A restoration plan for mangroves removed from the Seven Islands property has been submitted to the South Florida Water Management District and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, according to Sarah Flynn, a spokesperson for Gulf Gateway Resort & Marina LLC, the property’s developers.
Jason Shultz, a public information officer for the South Florida Water Management District, confirmed the restoration plan was submitted and is under review. The district stopped unpermitted work on the property and is currently assessing penalties for the violation.
The only work resumed on the property is the removal of non-native invasive species, as permitted by the City of Cape Coral.
Professional geologist turned Seven Islands developer in to Army Corps
David Scott, a Cape Coral geologist, noticed the removed mangroves on June 12 and immediately reported it to the Army Corps of Engineers.
Silt screens and turbidity curtains were deployed to the property on June 13, according to Flynn. These materials are used in construction to prevent loose soil from polluting waterways.
Scott, however, said the curtains and one of the screens were improperly installed. The curtain and screen closest to the water aren’t anchored properly, causing them to blow onto the bank and allow loose sediment to enter the canal.
“Both of these are like a band-aid on a bullet hole,” he said.
On this property, he said the curtains should be placed about 10 feet from the shoreline when securely anchored. Instead, they remain flush against the land.
Scott said he reported the improper installation to Cape Coral Mayor John Gunter, but the screens and curtains haven’t been fixed.
Seven Islands developer ‘committed’ to replacing mangroves
As for the mangrove removal, Scott finds it hard to believe that the developers removed the mangroves by accident.
“Nobody in this state can claim that they don’t know that that tree is one of our most highly protected and prized assets,” he said.
Still, Flynn maintains that clearing the mangroves was entirely accidental. Before the removal, the development’s erosion control plan included upland retaining walls to preserve the mangroves, and Flynn said the developers worked with environmental consultants and engineers to minimize impacts on the mangroves.
“Gulf Gateway remains fully committed to restoring the affected area, cooperating with all regulatory agencies and continuing to develop the Seven Islands project in a manner that protects and enhances Southwest Florida’s unique natural environment,” Flynn said in an emailed statement on July 13.
Environmental consultants have located a source for the replacement mangroves, and replanting will begin when the developers receive the required permits, Flynn said.
The Seven Islands development to include 1,000 homes
On Jan. 21, Cape Coral City Council unanimously approved a Seven Islands development agreement that would sell the 47-acre property to Gulf Gateway Resort & Marina LLC for $20 million.
The agreement allows the development of nearly 1,000 residential units, a 10-story hotel, 45,000 square feet of commercial space and a 39-slip marina.
The development has faced controversy in the past, with some residents raising concerns over traffic and environmental impact.
Mangroves in Southwest Florida
Mangroves support a healthy ecosystem and serve as natural defenses from strong winds and flooding during extreme storms, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
Reach reporter Vanessa Norris by emailing vnorris@news-press.com
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This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Cape Coral Seven Islands developer submits plan to replace demolished mangroves
Reporting by Vanessa Norris, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Fort Myers News-Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Vanessa Norris, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News | USA TODAY Network
