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23998 Corkscrew Road Estero, FL 33928

(239) 657-2253 crew@crewtrust.org

www.crewtrust.org

2013 Annual Report

OUR MISSION The CREW Land & Water Trust is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of the water resources and natural com-munities in and around the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed (CREW). The Trust was established in 1989 to coordi-nate the land acquisition, land management, and public use of the 60,000-acre CREW Project. The CREW Project spans Lee and Collier Counties and contains the largest undisturbed watershed in Southwest Florida. CREW lands provide aquifer recharge, water storage, natural flood control, wildlife protection, and public recreation in an unspoiled environment.

From the Chairman…

At the 2013 annual CREW Trust board meeting, it was my honor to be elected the new Chairman of the CREW Land & Water Trust. As I left the meeting I began to think about the long trail that led me to this point, becoming the chairman of the organization charged with protecting a beau-tiful area that has for so many years been such an important part of my life. In the early 1960s my father used to take me on hunting trips deep into what is now the CREW, east of Bonita. We never shot anything, so I suppose we were just walking with guns, and wandering along through the bare dry white sand in the cypress heads in the winter time and riding in swamp buggies

through the deep dark brown water in the summer, I got to know and love the area. Then, in the late 1990s, I heard about the South Florida Water Management District’s initiative to preserve the land. Many of my local friends vigorously opposed it, but I supported the effort and wanted to be involved. I was convinced that other young people should have the same opportunity to experience the area that I had growing up. So I contacted Ellen Lindblad at the newly formed CREW office and she invited me to get involved by attending a wildflower walk. And get involved I did! It was there that I met her assistant and the person who was to become my wife, Lori. Now, after being elected to the Bonita Springs City Council and the Mayor's office, I find myself home again… at the CREW, where the future looks brighter than ever! As we approach the CREW Trust’s 25th anniversary in 2014, let’s use this time to reflect upon where this adventure began and the exciting opportunities that stand before us. It’s clear that we have a great deal to be thankful for. The South Florida Water Management District, National Audubon Corkscrew Sanctuary, adjacent land owners, environmental and civic leaders, Lee and Collier County Governments and the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission have all been wonderful partners in this venture to protect the watershed, and we have been especially blessed with the love and support of the general public and the “Friends of CREW”. But the two individuals that have really been the “beating heart” of the CREW during the last few years are our Executive Director, Brenda Brooks, and our Environmental Education Specialist, Deb Hanson. From working behind the scenes prepar-ing financial information, to working in the field planning and leading educational hikes, trail walks, moonlight walks, and special member events, they individually seem to be in two places at once, constantly connecting people with CREW. Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t give special thanks to our volunteers. Whether you serve as a trustee, a guide on one of our many hikes, or work on a committee for our annual CREW Concert… thank you! With your help, the CREW Trust will contin-ue to prosper and forever be a place where the native flora and fauna of Florida thrives and where the young at heart can experience the peace, beauty and magic of “The CREW”. Respectfully, Ben Nelson, Mayor of Bonita Springs and Chairman of the CREW Trust Board

Honorable Ben Nelson

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2013 CREW TRUST EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Ben Nelson—Chairman City of Bonita Springs

Commissioner Donna Fiala—Vice Chairman Collier County Commission

Rick Barber—Secretary Agnoli, Barber, and Brundage

Doug Machesney—Treasurer Friends of CREW

Ed Carlson National Audubon Society

Dan DeLisi SFWMD

Bill Hammond Natural Context

Commissioner Larry Kiker Lee County Commission

Ellen Lindblad Lee County Port Authority

2013 BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Dick Anderson Mariner Properties, Inc.

Brian Farrar BCF Management Group, LLC

Kevin Godsea Florida Panther NWR

Billy Gunnels/Marguerite Forest

FGCU

Cullum Hasty Friends of CREW

Jennifer Hecker Conservancy of SW Florida

Tom Jones Collier Companies

Mike Kennedy MKA Marketing

Jerry McPherson Bonita Bay Group

Carla Palmer Carla Palmer and Assoc., Inc.

Fred Partin Bonita Springs Utilities

Ken Passerella Passerella and Associates, Inc.

Ricky Pires FGCU Wings of Hope Program

Councilwoman Martha Simons City of Bonita Springs

Michael Taylor Collier Enterprises

Tom Taylor Hole, Montes, Inc.

