Why did the north channel fill up with sand?

The short answer is:  we don’t know for sure.  There are some educated guesses about the effects of the jetties and rip-rap installed by the development on the west side of the north channel.

Another plausible explanation, put forth by Tampa Bay Watch president Peter Clark,  is that the ongoing beach sand replenishment projects (designed to build up shorelines that move – around hotels and condos that don’t) is the cause of the buildup.   This sounds reasonable and I have postulated it myself over the years. However, even though I really, really like saying the word geomorphology, I would be inclined to withhold judgment until a convincing, peer-reviewed scientific study can be made.

The local governing authority (Pinellas County) wants to study this problem, but there is currently no funding for this research.  We hope that this issue will become a funding priority soon and encourage you to contact your county commissioner to urge them to take action.    Funding will only be granted if enough people ask for it.  In the absence of such a study, we can get the ball rolling by laying out some of the potential issues…

Does this mean people will be able to walk to Shell Key now?

I sure hope not. I don’t disapprove of people visiting Shell Key.  Indeed, our primary mission is to make public use of the island sustainable.  But, I do value the experience of remoteness and isolation that is inherent to this historically unconnected barrier island.  Open land access would mean an exponential increase in people to the north end of the island.  And there are other consequences too …

Coyotes, raccoons, dogs and cats?

Image not taken on Shell Key

Coyotes are beautiful and resourceful creatures, but their potential introduction to this preserve during the summer months could have a significant impact on nesting birds and turtles.   Coyotes were not listed as a species on the original 2000  Shell Key Management Plan, but they have moved in to south Pinellas County over the last few decades as their habitat is encroached upon by human development to the north. I can hear them howl at night in my south St. Pete neighborhood when they catch their dinner – and they have been seen on Tierra Verde.

The Blue Turtle Society is currently collecting data to determine if coyotes have moved on to Shell Key. You can help by reporting any sightings or signs (tracks or scat) to their facebook page.  Their concern, shared by bird preservation groups, is that these animals will have an impact on nesting turtles and shorebirds.

And if coyotes can make it, raccoons, dogs and cats can definitely make it. One of the more controversial actions taken by the county in 2000 was to eradicate raccoons from the island because they eat eggs and disturb nesting wildlife in the summer time.  Raccoons, of course, are excellent swimmers – which is why many people questioned the sustainability of this action.  Dogs were banned from the island in 2007 – even during non-nesting times of year – for essentially the same reason.

What about that stink?

Our blog has been recently inundated with questions and concerns about the deteriorating water quality inside the island.  Reports of stinky, eutrophic water have been coming in for months.  Being right next to the water, kayakers have often been the most vocal about the problem. When the water on the inside of the island is blocked from the movement of the daily tides, it becomes overheated causing seagrasses and estuary life to die off.  The circulation of the water behind the island has been a topic of concern for many years as the north channel has shifted.  It seems that this issue should definitely be a part of any assessment made by the county.

Gator Dredging Rig

The apparent solution: Dredging

One of the potential (but by no means assured) recommendations from the county assessment might be the dredging the north channel to clear out the newly formed land bridge and restore the flow of water to the Shell Key estuary.  It has been done before and on multiple occasions.   This would seem to be the most popular of the potential actions taken by the county.

Re-opening  the channel would make a lot of people happy.  Environmentalists would be happy about preserving the island’s geographic isolation to keep out predators and insure the productivity of this important estuary.  And people who enjoy the remote experience of this local jewel will be glad to preserve the special experience of spending time on an undeveloped and remote barrier island.  Boaters, of course will also will be jubilant about regaining access to the popular beach access on the inside of the north end.

It would seem that even the folks planning to live in the new condominium development would benefit from a good dredging. (wait, that didn’t come out right)  They would enjoy cleaner water and better boating access to their property and to Billy’s Stonecrab restaurant – one of the few boat accessible restaurants in the area.

Who pays to tame mother nature?

If the county determines that dredging is recommended, the question becomes: how often will it be necessary and who will pay for it? These questions can be better answered after we understand how this change has occurred.  It seems evident from past experience that dredging would need to be done at some determined interval to compensate for whatever is causing the sand to accumulate. If it turns out that the sand is coming from the beach renourishment projects, Tampa Bay Watch will urge the US Army Corps of Engineers (which conducts the beach nourishment)  to consider dredging sand from the north end of Shell Key and redistributing it at the beach.  We urge you to support this effort by contacting Tampa Bay Watch and also your county commisioner.

The man’s companions had called 911 on a cell phone but they were guests aboard his vessel and could not accurately describe their location.  Eventually, a Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit was dispatched to the scene.   Unfortunately, the man’s injuries were extensive and the marine police unit was not equipped to treat or transport him.  A coast guard helicopter was finally dispatched to the scene and the man was airlifted to Palms of Pasadena Hospital for treatment.

