Journal #2 - Conservation 20/20 Program

Conservation 20/20 (C2020) Program was named after the grass roots committee that fought for its creation. The main goals of the program is to protect and preserve natural wildlife habitat, protect and preserve water quality and supply, protect developed lands from flooding, and provide resource-based recreation. All of Lee County's Conservation 20/20 preserves are open to the public. Recreation opportunities for hiking, bird watching, nature photography and nature study exist at all preserves. Several preserves offer advanced recreation opportunities including fishing, kayaking/canoeing and horseback riding.

Matanzas Pass Preserve is located on Estero Island (Fort Myers Beach). The total acreage is over 57 acres and includes the only maritime oak community left on Fort Myers Beach. It also includes mangrove forest that borders Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve. The preserve  includes facilities such as a historic cottage, boardwalks, trails and a canoe/kayak landing. 

During our visit to Matanzas Pass Preserve I enjoyed the lecture given by Mrs. Hughes. I thought she was absolutely sweet and I enjoyed listening to her personal stories along with the tidbits of history about the preserve. Although she spoke and gave a lot of good information about the preserve, such as when the first bridge was built and how is was destroyed by a hurricane, the cottage that we sat in was built in 1921, electricity was brought to the island in 1934 and the first mosquito repellant was introduced in 1949, I think most of what she spoke about was mostly from experience and what she has seen during the years. Although I am sure the preserve has endless interesting information for some reason her stories such as how many students attended the school she went to as a child, how many teachers taught, and her fathers false teeth falling out and being rescued by a diver is what stuck the most!

Mrs. Hughes was very nice and I appreciated the time she took to simply speak to our group. I think she cares for the environment and what it means for our future, but I thought that most of the information she spoke about was more of the experiences she has had during the years rather than scholarly information. I do think that sometimes listening to someone who has lived through the actual changes of time is a little more interesting rather than reading it from a book that heard it or read it from somewhere else. It was a good experience and I thought it was pretty amazing that this preserve existed in the middle of Fort Myers Beach. I have been to this beach millions of times and never would I have imagined that this existed here. I find it a little odd of where it is located, but I think it is a really good thing that it does exist and people have thought to preserve it. I think that more preserves should be funded and taken care of because this means that we will have more areas that we can visit with native plants, animals, and trees that one day could easily be gone if we don't do something now to take care of them.  

Mangroves

Needle Fish (maybe!?)

 

 

One of the preserves that I absolutely love to visit is Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve. I think I mostly enjoy this preserve because it is literally in my backyard. When I think of this beautiful place surrounded by new construction everyday it almost makes me feel how horrible it would be if no one would have cared to save it. Although I'm not much of a nature person, I truly enjoy this place. I love that it has dry areas, swamp areas, and you see different types of animals. So far I have seen alligators, a raccoon with its babies, different birds, turtles, and all of the natural shade from all the trees. I think this place is pretty awesome and should definitely continue to be preserved.

 

Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve

(November 2013)