Clarence Tears Big Cypress Basin

Steve Walker Lewis, Longman & Walker, PA

Margaret Wuerstle SWFL Regional Planning Council

CREW Board of Trustees

Land Management Prescribed Fire The District along with its partners FWC, CREW Land & Water Trust, Florida Forest Service and Collier County burned 564 acres during the last fiscal year. Burning was focused on areas that had not been burned in quite awhile in-cluding the eastern Corkscrew Marsh, the CREW work center and adjacent to Pepper Ranch. Burning efforts were hampered by the extremely wet sum-mer weather. We would like to reintroduce fire into the sawgrass portion of Corkscrew Marsh in the near future. Exotic Plant Control Treatments to control exotic plants continued throughout CREW with con-tract applicators covering 2,537 acres during the last fiscal year. Applicators spent most of their resources on melaleuca and Brazilian pepper in southern CREW and lygodium (Old world climbing fern) in Bird Rookery swamp. The FGCU mitigation site and the Corkscrew Marsh trails also received treatment. Some areas in southern CREW received their first exotic plant treatments. Efforts are being made to treat as many exotic plants in southern CREW prior to the restoration project. Fetid passion flower (Passiflora foetida), a new exotic plant was discovered and treated in southern CREW this year. An aerially applied herbicide treatment of 60 acres of torpedo grass was conducted in southern CREW following a prescribed fire. Exotic grasses and ferns continue to be a management challenge. Recreation Facilities Lockable donation boxes in support of the CREW Trust were installed at Bird Rookery Swamp, and the trailheads at Corkscrew Marsh and the Cypress Dome Trails. Directional signs were installed along the 12 mile tram loop in Bird Rookery Swamp to aid user navigation. A traffic counter was installed at the Bird Rookery Swamp parking lot and a pedestrian counter was installed at the Corkscrew Marsh trailhead to estimate visitor usage.

-by Joe Bozzo, SFWMD

HONORARY TRUSTEES

Wayne Daltry John Fitch Mary Ellen Hawkins Syd Kitson Neena Lurvey

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Environmental Education and Public Outreach

Trail Use and Education

Trail use during FY2013 reached a record of 16,836. Our educa-tion partnerships continue to grow with Lee and Collier Coun-ty Schools, FGCU, private and home school students, and adult leadership and business groups. Our second year of Strolling Science Seminars brought together a fabulous group of repeat participants and added new members to the CREW Trust family of support-

ers. We also implemented a new Legacy field trip program at Bird Rookery Swamp for high school students. We hosted a total of 178 trail-based events during FY13, making the trails a destination of choice in SW Florida. Our newest program, Nature’s Peace at CREW (a guided walk for early Alzheimer pa-tients) and the brain-child of CREW volunteer, George Luther, received a Collier County Paradise Coast Star Tourism Award for “Best Innovative Idea”.

Offsite Outreach - 12,994 people reached CREW participated in 38 area events and festivals as well as in smaller community presentations to bring the CREW story to folks who may not know about the trails or the watershed. During FY13 we reached out to folks at Ding Darling Days, Six Mile Cypress Slough, Charlotte Harbor Nature Festival, Burrowing Owl Festival, Florida Panther Festival, Barefoot Beach Lecture Series, Bonita Springs Rotary, Edison University STEM Fair, FGCU Community Engagement Day, Southwest Florida Alzheimer’s’ Support Group, The Brooks Community, Bonita Springs RiverFest, Collier County Super Science Saturday, and we led Wildlife Tours at Pelican Sound Golf Course, Royal Poinciana Golf Course, and Tiburon Golf Course.

Volunteers - 3,606 hours logged Our volunteers are some of the best in the business. We have highly qualified and talented people who work hard assisting with hikes and field trips, maintaining trails, treating and removing exotic plants, cleaning roadsides, designing programs, working in the office, and helping with our many special events. These gener-ous folks donated a record 3,606 hours of their time, talent, and experience to CREW during FY2013. The dollar value of their time adds up to $77,013 worth of time & talent donated to fulfill the mission of the CREW Trust – well worth their weight in gold! We implemented a new volunteer training program and recruitment process this year and now have a core group of 20 volunteers.

