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Lighting Management Program for Indian River County Purpose : To implement a light management program for publicly-owned lights in Indian River County that will significantly reduce the harmful effects of artificial lighting on sea turtles. Background : Indian River County is a high-density nesting beach for loggerhead turtles and also supports nesting by green and leatherback turtles. In 2004, Hurricanes Jeanne and Francis destroyed dunes and dune vegetation throughout the County. Dunes and dune vegetation previously provided a buffer for artificial lights that may affect the ability of adult and hatchling sea turtles to properly orient. Hurricane damage resulted in an increase in light trespass onto the County' s beaches and a concomitant increase in sea turtle disorientation events. Many of the lights that appear to be responsible for light trespass are publicly owned lights in unincorporated Indian River County and the City of Vero Beach. Funding is needed to work with the utility authorities to modify or replace publicly-owned lights so they will not have a negative impact on sea turtles . Program Objectives : The proposed Light Management Program for publicly-owned lights in Indian River County has three major objectives : identification of problem lights (Tasks 1 -3 ), modification of problem lights (Tasks 4-8), and assessment of program success (Task 9) . Program Scope: The proposed Light Management Program for Indian River County will be conducted in six phases. Each phase will consist of one or more tasks as listed below : Phase I Task 1 . Conduct a daytime survey of all publicly-owned lighting fixtures along Indian River County' s coastline to identify all publicly-owned lights that present a potential problem to sea turtles. Evaluate existing lighting problems at night and assign each light a Problem Code based on the extent to which it illuminates the beach. Task 2. Prepare a list of problem lights. Task 3. Determine appropriate and cost-effective means for correcting all potential and identified problem lights. Phase II Task 4. Work with appropriate utility authorities to modify lights so they will not impact turtles. Task 5. To encourage utilities to correct problem lights in a timely manner, the County will pay for, or supplement the cost of, proposed modifications. Phase III Task 6. Conduct follow-up nighttime lighting evaluations after lights have been modified to assess the effectiveness of modifications. Assign each light a Problem Code. Phase IV Task 7. After follow-up lighting evaluations, it may be necessary to further modify some lights. Meet with appropriate utility authorities to coordinate further modifications.