st. johns county beaches · enforce beach code, hcp, and florida law on all 41 miles of beaches....
TRANSCRIPT
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St. Johns County Beaches Habitat Conservation Plan Training - 2015
Coastal Construction Access
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The goal is to provide homeowners and contractors an overview of our coastal management
area, endangered and threatened species, and balancing the use of our natural resource to protect and properly manage area beaches.
To introduce the St. Johns County Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) and conditions of the
Incidental Take Permit (ITP).
To gain an understanding of the HCP/ITP policies and how they will enhance the natural beach environment while improving protected species management.
To share species specific management guidelines and overview.
To provide information on procedures for coastal construction access.
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BEACH INFRASTRUCTURE
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Driving Beaches North Beaches- Vilano and Porpoise Point.
South Beaches- A street to Ft. Matanzas.
9 beach access points.
Restricted and Non-Driving Beaches Surfside to Seranata Beach Club: Restricted driving
Access at Surfside Avenue in Vilano
Seranata Beach Club to County line: Non-driving beach
Access available at: Usina access ramp, EXXON station, Mickler’s
Beach Infrastructure
Services and Agencies
HCP and ITP
Coastal Wildlife
Daytime Events
Management Practices
Procedures
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Barrier Islands – Shifting Sands, Erosion, Habitat, Humans & Change
1942 1960
Beach Infrastructure
Services and Agencies
HCP and ITP
Coastal Wildlife
Daytime Events
Management Practices
Procedures
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Circa 1980
Photo Credit – David Macri
Beach Infrastructure
Services and Agencies
HCP and ITP
Coastal Wildlife
Daytime Events
Management Practices
Procedures
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Nor-Easters and Hurricanes Beach Infrastructure
Services and Agencies
HCP and ITP
Coastal Wildlife
Daytime Events
Management Practices
Procedures
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SERVICES AND AGENCIES Beach Services, SJSO Beach Patrol, CSAB Police and Marine Rescue
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• USFWS • FWC • DEP
• Public safety • Beach Code
enforcement • Natural Resource
Protectin and Education
• Environmental Division
• Bulding Department • Code Enforcement
• Beach Services • Habitat
Conservation • Contractual
Services
Beach Operations
SJC Departments
State and Federal
Agencies SJSO Beach
Patrol
Beach Infrastructure
Services and Agencies
HCP and ITP
Coastal Wildlife
Daytime Events
Management Practices
Procedures
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Beach Operations: Maintain and develop locations for a variety of public access points
Provide staff and infrastructure for driving and non-driving beaches
Coordinate and approve special event
Provide support on special projects, infrastructure improvements, wildlife strandings, etc
Habitat Conservation: Manages beaches for wildlife protection
Approves special use permits for beach driving, horseback riding, commercial fishing, marine turtle monitoring and coastal construction access
Beach Infrastructure
Services and Agencies
HCP and ITP
Coastal Wildlife
Daytime Events
Management Practices
Procedures
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Law Enforcement:
SJSO Beach Patrol Enforce Beach Code, HCP, and Florida Law on all 41 miles of beaches. 2 FTE Beach Patrol Deputies and 4 FTE Natural Resource Deputies.
City of St. Augustine Beach Police Enforce Beach Code, HCP, and Florida Law in the CSAB boundaries. CSAB boundaries include Pier to Ocean Drive/Surf Drive (south of Ocean Trace).
Beach Infrastructure
Services and Agencies
HCP and ITP
Coastal Wildlife
Daytime Events
Management Practices
Procedures
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St. Johns County Departments: Building Department: Building permits, Clearance sheet review and approval,
follow up on construction activities
Environmental Division: Clearance sheet review and approval
Code Enforcement: Ensuring permit conditions are being followed
Beach Infrastructure
Services and Agencies
HCP and ITP
Coastal Wildlife
Daytime Events
Management Practices
Procedures
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State and Federal Agencies: United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS): Responsible for administering the
Endangered Species Protection Act and protection of species listed on rule
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission(FWC): Responsible for protection of state listed species, has agreement to afford and coordinate protection for sea turtles
Department of Environmental Protection(DEP): Responsible for protection of other natural resources, provide permits for coastal construction and works closely with all other agencies
Beach Infrastructure
Services and Agencies
HCP and ITP
Coastal Wildlife
Daytime Events
Management Practices
Procedures
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HCP AND ITP Management Plans and Habitat Conservation Section Roles
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Background SJC Beaches are home to several different endangered/threatened wildlife species:
A variety of beach user groups utilize the beach in different ways including:
Commercial fishing
Horseback riding
Coastal construction
Beach driving
Special events
Recreation
ITP and HCP are in place to minimize human impact on coastal wildlife habitat.
