land. water. wildlife.
By SCCF
Recent Federal Action & Emergency Power Impacts
In this episode, the Environmental Policy team breaks down recent federal actions impacting the environment including oil drilling in the Gulf and other waters of the U.S., the recent Boundary Waters decision in Minnesota and a narrowly avoided attempt to alter the Endangered Species Act. Specifically highlighted is the use of emergency power declarations to sidestep bedrock environmental protection processes in the United States.
Recap of 2026 Florida Legislative Session
SCCF's Environmental Policy team recaps Florida's 2026 legislative session, while chatting about what's in store for the multiple upcoming special sessions in Tallahassee.
They explain the positive and negative impacts of recently passed legislation on Southwest Florida's environment, while detailing unpassed bills SCCF will continue to monitor in future years.
Plus, stay tuned until the end of the episode for a new segment of Land. Water. Wildlife. where the team responds to comments from a recent social media post.
Send your comments and/or questions to apecenka@sccf.org to be answered in a future episode.
Marine Lab Director Discusses Impacts of Low Flows to Estuary
SCCF Marine Lab Director Eric Milbrandt, Ph.D., joins Environmental Policy Director Matt DePaolis to discuss the ongoing lack of sufficient fresh water flows to the Caloosahatchee Estuary.
Freshwater flows have been below the optimal ecological envelope since mid-October, with lasting impacts on habitats, species, and communities within and around the estuary. They talk about these impacts, the influence of water management decisions, and provide a forward-thinking look at how we can avoid similar dry season situations in the future.
Take Action by asking the SFWMD to increase flows.
Florida Legislative Update: Week 8
Environmental Policy Director Matt DePaolis provides updates on budget negotiations and the potential for a prolonged legislative session. He also discusses bills related to land use, agriculture, energy policy, and more.
Florida Legislative Update: Week 6
Environmental Policy Director Matt DePaolis provides updates on bills moving through the legislative session, highlighting the widely publicized "Farm Bill" amendment, the Blue Ribbon Projects Bill, Nature-Based Solutions, and several other bills impacting Florida's land, water, and wildlife.
Florida Legislative Update: Week 4
In this episode, SCCF Environmental Policy Director Matt DePaolis breaks down key developments from Week 4 of Florida’s legislative session. Matt walks through updates on major bills moving through the Capitol, including the Florida Farm Bill, proposed legislation affecting data centers, conservation lands, and other environmental priorities. Tune in for a clear, timely overview of what’s happening in Tallahassee and what it could mean for Florida’s natural resources.
Florida Legislative Update: Week 2
In this episode, SCCF Environmental Policy Director Matt DePaolis breaks down the latest bills moving through Florida’s 2026 legislative session that could impact Southwest Florida’s land, water, and wildlife. Topics covered include community resilience, water quality, energy, and wetlands — with several bills continuing the concerning trend of statewide preemption that limits local decision-making.
Stay informed with our Legislative Tracker and sign up for SCCF Action Alerts to take action on issues that matter to Florida’s environment.
2026 Florida Legislative Session Begins
Florida’s environment is on the line this legislative session, from water quality and resilience to single-use plastics and local governance. In this episode, SCCF Environmental Policy Director Matt DePaolis breaks down the kickoff of Florida's 2026 session, highlights key bills the policy team is tracking, and explores how they could shape the future of our state's natural world.
Stay informed with our Legislative Tracker: https://sccf.org/legislativetracker/
Sign up for SCCF Action Alerts: https://sccf.org/take-action/
Ecosystems of the Gulf
In this episode, the SCCF policy team discusses a vast marine environment often observed from the surface but lesser known in its offshore reaches by many: the Gulf waters surrounding the state of Florida.
They explore the Gulf’s wide range of ecosystems, its impressive biodiversity from shallow coastal waters to the deepest reaches, and the fascinating, quirky, and awe-inspiring elements that inspire advocacy to protect these waters from ongoing threats.
Take action to protect the Gulf by submitting comments against the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's plan to expand drilling in these waters by 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 23, 2026: https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/BOEM-2025-0483-0001
Learn more: https://sccf.org/2025/11/17/oppose-new-plan-to-allow-oil-drilling-in-florida-waters/https://sccf.org/2025/11/17/oppose-new-plan-to-allow-oil-drilling-in-florida-waters/
Sustainability Over the Holidays
In this episode, the SCCF Environmental Policy team explores why the holiday season, with all its joy, can also have unintended environmental impacts. They present simple tips to combat waste in terms of energy, travel, food choices, gift-giving, and more to have a more sustainable holiday season and New Year.
