In April 2021, we made our first trip to the island since starting this blog. We knew that there would be changes to the island in the 14 months since we last visited. The Island Store reopened, Boop’s by the Bubble Room is a new addition, and COVID precautions were inlace at all our favorite establishments. One thing we were not ready for, however, was the massive erosion on Captiva Island’s beach.
I first noticed this while enjoying a drink at The Mucky Duck and wanted to walk down the path to the beach for a few pictures. Blocked due to what I assumed was for COVID-related reasons, I walked a few yards down the beach, using the Andy Rosse Lane entrance. Honestly, I was stunned at the sight of the beach.
The gentle slope of the dunes is now gone, replaced by a sand and root wall that is chest high.
Erosion on Captiva Island’s Beach: Tropical Storm Eta
On November 11, 2020, Tropical Storm Eta hit Captiva Island. The storm, which had earlier held category 4 hurricane status, didn’t make landfall on the island, but that didn’t stop the damage from occurring.
Captiva Island’s history is filled with storms, and Eta is the latest to leave its mark on the island. It was a storm that caused Captiva to separate from Sanibel, and North Captiva from Captiva proper. Separate storms in the 1920s destroyed agriculture on both Sanibel and Captiva Islands.
Sanibel fared better with Eta than Captiva, although the storm did cause the Sanibel Causeway to briefly close.
Extent of Erosion
Approaching the grass from the beach, you will notice a sheer drop of several feet on the sand dunes. According to WGCU, the damage observed following the November storm ranged from two to six feet loss of the cones.
Several of the private beach entrances on Captiva Island, including at the Mucky Duck, were closed. Yellow caution tape has become an unwelcome addition to the pristine scenery of the beach.
Public beach access and resort beach access, including Turner and Alison Hagerup Beaches, and access at Andy Rosse, Laika, and Wightman Lanes, are still open.
Waterfront dune systems are critical to the island’s future as they protect the island’s buildings from flooding and storm surges.
Repairs and Recovery
The Captiva Erosion Prevention District (CEPD), charged with protecting the beach and island from erosion, is going to begin a renourishment project in July. Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company will be the contractor of the project, which should begin this summer.
With any luck, the beach should be back to normal before peak season on Captiva Island next year.
Update: The Captiva Island Beach Restoration project has begun and the beach should be good as new by November.