Loggerhead Sea Turtle
Green Sea Turtle
Leatherback Sea Turtle
Anastasia Island Beach Mouse
Beach Infrastructure
Services and Agencies
HCP and ITP
Coastal Wildlife
Daytime Events
Management Practices
Procedures
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Incidental Take Permit (ITP): The take of federally listed species of plants or animals is prohibited under the
Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973.
An amendment to the ESA authorizes the “incidental take” of endangered species related to current law abiding activities.
20 year ITP adopted by SJC.
Beach Infrastructure
Services and Agencies
HCP and ITP
Coastal Wildlife
Daytime Events
Management Practices
Procedures
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Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP): A required document in the ITP application.
Minimizes impacts to protected species.
Along with the ITP allows for the continued practice of diverse beach user groups.
Specifically protects 5 species of sea turtles and the native Anastasia Island beach mouse.
Beach Infrastructure
Services and Agencies
HCP and ITP
Coastal Wildlife
Daytime Events
Management Practices
Procedures
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COASTAL WILDLIFE Protected Species, Nesting Process and Sea Turtle Identification
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Beach Infrastructure
Services and Agencies
HCP and ITP
Coastal Wildlife
Daytime Events
Management Practices
Procedures
0100200300400500600700800900
1000
Year
St. Johns County Nesting Data 1989 - 2014
# of nests
ITP Issued
Sea Turtle Nesting 1989-2014:
Chart1
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
ITP Issued
# of nests
Year
St. Johns County Nesting Data 1989 - 2014
155
373
157
214
140
314
268
214
216
370
277
306
280
322
366
151
239
315
289
298
249
867
637
704
749
469
1989-Current
# NestsYear
1551989
3731990
1571991
2141992
1401993
3141994
2681995
2141996
2161997
3701998
2771999
3062000
2802001
3222002
3662003
1512004
2392005
3152006
2892007
2982008
2492009
8672010
6372011
7042012
7492013
4692014
249 as per data
867 as per data
637 as per data
1989-Current
ITP Issued
# of nests
Year
St. Johns County Nesting Data 1989 - 2014
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An adult female will drag herself ashore, crawl up to the dune line.
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Digs an egg chamber with her back flippers, deposit nearly 100 soft leathery eggs.
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She disguises her nest, and return to the sea.
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The eggs must incubate in the sand undisturbed, for about 2 months.
Sea Turtle Nesting Process:
Beach Infrastructure
Services and Agencies
HCP and ITP
Coastal Wildlife
Daytime Events
Management Practices
Procedures
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Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta): Status: Threatened (Federal)
Reason: Fishing activities and beach development
Features: Large head and crushing jaw
Diet: Shellfish (conch, lobster, etc.)
