National Estuaries Day 2002

. . . an annual celebration of the majestic places where rivers meet the sea.

Join us to learn more about estuaries the fun way

The Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program is pleased to announce 16 recreational and educational activities being offered because of National Estuaries Day 2002 – a day that highlights the importance of estuaries as coastal resources. The wading trips, guided walks, paddling events and boat tours that follow are opportunities to learn about estuaries by experiencing them first hand. The events are coordinated by NEP but offered because of the generosity of its partners. This year the NEP is also pleased to announce that Mote’s Mobile Exhibit will be in Punta Gorda and Fort Myers and that Estuaries Live, an interactive guided field trip of our nation’s estuaries, will include a live broadcast from Charlotte Harbor. For activities offered around the country, visit the official website at estuaries.gov. Enjoy!

Estuary Live: Interactive Guided Field Trip on October 3 and 4

Estuary Live is a “virtual” field trip of the nation’s most valued estuaries. Entire classrooms can experience the nation’s estuaries from coast to coast, explore diverse habitats and learn about an array of plants and animals. During Estuary Live students and teachers can email questions, and the questions will be answered during the live Internet and satellite broadcast. Join this exciting state-of-the-art exploration of the nation’s estuaries from your home or office. Schools and other facilities can also provide the program through KU-Band satellite. Visit the Internet site estuarylive.org for additional guidance. Estuaries Live is produced on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Charlotte Harbor will be featured during a one-hour live broadcast on Friday, October 4 from 10:30 to 11:30.

Too many fun events for one day!

September 21: Peace River EcoFest in Fort Meade

8:00-11:00: Cleanup

11:00-4:00: EcoFest Family Fun Day

September 29

8:00-noon: Paddling - Third Annual Estuary Day Paddle

October 3-4: Estuaries Live!

Watch the live broadcast from Charlotte Harbor on Friday from 10:30-11:30.

October 5

8:00-noon: Paddling - Orange River Paddle

8:45-11:00: Boat Tour - Caloosahatchee Oxbow and Riverlore Cruise

9:00-1:00: Paddling - Canoe/Kayak the Myakka River

9:00-4:30: Boat Tour - Island Day Cruise

9:30-11:30: Wading Trip - Mucking about in Matlacha Pass

9:30-noon: Wading Trip - Wading the Shallows of Lemon Bay

9:30-noon: Wading Trip - Wading the Shallows of Charlotte Harbor

10:00-3:00: Mobile Exhibit - Mote at Fishermen’s Village

4:15-5:30: Boat Tour - Nature’s Nursery Cruise

6:30-7:30: Boat Tour - Sunset Cruise

October 6

8:15-10:30: Guided Walk - Birding on Little Pine Island

October 7

9:30-11:30: Paddling - Buck Key Kayaking Adventure

October 7-9

9:00-5:00: Mobile Exhibit - Mote at Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium

October 12

8:00-10:00: Guided Walk - Birding at Lemon Bay

CHNEP is pleased to announce . . .

Wading Trips

Wading the Shallows of Lemon Bay and Charlotte Harbor

Saturday, October 5 from 9:30 a.m. to noon

Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center (CHEC)

Search for aquatic critters that reside in the shallow water at Lemon Bay in Englewood with Bobbi Rodgers from the Cedar Point Environmental Park (941/475-0769) and Charlotte Harbor from Ponce de Leon Park in Punta Gorda with Monica Dorken from Alligator Creek Site (941/575-5435). After a short discussion on estuaries and their importance, participants will explore the grass beds in shallow water using dip nets and viewers. Come learn the characteristics and needs of these ecosystems and their relationship to the entire hydrologic cycle through a wading adventure.

Registration: Everyone is welcome but an adult must accompany children under 18. Call each location to register for these free events.

Directions to Cedar Point Park in Englewood: From I-75 to Exit 191 (was Exit 34) travel south/west on River Rd, cross U.S. 41, continue on River Rd for several more miles. At traffic light, make a left onto Pine Street, cross CR 776 at large intersection where Pine Street becomes Placida Rd. Travel south on Placida Rd for approximately 1 mile. The Park is on the right.

Directions to Ponce de Leon Park in Punta Gorda: Traveling on U.S. 41, turn west on Marion Ave. (This is the first stoplight south of the Peace River.) Travel through Punta Gorda Isles. Continue almost to the end of Marion Avenue and look for the park signs on your left.

