According to a local resident near the Beach Theater on Estero Boulevard contractors were at this location on Sunday removing mangroves and digging the canal out. They were working in the mangroves until 11pm Sunday.
Town of Fort Myers Beach Town Manager Keith Wilkins told Beach Talk Radio that the town is citing the property owner for unpermitted mangrove removal and they are being reported to The Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The town is also pursuing damages to town property and trespassing.
The local resident who took these pictures estimated they removed about 12 dumpsters full of mangroves throughout the day Sunday.
Mangroves, which are protected by the state, are known to foster important habitats for fish and birds and are considered to be of great ecological importance, which is why they’re monitored closely by the DEP.