Although accounts of the accident differ, everyone seemed to agree that it took forever to get this man to safety. The man was lucky to have survived his ordeal.

The tale of confusion was a wake up call for anyone who may be unprepared for medical emergencies while boating in Tampa Bay.  If you are on the water or on Shell Key, you should be ready for emergencies by being prepared for minor injuries – and knowing how to describe your location and what to ask for if your situation is life threatening.

In case of emergency: below are some recommendations for dealing with medical emergencies while boating in south Pinellas County.

Know your location!

Use your phone or GPS device to get your exact latitude and longitude.  If you can’t find your coordinates, here are some general coordinates for Shell Key Preserve …

• North Public Use Area (Pass-a-Grille):  Latitude: 27.674787 | Longitude: -82.740226
• South Public Use Area (Bunces Pass): Latitude: 27.652666 | Longitude: -82.742372

Call for help – or DIY?

Life or Death Emergency

• VHF Radio Channel 16 – If you have an absolute life or death situation, call out to the Coast Guard using the words “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday, this is the vessel  [your boat’s name]  (or your name) — Then briefly describe your emergency  (fire/heart attack/sinking/man overboard etc…)  – followed by “Over“.    (never use ‘mayday’ unless you are in a dire situation.  You may receive fines or be prosecuted for misuse of this system)
• Call 911 – You can also contact the Coast Guard using the 911 emergency number.  All the normal rules apply for the use of 911. Make sure to ask for a Coast Guard air lift if your are in immediate and dire medical need. Have your GPS coordinates ready.

Non-Emergency

• Always make sure you have a well stocked first aid kit before you leave on your boat.
• Call the non emergency number for Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office: 727-582-6200

Find a hospital near Shell Key: 

• If you are able to drive your boat to get help, Palms of Pasadena Hospital is the best equipped and closest facility to Shell Key.  Kindred Bay Hospital may be a better choice if you are in Tampa Bay and need immediate help.

My motto?  Hope for the best but plan for the worst.  If you’re like me, you’ll have more fun knowing that you’re ready for what nature can throw at you.

Turtles and light pollution

Hatchling sea turtles are instinctively drawn toward the reflected moonlight and starlight that glitters on the nighttime ocean.  Artificial lights  can cause these turtles to become disoriented and crawl toward land instead.  Biologists have determined that the largest threat to nesting turtles comes from direct, artificial  “daylight” type bulbs.  As a result, many coastal communities now require hotels and beach resorts to use  “turtle friendly” amber lighting.  Some contributors to this blog have pointed out that campfires also give off an amber/red light. Nevertheless, keeping any forms of artificial light to a minimum during nesting season is certainly the right thing to do for our testudinal friends.  Friends of Shell Key encourages you to spread the word about the summer ban so that there can be no confusion about the rules …

Beware the slippery slope

Those of us who were present during the early years of the Shell Key management plan know all too well that a seasonal ban can, for no good reason, turn in to a year-round ban. Once upon a time, you could include your family dog in your camping and recreational activities in the public use areas of the island.  In 2000, a summertime ban was enacted to protect nesting seabirds from dogs. The seasonal ban was painful to dog owners and their pets – but it made sense – and it was an acceptable compromise that allowed our canine companions to enjoy the island during other times of year. Before long, however, the county decided that the poorly enforced, seasonal ban was too “confusing” and determined that a more draconian year-round ban was necessary. Why did this happen? 2 words:

Poor Communication …

At the time of the proposed year-round ban, we made the argument that the public was not being well informed about the seasonal pet ban. The “rules” signs on the island were, quite frankly, abominable. They violated every tenet of good advertising and clear communication. These signs were designed to repel – not attract – attention.  Rather than take action to improve communication with island visitors, officials took an easy way out and simply banned pets all year round. This cynical action neither educated the public nor reduced the number of dogs on the island during nesting season. It merely created an occasional source of revenue for the county from the citations randomly issued to pet owners.  Enforcement of the rules on Shell Key is expensive – and is limited to the occasional marine law enforcement presence – usually on the busiest holidays of the year.  And this really gets to the core of my concern…

Education works better than the threat of punishment

Let there be no ambiguity:  We support sensible efforts to protect nesting turtles and shorebirds.  And we believe that public outreach is the best tool at our disposal to protect these resources.  Good communication, public awareness and volunteer efforts will do FAR more for the cause of preservation than will excessive and draconian rules with sporadic enforcement.  Lets implore our county officials to think of creative ways to communicate the plight of nesting sea turtles and to help give visitors to Shell Key a sense of inclusion in the preservation of this resource.  This is our mission at shellkey.org and we are here to help.  If you have any comments about the seasonal campfire ban, please feel free to join the discussion below …

Nesting Sea Birds

At this time of year, you may encounter parts of the public use areas  marked with posts and tape to protect nesting shorebirds.  Bird nests are easily disturbed, so we ask everyone to give these areas a wide berth while they wean their young.  Hats off to all the county volunteers for their ongoing efforts to protect these avian visitors.