Mucking About in Matlacha Pass

Saturday, October 5 from 9:30 to approximately 11:30 a.m.

The Friends of the Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserves, Inc., the Citizen Support Organization of the Charlotte Harbor Aquatic and State Buffer Preserves

Wade into the estuary from Tropical Point Neighborhood Park with staff from the CHA&SBP for a closer look at the creatures buried beneath the sand, clustered within an oyster shell, swimming among the seagrass blades, or hidden in a tangle of mangrove proproots. Explore the ecology of a southwest Florida estuary during the morning’s low tide. Judy Ott, estuary resource management coordinator, and Katie Fuhr, aquatic preserve specialist, will demonstrate seining and cast netting. Pack up your dip net, hand lens, field guides, snorkeling gear, old tennis shoes or diving booties, swimsuits or shorts. Be sure to bring a cold drink, sunscreen, sunglasses and a towel.

Registration: Everyone is welcome but an adult must accompany children under 18. Call 941/575-5861 to register for this free event.

Directions: Tropical Point Neighborhood Park is located on Pine Island in Lee County. Parking is limited so participants should meet at 9:15 in the Huntington Bank Building (9820 Stringfellow Rd) parking lot to carpool. Travel west on Pine Island Rd then turn left onto Stringfellow Rd. The bank is located south of the Winn Dixie Shopping Center.

Mote’s Mobile Exhibit. . .

Mote’s Mobile Exhibit gives people a taste of what they can see at Mote Aquarium. The new self-contained Mobile Exhibit is a 14-wheeler trailer truck weighing 18 tons with its own generator, sink, food preparation area, chillers, filtration and water storage tank. The mobile unit includes:

• a touch pool of live marine invertebrates • a 850-gallon tropical fish tank of damselfishes, emperor snappers, squirrelfish, butter hamlets and tangs • a sensory awareness area with shells and other touchables

Come visit and you’ll receive a special gift – a coupon good for $2.00 off admission to Mote Aquarium in Sarasota.

. . . at Fishermen’s Village in Punta Gorda

Saturday, October 5 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

“We are delighted to host the visit of the Mote Mobile Exhibit and help educate the public regarding Charlotte Harbor,” said Kathy Burnam, Fishermen’s Village. “We hope all residents will plan to visit this exhibit.”

Registration: No registration is necessary for this free event.

Directions: Take Exit 164 (was Exit 29) from I-75, travel three miles west and watch for Fishermen’s Village on the right side.

. . . at Calusa Nature Center in Fort Myers

Monday, October 7 to Wednesday, October 9 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The Mote Mobile Exhibit will add to the fun of a visit to the natural history museum with its daily educational programs (10:30, 12:30 and 3:00) for an up close and personal view of the resident snakes, alligators and crocodiles, planetarium shows (2:00), nature trails, aviary and more. While the mobile exhibit won’t be there on Saturday, October 5, special hands-on watershed and estuary activities will be offered.

Registration: Admission to the center is $7.00, $4.00 for children 3 to 12 and children under 3 are free. Call 941/275-3435 for more details.

Directions: From I-75 in Fort Myers take Exit 136 (was Exit 22). Turn west on Colonial Blvd and right on Ortiz. The Nature Center is on the left.

Peace River EcoFest

Saturday, September 21

Peace River Environmental Education Network (PREEN)

Peace River CleanUp: Canoe from the Ft. Meade Canoe Launch (8:00 to 11:00 a.m.) to Camp Wilderness picking up litter along the way. To reserve the use of a free canoe, contact Ron Himmelman with City of Ft. Meade Leisure Services at 863/285-1112. Bags will be provided.

EcoFest: Come join the fun from 11:00 to 4:00 at Camp Wilderness, a 80-acre campsite owned by the Royal Rangers with three waterslides into the Peace River, a rock climbing wall, a greased pole, a zip line over Whidden Creek, a petting zoo, nature walks, a sand mountain with toys and prizes and much more. There will also be presentations, demonstrations and displays by a variety of public and private organizations. The event is free to the public. Food and beverages will be provided for a charge.

Directions: Camp Wilderness is located on Highway 17 about four miles south of Ft. Meade in Polk County.

