MANATEE PROTECTION PLAN for VOLUSIA COUNTY

ANNUAL REPORT 2012

Background

Florida has been a home to the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) for thousands of years. The abundant number of freshwater, brackish, and marine ecosystems throughout the state have historically provided good habitat for the manatee to thrive and reproduce. However, the increase in the human population of Florida has, in recent years become more of a threat to manatees. This increased threat led to several important federal protection measures, including the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and the Endangered Species Act of 1973, both of which prohibit harassment and harm to the species. In 1978, the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act declared the entire state as a manatee refuge, and later in 1989, 13 counties, including Volusia County, were listed as key to manatee survival..

Under the 1989 mandate each of the 13 key counties were required to develop a Manatee Protection Plan (MPP). Volusia County completed an MPP that included a marina siting element, as well as educational and outreach components. A Boating Activity Study, which was completed in 1996 and updated in 2000, is the underpinning for many of the policies outlined within the MPP.

The Volusia County MPP strives to balance manatee protection and resource preservation with recreational and economic demands. We divided the plan into two phases in order to fully address all of the components. The goal of both Phase I and Phase II is to achieve and maintain an optimal sustainable manatee population within Volusia County.

Phase I deals with manatee conservation efforts through education, outreach, habitat enhancement, scientific research, and interagency coordination. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved Phase I in February 2001. Phase II of the MPP includes the boat facility siting plan, which outlines methods for boat facility placement in order to minimize watercraft related injuries to manatees. The boat facility siting element creates policies that address protection of the manatee population, as well as preservation of manatee habitat. Phase II was approved by the FWC in October of 2005.

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Phase I

Phase I of the Volusia County Manatee Protection Plan (MPP) addresses issues such as habitat inventory, law enforcement, habitat protection, education and awareness, scientific research, and governmental coordination. The objective of Phase I is to evaluate current impacts to manatees, and implement strategies to increase public awareness, facilitate interagency coordination, and promote scientific research. Volusia County has designed and developed a number of projects to increase manatee conservation and habitat protection in order to address the objectives of Phase I. We have implemented the following initiatives to relative to the issues in Phase I.

MONOFILAMENT LINE RECYCLING

The goal of the Volusia County Monofilament Line Recycling Program is to minimize the negative impacts of improperly discarded fishing line by decreasing the amount of fishing line entering the environment, increasing the amount of fishing line being recycled, and by fostering awareness of the potentially harmful effects of improperly discarded line. Monofilament fishing line causes numerous threats to the environment, wildlife, and humans. The program strives to place monofilament line recycling bins in all areas of pronounced fishing activity, as well as at all county boat ramps. Individuals, school groups, civic organizations, and business groups then volunteer to maintain the bins.

Bin maintenance includes, empting the bin, removing garbage, sinkers, bobbers, hooks, and lures, and properly disposing of all items. The volunteers then take the clean monofilament line to an indoor recycling center. Volunteers fill out data sheets each time they empty their bin and send the sheets to county staff, usually on a quarterly basis. The data sheets allow program staff to determine how much line is being recycled and which bins are most often used. The collected data also shows us how full the bins become, what types of fishing gear are collected, and how much time our volunteers are contributing.

Once the bin is full the postage paid recycling boxes are sent to The Berkley Conservation Institute, which is a division of Pure Fishing. When the full box is received Berkley will return an empty recycling container back to the Volusia County recycling center. The collected fishing line is melted down to make plastic pellets, which are recycled to create artificial fish habitats, and tackle boxes. This recycling process is another incentive for fishers and boaters to participate in the program.

We have added two new bins this year bringing the total number of adopted bins within the county to 144. The new bins were installed at Tiger Bay and Astor Bridge Marina. The year 2012 saw a recovery of 57 bins full of line, which equates to 228 pounds of line that will not be entering the environment. This is an increase in recycled line over last year’s 30.5 bins and 122 pounds of line. Our online data entry form, which makes the reporting process much easier for our volunteers, was revamped along with the rest

2 of the county’s website, however there were still glitches with the online form. The online reporting system allows volunteers to complete the form online and submit it in one easy process. This eliminates the need for scanning, copying or mailing in data sheets.

Figure 1. Map of all monofilament line recycling bins in Volusia County

We have continued the construction of personal recycling containers, called “mini-bins”, which can be attached to belts, boat railings, or other structures via a carabiner clip. The mini-bins help to increase awareness of our fishing line recycling program and also make it easy for fishers to recycle their line, especially if they are either not fishing near a large outdoor recycling bin, or if fishing from a boat. The mini-bins are constructed 3

using discarded tennis ball tubes, jump rings, carabiners, and with decals placed on the outside and educational literature on the inside. VCEM staff produced and distributed the mini-bins at festivals, and also through the county school’s IBIS program (formerly the Volusia County Schools Environmental Service Learning Legacy Project) .The project has also been adopted by the Edgewater Boys and Girls Club.

In an effort to remove monofilament line and other debris that has already entered the environment the monofilament recycling program organizes and conducts underwater cleanup events along the north jetty at Ponce Inlet during the summer months. Teams of divers, spotters and boat captains work together to remove rope, nets, anchors, lures, fishing poles, fishing line and other debris from this important manatee, sea turtle, and other marine wildlife ingress and egress point. During these cleanup events, divers also many times free entangled animals, including fish and crab species when encountered.

Four dives were scheduled for 2012, however due to poor weather and water clarity conditions two events had to be cancelled. We were able to complete two of the scheduled underwater cleanup events this year, which allowed us to remove 116 pounds of monofilament fishing line and other debris from the inlet. Utilizing a GpPro underwater camera the cleanup was videoed, which showed how extensive the discarded line problem is in the cleanup area. We hope to build upon the underwater video footage to create a product that can be viewed at county environmental educational centers and online.

Underwater clean-up participants and discarded line recovered from Ponce de Leon Inlet.

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Monofilament line recycling program staff continued the distribution of the volunteer update, the “Recycler’s Review” that we developed to increase volunteer awareness and involvement. The Review informs the volunteers on current recycling numbers, new initiatives, reminders, and highlights outstanding volunteers on a quarterly basis.

An evaluation using the number of monofilament recycling bins and amount of volunteer time indicates that the volunteers contributed approximately 1,296 hours in 2012, which is higher than our 2011 totals. Based on the number of volunteer hours this is the equivalent of $28,239 dollars in volunteer time and effort.

MANATEE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH

Manatee conservation education for both students and adults continues to be an important objective. Volusia County Manatee Protection Program education and outreach includes the development and distribution of original lesson plans, manatee activities, participation in community festivals and other educational events, and transmitting information to the public via the program website.

The educational curriculum is correlated to skill sets outlined in the Florida Sunshine State Standards (SSS), with the goal of providing a complete educational package in a “ready-to-use” format. Teachers can correlate a particular manatee educational lesson to the learning skill they are focusing on at the time. The state has revised the SSS, it is now called the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards, or Common Core. We provide teachers curriculum access through the manatee education webpage, through personal requests, and through the Volusia County School’s Project IBIS, formerly Volusia County Environmental Service Learning Legacy Project (VC ESLLP). We also post other educational activities on the webpage, along with links to other related resources.

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The Manatee Protection Program provides education on manatees, manatee habitat, and monofilament line recycling at all three IBIS Program sites (Rose Bay, Bi- Centennial Youth Park, and the Lyonia Environmental Center). Project IBIS works primarily with high school students in Honors or Pre-IB Biology, in AP Biology, and in AP Environmental Science. In 2012, an emphasis was placed on teaching FCAT skills and incorporating Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS). The goal of Project IBIS is to help improve students’ scores on the new mandatory statewide End Of Course (EOC) exams for these classes. In response to the changes, new manatee activities were created to enhance students’ learning experience. All activities are designed to complement the curriculum maps for each part of the school year, address specific NGSSS, and discuss topics found on the EOC exams.

Staff continued to use the “Is There Enough?” activity that addresses the issue of a spring’s carrying capacity for wintering manatees. Through this activity, students discuss the ecological concept of carrying capacity as well as manatee diet, range, habitat requirements, and protection under the Endangered Species Act. The goal of the activity is for students to use problem-solving techniques to devise habitat management strategies that would increase the spring’s carrying capacity for the winter. Also utilized is the “Marine Mammal Match-Up” activity focusing on adaptations of marine mammals. In this activity, students must work together to form a group of adaptations that creates a real marine mammal. Throughout the activity, students discuss comparative anatomy and physiology, diet, and habitat requirements as well as the more general topics of adaptation and natural selection.

Additional activities focusing on manatee genetics, taxonomy, and protection are being used to promote conservation of the endangered Florida manatee. One activity consists of a wheel game that incorporates questions about manatee anatomy and taxonomy. Another educational game has been designed as a seagrass activity showing the importance of food sustainability, life cycles, and species inter-dependence.

During the latter half of the 2011-2012 school year and the start of the 2012-2013 school year, programs were conducted during 26 visits to Project IBIS outdoor classrooms, and have reached approximately 907 high school students with very positive feedback from the students and teachers. The number of students reached in 2012 was almost triple the number from last year.

Staff again utilized the “Manatee ID” curriculum for use with students participating in the Marine Science Center Summer Camp Programs. Students were given the opportunity to kayak/canoe to a manatee observation area both at Blue Spring State Park and at Mary McCleod Bethune Park. At each location the group was given a short presentation on manatees, which included information on size, diet, habitat, feeding, etc. The students were also instructed on how to kayak or canoe with manatees present, and were taught rules for behavior around manatees. While kayaking, the students were given data sheets and shown how to record manatee breath rates and sketch scar patterns on the manatees they encountered.

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Over the course of the summer approximately 161 students participated in manatee activities during the summer camps. During the fall and spring manatee education continued at the Marine Science Center through educational programs to schools, clubs and other groups. Over 1,669 students and adults were informed about the importance of manatees and the conservation of manatee habitat, through formal education programs at the Marine Science Center this year, which is a substantial increase over 2011. Additionally, hundreds of other guests were reached through informal educational tours and talks at the Center.

Outreach requests were fulfilled by conducting additional education programs for Coleman, Osteen, and Friendship Head Start programs, Halifax Sport Fishing, the Manatee Festival, DeLand Middle School Science Night, Port Orange Family Days, Adopt-An-Estuary Biological Training, Blue Spring Water Festival, Lyonia Birthday Celebration, Turtle Day and Wings on the Wind, reaching over 1,048 children and adults.

Manatee Program display, tent tops and lighthouse, and touch pool at Turtle Day.

MANATEE WATCH

The Manatee Protection Program established Manatee Watch as a volunteer network to assist county staff in gaining a better understanding of how manatees are utilizing Volusia County’s waterways. Now in its eighth year, the Manatee Watch program continues to play an important part in understanding manatee movement and activities within Volusia County.

In 2012, we conducted two training sessions for new volunteers, the first being held n February and the second in November. The training gives an overall introduction to the Manatee Watch program, education on manatee biology and physiology, manatee identification and scar pattern recognition, and manatee regulatory law. Former Blue

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Spring State Park manatee specialist, Wayne Hartley, now working for Save the Manatee Club, originated the scar pattern recognition system that we use with the volunteer program. Wayne regularly attends the trainings, presenting his slide images and giving valuable insight and information about the documentation process.

Manatee Watch volunteers are not trained nor authorized for manatee rescues, or any sort of intervention, however, once trained to be able to recognize the difference between an animal in distress and natural behavior, they are valuable assets in reporting distressed animals to us and then to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. We have been collaborating, since 2006, with the U. S. Geologic Survey Sirenia Project, which maintains a statewide photo identification system (MIPS) database. We send manatee sighting reports and photos to the MIPS program via CD whenever we receive good photographic documentation.

In 2012, Manatee Watchers sighted 25 manatees. The number of sighting reports were down from 2011, in part due to glitches in the website online reporting form. We maintain a list of potential volunteers, who have expressed interest in the program, but have been unable to attend training sessions to date. In the coming year every effort will be made to find training dates and times to accommodate as many potential volunteers as possible.

We send out to the volunteers a Manatee Watch update, which keeps them current with sightings reported throughout the county, as well as with upcoming training events and volunteer profiles.