Special CREW Events Special events help set CREW apart from other organizations. Dur-ing FY13 we hosted our first annual 10K Trail Run and 1-Mile Fun Run, our 2nd annual Wine & Cheese Social for members and volun-teers, several Photography and Star-Gazing sessions, a Campfire and Story-telling Evening at Caracara Prairie Preserve, our 6th CREW Concert & Silent Eco-Auction, and our 11th annual Wildflow-er Festival. - by Deb Hanson, CREW Trust Environmental Education Specialist

16,836+ people hiked the trails in FY2013

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Funding & Land Acquisition

CREW Financial Overview Fiscal Year

October 1, 2012–September 30, 2013

Operating Account

Revenue:

Contract (SFWMD)....................................................….... 109,272

Contributions........................................................…............79,684

Interest...................................................................................2,574

Membership Dues...............................................…........... 37,780

Total Revenue...............................................................$229,310

Expenses:

Professional Fees/Development..…………………….….…….3,723

Office Expenditures (utilities, supplies, postage)....….....……6,900

Public Awareness (ads, displays, brochures)……………….. 8,457

Employment..................................………………………… 131,567

Travel (includes mileage).....................................……...........7,911

Taxes, Insurance, Fees (includes corp. tax, bank fees)….....6,297

Other expenses………………………………………………...13,423

Total Expenses............................................................$ 178,287

NET INCOME ………………...……………………………....$51,023

TOTAL UNRESTRICTED FUNDS ……………...………...$185,561

NET RESTRICTED FUNDS....……………………...…....$344,675 (Restricted funds for land acquisition and related fees only)

CREW Lands Purchased October 1, 1990–September 30, 2013

Lee County Lands

Funding Source Acres

Lee County owned ................................................ 895

Lee County (transferred/sold to SFWMD) .......... 8,510

Mitigation (Youngquist).......................................... 237

Southern Critical CREW Area ........................... 4,021

District…………………………………………..2,444

Non-District ................................................... 1,577

Conservation 20/20 (S29 T47 R26) ........................ 14

CREW Land & Water Trust owned ......................... 50

Lee County Total ................... 13,727 Collier County Lands

Owned by SFWMD

Funding Source Acres

P2000

Corkscrew Marsh ....................................... 6,780

Fisch (S32,33 T47 R27, & S4,5 T48 R27) ... 3,207

Musca (S7 T48 R27) ...................................... 638

SFWMD

Starnes (S30 T46 R28) .................................. 280

Collier Reed (w/ BCB) (S4, 19, 30, 31 T47, R 27) 1,707

Popejoy (w/ BCB) (S2 T47 R28) ...................... 51

Audubon Donation………………………….……70

Mitigation

Livingston Road……………………………..…..436

WCI (east half of Section 12 T48 R26)……….320

Wiseman (S13 T47 R27 & S8,9 T47 R27E) ... 237

Brynwood Reserve………………….…………..150

Owned/Held by CREW Trust

S8 T48 R27 ............................................................... 8

S14 T47 R28 ......................................................... 101

Conservation Easements (S13, 14 T48 R27) ........ 530

STARNES/in partnership with Collier County…………..367

Collier County Total ................................. 14,882

TOTAL ACRES ACQUIRED/DONATED …….28,609

Other Lands in Preservation

Department of Education (Leased)

(S34 T47 R27 & S3 T48 R27)... .................... 640

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary .......................... 10,737

National Audubon Society Owned/Managed

Panther Island Mitigation Bank ........................... 2,778

Imperial River Flow Way ......................................... 30

Collier County Road Easement…………...…………..8

Pepper Ranch-Collier County…………………….2,500

Other Lands Total ............................... 16,693

TOTAL ACRES IN PRESERVATION……......45,302 Barred Owl by George Luther

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Fish and Wildlife Management Wading Bird Nesting Surveys

The FWC conducted its first year of wading bird nest monitoring at CREW. Flights were conducted on CREW Management Area and National Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary (CSS). The primary objective was to locate and monitor trends in wading bird nesting colonies by documenting species and nesting effort. Three nesting colonies were identified in and around the CREW Management Area in 2013. Although our focus was on nesting colonies, a total of 15 foraging aggrega-tions and 15 roosting colonies were opportunistically recorded. Ten of the 15 for-aging aggregations were located on CREW and five were observed on CSS. Eleven roosting colonies were recorded on CREW, two on CSS, and two on private land. The Orange Grove nesting colony had the highest species diversity of wading birds present with a total of six identified species, and these peaks were seen in the May and June. In addition to white-colored wading birds, we also observed several dark-colored aquatic birds such as Anhingas, tricolored herons, and little blue herons nesting in these colonies. Little blue herons were observed in all three colonies, although they were only seen nesting in the Sod Farms colony. Deer Camera Surveys

