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0 I United Mates Department of the Interior FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE ' P.O. BOX 2676 VE;RO BEACH, FLORIDA 32961.2676 November 12, 1990 Mr, Roland DeBlois Indian River County Environmental planning and Code I of srcement Section 1840 25th Street Vero Beach. FL 32960 gear Mr. DeIllois 'lltank you for your October 17, 1996 letter regarding Indian River County's alternative Florida scrub jay (Aphelocoma voerrrlescens coeruleseens) mitigation proposal that addresses adverse affects anticipated from continued housing construction in Sebastian Highlands. The Irish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has considered your proposal in context with scrub jay population data for northern Indian River County, conservation strategies attempted previously, and recent discussions my staff and the County have had regarding the failure of Indian River County to pursue scrub acquisitions in Sebastian I liehlands. Before We discuss your current proposal, we would like to review previous eflorts to resolve the controversy surrounding habitat alterations in SebastianIlighlands and conservation of scrub jays. After reviewing, the rather lengthy Irlc associated with this project, we understand that in the late 1980s the Florida Gane and Fresh Wier fish Commission (CAV) expressed concern over housing construction impacts ()it Sebastian's scrub jay populations. Beginning in 1991, the hWS and 01C began consulting with tltc City o1 Sebastian regarding scrub jay conservation. Fay the time all eXhautitt%°e scrub w survey had been completed in 1991. 35 families Were known to occur within the city hntits of Sebastian. A general lack of enforcement and willingness to implement conservation strategies led to a decline in tite number ot'scrub jay families, such that, by 1993 only 27 remained in Sebastian. By lune 1992. both the FAVI, and ('ith' agreed that development and implerne.ntati<rn ofa habitat cOnservatiol(t plan (conservation plan) and the issuance of an incidental take permit for scrub jays was the only viable option that would provide for continued housing Construction and scrub jay conservation. t lnfortwiatcly, continuing dclacs in conservation plan development have resulted in declines in scrubjays, As ofearly 1996, only 20 families existed in and around Sebastian. During; the lcve years tive Jtave contemplated the late ofscrub jays and lot owners in Sebastian I (ighlaiitls; we have lost I S'scrnhjay families or 43 perecnt oi'the pot,uiati(ta in northern Indian County.