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CLEAN MARINA

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) developed the Clean Marina Program as a voluntary designation process for marinas that assists them in becoming more environmentally friendly. The Manatee Protection Program serves as the county liaison for the state program, and assists with marina designation by organizing workshops, offering technical assistance, and through participation on the final walk-through and checklist verification. There are 15 designated marinas within the county. These marinas include Adventure Yacht Harbor, Astor Bridge Marina, Bouchelle Island CSA, Halifax Harbor Marina, Halifax River Yacht Club, Harbour Village Yacht & Golf Club, Hontoon Island State Park Marina, Inlet Harbor, Lighthouse Boatyard & Marina, Loggerhead Club & Marina, Port Orange Marina, New Smyrna Beach City Marina, Riverview Hotel Spa & Marina, Smyrna Yacht Club, and the Sunset Harbor Yacht Club & Conference Center.

In association with the Clean Marina Program, the Clean Vessel Act (CVA) of 1992 was signed into law to reduce pollution from vessel sewage discharges, prohibiting the discharge of raw sewage into fresh water or within coastal salt-water limits. The act established a federal grant program administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The program, housed within DEP’s Office of Sustainable Initiatives, provides grants for construction and installation of sewage pumpout facilities and purchase of pumpout boats and educational programs for boaters.

INTERGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION

The Manatee Protection Program staff continues to participate in working groups and interagency task forces at the state and federal levels in order to enhance their knowledge of issues relating to scientific research, public interest, available grants, and education and outreach efforts. This also creates opportunities for collaboration with other government agencies, and helps to inform staff of new initiatives. Additionally, participation allows the county to have direct input at both the state and federal level.

LAW ENFORCEMENT

Good coordination and communication with the law enforcement agencies responsible for enforcing manatee speed zones within the county is an essential element of manatee protection. In 2012, the North Central Florida Maritime Alliance did not have regular meetings however staff maintained close contact with participating members. . Participating members include, among others, the U.S. Coast Guard, the State Division of Law Enforcement, Volusia County Sheriff Marine Unit, neighboring county law enforcement, local municipality on-the-water enforcement, Homeland Security, and other security related agencies.

The Alliance enables the different agencies to coordinate with each other in order to maximize their presence and effectiveness. Manatee Protection Program staff attend the meetings, when held, and contribute vital information concerning boat related

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manatee mortalities, citizen reports of zones where boats habitually ignore speed limits, and areas where manatee harassment from swimmers, kayakers, paddle boarders, and boaters are prevalent. This information then allows officers to do directed patrols in areas where extra enforcement is needed. Staff also directly contacts the Sheriff’s Marine Unit concerning manatee related enforcement issues that arise from citizen calls, which precipitates a timely on-the-water response.

MARINE MAMMAL STRANDING TEAM

The purpose of the Volusia County Marine Mammal Stranding Team is to provide a quick and organized local marine mammal stranding response, which is vital to the survival of live stranded marine mammals, offering them the best chance at successful rehabilitation. It also allows for the quick collection of data and disposal of dead animals. Collection of data from dead stranded marine mammals provides an opportunity to learn about the life history, ecology and health of species that are inherently difficult to study in the wild. These animals also serve as indicator species and serve to gauge the health of our marine ecosystems.

The Marine Mammal Stranding Team members are primarily county employees, which provides for continuity in team membership and facilitates increasing the level of training and expertise of the Team as a whole. The Stranding Team works closely with the Environmental Health Lab, the Sea Turtle Program, Beach Services, the Marine Science Center, and the Marine Discovery Center. The Stranding Team is an effective instrument for gathering stranding data efficiently, and then removing the animal from the beach as quickly as possible. This in turn elicits an interest in marine mammals from visitors on the beach, and provides a method for distributing information about marine mammal strandings to the public.

The Volusia County Stranding Team works under the Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute’s (HSWRI) Stranding Agreement with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Fisheries Service when dealing with cetaceans (dolphins and whales). Team members work extensively on increasing their level of knowledge and experience, and because of this hard work and dedication, the Stranding Team has attained the “Designee” status under the HSWRI Stranding Agreement.

When dealing with manatees, the Stranding Team takes direction from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). The Stranding Team applied for and received a Letter of Authorization from the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) for the designation of manatee “Verifier”, which allows Team members to be first responders to manatees under the direction of FWC staff. The Team continues to work extensively with FWC staff, primarily in the Jacksonville Field Station, but also with FWC staff stationed in Tequesta.

We conducted a Stranding Team training/appreciation event in November of 2012; the training sessions serve as continuing education for Team members, and deal with efficient stranding team response, recent stranding events and new research. Dr. Craig

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Pelton, DVM serves as the attending veterinarian for the Marine Science Center, and for the Stranding Team. Dr. Pelton gave a live stranding training session to the Stranding Team members at our training/appreciation event, showing how to operate our new CO2 and oxygen monitoring equipment.

We welcomed four new members into the Team in 2012, and new member training presentations were given to familiarize them with Stranding Team protocols and basic marine mammal biology. The Team Leader, along with three other Team members attended a Prescott funded Florida Stranding Training Workshop in St. Petersburg. The training included a review of Levels A, B, and C data, first response, crowd control, assessing vital signs, zoonotic diseases and safe practices, human interaction, as well as hands-on necropsies of adult and juvenile dolphins at the Marine Mammal Pathobiology Lab.

Conference attendance was another important component of the continuing education of the Team. A Florida Marine Mammal Health Conference was held in April at Mote Marine Laboratory. The conference was attended by the Team Manager, Team Leader, and the Growth and Resource Management Director. The conference highlighted new research being done related to marine mammal health, and attending Team members were able to update the rest of the Team on those developments.

Manatee health assessment captures provide a significant learning experience for Volusia County Marine Mammal Stranding Team members because they acquire invaluable knowledge about, and experience with live animal handling and capture techniques. Ten Team members were able to participate in Manatee Health Assessment Captures in January, October and November of 2012 at Crystal River. The captures at Crystal River consist of shore-line net sets, morphometrics, ultrasonography for skin and blubber thickness, photography for individual identification, pit-tagging, blood collection for health assessment and various studies, respiratory and heart rate monitoring, etc. The University of Florida continued to use a platform that manatees can be placed on in order to ultrasound the heart since this process was found to be highly successful. Other organizations involved included USGS- Sirenia Project, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Marine Mammal Pathobiology Lab, University of Florida, Save the Manatee Club, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, and the Dolphin Conservation Field Station, among others.

Two Team members also participated in Manatee Health Assessments in Brevard County, FL in December 2012. The Brevard captures are very similar to those conducted in Crystal River, however they involve boat net sets and in-water captures.

The four new members to the Team were added to our monthly on-call calendar as members in training. Typically, two Team members respond to each stranding event, however, we try to have members in training accompany two experienced Team members, until they have reached a certain level of competence. Occasionally, some stranding events require additional team member support.

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This year the Team responded to 38 stranding calls regarding marine mammals in distress, or dead on Volusia County beaches and waterways. The Team responded to 16 manatees (Sirenians), of which 11 were alive and five were dead, and 22 whales and dolphins (Cetaceans), 11 of which were live animals, the other 11 were dead. The number of manatee calls dropped in 2011 and 2012, due in part, because the 2011- 2012 and the 2012-2013 winters were substantially milder than the winters of 2009- 2010 and 2010-2011, when the Team responded to numerous cold stressed manatees.

As in past years, Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncates) were the most common cetacean stranding. Of the 22 cetacean stranding calls in 2012, 15 were for Tursiops. In addition, some Team members assisted with a mass stranding in Brevard County of 22 pilot whales (Globicephala), most of which died, but four survived and were taken to Sea World for rehabilitation. We also responded to only the second Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus) recovered in Volusia County, a highly endangered right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) stranded in Flagler County, a short-snouted spinner dolphin (stenella cymene), a beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris), and strangely enough a white tailed deer that was found in Ponce Inlet.

One of the more interesting responses of the year came when a complainant called in about whale bones being found buried in sand on the south side of Ponce Inlet. The dunes had been eroded in that location due to storm surge after Hurricane Sandy came through in the fall of 2012.The bones were determined to be from a beaked whale, and were thought to have been buried for over 30 years. This was only the second beaked whale recorded in Volusia County.

Below, a rescued dolphin, rescued dolphin calf, and a rescued manatee.

Above, a stranded grampus, and the beaked whale bones found in Ponce Inlet.

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The following chart reflects the stranding responses by year from 2003 - 2012.

The following chart illustrates strandings by species for 2012.

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Manatee stranding responses by type.

Cetacean stranding responses by type.

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Below is a map of the stranding event locations in 2012.

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ESTUARINE RESTORATION

The Estuarine Restoration Program works in conjunction with the Manatee Protection Program, and is the vehicle for protecting vital manatee habitat. Shoreline monitoring and restoration is instrumental in ensuring that shoreline vegetation is, and will continue to be available for manatee foraging. Healthy estuaries are critical to a diverse number of species, and are important to Volusia County not only for their biodiversity but, also because they are a huge economic engine for this area.

With three main water bodies, the Mosquito Lagoon, Banana River Lagoon, and the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), as well as their associated tributaries, the IRL system is considered one of the most diverse estuarine ecosystems in North America. Over 4,000 species of plants and animals have been inventoried already, and more species are being discovered every year. Mosquito Lagoon is one of the most productive and diverse components of this IRL system, containing more than 1,240 acres of saltmarsh, which supports 12 federally endangered or threatened species. It produces extensive oyster reefs and clam beds which are not only important for maintaining water quality, but are an economic boon for the entire region.

As part of the Indian River Lagoon system, Mosquito Lagoon has a long history of recognition for its importance. A federal reserve for brown pelicans was established in 1925, in 1970 Mosquito Lagoon was listed as an Aquatic Preserve, and an Outstanding Waterway in 1979, in 1996 it was designated an Estuary of National Significance. Additionally, many areas within the preserve are classified as Class II waterways, approved for shellfish farming and harvesting.

Southern section of Mosquito Lagoon

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Below are maps depicting the north, central, and south sections of the Mosquito Lagoon.

North Central South

Below are maps showing the Mosquito Lagoon Aquatic Preserve boundaries and the three Indian River Lagoon watersheds.

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According to the Indian River Lagoon Economic Assessment and Analysis Update the residents and visitors of the five Indian River Lagoon (IRL) counties, including Volusia County, received about $3.7 billion in benefits in 2007 because of the existence of the Indian River Lagoon in its 2007 environmental condition. The information in Table 1 is a breakdown of economic values for the entire IRL for year 2007, and Table 2 is the breakdown for Volusia County in 2007.

Table 1 Estimated Annual Economic Value of the Indian River Lagoon in its Existing Environmental Condition

2007 Indian River Lagoon Related- Value (1) Recreational Expenditures $1,302,000,000 (2) Recreational Use Value $762,000,000 (3) Non-Use Value of Lagoon $3,400,000 (4) Real Estate Value, annualized $934,000,000 (5) Income Generated in IRL Counties $629,700,000 (6) Restoration, Research, Education Expenditures $91,000,000 (7) Commercial Fishing Dockside Value $3,800,000 Total Annual Value $3,725,900,000

Breakdown of Recreational Expenditures Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program

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Table 2

Estimated Annual Values of the Indian River Lagoon to Residents and Visitors of

Volusia County, 2007 in Dollars

Environmental Condition of Lagoon in 2007

Indian River Lagoon Related Value Recreational Expenditures Daily Expenditures ‐ $234,880,000 Boat Expenditures in Florida ‐ $120,966,000 Recreational Use Value ‐ $184,808,000 Non‐Use Value in Existing Condition ‐ $1,208,000 Real Estate Value, annualized ‐ $39,000,000 Income Generated in IRL Counties From Daily Recreation Expenditures ‐ $77,000,000 Restoration, Research, Education Expenditures Not allocated to counties Commercial Fishing Dockside Value

Total Economic Value $658,000,000

Economic Contribution of the Daily Recreation

Expenditures (a)

Output $167,783,000 Income $76,996,000 Employment, number of full and part time jobs 2,382 Tax Revenue $10,573,000 Number of Recreation Person‐Days (b) 2,847,000 a Does not include the economic contribution of boat expenditures in Florida. Also, see foot‐notes

under Table ES.3 for definitions of Output, Income, Employment and Tax Revenue. b A person‐day is one person participating in a recreation activity for all or a part of one day. Only the primary recreation activity that day was counted. If a person participated in more than one recreation activity that day only the primary activity, as chosen by the survey respondent, was counted.

