And instead of complaining, we need to thank the CCP for opening the issue, persuing it with Randy Cerchie, and collecting public opinion, most conscientiously. A good many people worked long and hard for the betterment of the island. The issue has been so long debated, we’re growing impatient to see the project actually begin.

Time to move on and move forward. For those who like to grumble, let’s take a look at water quality on Captiva and figure out how owners and visitors to the island can be best served on that issue.

“Time and tide wait for no man,” says the old proverb. Without doubt, neither will wait for Sanibel and Captiva to come to grips with dangerous sewage in our waters.

We well recall this year’s repeated beach closings. And last year, visitors became ill from eating local shellfish. Once again, E-coli was found, waters and beaches were closed. At the time, Sanibel Mayor Mick Denham and other politicians protested the problem. Fingers were pointed, wheels were spun, and an allegedly “offending” package plants was purchased by the city. As is wont to happen, the tide turned, washing away the symptoms along with the resolve.

Time, if not the tides, will tell whether concrete steps will have been taken to address our underlying water quality predicament.

As to the meeting discussed in the December 22, Captiva Current article, re Sanibel/Captiva water quality cooperation: some of us had been informed that Sanibel had spare sewage capacity. We were quickly disabused of this notion on December 14 when Mayor Denham announced his earlier notions of sufficient capacity were wrong.

In essence, the meeting revealed that Sanibel is positively encouraging: that is, positively encouraging Captiva to help itself.

In addition to offering unspecified cooperation, the Mayor stressed that Captivans consider adopting voluntary measures regarding septic maintenance and inspections. Alas, the severity of the “e-coli” message seems to have gone out with the tide and we can expect to see little action about this until the next beach closure headline and consequent frantic political protestations. When that happens, and it WILL happen, we should expect zero recognition that today’s actions (or inactions) will have only represented a Pyrrhic victory.

How many beach closings or sick visitors will it take for our governments–both Lee County and Sanibel–to do more than just create an appearance of action? We all claim to recognize the obvious risks of poor water quality to health, economy, and quality of life. But, do we?

I’m tempted to say politicians too often choose to put their heads in the sand, but perhaps in this case, doing so is precluded by the fact that the sand may well have been polluted by gratuitous effluent.

South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Governing Board Chairman Eric Buermann, said of the new watering restrictions “… they represent the most stringent landscape irrigation measures that this agency has ever had to impose…”

About two years ago, with guidance from Captiva homeowner, Stephen Cutler, I started converting irrigation systems on my properties to make use of “drip form” and “micro-jet” irrigation systems which apply water in a very targeted fashion directly to the roots. Such systems avoid inefficient overhead spraying. Why this is better is that they conserve valuable water, discourage weed growth, save money AND are NOT restricted! According to SWFWMD, “Low-volume irrigation, including the use of drip and microjet systems that apply water directly to plant root zones, is not restricted…” In addition to such water conservation measures, I have

We need to follow the new restrictions and/or convert to “Low-volume irrigation, including the use of drip and microjet systems …”

Mike Mullins
https://my.sfwmd.gov/portal/page?_pageid=3074,20103213&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
http://www.lee-county.com/utilities/Autopage_T2_R162.htm

As an avid gardener, I have long considered the fact that our barrier island soil condition (especially pH) is too sweet (alkaline) for most ornamental plantings. This is a consequence of unusually high calcium levels (shells, etc.), with contributing factors from well water (mine tests at pH 8.2) and even town water which can be sweeter than required, etc. I have gotten some ideas from Stephen Brown, Lee County extension agent, re the use of acidifiers such as elemental sulfur, iron and acid forming fertilizers such as ammonium sulfate. These products help amend the pH to be more neutral to slightly acidic when applied in accordance with the label directions.

Creating a proper pH (neutral to slightly acidic) resulted in many of my own specimens getting more out of the available nutrients while decreasing fertilizer applications. In a more neutral to slightly acidic soil condition, many acid loving plants require considerably less fertilizer than otherwise. Many such plants: bougainvillea, ixora, croton, hibiscus, gardenia, and certain palms, etc. cannot properly utilize required nutrients including trace minerals in our more typically alkaline (sweet) soil condition, thus the tendency is to add fertilizer, rather than understand the problem. Some, such as the Sabal (cabbage) palms, yucca, and sea grape thrive in our more alkaline environment. A soil test is essential and will help you determine the conditions appropriate to nurture your own prized plantings.

I think much more pH and soil condition education must be made available to help local gardeners, landscapers, growers and other practitioners of horticulture with better understanding of pH balance and it’s impact on nutrient utilization for specific species. This may enhance the effectiveness of fertilizer regulations as compared to implementing restrictions alone. Essentially the goal is to help practitioners and homeowners to get a more effective bang from any fertilizer application, thus requiring less fertilizer and fewer applications. This is necessary to gain greater compliance with what would otherwise be difficult rules to enforce.

Mike

Safety Shoulders, Water Quality, or Tree Canopy are all chump change compared to the overriding issue: Captiva’s ambivalence about any and all strategic or tactical issues which affect the community. A couple of dozen or more Captiva residents and businesses go to the meetings, participate in the decisions, understand any of the surveys or show an interest in helping get anything done. As such, virtually nothing gets done and the “power brokers” presiding on Chapin Lane foister their wills on Captiva and impede progress at every turn.

Indeed, unless and until more Captivans get involved, we deserve whatever the crazies decide to shove down our throats; after all, we offer little objection as we take whatever is thrown at us.