Volunteers Start New Year with Beach Cleanup

Thanks to January’s Beach Cleanup sponsors – Marco Island Academy Key Club members and local newspaper, Coastal Breeze News! An impressive group gathered at Marco’s South Beach (about 60+ volunteers) at 8:00 AM, eager to rid the beach of unwanted trash items. They picked up about 110 pounds of beach trash in two hours. A very good start to the New Year!  

According to the data collected by the International Coastal Clean-up (ICC), cigarette butts, food wrappers, plastic bottles, bottle caps, plastic lids, straws, stirrers, grocery bags as well as foam take-out containers are the most common items picked up during a beach cleanup.  

At South Beach, volunteers spread out and covered over two miles, picking up plastic items that would eventually end up in the ocean, posing threats to various marine creatures. It is a scientific fact that many marine animals ingest or become tangled in plastic leading to death or injuries. 

The morning weather was slightly overcast, and the volunteers enjoyed being outdoors in a beautiful setting and making a difference to conservation, preventing pollution, and making Marco’s beach pristine and free of trash! For their two-hour commitment,volunteers worked towards a future ensuring that this beautiful piece of paradise is plastic-free! 

Keep off the Dunes – Restoration in Progress!  

According to Collier County, approximately one million plants are expected to be installed on the beaches of Collier County, City of Naples, and Marco Island over the next three to four months as sand for the dunes is reshaped to accept the plants. Planting these areas will help stabilize the dune, enhancing the protection of upland properties. 

If you’ve been on the beach and walked closer to the dunes, you will notice the series of wooden posts installed with signage directing beachgoers to stay off the dunes. According to Larry Humphries, Project Manager-Collier County, “When we planted the new dune vegetation, we focused on planting the root system rather than the plant itself. All plants were installed six inches below the surface. Our main focus was to be able to establish the root system, and the plant would follow. By contract, our contractor is responsible for an 85% survival rate. Earth Balance achieves around a 97% survival rate.” 

Also, each beach vendor on Marco’s beach is aware of the dune plantings. Lots of traffic in those areas, with vendors storing their equipment at the end of the dune planting. Humphries added, “I worked with each one to make sure that they do not destroy what we are planting to help preserve property and their business. I know some had put up their own protection when we completed planting.”  

The dunes were subject to vehicular traffic by the county’s trash contractor and Beach Patrol vehicles, and they get crowded at this time of the year. This concern has been taken up with anyone driving permitted vehicles on the beach and close to the dunes. Now that the signs are installed it should be a deterrent for vehicular traffic to drive too close to the newly planted dunes. Drivers have been informed by the County that they are responsible for any damage done by vehicles.  

Some beach vendors have also put up their own perimeter signs to help with traffic flow away from the dunes. 

According to Humphries, “We have planted a dune in a way that has never been done before. The process of choosing the right plants, planting them in a way the roots will be strong and fight for survival. Plant like a tossed salad and not a salad bar. This has all been accomplished with the help of the Naples Botanical Garden, Local Landscape architects, master gardeners, the City of Marco, the City of Naples and a few professors for FGCU. We have lots of eyes looking at this project.”  

The Dune signs also indicate “Dune Restoration in Progress,” and according to Humphries, these are not of a temporary nature – they are permanent, as long as there is dune vegetation, it will always be in progress.