How SB 180 Impacts Resilience Planning
SCCF Environmental Policy Director Matt DePaolis and Policy Associate Allie Pecenka discuss Senate Bill (SB) 180, a bill recently signed into law with harmful implications for local planning and resilience-building for communities in Florida.
They talk about the origins of the bill and its predecessor, SB 250, the dangerous tone SB 180 sets for communities planning to increase their resilience, and what can be done to amend this restrictive legislation.
Climate Change Theatre in SWFL
SCCF Environmental Policy Associate Allie Pecenka is joined by Players Circle Theater Co-Founder and Producing Director Carrie Lund Cacioppo and SCCF Adult Education Director Jenny Evans for an engaging discussion about the staging of several short plays locally through the worldwide Climate Change Theatre festival.
Discover the inspiration behind the festival's creation, and why the time is now to advocate for our environment in the face of global stressors.
You'll also learn about SCCF's motivation to bring the festival to the community, why theatre can be a powerful tool for driving advocacy, and where to attend the performances locally.
What to Expect: Legislative Session 2026
Matt and Allie from SCCF's environmental policy team discuss priorities for the upcoming 2026 Florida legislative session, which kicks off on Jan. 13. They also provide a lively and engaging backdrop on what's happening now as bills take shape in pre-session presentations by stakeholders at local delegation meetings.
Their play-by-play continues with an explanation of how the Florida legislature functions during its 60-day session and how SCCF can help you follow along and take action when needed.
Learn what makes Florida's legislative process unique and what's in store this year for bills that failed in previous sessions and are likely to be sponsored once again.
Learn more about SCCF's 2026 legislative priorities.
Shorebirds 101 & Nesting Season Recap
Environmental Policy Associate Allie Pecenka talks with Shorebird Biologist Audrey Albrecht about the history of shorebird monitoring at SCCF, current areas of focus within the program, and general shorebird and seabird ecology on the islands. Audrey also provides an overview of the recent shorebird nesting season, highlighting the most successful season for least terns on the Causeway since the 1990s.
Their conversation also addresses large scale trends for shorebird populations, the biggest threats they face, and what we can do about it.
Why Conservation 20/20 is Critical for Lee County
SCCF's Environmental Policy team discusses the recent developments with Conservation 20/20 — Lee County’s environmentally sensitive land acquisition and management program that voters enacted through a 1996 referendum.
In September, the Board of County Commissioners decided not to add funding to it in its 2025-26 budget despite a significant shortfall of the fund's required $40 million minimum balance.
To date, more than 30,000 acres of conservation land have been protected through the program. Learn why it's critical that the program continues to be funded to meet its ordinance-required mandate and to protect the county's water quality, wetlands, water supply, and vital wildlife habitat.
Top Ten Questions about the Caloosahatchee Estuary
SCCF's policy team answers the Top Ten questions they are most commonly asked about the Caloosahatchee estuary. Their discussion includes answers to these questions and more.
- Why do we even want any flows from Lake Okeechobee?
- Why does the estuary require a specific salinity balance?
- How do lake management decisions and watershed runoff impact that balance?
- How are indicator species used to monitor estuary health?
- How do too high (or low) of flows stress the estuary?
- What projects exist to improve the health of the estuary?
Subscribe to our Weekly Water Conditions Tracker to receive updates every Friday on the current state of our waters. We also provide a weekly Caloosahatchee Conditions Report on Wednesdays that is fed by data from our Marine Lab's RECON.
Email us at info@sccf.org with your questions!
Community-Based Restoration With SCCF's Coastal Watch
Learn all about SCCF's Coastal Watch program with Policy Associate Allie Pecenka and Coastal Watch Director Kealy Pfau. Each season, Coastal Watch engages hundreds of volunteers, who help us restore oyster and mangrove habitat, clean our beaches, replant native marshes, and manage our preserve lands. Whether you're a visitor to Sanibel and Captiva, a permanent resident, or just passing through for the day, Coastal Watch has tons of opportunities to get involved in helping our environment.
Pecenka and Pfau discuss the history of the program, the physical and mental health benefits of volunteering, and the importance of community-based restoration. They discuss the ups and downs of restoration through recent storm events, share exciting new opportunities to get involved in 2025-26, and highlight our Voluntourism program, which is engaging tourists to make a difference during their time on the islands.
How Repeated Storm Surges Have Led to More Standing Water on Sanibel
SCCF Research Associate Mark Thompson joins Environmental Policy Director Matt DePaolis to talk about why Sanibel is holding more standing water than in pre-Ian times.
