some shade in the afternoon around the bench. Additional rocks were placed by the Scouts to mark the trail, which is approximately halfway completed. Unfortunately, four of our new plantings (nowhere near the camping areas) were pulled out of the ground for some unknown reason. The plants were replanted and watered with the rest of the plants. Hopefully they will make it. It may be encouraging to know that the Coral bean is blooming vibrantly despite its recent move to the island. The Gumbo limbo’s are putting out plenty of fruit as well. Soon the rainy season will take over and help our efforts. I want to thank Troop#551 and the rest of the volunteers who showed up! View some of the pictures from event on the following link by clicking here.