Before Jupiter Island's beaches were renourished, they were so badly eroded that there was very little beach for sea turtles to nest. In 1969, Jupiter averaged only 77 nests per mile. After renourishment, nesting has steadily increased to a current 722 nests per mile. Only one year after renourishment at Boca Raton, both the variety and number of offshore marine species more than doubled. The quality of our beaches is a reflection of the quality of life in Lee County.
Beaches are the lifeblood of recreational activities in Lee County.
Whether you are a fisherman, boater, sailor, swimmer, snorkeler, diver, sheller or sunbather, you benefit from healthy beaches. And, likewise, when our beaches become unhealthy or disappear, we will pay the consequences of fewer enjoyable recreational activities. Nobody wants to go fishing and catch no fish, or go shelling and find no shells. Beaches are important infrastructure for recreation, which deserve the same care and attention as our roadways, parks, jails and other public works. The goal of the Coastal Advisory Council is to effectively and wisely advise our county commisioners about managing our beaches and coastal systems.