Sandspurs out in force

Yea – sandspurs are in full bloom at this time.   These nasty grasses (also known as ‘sandburs’) have taken over large parts of the public use areas.   Early summer means the burs are still green so you can pull them out of your skin with less likelihood of leaving a splinter. Don’t forget your water shoes.  And don’t forget to take off your shoes and scrape off the sandspurs before getting back in your boat.

Opposite Land

In most parts of the country, summer time is camping season.  Not so in Florida.  While some hardy, heat loving people do camp in the doldrums of August, you won’t catch me pitching a tent this time of year.  With high temperatures, humidity and swarming populations of sand fleas and no-see-ums,  summer is just not the best time to beach camp in Florida.  If I do get talked in to camping this time of year, I sleep on my boat.  Anchoring several yards off shore helps make a summer night on Shell Key much more comfortable.

Count on Rain

Summer rains and lightning storms occur almost daily along our coast at this time of year.  In the hot summer sun, the land >warms faster than the water. This causes air to rise over the land and sink over the waters.  This pattern is called a sea breeze front.  The front creates humid winds moving on shore.  ‘Unstable lift’ occurs once all that moisture moves over the warmer land.  The warm humid air rises, cools and precipitates – giving us the perfect recipe for afternoon storms.  These afternoon storms usually dissipate once the temperatures between land and sea begin to equalize in the early evening.

Our Brother’s Keeper

We talk a lot on this site about the need to clean other people’s trash.  It’s a core part of our mission.  Litterbugs are a small minority of visitors to the island.  But larger crowds in the summer bring a little more trash than usual.  Our deepest appreciation goes out to everyone that helps carry out a part of this burden.

Please be aware of the rules in this preserve and enjoy your visit to Shell Key this summer!

Marsh rabbits are active at night, which increases the difficulty of photographing one.  During the day, they hide in burrows or thickets.  You can find their bunny trails during the day by identifying their perfectly spherical droppings.  But to photograph one, you’ll need to wait until after sunset.

Marsh rabbits are excellent swimmers and will travel between the small mangrove islands around Shell Key just like raccoons.  Read more about this cool little local inhabitant.

Good luck to all the photo hunters!

If you see any turtle nest on Shell Key, send us a pic – we’d love to know about it.

Red Mangroves

First In:  The Red Team
Red Mangroves are the most salt tolerant and they occupy the lowest elevations of the shoreline.  Their seed pods root themselves in the sand and they prop themselves above the water line with their distinctive ‘Stilt Roots’.  These roots act as a snorkle to provide the plant with needed air.  Red mangroves’ root structure slows water flow and helps to build the sandbar into a small island.  Their falling leaves decompose and help form the foundations of the food chain.

Black mangrove ‘sweating’ salt

Boots on the ground
Black mangroves establish their base of operations just above the high tide line.  They benefit from the supply lines established by the red mangroves  and they contribute to the mission of building land and feeding the ecosystem.  This species is named for the darker color of  its trunk and heartwood.  The leaves often appear whitish from the salt excreted at night and on cloudy days.

White Mangrove

High Ground
The White Mangrove grows in the sandy dunes at the highest part of the tidal marsh.  Along with the Buttonwood, it forms a  protective line against storms and winds coming from the Gulf.

All 3 mangrove species work together to build and maintain the health of Shell Key.  Upland species like the White Mangrove can grow to nearly 50 feet tall – providing shade for wildlife and humans.

Please do not ever cut or disturb mangroves for any reason.  All the plants in Shell Key Preserve are protected by law.  Besides the critical ecological value these trees have – people come to this island to visit undisturbed nature – and causing a scar on the land by cutting down mangroves is extraordinarily careless.  We appreciate your cooperation.

Update: 07/2013 – The small channel created by this Spring’s dredging has already been filled back in by the prevailing currents in the area. It has been suggested that the rip-rap installed on the development project on the east side of the channel has stunted the natural migration of this channel.

Regular visitors to the north end of Shell Key have noticed that the narrow passage leading to the inside of the island has been gradually closing over the past few years.    Volunteers reported to Shellkey.og that this channel has been recently dredged to open access to the docking facility at the new development adjacent to the northern tip of the island.   Like all barrier islands, Shell Key is evolving and maturing. While fighting mother nature is generally a futile endeavor, day visitors on the north end will benefit from the newly cleared passage – until such time as mother nature fills it in again.

