The aftermath of the storm surges from Hurricanes Helene and Milton on SCCF conservation lands is reminiscent of Hurricane Ian, but not as severe. In some cases, the recurring saltwater surge has eradicated exotics in preserves.

“The quantity of construction and demolition or C & D debris at the boundaries of our properties, from homes and businesses is much less than in 2022,” said SCCF Habitat & Wildlife Management Director Chris Lechowicz. “However, it will still require a significant amount of effort from staff and volunteers to cleanup.”

The hardest hit areas from the September and October hurricanes are along West Gulf Drive, Casa Ybel Road, and the far west end of Sanibel-Captiva Road, where the browning and disruption of vegetation is evident.

“If there is any silver lining to these recent storms, it would have to be related to the loss of many large infestations of exotic ground cover plants, at least temporarily until they start to grow back,” he said.

A prime example of this is wedelia (Sphagneticola trilobata) that was primarly a monoculture in some areas, and quickly becoming the dominant ground cover plant in other areas.

“The Bassett McGrath Preserve on West Gulf Drive is one of our newest preserves that was still in the exotic treatment phase,” said Lechowicz. “This beachfront property had nearly a half-acre of this exotic plant that is now completely dead from the salt water.”

This invasive, ornamental plant is difficult to control because it quickly roots at nodes on the stem as it spreads itself along the landscape. The mowing of this plant just sprays these nodes all over that often take root and start new plants.

“With all of it gone at this point on that parcel it will be easy to treat when it starts resprouting as the ground is mostly bare and they will be easy to see,” said Lechowicz.

Other exotic plants such as air potato (Dioscorea bulbivera) also died back and will likely not be seen until the next growing season. The beginning of the growing season is the ideal time to chemically treat these plants because they are both small and highly visible.

“There is little risk of damaging nearby plants when the targeted species is small and easy to treat,” he added.

Over the next few months, the habitat management team will be watching other exotic plants, such as climbing cassia (Senna pendula) and lead tree (Leucaena leucocephala) for the same reactions.