Nature Matters Helps Clean Uo Treasure Island, Florida: Elnor Island

From the distance the mangrove key looks pristine. Lush mangroves may harbor colonies of birds in John's Pass.

By getting closer to it by kayak: lumber, beer bottles and cans are scattered all over.

"Over time due to storms the debris has become trapped on the island. There are several tons of debris on the island," said Michelle McIntosh, founder of Nature Matters.  

Elnor Island wasn't welcoming birds anymore. The lumber and other debris collected on the shores were hiding the food from them.

The island is located on the East end of John's Pass between Treasure Island and Madeira Beach. It has withstood several storms and thunderstorms causing the debris in the waterways to be pushed into the mangroves and on to the shores, said McIntosh.

The cleanups and ecotours started by Bob Dowling of Treasure Island in 2004 are continued by Bob Minning and by nonprofit organizations, such as Treasure Island Beach Stewardship Committee, Kayak Nature Adventures and Nature Matters.

Minning lives in St. Petersburg for 16 years. 10 years ago when he would drive on a boat to Elnor Island there were so many birds out there, said Minning, Commissioner of District 3 of Treasure Island.

He said that suddenly the bird populations started to decline. The geologist from Ohio hopes that their efforts in the exotic plant removal, rodent extermination and debris removal will bring the birds back to the island.

Jim Mason and his grandson, Tyler Jackson, of St. Petersburg have been out for several events hosted by Nature Matters. They were on the last Elnor Island cleanup on May 10, 2008 with Nature Matters. Mason works for a medical manufacturing company and he has been living here for 47 years.

Originally from Pennsylvania he lived close to Allegheny National Forrest, the oldest national Forrest in the US and his parents taught him about nature.

He got involved several years ago with the Pinellas County Environmental Lands Division in the Brooker Creek cleanup projects. Later on he helped his friend, Kurt Zuelsdorf from Kayak Nature Adventures to do cleanups and conservation projects in Tampa Bay, he said.