Smith's Island - Environmental Paradise

It took over two years of negotiation and a lot of legal wrangling to allow the Refuge to acquire Smith's Island. A lot has been said about this important acquisition over the past year or more in the Reflections newsletter, and that is as it should be, because it is an extremely important Refuge acquisition that Friends have facilitated. Smith's Island is one of the last major rookeries in the northern Gulf of Mexico.

The Smith's Island dedication took place at Shell Point on April 29. It was a significant day for Friends of St. Marks Wildlife Refuge. An enthusiastic crowd attended for this important final step in the acquisition and protection of Smith's Island. Key attendees at the event were (left to right) John Whitton, Joe Reinman, and Paul Hamilton. Many thanks are extended to these individuals for the strong role they have played in bringing Smith's Island to the Refuge.