If time and $ permit, please take time to enjoy the Center's entertaining and educational facility.
$5 entry fee ~ free parking ~ closed Sundays
The Sanibel River (actually a slough) is 9 miles long on a 12 mile Sanibel Island. The river is unique for a barrier island - it contains fresh water and as you'll witness if you attempt this Earthcache, it is not your "up north" image of "river" with water cascading or crashing over boulders.
A wider variety of wildlife species are documented as foraging, nesting or frequenting the rare and unique interior freshwater wetlands of Sanibel than on most other barrier islands; river otters, marsh rabbits, bobcats, fresh aquatic species and alligators can be found here. (Please don't feed or imitate feeding alligators. Not only does it cause them to be aggressive, there is a $500 fine).
Since it's beginning in 1967, SCCF's land acquisition strategy (68% of Sanibel is protected by SCCF, the refuges and the city of Sanibel) has emerged in compliment to the existing refuge lands, Bailey Track and Ding Darling; SCCF focusing on the preservation of Sanibel's interior freshwater wetlands and mangrove forests.
Volunteers work diligently to rid the island's wetlands preserved along the Sanibel River of invasive non-native vegetation, especially Brazilian pepper ( Schinus terebinthifolius ) and to a lesser extent Australian pine ( Casuarina spp.) where spoil material has been deposited.
Surface Hydrology: Because of the nearly instantaneous infiltration of rainwater, few barrier islands develop a natural type of channelized interior drainage system. Sanibel Island is different in that a partially channelized interior drainage system, the Sanibel River, developed rather late in its geologic history. Beach ridge geometry, variable permeability, and vegetation patterns all contributed to the formation of the Sanibel River at some time during the last 1,000 to 1,500 years of the island's 5,000-year history.
Many thanks to Erick Lindblad, Foundation Director, for supplying information, proofreading my material and sharing the excitement of having an Earthcache at The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation Nature Center.
In order to claim this cache, please email Chere (click on "Profile" at the top of this page) with the answers to the following four questions. Answers are found on signage at the posted coords and beyond at the tower.
1- The interior island wetlands is controlled by what structure?
2- What interesting insect common to the river hunts from the water's surface with one eye up and one eye down?
3-A two part question - The tower was rebuilt in 2001 to honor
A- how many years of
B- what?