The Estuarine Restoration Program’s efforts in 2012 focused on the removal of exotic invasive plants, monitoring of existing restoration sites, and education/outreach. Restoration goals, techniques, and targeted areas are outlined in the Estuarine Habitat Restoration Plan (EHRP), which was created as a guidance document for the program’s efforts. The long-term goals of the plan are to improve water quality, dissipate wave energy, reduce shoreline erosion, and re-establish essential habitat for a diversity of wildlife. Implementation of the EHRP includes exotic vegetation removal, mangrove and Spartina plantings, oyster bed restoration, seagrass plantings, and long term monitoring.

As in previous years, an important part of the program is the cultivation of partnerships with other county departments, coastal cities, civic organizations, environmental groups, non-profit organizations, and state and federal agencies. Staff, in conjunction with numerous partners and volunteers, work to increase awareness of the importance of estuaries, and to implement the program’s projects and activities.

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EXOTIC INVASIVE PLANT REMOVAL - COUNTER INVASIVE AGENTS (CIA)

The CIA volunteer effort is a citizen-initiated group, which was formed because of public recognition that exotic invasive plants were harming Volusia County’s natural landscapes. Staff initially recruited and organized individual experts from such groups as the Master Gardeners, Master Naturalists and the Native Plant Society to serve as a core source of expert advice and help during our removal events. We then recruited other involved citizens and held training and removal events. Training consists of exotic invasive plant ID, proper removal and disposal methods, tool safety, and hazardous materials awareness.

The focus of the CIA group is to educate the public about the harmful effects of exotic invasive plants, and then to remove these plants from the county’s public lands. Additional outcomes are that volunteers utilize the knowledge they have gained in order to motivate them to remove exotic plants in their home landscapes, and to reinforce the concepts and advantages of planting native plants, being water wise, and using fertilizers and pesticides responsibly.

Exotic invasive plant removal is also one of the primary components of the EHRP. The initial focus was on the east side of the county, where the worst invasive plant offenders are Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius) and Australian pine (Casuarina equisetifolia). However, the program extended itself to the west side of the county where other invasives are prominent, such as coral ardisia (Ardisia crenata) and air potato (Dioscorea bulbifera).

County Manatee Program staff are participating members of the East Central Florida Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (ECF CISMA). The goals of the new ECF CISMA are to develop and implement techniques to prevent establishment and spread of new exotic invasions, and to promote early detection and rapid response of newly established invasive species. This group is a multi-agency effort that represents four counties, Brevard, Volusia, Flagler and Putnam.

In 2012, staff coordinated and supervised two volunteer workdays in conjunction with the ECF CISMA and with students from Stetson University, during which we removed invasive, exotic plants. The first removal event was held in February at Lake Beresford Park to remove air potato vines and tubers. This “Air Potato Raid” attracted 30 eager volunteers, who put in a total of 82.25 hours of work to rid the park of this very invasive plant. This equates to $1,534.79 worth of volunteer time. After the removal, a contest was held for the most tubers collected, also for the largest, smallest, and most unusual tubers. Prizes were awarded to the winners.

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Volunteers receiving training, bags of the vines, the biggest tuber, and collection buckets.

The second exotic removal event was the “Russian Thistle Dismissal”, which was held in May, on the beach between the Town of Ponce Inlet and New Smyrna Beach. Russian thistle (Salsola kali), is a non-native, aggressive exotic plant prevalent in western states, found in 49 states in the U.S. It has been seen in greater numbers over the last few years growing on the dunes in Volusia County. A trial removal was conducted using a hand removal technique instead of spraying with herbicide due to the commencement of sea turtle nesting season.

There were 18 volunteers working from five different starting points, who ultimately covered slightly less than two miles of beach in two hours. This removal netted a total of 25 large trash bags full of Russian thistle. The amount of collected Salsola was suprising considering the short collection time and limited miles of beach covered. It was generally agreed that this plant warrants keeping under control, and that further removal efforts should be planned. The volunteers put in 36 total hours for an equivalent value of $671.76.

The Russian Thistle Dismissal, hand removal of plants, and close-up views of the plant.

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EXOTIC SPECIES REMOVAL – LIONFISH,

Volusia County participated in a Florida Department of Environmental Protection CAMA and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission sponsored lionfish survey, entitled the IRL Lionfish Megatransect Survey. The survey was conducted along the central east coast inland waters. The areas chosen were based upon proximity to ocean sources (within six miles of an inlet), current flow, and apparent preferred settlement habitat.

The protocols involved surveying 300 meter transects within suggested pre-identified sites. The transects were placed within each site at known lionfish preferred habitat, such as sea walls, rip rap, docks, and submerged mangrove prop roots. Any lionfish found were to be logged using GPS, and/or key landmarks.

There were 19 identified sites within Volusia County, of which 12 were surveyed. The survey was conducted by participants snorkeling along the transects and visually monitoring for any lionfish within the transect area. Data sheets were kept to record either a sighting or no sightings, along with habitat type, exact location, and lionfish size, if applicable. Any lionfish found were to be captured bagged, tagged, iced in the field and then frozen for transport to the project coordinator. The fish would then be logged and tested for gut contents, mercury, and ciguatera.

One lionfish was found within Volusia County, it was located at the north jetty in Ponce Inlet, which was not one the original 19 transect locations, but was added as a site having good potential habitat.

Aerial map showing the survey area.

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Photograph of the lionfish found at the N. jetty in Ponce Inlet.

ESTUARINE HABITAT RESTORATION PROGRAM

The overall long-term objective of the Estuarine Habitat Restoration Program (EHRP) encompasses the restoration or enhancement of two broad marine habitats: emergent (above mean low water line) and submerged (below mean low water line) habitats.

The program focus in 2012 was primarily on exotic, invasive species removal (see above for information on exotic invasive plant and lionfish removal), and plantings (see below).

PLANTINGS

In 2012, three native tree plantings were conducted. The plantings were designed to take place at the School Board’s three environmental learning sites in conjunction with the Environmental Teacher on Assignment’s IBIS (Investigating Biomes In Science) classes. The goal was to involve the students in the planting project and at the same time impart information concerning the value of native plants, and native trees in particular.

The first planting took place at Bi-Centennial Youth Park. The three trees selected for this site were chosen to be compatible with a mixed hardwood mesic and a hydric flatwoods environment. The trees planted were a redbud (Cercis canadensis) for an upland area, a Dahoon holly (Ilex cassine) for an intermittently wet area, and a bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) for a very wet area.

The second planting was conducted at the Lyonia Environmental Center. This site is predominantly a scrub environment. The trees selected for this site were compatible with a xeric, or arid habitat. The trees planted were two fringe trees (Chionanthus virginicus) and one Chickasaw plum (Prunus angustifolia).

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The third tree planting site was located at Spruce Creek Park. This site varies from a mesic habitat to a drier environment around the chosen planting area. The three trees selected for this site were two winged elms (Ulmus alata) and one Chickasaw plum (Prunus angustifolia).

All three tree plantings were monitored for watering, particularly in the first three months after planting. In addition to hand held hose watering, Tree Gators were placed around each tree to ensure a slow continuous release of water over a period of time.

Tree plantings at Bi-Centennial Youth Park, Lyonia Preserve, and Spruce Creek Park.

ESTUARINE EDUCATION

During 2012, the manatee habitat protection associate worked closely with the Marine Science Center staff and with the Volusia County Environmental Teacher on Assignment and the Investigating Biomes In Science (IBIS) program. Our goal for the education and outreach program is to educate students about the estuarine environment, water quality, native species, and exotic species. There have been significant changes in the Florida public education system, with the adoption of Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS) and Common Core curriculum. There are also mandatory End of Course exams for each subject.

The educational classes are conducted on a regular basis to high school AP, IB and Honors students. There are three IBIS environmental education sites, which are located at Rose Bay, Bi-Centennial Youth Park and Lyonia Preserve. Lessons consist of native and exotic plant recognition, water quality testing, estuarine functions and species biology, and the life cycles and importance of mangroves and oysters in the estuary. In 2012, staff was able to provide over 108 educational hours to Volusia County high school biology students participating in the IBIS program.

Staff also teaches estuarine ecology to students and visitors to the Marine Science Center in Ponce Inlet. Students participate in education sessions in the main gallery, engage in hands-on activities, and also learn about manatees, sea turtles and shorebirds as they tour the on-site sea turtle and shorebird re-habilitation hospitals. The typical day is spent with scheduled school groups in the morning and interacting with

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walk-in guests in the afternoon. Staff spent over 135 hours interacting with students and Marine Science Center guests in 2012.

Between the education activities with the IBIS program and the Marine Science Center, staff was able to contribute a combined total of over 243 educational hours.

The Manatee Habitat Program staff also conducts estuarine related education and outreach at community festivals and events. The educational display boards, hands-on activities, as well as hand-outs, take home activity sheets, and a model seagrass bed are part of our outreach efforts. In 2012, some of the events included the Halifax Sport Fishing Tournament, the Manatee Festival, the DeLand Middle School Science Night, the DeLand Wildlife and Garden Festival, Port Orange Family Days, and Blue Lake Elementary Science Fair.

ADOPT-AN-ESTUARY

The Adopt-An-Estuary Program was funded in 2009 - 2010 through a grant from the St. Johns River Water Management District’s Indian River Lagoon License Tag program, and was implemented as a cooperative effort with the District’s Watershed Action Volunteer Program and the Volusia County Environmental Service Learning Legacy Project (VC ESLLP). The goals of the Adopt-An-Estuary (AAE) program are to collect base-line estuary health data, educate and train schoolchildren and adults to monitor estuaries, increase public awareness about estuarine issues, and provide a website portal for easy access to estuary information and data. The ultimate goal was to help develop environmentally sensitive citizens through AAE training who would be more aware and informed about issues concerning their local environment.

Training for teachers, students, and volunteers in Visual, Physical/Chemical, and Biological monitoring was conducted. Two of the AAE program’s main products are a Training Manual and a Curriculum Guide. The Training Manual provides the guidance necessary for the continuation of the program and creates a solid foundation for the inclusion of future study information. And, the Curriculum Guide ensures that the program will be utilized by Florida teaching professionals in the classroom because it ties the hands-on activities that illustrate the AAE concepts back to the standards that are now required in our schools (Next Generation Sunshine State Standards). The other important products were laminated species ID flip cards that can be used out in the field. A separate set of cards were made for fish, bird, and plant species that might be encountered while monitoring estuary sites. And, fish, bird, and plant species lists were developed specific to Volusia County.

In 2012, while the county was not a grant partner, the AAE grant program was implemented through a partnership between the IBIS program and the Marine Discovery Center. Students, teachers, and volunteers were educated on estuarine ecology, and specifically on how to recognize and document the Visual, Physical/ Chemical, and Biological components of estuaries. The adult volunteers register their own estuary monitoring sites, and complete and post data sheets on a monthly or

25 quarterly basis. Also, in 2012 the bird, fish, and plant flip cards were updated and they are available on the Manatee Protection Program web pages and on the Marine Discovery Center website.

Examples of the bird, fish and plant flip cards used for species ID in the field.

CHICKEN ISLAND RED MANGROVE/OYSTER RESTORATION DEMONSTRATION PROJECT

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In 2008, the Manatee Habitat Conservation Program was awarded the Chicken Island Red Mangrove/Oyster Restoration Demonstration Project grant from the St. Johns River Water Management District’s Indian River Lagoon License Tag program. Most of the work was executed in 2009, and monitoring of the Chicken Island project site was initiated in 2009, and scheduled to continue through the spring of 2012. From May, 2011 through March 19, 2012 monitoring was done bi-annually. Monitoring parameters include salinity levels, air and water temperatures, tidal conditions, mangrove viability, oyster recruitment, and commensal species presence. In addition to monitoring the mangrove plantings, oyster spat counts were taken once spat attained a size that was visible on the roughly textured surface of the reef balls and cultivator pots. Spat coverage was then estimated and documented on the data sheets as well.