Size: Can reach up to 350 lbs. and 3 ½ feet long
Habitat: Off shore, deep seas
2014: 442 nests
Beach Infrastructure
Services and Agencies
HCP and ITP
Coastal Wildlife
Daytime Events
Management Practices
Procedures
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Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas): Status: Endangered (Federal)
Reason: Harvesting of eggs and meat
Features: Green color from eating green sea grass
Diet: Green sea grass
Size: Can reach up to 400 lbs. and 4 feet long
Habitat: Bays and protected shores
2014: 28 nests
Beach Infrastructure
Services and Agencies
HCP and ITP
Coastal Wildlife
Daytime Events
Management Practices
Procedures
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Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea): Status: Endangered (Federal)
Reason: Drift nests, gill nets, longline fisheries, over harvesting of eggs
Features: Soft shell, largest deepest diving turtle
Diet: Jellyfish
Size: Can reach up to 2,000 lbs. and 9 feet long
Habitat: Off shore, deep sea
2014: 6 nests
Beach Infrastructure
Services and Agencies
HCP and ITP
Coastal Wildlife
Daytime Events
Management Practices
Procedures
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Other Protected Sea Turtles: Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbraicata)
Kemp’s Ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) – 1 nest in 2015
Beach Infrastructure
Services and Agencies
HCP and ITP
Coastal Wildlife
Daytime Events
Management Practices
Procedures
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Anastasia Beach Mouse (Peromyscus polionotus phasma) Status: Endangered (Federal)
Reason: Sensitive to development and storms
Features: Light buff colored with white markings
Diet: Small insects, beach grasses and sea oats
Size: 13.85 – 14.28 cm
Habitat: Anastasia Island sand dunes
Beach Infrastructure
Services and Agencies
HCP and ITP
Coastal Wildlife
Daytime Events
Management Practices
Procedures
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Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) Status: Threatened (State)
Reason: Sensitive to development
Features: Solid dark-brown with legs and claws
Diet: Small insects, beach grasses and sea oats
Size: Up to 16 inches long
Habitat: Sand dunes *Often mistaken as a sea turtle.
Beach Infrastructure
Services and Agencies
HCP and ITP
Coastal Wildlife
Daytime Events
Management Practices
Procedures
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Least tern (Sternula antillarum) Status: Threatened (State)
Reason: Sensitive to washovers and beach driving
Features: Yellow bill, black eyestrip, colony nesters
Diet: Small fish
Size: 13.85 – 14.28 cm
Habitat: Barren sandy areas, inlets *Postings occur at Summer Haven and Porpoise Point
Beach Infrastructure
Services and Agencies
HCP and ITP
Coastal Wildlife
Daytime Events
Management Practices
Procedures
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RECOGNIZING DAYTIME EVENTS Nesting, Hatchings and Washbacks
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Nesting Attempt/Event Notify County immediatley ↔ County notifies volunteers Volunteers, County staff and Law Enforcement requested to stand by Assist with crowd control – maintaining a 30 foot distance Cone off driving lanes and provide traffic control
Sea turtle patrol responsible for marking crawl
Hatching Event Notify County immediatley ↔ County notifies volunteers If sand is “hot to touch” hatchlings are recovered and placed in safe bins Volunteers, County staff and Law Enforcement requested to stand by Assist with crowd control – maintaining a 30 foot distance Cone off driving lanes and traffic control
Beach Infrastructure
Services and Agencies
HCP and ITP
Coastal Wildlife
Daytime Events
Management Practices
Procedures
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Washback Events (July 1 – November 30) Washback events occur when nests hatch and a storm or
extreme high tide pushes post-hatchling sea turtles back on to the beach
Avoid driving on wrack line
Hatchlings are < 5 cm : Washbacks are > 5 cm
County staff monitors wrack line (line of seaweed)
Volunteers are called to conduct surveys to recover washbacks from wrack line
Washbacks are brought to wildlife hospital
Beach Infrastructure
Services and Agencies
HCP and ITP
Coastal Wildlife
Daytime Events
Management Practices
Procedures
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MANAGEMENT PRACTICES Beach Driving, Conservation Zones, Nesting and Shore Birds
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Charadrius_wilsonia_070430_GWADA.jpg
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Beach Driving Avoid upper beach, vegetation and seaweed
Drive below the high tide line, on wet sand, and in same driving path
Drive slowly at all times
If permissable with DEP permit access is obtained after turtle patrol has completed surveys (May 1 – Oct 31)
Conservation Zone (CZ) Established as 15 feet from toe of dune or
line of permanent vegetation
Avoid entering CZ at all times
Beach Infrastructure
Services and Agencies
HCP and ITP
Coastal Wildlife
Daytime Events
Management Practices
Procedures
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Beach Infrastructure
Services and Agencies
HCP and ITP
Coastal Wildlife
Daytime Events
Management Practices
Procedures
Sea Turtle Nests Do not park vehicles adjacent to nests or posted areas.
