12/08/2020 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Page 3 Attachment B: Supporting Research November 24, 2020 Update 2 — Research Review Phase of IRL Plan Lagoon. Islands tend to be erosional on the sides facing the ICW, with accretion occurring on the opposite side of the island. Increasing water levels also contribute to the receding shores of the islands. As water levels rise, low elevation islands become consumed by the water, leaving very little parts, if any, above the water and available for use. Another obstacle to continued productive birding populations is invasive, exotic vegetation. Many spoil islands within the County contain a mixture of native vegetation and invasive vegetation, especially Brazilian pepper and Australian pine. Surveys have shown that most bird species prefer to nest on native vegetation. While some weedy generalist bird species (such as white ibis, cattle egret, and cormorants) will utilize invasive plants for their nesting habitat, this is not typical for the majority of birds found within the Lagoon. As invasive plants outcompete mangroves and other native vegetation on islands, birds will have to find other areas to nest. Nesting areas for these coastal birds have already been constantly changing because of various pressures such as coastal development and food availability. Initially, many of these birds nested on the beach prior to the occurrence of major coastal development. After development, they then moved to the spoil islands of the Lagoon. Recent bird surveys show that these bird populations are now starting to nest on rooftops of businesses and homes because of increased pressures. Loss of habitat and human influences have greatly altered the options for prime nesting habitat for many coastal birds. Finally, monofilament line, primarily used in fishing, is a huge threat to bird populations. Birds can become entangled in the monofilament which prohibits their abilities to fly and eventually leads to a slow death. Within the County, Sebastian Inlet State Park is a very popular fishing area. Surveys have shown that bird deaths related to monofilament entanglement are observed in greater and more frequent quantities on the spoil islands adjacent to the state park when compared with other islands further away. If an angler hooks a bird or a bird becomes entangled in the fishing line, best practices are to reel the bird in an attempt to untangle it instead of cutting the line which will ultimately lead to the bird's death as well as the possibility of other birds to become entangled in the excess line. Anglers are encouraged to utilize Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC) Monofilament Recovery and Recycling Program to discard damaged or used line, which can be found near popular boating and fishing areas on the shoreline of the County. Based on the information above, the County should continue to work with the IRLAP and FWC teams in order to protect spoil islands and the birding populations that utilize them. Education to visitors and boaters to the Lagoon about visiting the spoil islands and the different designations they have would benefit this habitat. Surveys conducted show that many boaters do not realize that the spoil islands are actively managed and owned by IRLAP and that there are various rules that apply to them. In this effort, the County should to support and assist the IRLAP in getting this important message out. The County does manage certain spoil islands throughout the Lagoon. The County is being proactive by consulting with shorebird experts to recommend ways staff can create and provide sustainable shorebird habitat on these conservation areas, such as Lost Tree Island. The County should also encourage the education of anglers on the dangers of monofilament to birds, as well as to other Lagoon organisms. The importance of these monofilament recycling stations and what to do if a bird becomes entangled in monofilament should be highlighted county -wide. Boaters and anglers need to be encouraged and reminded to pick up after themselves and not leave behind any of their debris. The County should look into projects related to protecting spoil islands from erosion, while also promoting biological diversity and integrity. One example of the County working to restore spoil islands can be seen at Lost Tree Island. Parts of the area were restored through the removal of exotic species from portions of the islands, which allows for native 104