2010-252A (09) - Laserfiche WebLink

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Comprehensive Plan Conservation Element the plan, such as habitat protection and marina siting, may have visible positive effects only after sufficient time has passed. Overall, annual manatee mortalities in the County increased from three a year pre -MPP adoption to 6.8 a year post -MPP adoption, accounting for manatee deaths by old age or sickness as well as deaths from watercraft collisions. Going forward, the County should continue to implement the MPP by reviewing all proposed multi - slip dock facilities and boat ramps in the county and requiring that those facilities meet the criteria set forth in the MPP. Also, the County should coordinate with the FWC and periodically consider modifications to the MPP based on a review of the mortality data for Indian River County. o Sea Turtle Protection Plan In 2004, Indian River County adopted a Sea. Turtle Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). Adoption of the Sea Turtle HCP has led to the development of a complete and accurate sea turtle nesting dataset, has increased public awareness of the issues facing sea turtle nesting, and has specifically identified threats to sea turtle nesting and survival. Because light sources visible from the beach often disorient nesting sea turtles and are a leading cause of mortality and failed reproduction, Indian River County environmental planning staff, in 2007, began working in conjunction with the County Coastal Engineering Division on resolving beach lighting violations. This involved sending letters to beachfront property owners indicating lighting violations unique to each property. One benefit of the Sea Turtle HCP is that the county compiled a complete database of sea turtle nesting sites and nest numbers beginning in 2005. Prior to 2005, comprehensive data were not available on nesting sea turtles in the county. Over the next several years, the county needs to continue to implement the HCP by enforcing lighting restrictions and by continuing to monitor nesting data to discern trends in nesting. In 2008, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), in partnership with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), began an initiative to develop a Florida -wide HCP for coastal beaches. The purpose of the HCP is to establish uniformity in how the State addresses the effects of post -disaster recovery for construction east of the Coastal Construction Control Line on state (and federal) listed species. In light of this initiative, the County should assist the FWC in development of the statewide coastal beaches HCP by sharing local data on sea turtle nesting, erosion events, potential coastal mitigation sites, and other coastal data as may be requested by the FWC and DEP. Community Development Department Indian River County 112