At the invitation of local resident Aiden Burrows, habitat restoration specialist Gary Milano and a group from Darby Island Research Station visited Little Farmers Cay in January 2020 to assess mangrove wetlands. Historically mangroves located on the northern side of Little Farmer’s Cay were connected to the coastal waters through free-flowing tidal creeks. This water flow was restricted in 1990 by the construction of a road, with a culvert added in 2010. Over the years, sediment buildup associated with erosion from the road has made the culvert nonfunctional and eliminated daily tidal flushing, thereby impacting the health and ecological function of the mangrove system.
Recognizing the value of mangroves as (1) critical habitat for a variety of fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds and mammals, (2) nurseries for numerous marine species, including conch, fish and shrimp, (3) protection from coastal erosion during storms and (4) a basis for ecotourism and environmental education, it may be desirable to initiate a wetlands enhancement project to enhance tidal flushing on the north side of the island. Further steps will be taken to investigate the feasibility of such a project.