The last monitoring of Chicken Island was conducted in March of 2012, and at the end of July the grant’s Final Report was submitted. The conclusions were as follows.

At the end of the three year pilot program there were no living red mangroves present, either in the Reef Ball Red Mangrove planters, or in the control sites. It is believed that there were several contributing factors to this result. The unusually cold winters of 2009 – 2010 and 2010 – 2011 were a large contributing factor to the non-viability of both the reef ball planted plants and the control site plants. The Chicken Island site is in New Smyrna Beach, Florida just south of the Ponce DeLeon Inlet cut, which is close to the northern limits of large red mangrove stands. Mature red mangroves are prolific in this area, however it appears that these two very cold winters prevented already stressed plants from surviving. The mature red mangrove growth existing in the area did experience some die-back, but recovered fully in the following years, however new naturally recruited seedlings suffered cold stress similar to the planted mangroves.

Another primary factor was the design of the reef balls themselves. Early on in the experiment we realized that the two holes in the reef balls allowed incoming tides, strong currents and wake wash to remove the soil from around the plants. Blocking the holes with oyster shell was not sufficient, as the shells were washed away along with the soil. The Reef Ball planters may be potentially useful for growing red mangroves in very protected lagoons and waterways, but in any area that experiences significant tidal action, water currents, or boat traffic they would not seem to be practical.

Going into the winter of 2009 there was a survival rate of 86% at the November monitoring, which dropped to 60% in December. Then came the first of two very cold winters. There was some recovery in March of 2010, but survival dropped significantly to 44% in April, and then to 1% in June and July. It would seem that a combination of plant stress from soil wash-out and the delayed effects of cold stress created an unfavorable environment for healthy plant growth. After the second cold winter the May monitoring in 2011 showed only a 7% survival rate, which had dropped to only 1% by December. By March of 2012 there were no plants surviving.

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The control plants fared slightly better initially showing a survival rate of 95% going into the first cold winter of 2009-2010, that dropped to 93% in March, and again dropped to 44% in April. The June monitoring showed some recovery with a survival rate of 50%, going back up to 95% in July. However, by May of 2011, after going through the very cold winter of 2010 – 2011, the survival rate had dropped to a low of 22%, which by December of 2011 had become 0%. There was no recovery during the 2011 – 2012 winter, and by the last monitoring date in March of 2012 the survival rate was still 0%.

However, the Reef Ball Red Mangrove planters were very effective for oyster spat accumulation and oyster growth. The preliminary oyster strings showed that rapid spat accumulation was possible at the Chicken island site, and once the spat on the reef balls achieved a size that was easily counted the oyster growth on the balls were documented and are shown as a percentage of coverage for each RBRMP site. By December of 2009 there was an overall average of 54% coverage at all sites. By April of 2010 there was an overall average coverage of 89% and by December of 2011 there was 100% coverage. One site RBRMP 2 seemed to lag behind the other sites, with sites 1 and 3 doing the best overall. At the end of the three year monitoring period there was not yet bridging between reef balls, but that could be anticipated since the reef balls were placed on four foot centers. The oysters mats that were planted around the RBRMP pods as a separate grant project, but as part of the pilot study did have bridging between mats, and the two elements (pods and mats) would seem to be an effective method for oyster reef creation.

Finally, although not noted on every monitoring occasion commensal species such as hermit crabs, fiddler crabs, and blue crabs were very definitely using the reef balls as habitat and shelter from prey. On one monitoring visit it was noted that 70% of the reef balls were harboring commensal species.

Reef Ball configurations, after planting, monitoring, and one of the commensals.

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ENVIRONET VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

Citizens are encouraged to become involved by becoming a volunteer in one of many programs offered by VCEM to the public. Each Natural Resources program area has volunteer opportunities available, and these are highlighted through outreach displays and online website pages. Staff knowledge of each other’s programs allows us to encourage citizens to become volunteers in whatever area most interests them. In some cases, citizens volunteer for multiple programs, and thus become very environmentally knowledgeable about our county. Community events present an opportune time to answer questions and pass out educational materials. This allows interested community members to receive the information they need on how to get involved as a volunteer in a very personal way. Educational events are also essential for exchanging valuable information, networking among colleagues, and improving the volunteer programs for the future.

We recruit volunteers for specific programs or events through our website and the online interactive volunteer form, press releases, and through personal emails and phone calls. Volunteers fill out applications on-site, on-line, or send them in by mail. Staff inputs and updates information, directs potential volunteers to the different program areas, and follows through with the required paperwork.

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MANATEE PROTECTION PLAN for VOLUSIA COUNTY PHASE I PROVISIONS 2012 Annual Report

Acronyms: BPSM or ISM – Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Imperiled USEPA or EPA – United States Environmental Species Management Protection Agency FDEP or DEP – Florida Department of Environmental Protection USFWS, FWS – United States Fish and Wildlife FFWCC, FWCC or FWC – Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Service FIND – Florida Inland Navigation District USGS/Sirenia – United States Geological Survey FMRI, FWRI – Florida Marine Research Institute Sirenia Project IFAS – Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences VCEM or VCEMS – Volusia County Environmental MPP – Manatee Protection Plan Management NOAA – National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration VCLS – Volusia County Leisure Services SJR – St. Johns River VCPD – Volusia County Planning and Development SJRWMD – St. Johns River Water Management District VCPD – Volusia County Planning and Development SMC – Save the Manatee Club Port Authority District USACE or ACOE – United States Army Corps of Engineers VCPW – Volusia County Public Works USCG – United States Coast Guard VCSM – Volusia County Stormwater Management WAV – Watershed Action Volunteers

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C. ENFORCEMENT

Purpose Statement

The purpose of this section is to describe the roles of enforcement agencies and make recommendations for their coordination in order to avoid duplication and provide better coverage of the waterways. It is recognized by all that additional on-water officers are needed to effectively manage the County’s waterways.

PROVISION ACTION FUNDED BY C.1. Volusia County will lobby the FWCC to seek The regional FWC office has a complement of three FWC three additional officers. officers assigned to the east coast, and three officers assigned to the St. Johns River. Funding for more officers is not available at this time. http://myfwc.com/contact/law- enforcement/ C.2. An annual group meeting that would establish a The North East Law Enforcement Maritime Alliance is FWC, VCEM working relationship between enforcement agencies scheduled to meet monthly at the Coast Guard Station in shall be developed. Ponce Inlet, however there was a gap in meetings in 2012. Manatee Protection staff attends, and the group consists of law enforcement entities throughout the central northeast region of the state. C.3. The County will actively explore ways to clarify New state manatee zone signs (no new rules) were USFWS, FWC and consolidate signage relating to boating installed on the SJR, and the H/IR installation has been regulations. completed. See: For federal manatee zone signage see: http://myfwc.com/boating/waterway/markers/ and http://volusia.org/environmental/natural_resources/manat ees/phaseII/default.htm Attachments F and G. Signage is available to warn citizens about manatee harassment regulations. Installation has been done at the Mary McCleod Bethune Park riverside C.4. The County will include the 1-888-404-FWCC This has been implemented. See VCEM phone number with information for reporting dead or http://myfwc.com/contact/report/ The FWC wildlife hotline injured manatees and any violations related to number has also been included on laminated Wildlife manatee protection and habitat degradation with all Emergency cards; these were re-printed and distributed. 31

boater education and waterfront property owner information materials.

C.4.1. The County will attempt to inform all registered VCEM has posted the approved MPP for Volusia County VCEM boaters, possibly through a mass mailing, of any on its website www.volusiamanatees.org along with other regulatory changes that would impact them. manatee information. Mail-outs will be done as funding permits.

D. HABITAT PROTECTION Purpose Statement:

The purpose of the Habitat section is to define favorable habitat for manatees in Volusia County, identify areas in the County where favorable habitat for manatees exists, establish baseline information as necessary for evaluating trends toward improvement or degradation, and to identify and evaluate both threats and actions needed to restore, enhance, or protect habitat. No recommendations in this section are meant to duplicate existing efforts.

PROVISION ACTION FUNDED BY D.1. Volusia County will actively support the Action This has been implemented. See: Funded by the Items outlined in the IRLNEP CCMP, and work in http://www.sjrwmd.com/itsyourlagoon/publications.html respective agencies concert with the various agencies involved, to ensure and Volusia County that the goals and objectives of this plan are met. (See attachment for items*) D.1.1. The County will review the IRLNEP CCMP VCEM staff regularly attends meetings and reviews Volusia County and related regulations, and determine how best to management plans as needed. See: achieve a similar result in the Halifax River. http://www.sjrwmd.com/itsyourlagoon/ D.2.1. VCEMS will continue its water sampling This has been and continues to be implemented. The VCEM, SJRWMD program. monitoring program has been in place for over 20 years, sampling data from the last 15 years is available on the web. See: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/chd/volusia/EH/lab/data.html Also: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/storet/index.htm 32

D.2.2. VCEMS shall establish a water quality This has been implemented. Samples were collected VCEM, SJRWMD monitoring sampling program on Strickland Creek, between 2002-2009. There are seven years worth of establishing several sampling sites that will be monthly monitoring data for Strickland, Thompson and monitored on a monthly basis. This program will Dodson Creeks. See: require 3-5 years of data before baseline water http://www.doh.state.fl.us/chd/volusia/EH/lab/data.html quality parameters can be established. under Tomoka River. D.2.3. A. VCEMS will continue to work with the A. B.VCEM continues to work with the appropriate county A. B. VCEM, County and the coastal areas to explore ways in departments, particularly Public Works, and the coastal SJRWMD, County which to move some of the waterfront properties cities. See: http://www.volusia.org/publicworks/water.htm and respective from septic tanks to direct sewer connection. B. VCEM also has assisted through the Rose Bay Task municipalities. VCEMS will also assist the County and the cities as Force, which helped to move Allandale and Harbor Oaks they plan for the movement of homes from septic to residents onto Port Orange City sewer. See: sewer systems. http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/restore/projects/rosebay.ht m The Northern Coastal Basin SWIM Program, which with VCEM facilitation was designated in 2003, also addresses this issue. See: http://www.sjrwmd.com/northerncoastal/index.html D.3. A. Volusia County will extend the Florida Yards A. The Florida Yards and Neighborhoods (FY&N) program A. IFAS B. IFAS D. & Neighborhoods program to property owners along is available to all Volusia County residents. This program WAV, VCEM the SJR system. B. Property owners on this water is currently under IFAS http://fyn.ifas.ufl.edu/ also body will be surveyed to determine how their yards www.ifas.ufl.edu B. The Marine Discovery Center has a are being maintained. C. This information will be grant funded program for shoreline property owners. See: added to the database of ICW property owners. D. http://www.marinediscoverycenter.org/Restoration%20File VCEMS will follow up with an informational mailing s/shoreline%20landowner%20flyer.pdf on tips for environmentally sound property C. Not yet implemented. D. VCEM distributes FY&N maintenance. brochures and VCEM has incorporated the program into the county’s Waterwise Ordinance. See: http://www.volusia.org/environmental/pollution_abatement/ waterresources/default.htm D.4. A. VCEMS will coordinate with FDEP on A., B., D. VCEM participates in the Blue Spring Aquatic A. B. C. D. VCEM, identifying areas along the SJR system where Working Group meetings with FWC, FDEP, USACE and FDEP, USACE, manatee habitat must be balanced with aquatic plant other agencies. This group has produced an Aquatic Plant Volusia County control. B. A plan, with timetables, will be developed Mgt. Plan, which prescribes when & where spraying can Mosquito Control