The discussion focuses on the impacts that several significant storm surges have had on Sanibel's groundwater storage capacity. They also talk about the integral role vegetation plays through evapotranspiration in helping to move water off the island and how repeated hurricanes have altered that process.
You'll also learn how planting native vegetation and creating tree canopies in your own backyard can help boost the island's evapotranspiration capacity.
For the past 17 years, Thompson has studied freshwater systems on the islands at the SCCF Marine Lab, conducting research and monitoring to assist the City of Sanibel with freshwater management.
Coyotes & Sea Turtle Nest Depredation
The Environmental Policy team talks with Coastal Wildlife Director Kelly Sloan and Sea Turtle Biologist Jack Brzoza about coyotes on the islands and their impact on sea turtles. They discuss the state of coyote populations, the impacts they have on coastal wildlife, and methods used to deter them from sea turtle nest depredation.
Learn more about SCCF's sea turtle program.
Call our Sea Turtle Hotline at 978-728-3663 to report any issues with nests, nesting turtles, or hatchlings.
Hurricane Forecasting Technology
FOX-4 Meteorologist Andrew Shipley joins SCCF Environmental Policy Director Matt DePaolis to discuss forecasting technology for the 2025 hurricane season. They talk about the planned decommissioning of the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) and its potential impact on this season's hurricane forecasting, as well as its effects on long-term research initiatives.
PLEASE NOTE: After the release of this episode, NOAA announced that the DMSP satellite data would remain available to hurricane forecasters.
Special thanks to SCCF Policy interns Jill Blavet and Ellie Appelgren for contributing additional background research for this episode.
Global Loss of Insect Biodiversity
The SCCF environmental policy team discusses the global decline of insect biodiversity, the forces driving the decline, and the steps individuals and communities can take to counteract it, including policies that protect the environment. They also touch upon how the global decline relates to current perceptions of huge amounts of mosquitoes and no-see-ums on the islands.
Visit SCCF's Native Landscapes & Garden Center to protect insect biodiversity by planting native.
Deep Sea Mining
On this episode, SCCF Environmental Policy Staff Matt DePaolis and Allie Pecenka discuss recent federal actions taken to move toward mining for materials from the deep sea floor. They discuss what these materials are, what drives the interest in their collection, and the widespread potential impacts from this type of mining to the oceans and systems above the surface.
Conscious Consumption
SCCF's policy team discusses the environmental threats of global business models centered around the practices of fast fashion and "fast tech," and how to be a more conscious consumer in response. They also consider the massive, often undiscussed environmental impacts of artificial intelligence (AI) as its prevalence continues to grow in society.
Managing Invasive Species
SCCF Environmental Policy Director Matt DePaolis talks with SCCF Wildlife Biologist Mike Mills about invasive species. Their conversation explores what invasive species are, the threats associated with them, why Sanibel Island and Florida are so prone to invasives, and the many ethical and societal considerations inherent in different management approaches.
Hurricane Season 2025: Adaptation, Mitigation & Navigating Accurate Forecasts
Heading into the 2025 hurricane season, it's more important than ever to understand the value of adaptation and mitigation, as well as how to effectively navigate data sources for accurate forecasts.
SCCF's Environmental Policy team discusses how federal funding cuts may impact hurricane data and forecasting, the dangers of misinformation related to hurricane season, and how to identify credible sources for accurate forecasting.
What's Behind the Proposed Florida Black Bear Hunt?
SCCF's Environmental Policy team discusses the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC) proposed hunt on Florida black bears. Learn about the driving factors behind the proposition for a bear hunt, how the passage of Amendment 2 in Florida last year may be impacting it, and how a hunt would affect the current population of Florida black bears.
Click here to comment on the FWC's proposed rules for a December 2025 black bear hunt that will be discussed at their May 21 meeting. Comments are due by 5 p.m. on May 16.
Lasting Legacy of Earth Day
The SCCF Environmental Policy team discusses the history behind the creation of Earth Day, how it influenced the modern environmental movement, and some of the most powerful legislation born out of that movement that continues to protect the Earth today.
Everglades Action Day & Lawsuits Update
SCCF's environmental policy team reflects on their trip to Tallahassee for Everglades Action Day, where they met with local legislators to advocate for Everglades restoration. They also discuss updates on recent Everglades-related lawsuits.
Legislative Session 2025 & Everglades Action Day
SCCF's Environmental Policy team discusses the current Florida legislative session and why you should join them for Everglades Action Day, April 7-8, in Tallahassee.
