[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he St. Lucie County Artificial Reef Program is helping with the restoration of Spoil Island SL 17, also known as Wesley’s Island. The island is in the middle of the Fort Pierce Inlet, just east of the turning basin. Since Wesley’s Island is between the North Causeway and South Causeway it is not part of the Aquatic Preserve (AP). The island is however highly valuable from the perspective of bird conservation and aquatic habitats. The island may offer additional opportunities for passive human recreation. St. Lucie County has a Letter of Intent from the State of Florida (owner of the island) to provide habitat enhancement and exotic vegetation removal. Subsequently it has adopted the island to Empire Environmental to help with various volunteer activities. Spurred on by numerous governmental and nongovernmental agencies (St. Lucie County Environmental Resources Department [ERD], Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Council, Friends of the Spoil Islands, Indian River Lagoon Solutions, Vero Beach Power Squadron) Empire Environmental’s nonprofit arm, MMPS, has led volunteers on several cleanups of Wesley’s Island.
Management of Wesley’s Island is a complex activity. The island is designated a conservation island but is used heavily for recreational purposes. While the exotic vegetation reduces many of the conservation attributes of the island, tall Australian pines do provide nesting habitat for great blue herons. Last year three nests produced eight great blue heron chicks. Moreover, three bird surveys conducted in 2015 have documented at least 29 species of birds including more than 100 least terns.
Even though Wesley’s Island is designated a conservation island, it is still used heavily for other purposes. It is the intent of restoration activities to provide passive recreational opportunities on the island’s shorelines (i.e. oyster reefs, snorkeling trails) that will not interfere with bird conservation. Subject to permitting, this island could also be used in environmental camps for both local students (Indian River State College, Smithsonian Marine Ecosystem Exhibit) as well as visiting students (i.e. Plymouth State University alternative spring break students) to learn about the ecology of the Indian River Lagoon. Numerous existing businesses (i.e. Lisa’s Kayaks, Indian River Lagoon & Lake Okeechobee Boat & Wildlife Tours O.K.E.E., Motorized Kayak Adventures) that provide ecotourism opportunities will also benefit from island restoration. In return, these businesses will help to educate the public about the island’s unique conservation attributes.
Most recently a handful of volunteers cleared the exotic tree canopy that covered a small brackish water pond on the interior of the island and the ERD produced a LiDAR drawing showing elevations on the island. This drawing can be used in restoration plans and grant applications. The ERD has also contracted a firm to treat many of the exotic trees on Wesley’s Island; volunteers will be needed to remove exotic seedlings until the native trees achieve canopy closure.
Volunteers have decided to have a fundraiser to purchase native trees for the island. MMPS has started obtaining gift certificates from local businesses to auction off at the fundraiser and a master chef will be having a pig roast at the Sailfish Brewing Company to raise funds to purchase the trees. The trees will be grown at the ERD’s tree nursery until they are planted (during the rainy season).
If anyone is interested in the St. Lucie County Artificial Reef Program, would like more information on Wesley’s Island restoration please contact Jim Oppenborn, St. Lucie County Coastal Resources Supervisor at oppenbornj@stlucieco.org or (772)462-1713.
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