33 for addressing these areas. C. VCEMS will also occur in the Blue Spring area. For other information on coordinate with ACOE to identify finger canals that aquatic plant spraying see: have become clogged with vegetation and work with http://el.erdc.usace.army.mil/aqua/ the homeowners to have the whole canal treated at C. VCEM has facilitated the reduction of exotic aquatic once. D. VCEMS will meet with ACOE on the issue vegetation in several of the St. Johns river creeks and of how much spraying, if any, is needed to control canals, and communicates with the appropriate control nuisance vegetation. The results of this meeting will agencies. The USACE is assisting in removing exotics in be disseminated to the public and managers of the areas where Blue Way trails are present. ecosystems. D.4.1. The County will explore how, where, and on Re-vegetation of eel-grass and bullrush has been done in FDEP what schedule re-vegetation of the St. Johns River Lake Monroe. Lake Monroe currently exhibits healthy SAV (with native submerged and emergent vegetation, growth. The LVI was created by the FDEP as a especially eel-grass) might be undertaken. rapid screening tool (bioassessment) for ecological condition; it determines how closely a lake’s flora (aquatic plants) resembles that of an undisturbed lake. The LVI is conducted annually in lakes Jesup, Harney, and Monroe. See: www.seminole.wateratlas.usf.edu/.../Jesup%20_Harney_M onroe_5-9-2012_ge.pdf D.5. A. VCEMS will support the County’s Public A., B. This cooperation has been ongoing. A. B. VCPW, VCEM Works Department by providing water quality See: http://www.volusia.org/publicworks/stormwater2.htm monitoring to stormwater projects. B. VCEMS will also provide input to the Public Works Department on areas that they feel need attention, such as Strickland, Thompson, and Dodson creeks. D.5.1. The County should develop a comprehensive Volusia County Stormwater Management uses a three- VCSM strategy for stormwater management. It should pronged strategy: 1. Watershed/basin management plans coordinate with and make use of existing efforts, 2. Stormwater requirements for new construction 3. expanding these efforts to include current retrofitting Stormwater Utilities retrofitting and maintenance. It also standards, and to focus on the importance of utilizes county and city comprehensive plans. See; stormwater management in the protection of aquatic http://www.volusia.org/publicworks/stormwater2.htm There habitat and manatees. are ongoing cooperative efforts with the Northern Coastal Basin and IRL SWIM Programs as well. See:

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http://www.sjrwmd.com/northerncoastal/ and http://sjrwmd.com/programs/outreach/irlnep/irlnep.html FDEP also has instituted watershed basin requirements. See: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/watersheds/docs/bmap/b map_activities.pdf D.6. A. Volusia County will continue to actively A., C. The Volusia Forever Program has acquired or has a A. C. Volusia Forever pursue the purchase of the Spruce Creek CARL conservation easement on over 28,000 acres of B. Lake Woodruff property, B. the Lake Woodruff corridor property, conservation land since 2000, including Spruce Creek Wildlife Refuge C. and C. other properties, or the development rights to CARL property. See: http://volusiaforever- Volusia Forever D. those properties identified in the Indian River Lagoon echo.com/forever/forever%20acquisitions.pdf B. The Lake State of Florida Blueway project. D. The County will work with Woodruff Wildlife Refuge has purchased at least part of Tomoka Geo-Park to pursue their purchase of the this property. C. This project is ongoing. D. Tomoka Strickland, Thompson, and Dodson creeks GeoPark has purchased this property. confluence property. D.6.1. An inventory of irreplaceable resources should Information concerning the areas most important to VCEM be developed which should include developed areas, manatees has been included in Phase II (marina siting) of any areas important to manatees including any the MPP. See: http://www.volusiamanatees.org/mpp.htm feeding, calving, nursing, cavorting, resting, and FNAI has also developed the Critical Lands & Waters freshwater areas, and any manatee migratory routes. Inventory Project report. See: http://www.fnai.org/ D.6.3. A. VCEMS will work with SJRWMD, FDEP, A. The USEPA requires that Total Maximum Daily Load A. B. USEPA, FDEP and EPA, if appropriate, on the feasibility of using (TMDL) standards are met nationwide. FDEP and the computer models for pollution load reduction and County help to implement them. The USEPA will identify development impacts. B. VCEMS will research the non-point sources and allocate each a TMDL through legal implications and the costs associated with modeling. BMAPS are currently being written for the North setting up such a system. IRL, Central IRL, and the Banana River. See: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/tmdl/index.htm and http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/watersheds/docs/bmap/b map_activities.pdf B. FDEP is responsible for this. D.7. A. All dredged material shall be contained on an A. FDEP current policy, also in Phase II of the MPP. See: A. B. C. FDEP, upland site. (FDEP Policy Dredge and Fill http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/wetlands/erp/wetperm.htm WMD’s, USACE Requirements) B. New and maintenance dredging #VII

35 projects on the Intracoastal Waterway should be B. This is part of Phase II of the MPP See: performed during the period of November 15 through http://volusia.org/services/growth-and-resource- March 15, when feasible, to minimize potential management/environmental-management/natural- impacts to manatees (would require a new policy.) C. resources/beach-and-sea-turtles/marine- Dredging in areas of abundant seagrasses will be mammals/manatees/manatee-protection-plan/phase-two- prohibited. (would require a new County policy or boat-facility-siting.stml C. This is also in the marina siting Countywide Minimum Standards.) segment (Phase II) of the approved MPP for Volusia County. FDEP, the Water Management Districts and USACE currently regulate dredge and fill activities. See: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/wetlands/docs/erp/62-343- 900_1.pdf

E. EDUCATION AND AWARENESS

Purpose Statement:

The purpose of the Education and Awareness section is to make the citizens of Volusia County and visitors to the County aware of the vulnerability of the manatee to threats of all kinds, from habitat degradation to direct human intervention, and to make people care enough to modify their behavior to protect the manatee and its habitat.

Background Information E.1.

Volusia County has several programs in place that deal with manatee education and awareness (see section II.E. for existing programs). However, education is a vital element in manatee protection so the following education initiatives were developed to raise the level of awareness for manatee protection in Volusia County. The initiatives are labeled according to their projected time of implementation. Short term initiatives are those that can be completed in less than a year. Near term initiatives are those completed in a 1-3 year period. Finally, long-term initiatives are those which will take longer than three years to complete. Completion of these initiatives is the responsibility of the County unless otherwise specified and is contingent upon available funding. The suggested education programs are as follows:

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PROVISION ACTION FUNDED BY E.1. The on-going support of the education initiatives Council approved the position 9/7/2000. We have an VCEM, VCPLIPAD will be coordinated through VCEM’s assigned staff. active college intern and volunteer program. In addition, Due to the importance of manatee education one contract service employee has been hired to expedite initiatives, governmental coordination and the implementation of Phase I provisions. There was also implementation of all MPP components it is one contract service employee working on estuarine recommended that a position be created and funded. restoration for part of 2012. See: Interns, with close guidance of assigned staff, will be http://www.volusiamanatees.org responsible for helping with the execution of the And http://www.volusiaestuaries.org education portion of the plan. In addition, volunteers are available. (Short Term) E.2. A. Manatee education brochures will be A. Manatee speed zone booklets are distributed through A. FIND B. VCEM developed and distributed with all new boat the county tax & tag offices. B. Floatable keychains have C. FWCC D. registrations. (Near Term) B. Floatable manatee- been given to boat rental firms. C. Decals have been given shaped key chains to be distributed with all new boat to all boat rental and marine related businesses. The registrations. These key chains would show the 1- decals and floatable keychains were found by a state 888-404-FWCC phone number that should be called study to be the most effective method for dispersing if a dead, injured, orphaned or harassed manatee is manatee awareness messages, and the Volusia County observed. C. Manatee informational stickers (decals) program was used as a model. Checklist not yet should be created and distributed to all rental implemented. D. Not yet implemented. vessels. A manatee briefing checklist should be developed, which would be signed by both the rental operator and the renter before a vessel is allowed to be operated. D. Environmental Management will contact Seminole and Lake counties and offer to supply an original of the manatee information distributed to boater registrations in Volusia County. E.3. Manatee educational brochures should be In the past, the EnviroNet Manatee Newsletter has been FWCC, VCEM, developed and distributed to residents. (Short Term) distributed to all marine businesses, public libraries, VCPLIPAD county, state and national parks, as well as at festivals and other public events. Now, in lieu of hardcopy editions of the EnviroNet newsletter VCEM distributes timely environmental information through e-mail updates.

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Educational brochures involving manatee habitat protection on Estuaries, Oysters, Brazilian pepper and Australian pine have been created and printed. Two more brochures have been planned, one of which will be on Mangroves. See: http://volusia.org/services/growth-and- resource-management/environmental- management/natural-resources/beach-and-sea- turtles/beach-environment/estuarine-restoration/exotic- plant-removal.stml E.4. Boating education courses should be developed The Sheriff’s Marine Unit officers give presentations at Volusia County and include the following information: how to identify boating education classes given by both the USCG Sheriff’s Marine manatees in the water, manatee habitat areas, how Auxiliary and the U.S. Power Squadron - For Boat Smart Unit to reduce the impact of boating on the environment, See: http://www.boatsmart.org/boat_safety_course.htm marine debris, the law against disturbing manatees, This educational material includes extensive information and how to report a dead, injured, orphaned or on manatee speed zones and manatee awareness while harassed manatee. B. A video or slide show along boating. The Boater 101 course also has a section on with an educator’s guide would be used to convey Manatee Awareness under the FL state laws heading. this information. (USCG Auxiliary and the US Power See: Squadron) (Near Term) http://www.boater101.com/Course/StudentManual.aspx The Sheriff’s Marine Unit, and many of the coastal cities’ marine units hand out manatee educational brochures when issuing warnings and citations. B. Two videos have been produced by the FWC, A Closer Look at Manatees and The State of Manatees, which VCEM uses as educational tools. E.5. A. A series of public service announcements on A. We have the PSA’s from the SMC, but they have not A. SMC manatee education have already been developed by yet been aired. B. Not yet implemented. the Save the Manatee Club, FDEP, and Duval County, and could be utilized by Volusia County to educate the public. B. A series of slides for movie theater previews would be another outlet for conveying manatee and safe boating information. (Short Term)

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E.6. At high use ramps and/or key manatee areas Kiosks are maintained at County boat ramps and they all VCLS, VCEM visited by the public (areas with high manatee have manatee awareness information. A survey of all the presence), a covered kiosk with a graphic illustration park/ramp kiosks was completed in 2010 and all kiosks of manatee awareness information will be were updated and supplied with current information. established. (Long Term) E.7. The County will coordinate with the organizers VCEM provides educational materials at fishing VCEM of fishing tournaments to provide the participants tournaments. Mini-monofilament recycling containers are with information regarding manatees (Short Term) handed out to fishers at events. E.8. A. Signs will be developed, with the assistance A. Funding for this is being actively pursued. B. All county A. B. VCEM of Volusia County’s GIS department, that contain a ramps display educational material and a survey is map illustrating a particular ramp’s location in planned for municipal, and private marinas and ramps. relation to relative speed zones. The map will include This is an ongoing activity. a five mile sphere of influence for each ramp. The signs will be visible from boat ramp lanes. (Near Term) B. Volusia County will identify those ramps and marinas that do not display education materials and coordinate the effort to have the signs posted. (Short Term) E.9. Incentives should be established to encourage Special countertop display holders for the EnviroNet VCEM marinas to display manatee brochures and Manatee Newsletter and the decals were provided to all information. Special displays should be designed to marinas. Aluminum signs were also developed to be specifically promote manatee information. (Short displayed at bait & tackle shops depicting the benefits of Term) using bilge socks. See: http://volusia.org/environmental/environet/bilge_socks.htm E.10. A Traveler’s Information Manatee Alert (30 This was investigated and NOAA had no interest in doing it second broadcast) will be developed and included in at this time. NOAA weather radio weather advisories for boaters. This should provide basic information for non- resident boaters to alert them that manatees are in the area, to watch for marked manatee protection boat speed zones, and what to do if a manatee is seen injured, harassed, or killed. (Short Term) E.11. An interactive manatee educational computer Interactive manatee displays have been created for the