Maintain buffer of 20 feet seaward of marked sea turtle nests
Shore Birds Vehicle movement should be slow to observe small birds and their eggs
Recently hatched chicks often feed along the water’s edge.
Shorebird nesting sites are located at Porpoise Point, Anastasia State Park & Summer Haven
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PROCEDURES Permit Approval, Access, Rut Removal, Debris Removal
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Beach Infrastructure
Services and Agencies
HCP and ITP
Coastal Wildlife
Daytime Events
Management Practices
Procedures
Emergency Coastal Construction Permit Approval: St. Johns County (SJC) Board of County Commissioners has to pass an Emergency
Proclamation to declare a coastal emergency due to a coastal storm event
Property Owner Permit requests Emergency Temporary Coastal Armoring Application Package form SJC Buiding Department
No Clearance sheet submittal is required
Emergency Temporary Coastal Armoring Permit Application is submitted to the Building Department for approval
Complete online training, consultation and complete application with Habitat Conservation Section to receive Emergency Temporary Coastal Armoring Beach Access Permit
Building Department periodically inspects structure throughout construction process
Homeowner submits an application to DEP for permanent coastal armoring or structure is to be removed within 60 days
If approved during sea turtle season (May 1 – October 31) daily coordination with sea turtle patrol is required
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Beach Infrastructure
Services and Agencies
HCP and ITP
Coastal Wildlife
Daytime Events
Management Practices
Procedures
Coastal Construction Permit Approval: Property Owner/Contractor obtains permit from DEP for coastal construction
Clearance sheet submittal is required
Permit Application is submitted to the Building Department for approval
Complete online training, consultation and complete application with Habitat Conservation Section to receive Coastal Construction Beach Access Permit
Building Department and DEP periodically inspects structure throughout construction process
If approved during sea turtle season (May 1 – October 31) daily coordination with sea turtle patrol is required
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Beach Infrastructure
Services and Agencies
HCP and ITP
Coastal Wildlife
Daytime Events
Management Practices
Procedures
Access: Consultation with Habitat Conservation is necessary to find best solution for locaton of
access
Access is not acceptable during high tide events
Vehicles are driven on wet sand only
All rules and regulations are to be followed according to Beach Code 2007-19
Ilegal access by contractor Work during a high tide event
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Beach Infrastructure
Services and Agencies
HCP and ITP
Coastal Wildlife
Daytime Events
Management Practices
Procedures
Rut and Debris Removal: Upon exiting all ruts are to be removed
No debris is to remain on beach at any given time
Vehicles are driven on wet sand only
All rules and regulations are to be followed according to Beach Code 2007-19
Debris from construction activity
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Sheriff’s Department
904-824-8304
Fish Kill Hotline 1-800-636-0511
HCP Violations 904-209-3740
Wildlife Violations 1-888-404-3922
Marine Mammals 1-888-404-3922
Beach Infrastructure
Services and Agencies
HCP and ITP
Coastal Wildlife
Daytime Events
Management Practices
Procedures
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THANK YOU!!! “The sea turtle mirrors the health of our planet and the struggle for survival for these ancient creatures is in our own hands.” -Veronica S. Schweitzer
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Slide Number 1Slide Number 2Beach infrastructureSlide Number 4Barrier Islands – Shifting Sands, Erosion, Habitat, Humans & ChangeCirca 1980Nor-Easters and HurricanesServices and AgenciesSlide Number 9Slide Number 10Slide Number 11Slide Number 12Slide Number 13HCP and ITPSlide Number 15Slide Number 16Slide Number 17Coastal wildlife Slide Number 19Slide Number 20Slide Number 21Slide Number 22Slide Number 23Slide Number 24Slide Number 25Slide Number 26Slide Number 27Recognizing Daytime EventsSlide Number 29Slide Number 30management practicesSlide Number 32Slide Number 33ProceduresSlide Number 35Slide Number 36Slide Number 37Slide Number 38Slide Number 39Thank you!!!Slide Number 41