You may have noticed that SIPOA has installed new trash can enclosures at each of the beach access boardwalks and other locations on the island. The old enclosures were deteriorating and needed to be replaced.
The maintenance staff (pictured below from left to right: Gary Brown, Larry Swails, Duaine Collins, Jonathan Jones, and Jonathan Scrughan) began building them in the spring. Last month, they completed the replacement of 16 trash enclosures with an improved design to make accessing the cans easier.
The new enclosures look great, and we wanted to acknowledge the entire maintenance staff for their hard work to get this completed!
When we are walking or riding our bikes around on Seabrook, we often see a postcard-perfect scene of a vibrant natural ecosystem: golden hour on the marsh, spoonbills working the shallows for shrimp, a momma deer with wobbly baby fawns, or dolphins lazily cruising the creeks. We might imagine a peaceful, quiet life for these creatures. Aren’t they just “Livin’ the Dream” like we are?
But the reality of our barrier island’s natural environment is much more intense. Nature isn’t a peaceful sanctuary; it’s a high-stakes, constant struggle. Simply put, Nature is Savage.
To really understand the wildlife around us, we must realize that all of these creatures aren’t living like us. They don’t worry about tee times, complain about the weather, or disparage the migratory renters that pass through seasonally. Their whole existence is built around three relentless goals: (1) finding their next meal, (2) not becoming someone else’s next meal, and (3) raising their young to help their species survive. Every single day is a test. Their lives really are wild, and wildlife is an accurate description.
Every single creature on Seabrook Island is a part of the food web. Think of it as nature’s version of a neighborhood network, but instead of trading favors or borrowing a cup of sugar, it’s all about energy transfer. Every plant and animal plays a role: plants capture energy from the sun; bugs, fish, and small mammals eat plants; birds eat bugs and fish; and larger predators eat the birds and mammalian prey. It’s a delicate, interconnected cycle where everyone is a source of energy for someone else. Animals are all part of this chain, and that means eating – and being eaten- is just the basic mechanism of how the system stays balanced. Everything depends on everything else.
In the last month or so, I’ve been able to witness the savagery of nature firsthand a few times. As I watched a pair of American Oystercatchers guard and incubate their 3 egg clutch for nearly 30 days, I became more than a spectator; I morphed into a “passionate fan”. Finally, the first 2 chicks hatched, but the May king tides overwashed the nest that night, causing the parents to abandon the final egg. Within 48 hours of hatching, both super cute chicks had been predated by a bobcat. An early-season loss for Team Oystercatcher, but it’s the reality of the ecosystem. Approaching Ocean 18 after a recent round (savage in its own right), I watched a cormorant sunning his wings get suddenly BooYah’d by an alligator right before my eyes. I’ve seen a cardinal enjoying a morning splash in my birdbath only to get picked off in an instant by a Cooper’s Hawk. This time of year, much of the ruckus you hear on North Beach behind the dune line is willets chasing off crows relentlessly preying on their eggs and live chicks. Nature is Savage.
When we see these events, it’s natural to feel bad, especially when our favored team loses the match. But we must remember that those predators – the hawks, the bobcats, the gators – aren’t “villains”. They are essential balancing mechanisms in a healthy, functioning environment. This isn’t a story of victims and bad guys; it’s just the raw, unfiltered cycle of life that’s been happening on Seabrook Island long before we arrived here. We are just fortunate spectators amid a productive, balanced ecosystem. We shouldn’t feel helpless when our favorite cute animal gets eaten by another species we are less fond of. Yes, Nature is savage, but it’s only because Everything depends on everything else.
Submitted by Jeff Davis, Environmental Committee Chair
The SIPOA Board, Committee members, and staff, both collectively and privately, get emails and voicemails virtually every day from homeowners expressing concerns about island safety. Topics range from young children without seatbelts in LSVs to eBikes not obeying traffic rules to dog leashing. And much more.
We welcome these homeowner messages; as Directors, we’re happy to serve as your sounding boards for issues of concern. However, it is virtually impossible for us to address every infraction and prevent every future infraction. We, and our stellar Security Team, cannot be “everything, everywhere, all at once”.
So, I will take this opportunity to share some facts that will hopefully allow homeowners to better understand and appreciate just how much we are doing to ensure your safety and security. Four major road safety challenges have been recurring for the 17 years I have been on this island, and will continue for the foreseeable future (unless we ban all vehicles from roadways):
LSV Safety Compliance is still a problem. We issue, on average, 20+ tickets a month, more in the peak season (40+). In fact, on this issue, we have increased and enhanced enforcement and are now writing 50% more each month compared to a year ago. But parents still carry babies on their laps and do not seatbelt young children. LSV drivers still fail to stop at stop signs and park illegally. Now, before you say, “It must be those short-term renters,” note that renters only represent 10% of these citations.
There have been many homeowner complaints asking, “Why aren’t we doing anything about it?” The Safety & Security Committee has been proactive by: a) validating the problem; b) communicating and educating homeowners, renters, and LSV rental companies (ongoing). I certainly appreciate the allure of an LSV. So, please take responsibility for the people who use your LSV and educate them on safety rules before someone gets seriously hurt. We will continue to work alongside LSV rental companies to better educate renters on LSV safety.
Currently, there is a significant spike in citations for speeding and stop sign rolling. Fifty percent (50%) over the same time last year. Typically, it is 55% homeowner, 30% contractor, 10% renter, and 5% employee. We will, of course, continue with enforcement across the entire island. We also had an extraordinary number of appeals this period. On average, over 95% of appeals were denied, largely because “Play the videotape!” Our Security Team is equipped with cameras in their vehicles and on their bodies. When the homeowner, contractor, or renter appeals a citation, the Committee reviews the video (and shares with the violator upon request), and the infraction is clear. Sometimes we have to accept that the Rules are not clear. In those instances, we err on the side of the violator and rule in their favor for the appeal. SIPOA’s Rules and Regulations are a living, breathing document and are under constant review for clarity and applicability as time passes.
eBikes have become a more visible problem largely because the offenders are repeaters and are difficult to catch. Offenders are challenging to police because they travel on and off-road. The potential for eBikes causing a safety problem is high. There is only one type of eBike allowed on Seabrook Island: Class-1 eBikes. These are defined as a bicycle/tricycle with operable pedals equipped with a motor that provides assistance ONLY when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance if/when the bicycle/tricycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour. The electric motor is less than 750 watts (1 h.p.) and has no throttle. The Safety & Security Committee is working with the Town of Seabrook Island and law enforcement on recommendations to address this potential hazard.
SIPOA is aware that beach parking is an issue compounded by the summer season. SIPOA does not have purview over all parking (some is owned by the Club), but we recognize that as the island builds out, it will only get worse. We are looking into several remediation remedies:
Relining parking pads so they are narrower and can fit more vehicles
Expanding parking lots
Running a beach shuttle
Allowing “residents only” parking at the beach
Parking improvement is part of the Master Plan. In the meantime, y’all could also ride your bikes to the beach. The exercise and free parking are worth it.
Safety starts at home. The Safety & Security Committee of SIPOA asks that LSV and eBike owners take personal responsibility for themselves and the people who use their vehicles. Learn the Rules of the Road for these vehicles and ensure that those you entrust with your vehicles adhere to them.
