Volunteers restore tidal flow in a Sanibel Island creek.

When Hurricane Charley churned ashore in Southwest Florida last summer, it clear-cut vast stretches of the mangrove forest in J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, on Sanibel Island.

Mangroves play the most vital role in tropical ecosystems, and an estimated 85 percent of mangrove forests in Florida have been destroyed by humans. Fallen, decaying mangrove leaves provide the nutrients that feed an estuary’s most basic organisms. The roots provide an essential sanctuary for most of Florida’s inshore and offshore gamefish and water-filtering shellfish, as well as nesting habitat for many species of birds. Though damaged mangrove plants can recover over time from hurricane winds, damage to the Refuge’s mangrove forest was so severe in places that a jump-start was needed.

That jump-start is being provided by a volunteer group headed by Capt. Pete Greenan and local members of the Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF), Boy Scout troops, members of the Sanibel Fly Fishers and Mangrove Coast Fly Fishers and others, working in collaboration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

According to Refuge manager Rob Jess, the consequences of mangrove damage are already mounting. Limbs and trunks of uprooted trees have clogged parts of the impoundment, so beginning in April, volunteers cleared a vital tidal creek to restore tidal flow into impounded areas for the regeneration of mangroves, and to encourage the return of migratory birds. Work is also under way to clear debris from around young mangroves, to allow water to flow freely and encourage the plants to grow at an accelerated pace.

But preventing the invasion of exotic vegetation is perhaps the most important task of all. Invasive plants such as the Brazilian pepper can quickly take over where natural vegetation is damaged or destroyed. Jess says the volunteer effort will save big money—the work involved would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars if a private contractor were brought in.

Plans are to continue invasive plant removal on satellite islands throughout the Refuge this summer. Prospective volunteers can get on board by contacting FFF Conservation Coordinator Kajsa Stromberg at conserve@fedflyfishers.org. For more information on the Federation of Fly Fishers’ Mangrove Recovery Initiative, visit www.fedflyfishers.org and click on Conservation.

SWA