June marks the start of the Atlantic hurricane season, and with it comes a reminder that in Collier County, storm preparedness and environmental stewardship are deeply connected.
Collier County is woven together by an estimated 123 miles of canals maintained by the South Florida Water Management District’s Big Cypress Basin, plus rivers, wetlands, and coastal estuaries that flow into the Gulf of Mexico. Those waterways move water efficiently, and they move floating debris just as fast.
When a storm rolls through, unsecured outdoor items such as bags, packaging, yard waste, and loose plastics can become airborne or wash into storm drains and canals. From there, they travel quickly toward Rookery Bay’s 110,000-acre estuarine reserve and the waters of the Ten Thousand Islands, ending up entangled in mangrove roots or on a sea turtle nesting beach.
A few simple habits before a storm makes landfall can keep that debris out of our waterways entirely.
Before the storm:
- Bring in or secure outdoor furniture, trash cans, planters, and any loose materials
- Make sure household bins have lids that close and latch
- Clear gutters and drains of debris so stormwater flows cleanly
After the storm:
- Join neighborhood pickup efforts before debris travels further
- Report litter hotspots through KCB’s Community Litter Index program
- Watch for volunteer cleanup opportunities; KCB will share them as conditions allow
Hurricane season runs through November 30. That is six months of heightened awareness and six months of opportunity to protect the environment we care about. Let’s make sure our paradise is storm-ready and litter-free.
To learn more or sign up for volunteer alerts, visit keepcollierbeautiful.com.