Paddling Events

Third Annual Estuary Day Paddle

Sunday, September 29 from 8:00 and 9:00 a.m. to noon

The Friends of the Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserves, Inc., the Citizen Support Organization of the Charlotte Harbor Aquatic and State Buffer Preserves, with the City of Cape Coral, Gulf Coast Kayak and CHNEP

Join the Friends of the Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserves on their third annual canoe/kayak paddle event for the greater Charlotte Harbor community. Trails are through meandering tidal creeks and mangrove forests of Matlacha Pass Aquatic Preserve. The shallow waters of the estuary support mangroves, seagrass beds, mudflats and oyster bars, which provide habitat and foraging areas for fish, crabs, shrimp, wading birds, sea turtles, marine mammals and other aquatic critters. Easy, intermediate and advanced paddling options are available. All paddlers must return to the launch site by noon.

Registration: There is a $10 charge for FCHAP members and $15 for nonmembers. Children under 16 are free. This fee includes maps, refreshments and kayak instructions for novices. Advance registration is required. Call 941/575-5861 for registration forms and information. Alternate date in the event of bad weather is October 13.

Directions: Matlacha Community Park (4577 Pine Island Rd NW / SR 78) entrance is next to the Mulletville restaurant on the south side of Pine Island Rd. Matlacha is located between Cape Coral and Little Pine Island in Lee County.

Orange River Paddle

Saturday, October 5 from 8:00 a.m. to noon

Lee County Parks & Recreation

Paddle the Orange River on this staff-led adventure along this quiet and scenic Florida river. You’ll see native flora and fauna on this leisurely paddle. Participants will kayak 4.5 miles from Buckingham Rd to Manatee Park in east Fort Myers.

Registration: Space is limited to 18. There is a $20/person charge that does not include vehicle parking. Call 941/432-2038 or email kisedajb@leegov.com to register and for directions.

Canoe/Kayak the Myakka River

Saturday, October 5 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Myakka River State Park

Join Park Biologist Chris Becker for a paddle on the Myakka River to the Lower Myakka Lake. On the way you’ll learn about the river’s wildlife and plants, water quality, hydrology, invasive exotic species, resource management and other river and estuary issues. Bring your own canoe or kayak, life jackets (required), hat, sunscreen, water, insect repellant, binoculars, a throw cushion and whistle. Be prepared to get wet and muddy.

Registration: Space is limited so reservations are required by September 27. Call 941/486-2053 or email chris.becker@dep.state.fl.us to register for this free program and for directions. The park entrance fee is $4 a car.

Buck Key Kayaking Adventure

Monday, October 7 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation in cooperation with Captiva Kayak Company

Celebrate National Estuaries Day and the preservation of Buck Key by kayaking in and around this unique island within the Pine Island Sound Aquatic Preserve. Buck Key’s mangrove shoreline, upland vegetation, cultural history and the wildlife of the area will be discussed along the way. Stable kayaks will be used and kayaking instruction will be provided. No experience necessary, just a sense of adventure and a willing spirit.

Registration: There is a $35/person charge, a portion of which will help fund the SCCF Environmental Education Fund. Call 941/472-2329 to register. Space will be limited so reservations are required.

Directions: Meet at Captiva Kayak Company in McCarthy’s Marina off Andy Rosse Lane on Captiva. Detailed directions to Captiva Kayak and necessary items to bring will be explained when reservations are made.

Boat Tours

Caloosahatchee Oxbow and Riverlore Cruise

Caloosahatchee River Citizen’s Association

Saturday, October 5 from 8:45 to 11:00 a.m.

Join us for a trip back in time through the historic oxbows of the old Caloosahatchee estuary. This guided trip includes Cracker tales of the area’s history and pioneers who settled this basin at the turn of the century as well as a first hand look at the ecology, habitat and wildlife of the oxbows and Cross Florida Ship Channel. Guides include Rae Ann Wessel, a professional aquatic ecologist and member of CRCA, and a third generation cracker river rat, Charles Edgar Foster, who was born and raised on the banks of Caloosahatchee.

Registration: Space is limited to 45. Advance reservations and ticket purchase required at $15.00/person. Make your reservation by calling 941/694-3850 then mail a check to CRCA, 16991 SR 31, Ft Myers FL 33905. Proceeds benefit restoration of the oxbows on the Caloosahatchee River to enhance water quality, habitat function and biological diversity.

Directions: Marina 31 is located on SR 31 off SR 80 east of Fort Myers. SR 31 is approximately 2.5 miles east of I-75.

