Laserfiche WebLink
Comprehensive Plan Conservation Element <br />Since the HCP adoption in 2000, the number of documented scrub jay families has remained <br />constant. Prior to the scrub jay HCP adoption, a drastic decline in the number of scrub jay <br />families occurred from 1991 to 1998, resulting in a 50% decrease in the number of scrub <br />jays. Since HCP adoption, the number of scrub jay families has fluctuated by less than 10%. <br />Post HCP adoption, the stabilization in scrub jay family populations suggests that the plan <br />has had a positive effect. During the last five years, intensive habitat restoration has occurred <br />within the "Scrub Jay Habitat Compensation Areas," including the Wabasso Scrub <br />Conservation Area, Pelican Island Elementary School Scrub Habitat, and the North Sebastian <br />Conservation Area. These areas were successfully timbered and show a marked reduction in <br />pine canopy and an increase in suitable scrub jay habitat. These areas were also the subject <br />of successful prescribed burns. <br />In the future, the County should continue to implement the scrub jay HCP by managing its scrub <br />conservation lands with periodic prescribed burns, mechanical clearing, and timbering (as necessary) <br />to maximize scrub jay habitat. Because of the drastic decline in scrub jay families prior to adoption <br />and the stabilization in numbers post adoption, the evidence indicates that the HCP has been <br />successful. <br />At this time, the HCP covers only a portion of the County. In 2008, scrub jays were documented <br />inhabiting areas of the County, such as Vero Lake Estates, that historically did not support scrub j ay <br />populations. For that reason, the County should consider expanding its scrub jay HCP countywide, <br />beyond the Sebastian area and inclusive of scrub jay habitat within municipalities. In order to <br />promote in -county mitigation of scrub jay habitat impacts associated with development, the County <br />should coordinate with the FWS and establish a scrub jay mitigation fund to derive revenue for <br />acquiring and restoring scrub jay habitat in the county. <br />o Manatee Protection Plan <br />In 2000, Indian River County adopted a Manatee Protection and Boating Safety Comprehensive <br />Management Plan (MPP). Currently, county staff works with the FWC in implementing the <br />plan. In 2005, the Coastal Management Element of the County Comprehensive Plan was <br />revised to include the objectives and polices of the MPP. <br />Overall, collisions with watercraft account for the largest portion of manatee deaths. Since <br />MPP adoption, the percentage of manatee deaths caused by watercraft collisions decreased <br />from 29.6% to 23% in Indian River County. The actual number of overall collision deaths, <br />however, increased from an average of one per year pre -MPP adoption to two per year post - <br />MPP adoption. This average annual increase may be due to the fact that there were more <br />years to average pre -MPP adoption compared to post -MPP adoption and, therefore, it is too <br />early to tell if the MPP will have a positive effect in the long term. Similarly, other aspects of <br />Community Development Department Indian River County 111 <br />