The Naples Airport Authority has been awarded the 2022 Florida Airports Council (FAC) J. Bryan Cooper Environmental Award for its wildlife management program at Naples Municipal Airport (KAPF).
The focus of the wildlife management program was to improve water retention and reduce the risk of wildlife interactions, according to airport officials.
The airport accomplished that with three projects:
- The Runway 5/23 Drainage Project, which redesigned the runway drainage from open swales to a piped underground storm water retention system, eliminating standing water, improving turf maintenance, and reducing bird activity on the airfield.
- The West Quad Vegetation Removal, which improved water retention and reduced wildlife habitat by removing excess vegetation, improving ground contours, removing active coyote dens, and installing deterrent fencing.
- The North Road Tree Removal, which was undertaken in consultation with US Fish and Wildlife Service, to remove slash pines near the approach end of Runway 5 to prevent bald eagle nesting, improving safety for both aircraft and the eagles. Native palms and trees that do not promote eagle nesting were preserved, airport officials said.
Home to flight schools, air charter operators, and corporate aviation and non-aviation businesses, Naples Airport had 113,137 operations in the last fiscal year.
The Florida Department of Transportation values the airport’s annual economic impact to the community at more than $440 million.