Read below to find information about:
1.  Beach Access & Local Rules,
2. Beach Re-nourishment Project
3.  Water Quality,
4.  Turtle Season,
5. Other area beaches/parks.

FYI: It is currently both turtle and hurricane season. 

 

BEACH ACCESS & LOCAL RULES

There are designated pathways for beach access. Please do not randomly walk over the sand berm between the sidewalk and the beach.

Bring your own beach chairs to the beach. BBC equipment must remain on community property, which means not on the beach.

Footbaths exist by the A and E building. This makes it convenient to remove sand from your feet, shoes and beach gear before using any Association equipment or facilities. Please remember to turn the water off after use.

Beach rules to protect the environment and fragile beach ecosystem:

Alcoholic beverages, glass bottles, jet ski launch and hammocks tied to vegetation are prohibited. The beach area is monitored by Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

No Fires (bonfires, candles, torches) are permitted on the beach. Organized events must obtain permission from the Fire Marshall.

Please follow the ‘leave no trace’ principles: Remove your trash, Minimize impact, Respect wildlife, Be considerate of others

 

BEACH RE-NOURISHMENT PROJECT

Funding Sources and initial plans

The main project consists of 1.1 miles of shoreline within Lovers Key State Park and 0.8 miles of shoreline at the northern end of Bonita Beach (Little Hickory Island). Weeks Marine Inc. will excavate, transport and place beach-compatible sand from a Gulf of Mexico sand source to nourish multiple beach segments that were critically eroded from Hurricane Ian.

The project is scheduled to begin mid-Oct 2024 and will be complete by mid-June 2025. Beaches will remain open, except in the safety zones where sand is actively being placed.

 

WATER QUALITY

Lee County provides several resources for water quality reports: https://www.leegov.com/naturalresources/WaterQuality/WaterQualityStatus
and
https://www.floridahealth.gov/environmental-health/beach-water-quality/county-detail.html?County=Lee&Zip=33916-2205

The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission monitors for red tide events:
https://myfwc.com/research/redtide/statewide/ You can feel some respiratory irritation when red tide is present.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection posts the current status of algal blooms:
https://floridadep.gov/dear/algal-bloom

 

TURTLE SEASON (MAY 1 – OCTOBER 31)

BBC always has several nesting turtles on the Gulf of Mexico beaches adjacent to our community.  Here is a reminder of the rules about lights and protecting the nesting area.

  1. It is against the law to touch or disturb nesting sea turtles, hatchlings, or their nests. Sea turtles are protected by both the Federal Endangered Species Act and the Florida Marine Protection Act.
  2. If you see an injured or dead sea turtle, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission 1-888-404-FWCC (3922) or *FWC from your cell phone. Be prepared to answer these questions: What is the exact location of the animal? Is the turtle alive or dead? What is the approximate size of the turtle? Is the turtle marked with spray paint? (This indicates that the turtle has been documented.) What is the location of the closest access point to the turtle?
  3. Avoid going to the beach at night. If you must be on the beach at night, limit your walking and do not use flashlights or flash photography. The light may cause the female to abort the nesting process, or other sea turtles nearby may be discouraged from nesting if there are lights on the beach.
  4. Turn off outside lanai and balcony lights and shield indoor lights from shining directly onto the beach by closing the drapes/blinds from 9pm until 7am nightly. Lights disturb nesting sea turtles and hatchlings. The City of Bonita Springs has lighting ordinances and will fine noncompliant owners. Please make sure your beachfront lights are in compliance with the law.
  5. Avoid disturbing marked sea turtle nests. These are clearly staked and boxed with tape to protect the nest area.
  6. When crossing a berm/dune, please use designated crossovers and walkways. Do not climb over the berms/dunes or disturb the vegetation that lives there.
  7. Please take your trash with when you leave the beach

 

OTHER AREA BEACHES & PARKS

Some beaches have a cost for parking and/or access.

To the North: Lover’s Key State Park; various Ft Myers Beach accesses, Sanibel Island

To the South: Bonita Beach, Barefoot Beach, Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, Vanderbuilt Beach Park, various Naples beach accesses south till Naples Pier

https://www.leegov.com/parks and https://www.leegov.com/parks/beaches

https://www.collierparks.com/collier_park_category/regional-parks/