st. johns county beaches

St. Johns County Beaches Habitat Conservation Plan Training - 2018

Coastal Construction Access

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.

BEACH INFRASTRUCTURE

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

Barrier Islands – Shifting Sands, Erosion, Habitat, Humans & Change

1942 1960



HCP and ITP

Coastal Wildlife

Daytime Events


Procedures

Circa 1980

Photo Credit – David Macri



HCP and ITP

Coastal Wildlife

Daytime Events


Procedures

Nor-Easters and Hurricanes Beach Infrastructure


HCP and ITP

Coastal Wildlife

Daytime Events


Procedures

SERVICES AND AGENCIES Beach Services, SJSO Beach Patrol, CSAB Police and Marine Rescue

• 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



HCP and ITP

Coastal Wildlife

Daytime Events


Procedures

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



HCP and ITP

Coastal Wildlife

Daytime Events


Procedures

Law Enforcement:

SJSO Beach Patrol Enforce Beach Code, HCP, and Florida Law on all 41 miles of beaches. 2 full time Beach Patrol Deputies and 4 full time 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).



HCP and ITP

Coastal Wildlife

Daytime Events


Procedures

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



HCP and ITP

Coastal Wildlife

Daytime Events


Procedures

State and Federal Agencies: (USFWS) United States Fish and Wildlife Service: Responsible for administering the

Endangered Species Protection Act and protection of species listed on rule

(FWC) Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: Responsible for protection of state listed species, has agreement to afford and coordinate protection for sea turtles

(DEP) Department of Environmental Protection: Responsible for protection of other natural resources, provide permits for coastal construction and works closely with all other agencies



HCP and ITP

Coastal Wildlife

Daytime Events


Procedures

HCP AND ITP Management Plans and Habitat Conservation Section Roles

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



HCP and ITP

Coastal Wildlife

Daytime Events


Procedures

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.



HCP and ITP

Coastal Wildlife

Daytime Events


Procedures

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.



HCP and ITP

Coastal Wildlife

Daytime Events


Procedures

COASTAL WILDLIFE Protected Species, Nesting Process and Sea Turtle Identification



HCP and ITP

Coastal Wildlife

Daytime Events


Procedures

Sea Turtle Nesting 1989-2017:

2018 nesting data has not been complete.

An adult female will drag herself ashore, crawl up to the dune line.

→

Digs an egg chamber with her back flippers, deposit nearly 100 soft leathery eggs.

↓

She disguises her nest, and return to the sea.

←

The eggs must incubate in the sand undisturbed, for about 2 months.

Sea Turtle Nesting Process:



HCP and ITP

Coastal Wildlife

Daytime Events


Procedures

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

2017: 630 nests hatched



HCP and ITP

Coastal Wildlife

Daytime Events


Procedures

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




HCP and ITP

Coastal Wildlife

Daytime Events


Procedures

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




HCP and ITP

Coastal Wildlife

Daytime Events


Procedures

Other Protected Sea Turtles: Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbraicata)

Kemp’s Ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) – 1 nest in 2015, 2 nests in 2016



HCP and ITP

Coastal Wildlife

Daytime Events


Procedures

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



HCP and ITP

Coastal Wildlife

Daytime Events


Procedures

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.



HCP and ITP

Coastal Wildlife

Daytime Events


Procedures

Least tern (Sternula antillarum) Status: Threatened (State)

Reason: Sensitive to washovers and beach driving

Features: Yellow bill, black eye strip, colony nesters

Diet: Small fish

Size: 13.85 – 14.28 cm

Habitat: Barren sandy areas, inlets *Postings occur at Summer Haven and Porpoise Point



HCP and ITP

Coastal Wildlife

Daytime Events


Procedures

RECOGNIZING DAYTIME EVENTS Nesting, Hatchings and Washbacks

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



HCP and ITP

Coastal Wildlife

Daytime Events


Procedures

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



HCP and ITP

Coastal Wildlife

Daytime Events


Procedures

MANAGEMENT PRACTICES Beach Driving, Conservation Zones, Nesting and Shore Birds

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Charadrius_wilsonia_070430_GWADA.jpg

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



HCP and ITP

Coastal Wildlife

Daytime Events


Procedures



HCP and ITP

Coastal Wildlife

Daytime Events


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

PROCEDURES Permit Approval, Access, Rut Removal, Debris Removal



HCP and ITP

Coastal Wildlife

Daytime Events


Procedures

Emergency Coastal Construction Permit Approval: St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners passes an Emergency Proclamation

declaring a coastal emergency due to a coastal storm event

Property Owner Permit requests Emergency Temporary Coastal Armoring Application Package

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



HCP and ITP

Coastal Wildlife

Daytime Events


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



HCP and ITP

Coastal Wildlife

Daytime Events


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 (prohibited)



HCP and ITP

Coastal Wildlife

Daytime Events


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

Sheriff’s Department

904-824-8304

Fish Kill Hotline 1-800-636-0511

HCP Violations 904-209-3740

[email protected]

Wildlife Violations 1-888-404-3922

Marine Mammals 1-888-404-3922



HCP and ITP

Coastal Wildlife

Daytime Events


Procedures

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

st. johns county beaches

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