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11.G.2. HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN FOR THE PROTECTION <br />OF SEA TURTLES ON ERODING BEACHES IN INDIAN RIVER <br />COUNTY - FINAL DRAFT FOR SUBMISSION TO U. S. FISH & <br />WILDLIFE SERVICE <br />Environmental Analyst Jonathan C. Gorham, Ph.D. reviewed a Memorandum of <br />March 11, 2002 and expressed great pleasure in bringing this plan to the Board: <br />TO: James E. Chandler, <br />County Administrator <br />THROUGH; James W. Davis, P.E. <br />Public Works Directo <br />FROM: <br />6 <br />Jonathan C. Gorham, Ph.D. 7(1 <br />Environmental Analyst <br />SUBJECT: Final Draft <br />Habitat Conservation Plan for Sea Turtles <br />DATE: March 11, 2002 <br />DESCRIPTION AND CONDITIONS <br />On October 12, 1999, the County contracted with Ecological <br />Associates, Inc. to develop a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) as <br />stipulated in a legal agreement resulting from conservation group <br />lawsuits over the issuance by the County of emergency permits for <br />seawall construction. The HCP, when approved by the US Fish and <br />Wildlife Service (USFWS), will allow the County to issue permits <br />for emergency shoreline protection without incurring legal <br />liability under the Endangered Species Act for actions potentially <br />harmful to sea turtles. The HCP will support the County efforts in <br />placement of beach compatible fill along the shorelines of the <br />Atlantic Ocean within sea turtle habitat areas. The HCP will also <br />allow the seawalls that were the subject of the original <br />litigation, Summerplace seawalls and Gerstner seawall, to remain in <br />their current locations. In exchange for this authorization, the <br />County will agree to undertake a program of sea turtle conservation <br />activities outlined in the HCP, which will result in a 4:1 <br />mitigation ratio (see page IX). Staff is seeking authorization to <br />submit the HCP to USFWS and request issuance of an Incidental Take <br />Permit. Estimated costs for implementing the sea turtle <br />conservation activities are included with the final draft HCP. A <br />substantially complete HCP was presented to the Beach and Shore <br />Advisory Committee on October 15, 2001, where it was discussed and <br />accepted. Staff feels that the HCP as written provides clear and <br />ample benefit to sea turtles at a reasonable cost to the County. <br />March 19, 2002 <br />96 <br />BK I <br />0i <br />