World-Renowned Dolphin Researcher to be Key Speaker During the Next GPICA Meeting

Agenda also includes presentation on proposed kayak launch

Interested in learning about dolphins and dolphin behavior? Please join us for the next meeting of the Greater Pine Island Civic Association (GPICA) at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 4 via Zoom. The meeting’s featured speaker will be Dr. Randy Wells, Vice President for Marine Mammal Conservation at the Chicago Zoological Society (CZS) and Director of the CZS Sarasota Dolphin Research Program.

Dr. Wells is a co-founder of and directs the world’s
longest-running study of a wild dolphin population, which began in 1970. Today, the program is known worldwide for its groundbreaking research techniques and findings about everything from dolphin communication, behavior and biology to the social structure and ecology associated with dolphin communities.

Wells’ current research program uses a collaborative approach to examine the behavior, social structure, life history, ecology, health, and population biology of bottlenose dolphins along the central west coast of Florida, with studies focusing on up to five concurrent generations of a locally resident ~170-member dolphin community based in Sarasota. Wells’ team has also studied the dolphins in Charlotte Harbor.

His recent research topics include the effects of human activities on coastal dolphins, such as boat traffic, fishing activities, human feeding of wild dolphins, and environmental contaminants, and the impacts of other environmental disturbances such as red tides.
His presentation will include opportunities for Q&A.

For more information about Dr. Wells and the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, please visit www.SarasotaDolphin.org.

Additional Items on the Agenda

Rezoning Request Presentation

The Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast is submitting a rezoning and special exception application to Lee County to rezone 207 acres from C-1A and AG-2 to the Environmentally Critical (EC) zoning district in order to allow a boardwalk, kayak launch, and small parking lot. A special exception is required to permit impervious surfaces for passive recreation in the EC zoning district. The property doesn’t have an address yet, but the STRAP No. is 10-45-22-00-00001.0050. (The property location is shown in the image.) The project is called Pine Island Preserve at Matlacha Pass. Conservation Foundation representatives from TDM Consulting Inc. will be making a presentation about the proposal.

New Board Member

The Board will also introduce new board member, Deborah Swisher-Hicks, who is filling the vacancy left by the resignation of Roger Wood.

To Join the Meeting

Members and non-members are welcome to join the meeting, which is taking place on Zoom, so you can participate from anywhere in the country.
To Join: go to www.Zoom.us/join just before 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 4, 2021. Type in the meeting ID: 890 5771 9762 and the passcode: GPICA
Alternatively, use this link to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89057719762?pwd=OVFKZUsvQ2xIcWdDOG5nTzFuY25rUT09

You may also call in to the meeting via 301-715-8592 (have the meeting ID ready).

Please note that all meetings are recorded and will be posted to our website.