39 program should be developed for various age levels Lyonia Environmental Center at Lyonia Preserve, which and distributed to schools. This program would opened in October 2009. See: include information on manatee habitat and biology, http://lyoniapreserve.com/LECfieldtrips.pdf and and the rules about not disturbing manatees. (Long http://www.lyoniapreserve.com/lec.htm Term) E.12. A. Volusia County has an established Internet A. Most of this information and more is available on the A., B. VCEM home page, which includes Environmental VCEM website: www.volusiamanatees.org B. Links to Management’s home page. Manatee information SMC at: www.savethemanatee.org/ which can be accessed by the public will be added to and DEP at: www.dep.state.fl.us/ as well as many other these systems. Information would include, but not be sites, including the FWC at: http://www.myfwc.com/ have limited to: manatee habitat, manatee speed zones, been provided. manatee migratory patterns, special events, lectures, current manatee information (Blue Spring counts, etc.), sources of additional manatee information and brochures, and prop guard information. (Short Term) B. The Internet page would provide links to other sites containing manatee information, such as Save the Manatee Club’s site and DEP’s Web site. E.13. Monofilament Line Recycling Program. To This is an on-going project. As of the end of 2012 there are VCEM create incentives for increased clean-up and 144 recycling bins installed and a volunteer network to recycling of monofilament, receptacles should be empty them is in place. More businesses have been placed at high-use boat ramps. Partnerships with recruited to collect the line and ship it back to the service groups could be utilized to maintain manufacturer. We will be building more bins for future receptacles, collect the line, and return it to the line sites. See: http://volusia.org/services/growth-and-resource- manufacturers. (Near Term) management/environmental-management/natural- resources/beach-and-sea-turtles/marine- mammals/manatees/monofilament-recycling-program/ VCEM is also part of the statewide Monofilament Recovery and Recycling Working Group, and contributes to their website: www.fishinglinerecycling.org/index.asp E.14. SMC has developed an educational sign that This has been implemented in identified problem areas, SMC, VCEM warns against the dangers of feeding and watering and will be an ongoing project. The FWC also has manatees and explains the legality of such actions. developed a similar sign warning against manatee

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SMC has provided signs to Volusia County to be harassment, which has been placed at the Mary McCleod placed at high interaction areas. (Short Term) Bethune Park riverside. The FWC has also developed a brochure outlining how to interact with manatees. See: http://myfwc.com/media/415226/Manatee_FLTreasure_bkl t.pdf E.15. A. Manatee educational curriculum should be A. A manatee education curriculum that is consistent with A. VCEM made available to compulsory schools (K-12) and Florida Sunshine State Standards has been developed for adult education programs (such as DBCC). B. K-5; finished activities are available on the VCEM website, Volusia County will be responsible for providing with more to follow. See: balanced packets of information which describe all http://volusia.org/services/growth-and-resource- threats to the manatee. This packet may include that management/environmental-management/natural- fact sheet to be developed by the County, as well as resources/beach-and-sea-turtles/marine- information from other interested groups. (Short mammals/manatees/education/ In addition, VCEM Term) provides manatee education programs with speakers, videos, literature, etc. to schools, clubs, groups, and organizations upon request. We also attend and provide displays at festivals, special events, etc. Additionally, staff provides programs for IBIS and the Marine Science Center. B. Not yet implemented. E.16. It is recommended that the State of Florida A Boater Education Identification Card may be obtained by FWC develop enhancements to the existing mandatory taking a course approved by the FWC and the National education programs for boat operators under 16 Association of State Boating Law Administrators, and is a years of age and for boating regulation violators. requirement for boaters under 16 years of age. FWC offers These enhancements should include manatee and a “How to Boat Smart” correspondence course See: habitat information, safe boat operation, rules of the http://www.boat-ed.com/fl/fl_internet.htm or the on-line road, basic navigation, and the effects of such version at: http://www.boat-ed.com/fl/index.htm and also boating operations as prop scarring and fuel “The Boater 101 Program” See: discharges. Provided through the existing programs http://www.boater101.com/ which is an interactive online provided by the U.S. Power Squadron and the U.S. program for teachers and youth. Coast Guard Auxiliary. (Near Term) E.17. Volusia County should establish a bi-annual In the recent past it has been illegal for unauthorized VCEM, VCPLIPAD effort for cleaning up abandoned traps and nets on persons to tamper with or remove traps or trap lines, even both the SJR and ICW. This program would require if deemed abandoned. A new rule has been implemented

41 coordination from the FWCC, Volusia County (Chapter 68B-55.001 FAC) that allows pulling traps under Sheriff’s Office, Volusia County Environmental very specific conditions and with an approved removal Management, and the Enviro-Net program. plan. A rotating closure rule for the state has been passed, Volunteers should be recruited to participate in this it identifies closure dates for each area. In 2012 there was effort. This effort could also be coordinated with the a closure in August in the coastal area. Volusia County Center for Marine Conservation’s (now the Ocean conducted a clean-up in 2011. VCEM staff is part of the Conservancy) annual coastal clean-up. (Near Term) State Entanglement Working Group and has participated in past crab trap clean-ups in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge as well. E.18. “Please Watch for Manatees” signs are This has been implemented, and is an ongoing project. SMC, VCEM provided free of charge by SMC. Volusia County See: Environmental Management will bring a supply of the http://www.savethemanatee.org/boatertips_public_awaren signs, when available from SMC, to the County for ess_sign.htm distribution. This service would be provided as a courtesy to private residents. (Short Term) E.19. Aquatic Plant Control. Volusia County should The Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Program (now entitled IFAS, VCEM disseminate information to all waterfront property Florida Friendly Landscaping) disseminates such owners in existing County database regarding the information through lectures, classes, news articles, following: 1. The dangers and risks of spraying letters, and the IFAS website at: http://ifas.ufl.edu/ and yards. 2. The dangers and risks of spraying for exotic also the Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants website at: plants. 3. The potential for using mechanical means http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/ . Native plant information can to control aquatic plants. 4. The value of replanting also be found on the VCEM website at: with native species. www.echotourism.com/arboretum/default.htm This information is available to all Volusia County residents, including waterfront property owners. E.20. Volusia County should disseminate information This is being implemented through the “Clean Marina” FDEP, VCPLIPAD, to marina owners on the proper use of cleaning program. See: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/cleanmarina/ VCEM agents and other chemicals used by the boating Also, literature disseminated with the Bilge Sock industry. Distribution Program See: http://volusia.org/services/growth-and-resource- management/environmental-management/natural- resources/beach-and-sea-turtles/marine- mammals/manatees/bilge-socks.stml includes the “Clean

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Boating Habits” booklet, the “Clean Vessel Act” brochure, a Clean Boater pledge card and decal, and two brochures on monofilament recycling. E.21. Boat Speed Definitions. The County will This information is available on the Manatee Protection FIND include and disseminate these definitions with all Program website as a link to the FWC website at: appropriate boater education materials. http://myfwc.com/boating/boating-regulations#nogo Manatee speed zones are also included in Phase II of the MPP for Volusia County under Attachments F and G at: http://volusia.org/services/growth-and-resource- management/environmental-management/natural- resources/beach-and-sea-turtles/marine- mammals/manatees/manatee-protection-plan/phase-two- boat-facility-siting.stml E.22. Volusia County will develop a manatee fact- This fact sheet is the insert in the EnviroNet Manatee FWC sheet. It should discuss and place in context all Newsletter, which has previously been distributed. There is threats to manatees and be widely disseminated to also a link to the FWC manatee mortality webpage on the the public. county website at: http://volusia.org/services/growth-and- resource-management/environmental- management/natural-resources/beach-and-sea- turtles/marine-mammals/manatees/ E.23. Boater Handbooks. The County will The FIND boater’s handbooks have been available at Tag FIND, VCEM disseminate these to boaters with boat registrations. and Title offices in the county. An updated version includes federal speed zones.

F. RESEARCH

Purpose Statement:

The purpose of the Research section is to identify, collect, assimilate, and analyze data among all of the agencies/organizations collecting data on manatees, in order to make informed management decisions regarding

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manatee protection within Volusia County. This involves identifying areas where data is missing, and developing programs to obtain this data.

PROVISION ACTION FUNDED BY F.1. A. While research by FWCC/FMRI into the A. B. FWS has identified this issue in their Manatee VCEM, causes of high perinatal mortality among manatees is Recovery Plan. VCEM has completed a sediment study in VCPLIPAD ongoing, Volusia County recommends that these areas of high perinatal mortality, which investigates the . efforts be increased. B. Additional research by FDEP possible presence of toxins. The study conclusion was that should also address hormone disrupting chemicals the available information did not support a conclusion that and their origins. chemical contaminants are contributing to perinatal mortality within the County, however this possibility cannot be ruled out. Mote Marine Laboratory is conducting research on environmental toxins. See: http://www.mote.org/index.php?src=gendocs&ref=Aquatic %20Toxicology&category=Ecotoxicology F.1.2. VCEMS will coordinate with the SJRWMD to This is an ongoing project that has been addressed SJRWMD, VCEM develop a comprehensive water quality data analysis through the Storet program and the VCEM Health Lab. and reporting program. See: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/chd/volusia/EH/lab/surface.html Water quality data can be viewed at: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/chd/volusia/EH/lab/data.html F.2. A. Additional research by the Florida Fish and A. FWC has flown aerial transect surveys of the H/IR, FWC, USGS, Wildlife Conservation Commission on manatee use looking at manatee distribution. These were completed in VCEM patterns in Volusia County should be conducted. B. 2004. The specific purpose of the program called Manatee VCEMS will coordinate with U.S.G.S. on this research Watch is to document and report manatee presence in and will provide resources (staff, volunteers, boats, Volusia waters. The Manatee Watch program has been in etc.) to assist in this endeavor. place since 2005. See: http://volusia.org/environmental/natural_resources/manate es/watch.htm B. Manatee Watch is a cooperative project that shares data with the USGS/Sirenia MIPS program. See: http://cars.er.usgs.gov/Manatees/Manatee_Sirenia_Project

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/manatee_sirenia_project.html

F.3. The boating activity study completed for this A boating activity study update on marina/boat ramp VCEM report should be repeated every five years on a inventory was completed in 2001, 2005, and 2010. It was smaller scale. It could be updated by flying two aerial deemed that a more thorough (on the ground) survey flights in the summer and two flights in the marina/ramp inventory would be more accurate than winter, with one being a holiday and the other a phone calls. See: http://volusia.org/services/growth-and- normal weekend day; completing the marina inventory resource-management/environmental- in the summer (could be done over the telephone); management/natural-resources/beach-and-sea- and the boat ramp census in the summer and winter turtles/marine-mammals/manatees/manatee-protection- (one weekend day and one weekday). plan/phase-two-boat-facility-siting.stml F.4. Volusia County will coordinate with FWCC and The FWCC Law Enforcement Division keeps compliance FWC, FDEP other interested parties in designing and records that VCEM has access to. Shapiro (2001) also implementing a speed zone compliance study to conducted an enforcement study in New Smyrna Beach in determine the effectiveness of current speed zones. which compliance ranged between 51-89%, dependent The group eventually identified to conduct this study upon law enforcement presence. (NSB had the highest will be agreed upon by all parties. rate of compliance in the study.) This is an ongoing project. Under State Statute 370.1202(3) the FWC will be conducting compliance studies at designated locations throughout the state. F.5. If funding becomes available, research should be Not yet implemented. conducted by involved agencies on the economic impact of manatee protection. F.6. In order to better understand the range of threats FWCC/FMRI, USGS, USFWS as well as other groups and FWC/FMRI, to manatees, the scientific community should continue agencies continue to study this issue. USGS, USFWS to collect data on environmental stressors which may affect manatee health.

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G. GOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION

Purpose Statement:

The purpose of the Governmental Coordination section is to coordinate all of the agencies and organizations collecting data and managing programs on manatees, at the Federal and state levels, as well as at the County level, to open lines of communication, and to engage in meaningful dialogue, in order to make informed management decisions regarding manatee protection in Volusia County.