The FWC conducted its first population estimate of free-ranging white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virgini-anus) using remote sensing cameras at CREW WEA (Wildlife & Environmental Area). The overall objec-tive of the survey was to estimate deer densities, sex ratios, and recruitment rates on CREW WEA in the Corkscrew Marsh and Flint Pen units. More specifically, our objective for the Corkscrew Marsh man-agement unit was to gather baseline data on deer density and evaluate if the unit potentially could support deer hunting. In addition, we estimated deer density, sex ratio, and recruitment rates in Flint Pen unit, currently open to deer harvest. Four unique bucks were photographed in the Corkscrew Marsh and one unique buck in Flint Pen yield-ing a population factor of 0.01 for both units. Deer density estimates for Corkscrew Marsh and Flint Pen were 2.65 (1.02 km2) and 0.53 (0.20 km2) deer per square mile, respectively, using the Jacobsen model. The occupancy modeling approach was also used to estimate the number of bucks, does, and

fawns. Based on occupancy modeling there were estimated 16 (9-29) bucks and 7 (3-16) does. Estimated occupancy for bucks was 65% and 38% for does. Detection, across all camera sites, was 11% for bucks and 8% for does. Subsequent surveys will be conducted in December 2013 to de-termine the accuracy of the deer population estimates.

Game Harvest and Summary The CREW WEA has two hunter check stations which are staffed by the FWC biologist and one OPS technician. The hunter check stations record-ed harvest of 7 deer, 5 female hog, 3 male hog, 33 doves, 69 snipe, 4 gray squirrels, 3 rabbits, and 5 turkeys. Hunting pressure during the 2012-13 season was the highest on record since data collection began in 1998 with a total of 419 man days of pressure.

Florida Panther Capture and Monitoring This year FWC biologists did not attempt to capture or collar federally

endangered Florida panthers on CREW WEA. But two panthers (male

FP223 and female FP219) found orphaned near CREW in September

2011 were released in Picayune Strand State Forest (31 January 2013)

and Rotenberger Wildlife Management Area (03 April 2013) this year.

The kittens were held at White Oak Conservation Center in Yulee, Florida

until they were old enough for release. The female panther already bore

her first offspring in May 2013 near Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State

Park in Collier County.

Vegetation Monitoring The CREW WEA photo monitoring program is conducted biannually in

the following locations: 8 points at the Corkscrew Marsh, 5 points at the Cypress Dome trails, 7 points in southern Flint Pen, and this year 7 points

were added in northern Flint Pen section of CREW. FWC Law Enforcement (LE), including canine officer Felix Collazo, continues to monitor and

enforce the rules and regulations of the CREW WEA. We are pleased to work with such a professional and hard working LE team.

- by Kathleen Smith, FWC CREW biologist

Wading Bird Rookery

by Tim Donovan/FWC

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Printed on recycled paper

Thank you for your financial support...