Coastal Resilience & Everglades Restoration
Complementing our previous episode on the Everglades, this podcast focuses on the concept of coastal resilience and its importance in Florida in the face of changing natural and human-driven conditions. The discussion evolves to explore how the Everglades can be viewed through a resilience lens, and why the vast wetland ecosystem is a key component to the future environmental health of the state.
Guests include SCCF Coastal Resilience Manager Carrie Schuman, PhD, and SCCF Environmental Policy Director Matt DePaolis.
How Everglades Restoration Impacts Our Water Quality
SCCF Environmental Policy Director Matt DePaolis and Policy Intern Katie Gretter explore the connection between Everglades restoration and water quality. Hosted by SCCF Communications & Marketing Manager Denise Blough, the conversation delves deeply into how vital restoring the River of Grass is to the health of our waters.
SCCF Scientists Re-Cap Record-Breaking 2020 Sea Turtle Nesting Season
Scientists from the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF)'s Sea Turtle Program, including Coastal Wildlife Director Kelly Sloan, Research Associate Andrew Glinsky, and Biologist Jack Brzoza share highlights of the 2020 nesting season.
As part of the SCCF team for the past three seasons, the trio talk about how this record-breaking nesting season compared to the previous two summers, which saw record-breaking hatchlings in 2019 and record-breaking fatalities due to the catastrophic red tide in 2018.
They also re-cap some of the most memorable aspects of 2020, including numerous records broken by loggerheads and leatherbacks as well as the challenges of COVID-19 and major media attention. The team explains how SCCF's program relies upon more than 100 community volunteers and the cooperation of residents, visitors in businesses in making our beaches sea turtle friendly. And, you'll learn about their backgrounds and what drove their interest in working with sea turtles.
Why Releases from Lake O Would be Devastating Now
As the rainy season ends, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is expected to release harmful volumes of freshwater from Lake Okeechobee down the Caloosahatchee River into our estuary for the first time since June. SCCF Marine Lab Director Dr. Eric Milbrandt and SCCF Environmental Policy Director James Evans join Host Barbara Linstrom to explain why scientists are recommending that water managers hold off on any releases for a couple of weeks until the watershed runoff from recent rains slows down. They also talk about the research SCCF’s Marine Lab does that informs weekly reports and recommendations provided to water managers and how our water quality has benefitted from those reports. From a policy perspective, Evans also talks about how positive it was that the Corps held off on any releases during this year's rainy season. They also explain how releases during the upcoming dry season will benefit the estuary.
Click here to sign up for SCCF’s weekly Caloosahatchee & Estuary Conditions Report.
**Please note that this podcast is produced on our phones from our homes to ensure safe, social distancing. This recording has a bit of a sync issue. (We really didn't talk over each other as it sounds.)
Biologist Recaps 2020 Shorebird Nesting Season on Sanibel & North Captiva Islands
Shorebird Biologist Audrey Albrecht joins host Barbara Linstrom to talk about the highlights of the 2020 Shorebird Nesting Season on Sanibel and North Captiva Islands. As the leader of SCCF’s Shorebird Monitoring Program that began in 2002, Albrecht reflects on what an unusual season the summer of 2020 was compared to her previous four summers.
She also shares her experiences working with plovers and least terns in the prairies of the Dakotas and Nebraska before coming to SCCF and how that helps her more fully understand these species. Albrecht also explains why our islands are such critical nesting habitat for snowy plovers, Wilson's plovers, and least terns, as well as the threats they encounter. And, she explains why SCCF has enhanced overall shorebird monitoring efforts on our beaches since 2017.
Understanding Why Red Tide Blooms in the Fall
Since it’s the time of year when red tide typically blooms offshore, we asked SCCF Marine Lab Director Eric Milbrandt, Ph.D., and Research Scientist Rick Bartleson, Ph.D., to explain what we can expect this fall.
They discuss the seasonal dynamics of red tide and monitoring efforts by the lab to track it once it is detected offshore. The conversation also includes an in-depth explanation of Karenia brevis, the dinoflagellate that causes red tides, and their historical occurrence off the Southwest Florida coast.
They also talk about red tide research the lab is assisting with related to sea turtles and what you can do in your own backyard to help prevent harmful algal blooms such as red tide.
Launching a Shark Conservation Campaign During Shark Week
CEO Ryan Orgera joins host Barbara Linstrom to talk about a Shark Conservation Campaign launched by SCCF to coincide with this summer’s 32nd annual Shark Week on the Discovery Channel.
Before Ryan took over the helm at SCCF, he worked with The Pew Charitable Trusts in shark conservation, specifically in the reduction of international trade in unsustainable shark fins. He talks about his international advocacy work as well as his life-long love of sharks, going back to his childhood here in Southwest Florida, where he grew up on Lemon Bay in Charlotte County.