Take,  for example, the Welcome to Shell Key Preserve sign shown below.  Have you ever seen anything less welcoming than this sign?  Due to poor design, these signs give the impression that people are merely tolerated on Shell Key.   They are universally disliked by visitors to the island.  Not everyone knows why they find these signs repellent.  But as a sign designer, I can see the subtle reasons clearly …

The large block of ‘process’ red is immediately painful to the eye.  Notice, also,  how the words on the sign are all butted against the edges – leaving no margins at all.  Designers know that a little empty space around the margins helps make content much more clear to the eye.   By trying to squeeze an extra inch of height out of the letters, the designers have made the sign LESS readable  – and also visually offensive.  The ‘welcome‘ message at the top is completely lost by the PROHIBITED headline.  And, after the poor execution of the main content,  few people are likely to read the two obscure blocks of text on the right.   Setting aside, for a moment, the content of this sign – everything about the design and layout is counterproductive to communicating with passers by.

I don’t mean to harp on our overworked and under-appreciated County Parks & Conservation Resources department staff.  They accomplish a great deal with very limited resources.  And, it’s not easy maintaining signage on a shifting barrier Island.  Yet, it does need to cost more money to make a beautiful and useful sign.  Every criticism I have made so far could be remedied with a slightly more competent design and a change in sign-attitude.  A more effective sign could be made with all the same materials as the current signs – while being much more useful and attractive.  Indeed, attracting people to read it is every sign’s prime directive.   And this communication is absolutely critical for sustainable public use of this resource.  For the benefit of Shell Key,  its wildlife and ecosystem and the people who visit here, we think it’s time to seriously rethink the way signs are used on Shell Key.

We would start our suggestions with a simple premise:  That people actually ARE welcome on Shell Key – and that we are asking for their help in watching over this island…

The punishment myth

A sign can’t issue you a citation.  It can’t enforce the law.  And there will always be some people who ignore it.  That’s why a good rules sign is really designed to keep honest people honest .  It should draw them in and ask for their cooperation.  Too often, rules signs are conceived from a punitive perspective.  They are designed to issue a threat of punishment for violators.   But, it’s a mistake to try to intimidate those who don’t care  – while simultaneously alienating those who might care.

Behavioral science shows us that punishment or the threat of punishment is  the worst possible way to build long term behaviors.  Behaviors or ‘habits’ formed by punishment are the most volatile and quick to disappear.  That’s why people who use punishment as a method for reinforcement always end up using the timeless phrase “I-DON’T-WANT-TO-HAVE-TO-TELL-YOU-AGAIN!“.  Yet, they have selected a method of reinforcement that virtually guarantees that they will have to continue punishing indefinitely.

I’m not saying punishment is wrong because it’s mean.  On the contrary.  If punishment actually worked,   I would reluctantly support this  approach.  But,  as a behavioral scientist (and also a parent and pet owner), I have seen overwhelming evidence that punishment is a terrible,  inefficient and ultimately futile way to influence long term behavior – both on an individual and on a social level. Most people believe in punishment because they see no alternative.  It is deeply ingrained in our culture and laws.  “Spare the rod, spoil the child”.  But behavioral science shows us that the choice between punishing – and “doing nothing” – is a false one.  We can cultivate behaviors and attitudes the same way nature does it…

Habits that are naturally the strongest and hardest to stop are those that are driven by internal desire.    Internally driven habits are automatically reinforced at all times – and they result in deeply rooted behavior – for better or worse (depending on the habit).  This gives us a clue how to use this tendency to our advantage when designing a rules sign.    Instead of getting caught in that familiar pattern of intermittent punishment – followed by brief compliance – followed by rapid decay of the compliance, we can use human nature to our advantage by spending our efforts making people actually want to cooperate with the rules.  This takes a little more creativity – but is well worth effort because behaviors built this way are much stronger and long lasting.

People love to be asked – about as much as they hate to be told things.    And, it turns out that people respond surprisingly well when they are asked politely to help.  That’s why the signs on Shell Key should be designed to enhance the visitors experience with information and a sense of inclusiveness.  They should draw people in with an attractive overall design – and they should gently inform them about the rules and why we are asking for their cooperation.  And, they should impart knowledge and teach skills that will give people a sense of inclusion. Check out these examples of some great signage at the Ft. Desoto boat docks.  It would not be viable to put this particular type of printed sign on Shell Key, but the positive design approach could be replicated on a more durable sign for the island…

We are currently working on a set of ideas to present to the County for improving the effectiveness of the rules signs – and proposals for more subtle informational signs in some of the delicate areas on Shell Key.  We are prepared to offer our resources and volunteers to help design, manufacture and maintain signs for this Signage Improvement Project.

If you are interested in this project, please stay tuned to this site – We will be posting updates and design ideas for this project.