![An aerial drone image of Shell Key Preserve in October 2017, shortly after Hurricane Irma opened the pass. [Courtesy of Peter Clark]](https://www.tampabay.com/resizer//Nwebc2_4AqU7e_9_PfEX9MTaTog=/426x0/smart/filters:format(webP)/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-wordpress-client-uploads/tbt/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/05160920/SP_414775_ho_SHELLKEY.jpg "An aerial drone image of Shell Key Preserve in October 2017, shortly after Hurricane Irma opened the pass. [Courtesy of Peter Clark]")
Shifting sands and isolated islands are two of our favorite things here at FloridaBeachInsider.com, so news about shifting sands at an isolated island — Shell Key, in this case — really floats our boat (so to speak).
Hurricane Irma took a big swipe at Shell Key in October 2017. The giant storm literally tore through the island, opening up a new pass right in the middle of the key.
That's actually good news, because the nature preserve used to have a pass, but it filled up a couple of years ago, which was a problem in and of itself.
Tampa Bay Times reporter Craig Pittman took a boat out to Shell Key (which last we visited as a camping destination) to see what wasn't there:
Click here to read all of Pittman's story.
For more information about Shell Key Preserve, check out the Pinellas County website here.
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