Island Day Cruise

Saturday, October 5 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

King Fisher Fleet

Begin your island cruise to Cayo Costa State Park with a two-hour narrated cruise and then hit the beach to enjoy sun, sand, shells and the sea! The park is on an eight-mile long barrier island with a completely undeveloped beach. The park service maintains a picnic area with shelter houses, restrooms and outdoor showers. Pack your picnic cooler, bring the camera and sun block and enjoy three hours on your own.

Registration: Cost is $21.95, half price for kids 3-12 and children under 3 are free. Reservations are recommended. Call 941/639-0969 for more details.

Directions: Take Exit 164 (was Exit 29) from I-75, travel three miles west and watch for Fishermen’s Village on the right side.

Nature’s Nursery Cruise

Captiva Cruises and Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation

Saturday, October 5 from 4:15 to 5:30 p.m.

Join a naturalist from SCCF aboard Captiva Cruises’ Playtime, a 48-passenger powered catamaran, for a tour of Pine Island Sound to see and learn about this estuary system and the interdependence of a healthy estuary and its flora and fauna. You’ll see tropical sea grass meadows, water bird roosting site, and osprey and eagles nests as you travel by Redfish Pass, Roosevelt Channel, Buck Key and the J.N. “Ding” Darling house.

Registration: Call 941/472-5300 to register. Ask for the Estuary Cruise. Cost is $7.50 for adults and $5 for children 4 to 12 years old with children 3 and under free.

Directions: The boat leaves from South Seas Resort on Captiva Island. Directions and recommended travel time will be provided when reservations are made.

Sunset Cruise

Saturday, October 5 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

King Fisher Fleet

Enjoy a glorious sunset while touring Charlotte Harbor. This estuary is teeming with marine life of every shape, size and description. There are nearly 300 species of fish, 100 species of birds, sea turtles, alligators, manatees and the most popular animal of them all, dolphins!

Registration: Cost is $7.50, half price for kids 3-12 and children under 3 are free. Reservations are recommended. Call 941/639-0969 for more details.

Directions: Take Exit 164 (was Exit 29) from I-75, travel three miles west and watch for Fishermen’s Village on the right side.

CHNEP is pleased to provide complimentary coupons on the sunset cruise to groups that would otherwise not be able to enjoy this Charlotte Harbor experience. A limited number of coupons will be made available. Contact CHNEP (239/338-2556, www.charlotteharbornep.org) for more details.

Guided Walks

Birding on Little Pine Island

Sunday, October 6 from 8:15 to approximately 10:30 a.m.

Charlotte Harbor Aquatic & State Buffer Preserves

Pack up your binoculars and field guides and set out across the Little Pine Island high marsh with life-long birders Bob Repenning, CHA&SBP program coordinator, and David Claflin, Little Pine Island trail guide. Field trip participants will look for fall migrants, raptors, wading birds and shorebirds. Learn about the ecology of the high marsh and its importance to year-round resident and winter migrant bird populations. Wear comfortable old walking shoes or boots as some areas are wet and muddy. Bring a cold drink and insect repellent.

Registration: Call 941/575-5861 to register for this free event.

Directions: Little Pine Island is located on Pine Island Rd (SR 78) between Matlacha and Pine Island in Lee County. The entrance is one mile west of the outskirts of Matlacha. A Mariner Properties Wetland Restoration sign is visible near the entrance. Park in the lot near the Mariner office trailer.

Birding at Lemon Bay

Saturday, October 12 from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m.

Lemon Bay Park

October is a great time to observe the fall migrant bird populations coming to Florida for the winter season. Take a leisurely stroll with Park Naturalist Kathi Rader-Gibson along the shores of Lemon Bay while observing many species of shorebirds that inhabit the area. The group will follow the Eagle Trail through pine flatwoods to observe the bald eagles and other birds of this endearing habitat. Come prepared wearing comfortable walking shoes and a hat. Don’t forget sunscreen, insect repellant and drinking water. The program will begin in the amphitheater just off the trail entrance.

Registration: No registration is necessary for this free event.

Directions: Travel west on SR 776 in Englewood. Turn west on Dearborn Street to deadend. Turn right on Old Engelwood Rd. At first bend, turn left onto Stewart Street then follow the signs to Lemon Bay Park (570 Bay Park Blvd). Call 941/474-3065 with any questions.

Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program

4980 Bayline Drive, 4th Floor

North Fort Myers FL 33917-3909

www.charlotteharbornep.org

239/338-2556