Once a devout fan of Shark Week, Ryan shares how his lens shifted to a more conservation-minded perspective by the time he was in high school and has continued to shift ever since. He also relays how refreshing it felt to have Southwest Florida media embrace and cover the conservation angle SCCF provided for Shark Week. And, how shark conservation fits in with SCCF's mission to preserve and restore our aquatic and coastal ecosystems.
Planting Native for Pollinators
Podcast Host Barbara Linstrom, SCCF Communications Director, talks with Jenny Evans, manager of our Native Landscapes & Garden Center, about the value and intricacies of pollinators. For the past 15 years, Evans has led the effort to encourage islanders to plant native to support pollinators as well as all forms of native wildlife. With a background in plant biology, Evans gives an overview of what pollinating is and delves into some fascinating details about native pollinators as well as the commercialization of pollination to support agriculture on a global scale. She also talks about the demonstration pollinator garden at the historic Bailey Homestead Preserve where the Garden Center is located and our new online shopping, delivery, and pick-up offerings.
Burn Bosses Share Planning Process for Prescribed Burn on Sanibel
SCCF Burn Bosses Victor Young and Chris Lechowicz joined host Barbara Linstrom for a conversation about the planned upcoming burn at the Erick Lindblad Preserve.
On June 21, SCCF and the City of Sanibel announced plans for a prescribed burn in the preserve in the upcoming weeks to preserve the natural ecology of the area and reduce the likelihood of catastrophic wildfires.
As designated Burn Boss for the burn of interior wetlands connected to the Sanibel Slough behind the SCCF Nature Center, Victor explains why he is waiting for winds from the south and other factors that need to fall into place before he'll request a permit from the Florida Forest Service.
Appreciating Terrestrial Turtles on World Turtle Day
We celebrate World Turtle Day and are joined by two of Sanibel and Captiva islands' leading experts when it comes to turtles.
Featured today are local legend Charles LeBuff, who was stationed at the J.N. Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge for more than 30 years, was a founding board member of SCCF and the founder of what is now our sea turtle monitoring program. He has also authored several books about the natural history of our islands.
And, Chris Lechowicz, SCCF’s Wildlife & Habitat Management Director since 2002, when he began keeping an inventory of wildlife on our islands. As SCCF’s resident herpetologist, Chris has conducted extensive research on Florida box turtles and on ornate Diamondback terrapin.
Together they co-authored a reference book in 2013 called “Amphibians & Reptiles of Sanibel & Captiva Islands, Florida,” which is considered the go-to guide for understanding the ever-changing life history of our islands’ herpetofauna.
Since they are separated by a generation in age, these two have collectively worked in the field documenting the changing ecosystems in which these turtles live for seven decades.
Celebrating Rae Ann Wessel Upon Her Retirement
Rae Ann Wessel reflects on her 42-year career as a water advocate and scientist in Southwest Florida as she joins us on her last day of work as SCCF Natural Resources Policy Director. Over several decades, Wessel gained a solid reputation as one of the most articulate voices for Caloosahatchee and Everglades restoration that our region has ever known. For the past 14 years, she took on an unexpected role in policy as she helped Sanibel and Captiva islanders learn how interconnected the islands' water quality is with the greater Everglades ecosystem and how to make their voices known to water managers and policymakers. She also talks about how important SCCF research is in providing a scientific basis to calls for change.
Wessel also talks about retiring at a time when COVID-19 is dominating life and limiting travel and socializing. Through it all, she maintains her trademark sense of humor and keeps a positive attitude toward the unexpected path that lies ahead for her.
Then & Now: Sea Turtle Conservation on Sanibel Island
On the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) is honoring the origins of its sea turtle monitoring program, which is one of the longest-running sea turtle conservation efforts in the world. In 1959, nighttime patrols to protect loggerhead sea turtles began on Sanibel Island.
Six decades later, SCCF continues that work by monitoring loggerhead, leatherback, green, and Kemp's ridley sea turtles on both Captiva and Sanibel Islands. SCCF's Coastal Wildlife Director Kelly Sloan and Sea Turtle Program Founder Charles LeBuff join host Barbara Linstrom to talk about how early conservation efforts have led to a more diverse and greater number of nesting sea turtles on both islands. LeBuff also explains his pioneering role in getting federal protections for loggerheads to keep them from being killed and harvested through the Endangered Species Act in 1973.
To learn more about Charles LeBuff's pioneering work, click here.
To find out more about SCCF's current work on sea turtles, which includes several research projects, click here.