Hideaway & Tigertail Restoration Project Nears Completion as Sea Turtle Nesting Season Begins.

The Tigertail Lagoon/Sand Dollar Island Ecosystem Restoration Project began in  2022 to restore the lagoon and the barrier island to pre-Hurricane Irma condition. Following  Hurricane Irma in 2017 Sand Dollar Island’s northern tip grew 15 acres in five years and began encroaching on the Marco River navigation channel, threatening to close off the lagoon entrance. The Tigertail Lagoon and Sand Dollar Island form the Big Marco Pass Critical Wildlife Area. As a  result, the project was approved and permitted by the Florida Department of Environmental  Protection, the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the U.S Army Corps of Engineers.  The permits include environmental monitoring and protection of seagrasses, turtles, birds, and  mangroves.  

As construction draws to a close during sea turtle nesting season, the contractor remains in  compliance with all permit conditions. To ensure that compliance continues, the City, its  consultants, and the contractor meet regularly with the permitting and regulatory agencies. Shore  bird nesting is currently being monitored daily by Turrell Hall and Associates. Sea turtle nesting is  being monitored by Collier County and the sea turtle monitoring team attends the project  meetings. For example, Collier County reported eleven false crawls between May 2nd and May 8thIsland-wide. While it is common to have false crawls during nesting season, the City is working with  Collier County to monitor the nesting activity and make project modifications as needed.  

The City recognizes the importance of sea turtle protection and will ensure that all relevant City  ordinances are followed and that this project adheres to all permit standards. For example, the  ongoing construction includes grading the sand beach berms. There is currently a four-foot high sand berm on Hideaway beach that will be reshaped and sloped through that process. The entire  project is scheduled for completion by the end of May at which time all construction equipment will be removed. When the project is completed, sea turtles and other wildlife will have a larger beach  habitat on which to nest, mangroves will be restored, and water quality in the lagoon will be  improved for recreational activities.