PROVISION ACTION FUNDED BY G.1. Volusia County shall establish a reporting This has been implemented. FWRI maintains a list-serve FWRI mechanism whereby FMRI will send the County that alerts subscribers to current updates on manatee mortality summaries and rescue reports for each mortalities, as well as red tide events, and news of quarter beginning in 1998. importance. The manatee mortality statistics are available on the FWRI website. See: http://myfwc.com/research/manatee/rescue-mortality- response/mortality-statistics/ G.2. Volusia County shall establish a reporting Blue Spring maintains yearly counts, as well as a register VCEM mechanism with the rangers at Blue Spring State of specific animals. VCEM records annual numbers and Park to provide the County with Blue Spring manatee informal monthly updates are communicated. This is an counts on a monthly basis. This shall take place ongoing project. during the months when manatees are congregating at the Spring, beginning in ___?____.

G.3. A. Volusia County shall request additional data A. This has been implemented, and is an ongoing effort. A. B. VCEM and and input from USFWS, FWCC/FMRI and BPSM as B. This is an ongoing effort. appropriate necessary. B. Volusia County will request that agency VCEMS be notified whenever any one of the above agencies are planning on conducting any manatee research in the County. This will allow VCEMS to provide additional manpower, if available, to assist in the research efforts.

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G.4. The final draft of the MPP shall be reviewed to This has been completed. The MPP for Volusia County VCPD, VCEM ensure that it is consistent with Volusia County’s was approved by the FWC and FWS on October 19. 2005. Comprehensive Plan and vice-versa in order to See: http://volusia.org/services/growth-and-resource- ensure full implementation. management/environmental-management/natural- resources/beach-and-sea-turtles/marine- mammals/manatees/manatee-protection-plan/ G.5. Annually, Volusia County will convene a meeting VCEM participates in a state interagency working group with the appropriate programs to share information dedicated to facilitating manatee recovery in Florida. The and concerns and develop action items for the group is organized under the FWC, with staff members of coming year. Preliminary groups include: VCEMS, ISM, FWRI, FWS, USGS, DEP, and other local FWCC/FMRI and BPSM, USFWS, and the Sirenia governments attending. Project. All interested groups will receive invitations and the meeting will be noticed as a public meeting. G.6. Volusia County shall establish a formal Links to the park have been established, and anecdotal VCEM, Tomoka communication link with Tomoka Geo-Park to manatee sightings are communicated. The type of formal GeoPark exchange data of manatee use in the Park as well as data that can be transmitted is currently being considered. the Tomoka River. The exact form of this Manatee Watch volunteers also collect sighting data within communication link will be developed by the County the park. See: http://volusia.org/services/growth-and- and the Park rangers. resource-management/environmental- management/natural-resources/beach-and-sea- turtles/marine-mammals/manatees/manatee-watch/ G.7. A. Volusia County will contact each municipality A. VCEM has contacts that handle manatee permitting A. B. VCEM to request that an individual be assigned to the issues within each city, however formal liaison positions position of liaison for manatee-related issues. B. The have not been created by the cities. B. VCEM meets County will periodically request time on commission periodically with all concerned cities, and several MPP agendas to update the municipalities about the status workshops for city staff have been held. A dock permitting of manatee protection measures in Volusia County workshop was held in May 2006 and again in March 2009. and around the state. City Managers/Mayors are updated as needed on current manatee issues, at their monthly meetings. VCEM staff attends City Commission meetings when requested. G.8. Volusia County will work together with the This was addressed in part through the Bilge Sock VCEM waterfront cities on water quality issues, including Distribution Program, which has helped to improve water sharing of data gathered from the County’s water quality, and which also provides water quality educational

47 sampling program. literature. See: http://volusia.org/services/growth-and- resource-management/environmental- management/natural-resources/beach-and-sea- turtles/marine-mammals/manatees/bilge-socks.stml Good water quality is also a goal of the Clean Marina/Clean Vessel Act programs. See: http://volusia.org/services/growth-and-resource- management/environmental-management/natural- resources/beach-and-sea-turtles/marine- mammals/manatees/clean-marina-clean-vessel-act.stml Other water quality issues may be addressed through the county Manatee Habitat ConservationProgram. See: http://www.volusiaestuaries.org Water quality data is available through the VCEM Health Lab and through the VCEM Health Lab website. See: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/chd/volusia/EH/lab/surface.html G.9. VCEMS will contact the Volusia County School The Volusia County School Board, with input from VCEM, Board to discuss the feasibility of a public school has appointed a Teacher on Assignment for Environmental manatee information coordinator to assist with Education that has assisted with the development of a distribution of educational materials. manatee curriculum and with the distribution of manatee educational material. The manatee education curriculum is consistent with Next Generation Florida Sunshine State Standards, which will allow teachers to incorporate it into their lesson plans. See: http://volusia.org/services/growth- and-resource-management/environmental- management/natural-resources/beach-and-sea- turtles/marine-mammals/manatees/education/ G.10. Incorporate USGS telemetry data which the The data has been incorporated by reference into Phase II USGS/Sirenia, County has formally requested from the Sirenia (marina siting) of the MPP which is available at: VCEM Project into the Manatee Protection Plan. http://volusia.org/services/growth-and-resource- management/environmental-management/natural- resources/beach-and-sea-turtles/marine- mammals/manatees/manatee-protection-plan/phase-two-

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boat-facility-siting.stml

* D.1. Indian River Lagoon Comprehensive Conservation & Management Plan

Background Information D.1.

Volusia County has assisted and supported the efforts of the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program (IRLNEP) in defining objectives on maintaining the quality of the Indian River through collaborating with them on water quality monitoring programs and providing technical support and review during the development of their management plan. IRLNEP has existed for five years and has done extensive research in regards to the preservation and conservation of the Lagoon. IRLNEP has produced the final draft of the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (IRLCCMP) that outlines various objectives for habitat protection in the Lagoon. Volusia County EMD is one of the reviewers of this document, and has been involved in the development process from the beginning. The final draft of the IRLCCMP has been approved by Governor Chiles and Carol Browner, the EPA Administrator, and has been endorsed by the Volusia County Council. The Volusia County Council supports the habitat recommendations for the North Indian River, that area of the river from Ponce Inlet south to the Brevard/Volusia County line. In addition, some of the CCMP action plans, such as the management of septic tanks, can be applied to all waters of the County and should be analyzed for inclusion to all water bodies. The IRLCCMP includes Action Plans which address the following issues:

A. Water and Sediment Quality

- Point Source Discharges-Objective: To ensure compliance with the Indian River Lagoon Act and to reduce or

eliminate, where possible, industrial wastewater discharges to the IRL.

- On-Site Sewage Disposal-Objective: Determine the impacts of on-site sewage disposal on the resources of the

Indian River Lagoon, and to develop and implement strategies to address these impacts.

- Fresh & Stormwater Discharges-Objective: To develop and implement strategies to address the impacts of

freshwater and storm-water discharges on the resources of the Indian River Lagoon.

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- Marina & Boat Impacts-Objective: To engage the boating public and marine industry as active participants in the

protection and restoration of the resources of the Indian River Lagoon.

B. Biodiversity Preservation & Restoration

- Biodiversity Research & Management-Objective: Develop and implement a coordinated research and management strategy to preserve, protect, and restore biodiversity in the Indian River Lagoon. - Seagrass Restoration-Objective: To protect and restore seagrass integrity and function in the Indian River Lagoon by attaining and maintaining water quality capable of supporting a healthy submerged aquatic vegetation community to a depth of 1.7 meters - Wetlands-Objective: Preserve, protect, restore and enhance the wetland resources of the Indian River Lagoon Region. - Impounded Marsh Restoration & Management-Objective: Restore the functions of marshes impounded for mosquito control purposes. - Land Acquisition-Objective: Develop and implement a coordinated strategy to protect environmentally endangered habitats within the Indian River basin through acquisitions. - Endangered & Threatened Species-Objective: Protect endangered and threatened mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates of the Indian River Lagoon. - Fisheries-Objective: Conserve and protect fin and shell fisheries of the Indian River Lagoon.

C. Public and Government Support and Involvement

- Public Governmental Support & Involvement-Objective: Facilitate implementation of the Indian River Lagoon CCMP through public involvement and education. - Future IRLCCMP Implementation-Objective: Establish a modified management structure that will oversee the implementation of the Indian River Lagoon Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan and provide for an organization to support the activities of the modified management conference. - Data & Information Management Strategy-Objective: Develop and implement a strategy to coordinate the management and dissemination of data and information concerning the Indian River Lagoon. - Monitoring-Objective: To develop and maintain a monitoring network which will provide adequate and reliable data and information on water quality, sediment quality, and the biological resources of the Indian River Lagoon on which management decisions may be based.

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Phase II

BACKGROUND

Phase II of the Manatee Protection Plan for Volusia County (MPP) is the Boat Facility Siting Plan. The goal of Phase II is to provide direction to those wishing to expand or construct new marine facilities, to decrease the potential direct impact to manatees through watercraft collisions, and to minimize potential indirect impacts to manatees and their habitat.

The primary method for determining boat facility placement is the use of area specific slip-to-shoreline ratios established by a criteria-based evaluation of the manatee data and manatee habitat, by state and federal agencies. Another essential part of Phase II is the funding mechanism incorporated within the plan, which provides for increased on- the-water enforcement of manatee speed zones. The boat facility siting plan also includes site-specific criteria such as water depth, water quality, presence of submerged aquatic vegetation, zoning and land use policies, etc. Guidelines for best management practices are also included as recommendations for facility structure and management. These provisions utilized together result in a dock density that is appropriate for Volusia County.

CITY PARTICIPATION

Volusia County is essentially surrounded by water, with the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway on the east side of the county, and the St. Johns River on the west side. These waterbodies, and all lakes, and tributaries connected to these primary waterways, which are traversable by manatees, are included in the Manatee Protection Plan (MPP), and are covered by the provisions of the plan. On the coastal side of the county, there are ten existing municipalities with shoreline that would be affected by the provisions of the plan, and on the west side, there are two such municipalities.

Coastal Volusia ¾ City of Ormond Beach ¾ City of Holly Hill ¾ City of Daytona Beach ¾ City of Daytona Beach Shores ¾ City of South Daytona ¾ City of Port Orange ¾ Town of Ponce Inlet ¾ City of New Smyrna Beach ¾ City of Edgewater ¾ City of Oak Hill

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West Volusia ¾ City of DeBary ¾ City of Deltona

Under the MPP Phase II provisions, cities and municipalities bordering waterways along the coastal side of the County have three options that relate to boat facility siting. Those cities may: 1) Adopt Phase II provisions as written, referred to as the “as is” option, 2) Adopt a city specific refinement to Phase II’s provisions referred to as the “slip aggregation” option, or 3) Take no action. Unincorporated county lands, and cities bordering the St. Johns River have two options: 1) Adopt Phase II provisions as written, referred to as the “as is” option, or 2) Take no action. The option for slip aggregation does not apply to the west side municipalities, or to unincorporated county lands.

Since the MPP is a county specific document, and applies to unincorporated Volusia County, adoption by the cities of either the “as is” option or the “slip aggregation” option is necessary in order to include that city under the MPP, and allow permitting to be regulated by the Phase II provisions. A decision by an affected city to take no action could result in impediments in the boat facility permitting process within that city.

Currently only one coastal city, Ormond Beach, has decided to adopt the “as is” option as outlined in Phase II of the MPP. All of the other coastal cities have opted for the “slip aggregation” method, and all have endorsed the MPP and adopted resolutions to that effect. The unincorporated county, and cities with lands bordering the St. Johns River, are required by the MPP, to utilize the “as is” method if they decide to endorse the MPP provisions. Both DeBary and Deltona, the only two cities bordering the St. Johns River, have endorsed the MPP and adopted the “as is” method through resolutions of support.

Another MPP requirement of Phase II is the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with each participating city in order to outline the responsibilities of both the county and the city, and to detail the process for the permitting of boat facilities. All of the affected cities have executed MOU’s with the county.

SLIP ALLOCATIONS

All the cities that opted for the “slip aggregation” method have slip pools that were agreed upon by both the cities and the FWC. The slip pools are derived from a formula that started with the measurement of shoreline within each city jurisdiction, and the calculation of the possible number of slips for each city, as per the MPP. Then all existing wet slips, dry slips, and boat trailer spaces are deducted, and all single family residential parcels are deducted. The remaining number of slips are then placed in a “slip pool” from which the respective cities can allocate slips to marine facilities.

