STOP COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES ON CAYO COSTA STATE PARK'S MOST VULNERABLE SOUTH BEACH!

I’m against the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)/ Division of Recreation and Parks (DRP) mismanagement of  Cayo Costa State Park’s narrowest and most vulnerable south beach known as “the narrows” in Lee County.

Since 2016 the DEP/DRP has allowed their concessionaire to land thousands of people each month at a new “south dock”. Large 50’ commercial ferry boats traverse shallow, sensitive seagrass flats at all tides and there is no limit to the number of people they can bring each day or the activities they can conduct. This increased large boat and foot traffic, at the most vulnerable point of the island, is negatively impacting the sea oat/sand dune systems, and shorebird and turtle nesting activities.

We implore the Department of Environmental Protection/Division of Recreation and Parks to immediately cease all commercial activities at the south dock and move them to the North Park docks designed for groups. This will reduce human impacts to the park’s fragile resources and allow the resource to heal. Stop this now!