Preserver ($5000+) Bunch, Bruce & Janet GE Foundation Southern Bald Eagle ($1,000—$4999) Bonita Springs Utilities; Fred Partin Brooks, Brenda & Rick Solveson Florida Gulf Coast University Lewis, Longman & Walker, P.A.; Stephen Walker Malenick, Donal Pelican Sound Golf & River Club Swallow-tailed Kite ($500—$999) Collier Enterprises; Mike Taylor Cooper, Ron Hamilton, Layne Hole Montes, Inc.; Tom Taylor Huether, Virginia & Charles Nelson, Ben & Lori , Nelson Marine Passarella & Assoc. Inc.; Ken Passarella Tiburon Golf Club Ghost Orchid ($100—$499) Agnoli, Barber, and Brundage; Rick Barber Andre, Marcia Batos, Nicholas BCF Management Group, LLC; Brian Farrar Bonita Bay Group—Jerry McPherson City of Bonita Springs Buckhannan, Hank & Maddy Carr, Bill & Betsy Cassani, John & Holly Schwartz Cassani, Mary Kay Clow, Bruce & Elizabeth Conscious Living Ministries, Carla Palmer Conservancy of SWFL; Jennifer Hecker Davis, Fred Deutsche Bank Dorsett, Bill & Elaine Echols, Ron & Mary Elting, John & Nancy Estero Council of Community Leaders Hammond, Bill & Rosemarie Hanson, Deb & Keith Herrington Insurance Co., Dan Herrington Inge, Ron & Sherry Jacobitti, Edmund Kemper, Ron & Lynne Knowles, Jimmy & Maria Juan Lindblad, Ellen & Erick Little Pine Island Mitigation Bank, Dick Anderson Lohner, Bernd Machesney, Doug & Carolyn Magee, George Maish, Tom & Judy Montgomery, Jeff & Nancy Mullins, Gary & Barbara

Murray, John & Wendy Rawl, Mary & Greg Rehse, Lynda River, Roots, & Ruts; Steve & Susan Brookman Santamaria, Vincent & Susie Schmelz, Gary & Bernice Schwartz, Philip Shaw, Jim & Kitty Sheets, Gayle Shivok, Leonard Smith, Michael & Laurel Stacell, Glen & Laura Starnes, Hugh & Judy Thompson, Gay & Bob Beville Tomlinson, Peter Watson, Jan Wood, Jill Worthington Country Club Wyatt, Matt & Barbara Ehrie Wychulis, Katherine Yeaman, Cathy Bobcat ($50) Bachrach, Jan & Grant Hicks Benzenberg, Mark Berninger, Jack & Elaine Brown, Dotty Collings, Matt Cooper, David Courtright, John & Beth Daltry, Wayne & Marti Ducham, Kelly Duever, Mike & Jean McCollum Evoy, Bill & Jean Fiala, Donna Fitch, John & Jean Hamilton, Holly Hrinik, Jerry Jacobitti, Edmund & Barb Jewell, Laura Kemper, Ron & Lynne Kennedy, Mike & Dori Kline, Larry & Judy Magstadt, Mike & Midge McCarley, Winifred McDevit, John & Peggy Melin, Bob Menk, Al & Lucie Pires, Ricky & Tony Sheehan, Chantal & Mike Smith, Adele Walker, Donna Family ($35—$49) Bauer, Eric & Rita Corradino, Pete & Malena

FY 2013 Friends of CREW (gifts given between 10/01/12 and 9/30/13) Crosse, Thomas & Amy Davenport, Larry & Charlotte Ennis, Kathy Gellings, Joe & Debbie Green, Pat & Mary Rose Spalletta Griffith, Pam Gunnels, Dr. Charles & Family Hall, Johannah & Joseph Meloni Hawkins, Mary Ellen Jacobson, Anton Jacobson, Linda Jones, Craig & LeeAnn Luther, George & Suzy Nissen, Phil O’Grady, Tom & Denise Olson, Nancy M. Ordonez, Brenda & Mario Palmer, Gail Paquin, Bill Peters, Chris & Deb Reilly, John & Elsa Rhodes, Laurel & Dusty Robinson, Henry & Marjorie Rosen, Arnie Sibbald, Alexander Smith, Kathleen & Marc Criffield Suden, Barbara & Steve Sutton, Betty Thomson, Don & Kim Umbenhauer, Michelle Voellinger, Richard & Milla Warfield, Tara Webster, MaryAnn Williamson, Jenny & Meg Sapp Individual ($25) Angel, Leslie Barthel, Monika Becker, Jim Bell, Patti Bozzo, Joe Bittner, Michael Broyard, Kathy Cabral, Karen Carlin, Barbara Carrick, Mary Collings, Matt Ducham, Kelly Ferber, Chuck Gordon, Richard Grossenbacher, Roger Harris, Steve Hasty, Cullum Hulcher, Susie Kandik, Richard Koehler, Lisa Lurvey, Neena

Myosky, Agnes Powell, Jenny Rex, Wendy Roche, Jean Scholl, Maggie Spikowski, Bill Stockham, Edwin Tears, Clarence Wachendorf, Tom White, Erin Wilson, Emily Wolok, Mimi Wisniewski, Earle