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In 2012, slips were increased by three facilities, including 39 slips at the City of New Smyrna Beach Swoope Boat Ramp, two slips at the Venetian Condominiums, which is also in New Smyrna Beach, and three slips at Bounty Lane in the Town of Ponce Inlet. The 39 slips were deducted from the New Smyrna Beach slip pool, however, the two slips allocated for the Venetian Condominium facility are located in the “preferred” area, where no slip to shoreline ratios are applied. The three slips at Bounty Lane were subtracted from the Town of Ponce Inlet slip pool.

LAW ENFORCEMENT

An important premise of the MPP is that in order to sustain a healthy, viable manatee population within the context of a growing county, additional on-the-water enforcement is necessary. The boat facility siting component of the MPP provides a mechanism for funding this additional enforcement through the collection of a manatee mitigation fee. All applicants with new or expanding boat facilities must pay a one-time mitigation fee for each new: boat slip, ramp parking space, and/or dry storage space. The fees are deposited into a dedicated, interest bearing account named the Manatee Conservation Fund (MCF).

All new or expanded boat facilities pay a one-time manatee mitigation fee, which ranges from $250 for single family residential boat docks, to $1,000 per wet slip, dry storage space, or ramp parking space for all other types of facilities. While various factors including watercraft related manatee mortality may necessitate changes in mitigation fees, which the Volusia County Council reserves the right to raise as it sees fit, for the first five years of the plan the mitigation fees and planning zone descriptions shall remain fixed.

The Volusia County Manatee Protection Program administers the MCF, with the majority of the funds being disbursed as grants to on-the-water law enforcement units. The MCF is designed so that the first $500,000 collected may be used in its entirety for enforcement and manatee conservation and education purposes. Once the $500,000 dollar threshold has been reached, thereafter the County of Volusia will only utilize/disburse the interest accrued on the fund account.

Seventy five percent of the funding is reserved for law enforcement, and is awarded through grants to the County Sheriff’s Marine Unit as well as participating cities. MCF grant funding to the Sheriff’s Marine Unit and the participating cities is determined by percentage, based on linear river miles within each agency’s jurisdiction. The funding is used for increased enforcement of manatee speed zones by marine law enforcement units, additional equipment for on-the-water law enforcement efforts, and enforcement related education programs.

Twenty five percent of the MCF is reserved for manatee conservation efforts, and education and awareness programs, which are administered by the County Manatee Protection Program. There were no expenditures of MCF dollars in fiscal years 2006- 2007 or 2007-2008. In fiscal year 2008-2009 funding in the amount of $86, 901 was

53 allocated for the completion of the interactive manatee display at the Lyonia Environmental Center. In fiscal year 2009-2010 $2,070 MCF dollars were used to print two educational brochures highlighting the importance of healthy mangrove and oyster populations. Both of these species contribute to healthy estuaries, which are a primary habitat for manatees. In fiscal year 2010–2011 no MCF education funds were disbursed. In 2012, $1,490 of MCF education funds was disbursed for officer training in surface water rescue, and $2,631.25 was spent on laminated Waterway Cards distributed to and used by boaters as a reference to the manatee speed zone rules and how to avoid manatees when underway.

In 2011, the MCF reached and exceeded the $500,000 threshhold, and only interest was able to be used for grant disbursement. Because of this limitation and the on-going economic downturn, which drastically reduced the number of new facilities and the expansion of older ones, there was only a small amount of funding available. Due to the very low amount of interest accrued in the fund in 2011 the MCF grant application distribution date was moved to spring of 2012.

Percentage of Enforcement Funding Available to Each Participating City 2012

Enforcement % of Available Funds River Miles Funds EAST SIDE Ormond Beach $50,916.52 4.00% $216.00 Holly Hill $50,916.52 1.40% $75.60 Daytona Beach $50,916.52 4.10% $221.40 South Daytona $50,916.52 1.50% $81.00 Port Orange $50,916.52 1.60% $86.40 Daytona Beach Shores $50,916.52 0.30% $16.20 Ponce Inlet $50,916.52 2.30% $124.20 New Smyrna Beach $50,916.52 3.30% $178.20 Edgewater $50,916.52 2.70% $145.80 Oak Hill $50,916.52 1.90% $102.60

WEST SIDE DeBary $192,218.05 5.50% $297.00 Deltona $192,218.05 0.30% $16.20

SUBTOTAL $1,560.60

County Marine Unit $192,218.05 71.10% $3,839.40

TOTAL $5,400.00

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Eleven of the participating cities qualified for the MCF grant in 2012. Five of the cities, and the Sheriff’s Marine Unit applied for the MCF grant, and subsequently received funding. They were:

City of Holly Hill- $75.60 City of Daytona Beach - $221.40 City of Port Orange - $86.37 Town of Ponce Inlet - $122.50 City of New Smyrna Beach - $178.20 Sheriff’s Marine Unit - $3,838.05

It should be noted that the cities of Port Orange, Ponce Inlet, New Smyrna Beach, and South Daytona have formed a cooperative on-the-water enforcement patrol called the Southeast Regional Marine Patrol, sharing jurisdiction, and leveraging their combined funding to create consistent and more even law enforcement coverage in this very active boating area at and adjacent to Ponce Inlet. Their collective efforts have allowed them to increase their law enforcement presence during periods of high boating activity within this area. The sharing of equipment has maximized their MCF dollars.

The City of Holly Hill has a newly established marine unit with a vessel staffed by police and fire personnel, which responds to on-the-water emergencies as well as patrolling the city’s manatee protection zones. The Manatee Conservation Fund (MCF) grant provided assisted with funding for fuel for their vessel. They patrolled on eight different occasions, from the 300 to the 1600 block along the Halifax River. No citations were issued during this time period. Assuring that the manatee speed zones are observed within the city’s jurisdiction is a major consideration during their patrols. Personnel trained by the Manatee Protection Program staff on the locations, identification, habitat, movements, and preservation of marine mammals have been paramount in their ability to assist with their continued protection.

The City of Port Orange used their funding for their marine unit on-the-water law enforcement, which enabled the city to deploy officers on an overtime basis. The city is a member of the Southeast Regional Marine Patrol and they were able to participate by providing a total of 32 overtime hours of enforcement, of which the MCF grant funded three hours.. Their deployment was primarily in the area between the Dunlawton Bridge in Port Orange, and the South Causeway in New Smyrna Beach. With the collaborated efforts of the Southeast Marine Patrol the waterways were patrolled during the major holiday weekends, on Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and Labor Day, which are the most active boating days in Volusia County. This resulted in their officer issuing one citation and making 10 public relations contacts. The intent of their marine unit is to provide a visible presence on the waterway in the Port Orange area. The Halifax River, especially in this area has a high boat traffic count because, in part, the boat ramp at Dunlawton Causeway Park. It also experiences high through traffic from vessels travelling to the ocean via the Ponce de Leon Inlet.

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The Town of Ponce Inlet utilized their funding for overtime pay for on-the-water law enforcement. The officers provided a total of 9.5 enforcement hours, of which the MCF provided funding for 3.5 hours. As a member of the Southeast Regional Marine Patrol, they were able to make10 public relations contacts, and the officers also issued one warning citation during this time period. The MCF grant assisted with providing visible law enforcement presence on the waterways surrounding Ponce Inlet, and especially for the busy holiday weekends on Memorial Day and Labor Day. Without the funds rovided by the grant the busy Memorial Day weekend would not have been staffed.

The City of New Smyrna Beach used the majority of their MCF grant funding for overtime hours of on-the-water law enforcement; a small amount was used for motor oil. The officers completed eight overtime hours, of which the MCF funded five hours. This also provided for four contacts with the public during this time period. As a member of the Southeast Regional Marine Patrol they were able to support the Patrol by participating during the busy summer months.

The City of Daytona Beach utilized their MCF funding for fuel for their marine unit vessel. A total of 129 days of on-the-water enforcement was provided by the city, which resulted in 97 vessel checks, 36 safety inspections, 23 citations, 19 manatee zone stops out of 80, and 87 brochures distributed. The city marine unit paid for and distributed the Manatee Awareness and Protection brochures, and used their own funding for on-the- water officer’s pay. They also facilitated refresher boating safety classes, which allowed the city to expand their marine unit to include sworn full-time Daytona Beach Police Officers as part of their Marine Unit patrol. They have two dedicated marine unit officers with four other officers assisting. Their Marine Unit continues to collaborate with the Volusia County Sheriff’s Marine Unit, FWC Law Enforcement, and the U.S. Coast Guard.

The Volusia County Sheriff’s Marine Unit had a productive year proactively patrolling the county’s waterways. They provided 81 overtime hours, the majority of which was funded by the MCF. During the grant period educational flyers were distributed to boaters and marinas, and a total of 29 citations were written, and officers also issued 53 written warnings. The Sheriff’s Marine Unit assisted again this year with a stranded manatee which had beached itself on Disappearing Island during a mating herd episode. They provided transport for our Marine Mammal Stranding Team members, as well as conducting crowd control for interested boaters and bystanders. The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit is committed to its efforts to conserve and protect manatees, and educate the boating public about manatee awareness.

North East Law Enforcement Maritime Alliance

The North East Law Enforcement Maritime Alliance did not meet on a regular basis in 2012. The U.S. Coast Guard staff person assigned to head the group had been re- assigned and therefore there was a gap in meetings. However, this group is an important law enforcement alliance, and is comprised of officers representing law

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enforcement and other entities within the central and northeast region of the state. Representatives are: the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the National Park Service, Division of Homeland Security, North Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, National Insurance Crime Bureau, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency, Florida Division of Law Enforcement, Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, Volusia County Environmental Management, Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, City of Daytona Beach Police Department, Town of Ponce Inlet Police Department, City of New Smyrna Beach Police Department, City of Edgewater Police Department, City of South Daytona Police Department, and the Marine Industry Association of Central Florida.

The formation of this group has led to much greater cooperation between law enforcement agencies, and has introduced more integrated strategies for many marine related situations, including manatee speed zone enforcement. Other environmental violations, such as marine sanitation device (MSD) lock-down regulations, have also been increasingly addressed. Environmental Management staff continues to attend the meetings as this provides an excellent vehicle for disseminating information on manatee boat related mortality and existing or potential “hot spots”, and results in effective directed patrols in these areas.

MORTALITY

The Florida Wildlife Research Institute, which is the research branch of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), maintains an on-line manatee mortality database. This database indicates that in 2012 there were a total of 21 manatee mortalities in Volusia County. This total includes all categories of mortality, human related as well as deaths from natural causes. Of the 21 manatee deaths, five were due to watercraft strikes, which would include both death from propeller related injuries, and from blunt force trauma resulting from the impact with an engine, prop, boat hull, or other structural part of a boat.

All five watercraft related manatee deaths occurred on the coastal side of the county. Four of the deaths were located in the Mosquito Lagoon (3 in May, 1 in August). One death was located in the Tomoka River (1 in August).

There were six mortalities listed as perinatal deaths in 2012; the term perinatal refers to the size of the animal rather than a cause of death, and is an animal less than 150 cm (5 ft.) in total length, which was not determined to have died due to human-related causes. Five of the mortality sites occurred on the east side of the county, and one occurred on the west side. Three of the east coast deaths were in the Tomoka River (1 in April, 1 in May, 1 in July). One death was in Strickland Creek (1 in April), and one death occurred in the Halifax River (1 in April). On the west side of the county one death occurred on the St. Johns River (1 in March).

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There were six deaths listed as undetermined. Four deaths occurred on the east side of the county, two in the Mosquito Lagoon (1 in June, 1 in August), one in Thomson Creek (1 in April), and one in the Halifax River (1 in June). Two deaths were on the west side of the county, both were in the St. Johns River (1 in January, 1 in November).

There were only two cold stress related deaths in Volusia County in 2012, both located on the east side of the county. One death occurred in the Mosquito Lagoon (1 in March), and one in Misner’s Branch Creek (1 in November).

Natural mortality accounted for two deaths, both on the east side of the county. One death was in Strickland Creek (1 in March), and one in the Halifax River (1 in April).

The following charts reflect the manatee mortality in Volusia County for 2012 by mortality category, by location, and by gender.

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