MANATEE PROTECTION PLAN for VOLUSIA COUNTY

ANNUAL REPORT 2017

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.

MONOFILAMENT LINE RECOVERY/RECYCLING AND MARINE DEBRIS PROGRAM

The objective of the Volusia County Monofilament Line Recovery and 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’s goal is to place monofilament line recycling bins in areas where there is an abundance of fishing activity, as well as at all county boat ramps. Individuals, school groups, civic organizations, and business groups volunteer to maintain the bins.

Bin maintenance by volunteers includes empting the bin, to remove 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 to the program.

A fishing line filled, postage paid, recycling box is then sent to The Berkley Conservation Institute, which is a division of Pure Fishing, by a fishing line recycling center. When the full box is received Berkley returns 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.

In 2017, the returned data forms show a recovery of 61.5 bins full of line, which equates to 203 pounds of line that will not be entering the environment. The total current number of active bins in Volusia County in 2017 is 109, with 34 bins in need of replacement, for a total of 143 bins. A number of bins were completely lost during Hurricane Irma, and 12 bins are in need of repair. Staff recruited 13 new volunteers to monitor the bins.

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Our online data entry form makes the reporting process much easier for our volunteers; the website is www.volusiamanatees.org. The online reporting system allows volunteers to complete the form and submit it in one easy process. This eliminates the need for scanning, copying or mailing in data sheets. Monofilament line recycling participants donated approximately 1,296 hours, which is the equivalent of $28,007 dollars in volunteer time and effort in 2017.

We have continued promoting 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 bins were originally created by Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, and then adopted by the state Monofilament Recovery and Recycling Program as an effective recycling and educational tool.

The mini-bins are constructed using discarded tennis ball tubes, jump rings, and carabiners. Decals are placed on the outside of the bin and educational literature on the inside (see photos below). VCEM staff has promoted the bins use through the county school’s IBIS program (Investigating Biomes in Science), the county’s Volunteer Volusia programs, and the Volusia County Marine Science Center. We anticipate that future programs will also involve the Lyonia Environmental Center.

Mini-bin examples

The monofilament line recycling program staff maintains communication with their volunteers through e-mailed updates sent on a quarterly basis. Each update highlights either an issue, or a volunteer. This is a way to acknowledge the diversity and accomplishments of our cadre of volunteers. The update also provides facts, hints and reminders concerning fishing line recycling. Below are examples of the 2017 updates, called the “Recyclers Review”, provided to our volunteers.

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Examples of the quarterly Recyclers Review volunteer updates

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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, seahorses, sea urchins, horseshoe and blue crabs, along with other species.

Top left to right: Monofilament removed, weighing monofilament and debris removed, diver bringing up a crab for disentanglement Bottom left to right: bag of weight separated from monofilament, crew doing a safety check before dive.

In 2017, ten underwater cleanups were scheduled, but due to environmental conditions, inclement weather or low water visibility, three had to be canceled. The resulting seven cleanups conducted at the north jetty of the Ponce de Leon Inlet were however very successful. During those completed underwater cleanup events (see photos above and below), we were able to remove 876 pounds of monofilament fishing line and other debris from the inlet. This was an increase from last year’s cleanups.

In one dive, alone 242 pounds of line and debris were removed. The GoPro underwater camera is used to provide a clean-up video record, showing the extent of the impact created by fishing line and other marine debris in the north jetty cleanup area. We continue to build upon the underwater video footage to create more video products that can be viewed at county environmental educational centers and online. The 2013 and 2015 videos of our underwater cleanup efforts can be viewed at: https://www.volusia.org/services/growth-and-resource-management/environmental- management/natural-resources/florida-manatee/monofilament-recycling-program/ 5

During our dives, we try to remove non-native species, such as Green Mussels, Pema vindis and Titan Acorn Barnacles, Megabalanus coccopoma when found.

Exotic Green Mussels, Pema vindis and Titan Acorn Barnacles, Megabalanus coccopoma

Fishing line and Marine Debris Collected 1400 1400 1194 1200 1200 1079 1000 1000 772.5 859 800 674.1 800

600 1147 876 600 593 664.5 400 616.5 400 197.5 200 200 116.5 266 203 108 0 81 47 57.6 0 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Total Fishing Line (lbs) Marine Debris from Underwater Cleanups Totals

Figure 1. Total amount of monofilament fishing line debris recovered from bin collection and underwater cleanups combined, for the past six years

Marine Debris

In December of 2017, Volusia County became the first and only project in the state of Florida participating in the NOAA Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project. Manatee Protection Program staff identified a site at Rose Bay to conduct monthly

6 marine debris surveys and initiated the collection protocol for the NOAA project, in January 2017.

Every 28 days MPP staff, along with students from project IBIS at Spruce Creek Park, or other community volunteers, go to the adopted stretch of shoreline to conduct a cleanup. After debris is collected, items are documented, some photographed and large items (>1ft) measured. All data is then uploaded to the NOAA Marine Debris Monitoring webpage.

A description of the NOAA project, with maps and data denoting survey sites can be found at: https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/research/marine-debris-monitoring-and-assessment- project.

See figures 2 and 3 for the total debris counts and total debris by material types from January to December 2017.

Figure 2. Total debris counts per 100m length of beach.

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Figure 3: Debris counts per 100m length of beach by material type.

NOAA has also developed a smart phone application called the Marine Debris Tracker, which can be downloaded at: http://www.marinedebris.engr.uga.edu/. This application allows the public to participate in an important citizen scientist project tracking marine debris in their own neighborhoods.

Florida Microplastic Awareness Project

Dr. Maia McGuire developed and was awarded a grant for, the Florida Microplastic Awareness Project. The project was funded by a NOAA Marine Debris Prevention, Education and Outreach Partnership Grant. In 2015, MPP staff received training on testing water samples for microplastics. They learned how to filter the water and identify the plastics under the microscope. They began incorporating education about microplastics and water sample collection into education programs with the Volusia County School’s Project IBIS (Investigating Biomes in Science), the Marine Science Center, Lyonia Environmental Center and Explore Volusia programs. For more information on the Awareness Project visit www.plasticaware.org

Microplastics are defined as being less than 5mm plastic particles. These particles can take several forms, including microplastic fragments derived from larger pieces of plastic, “Nurdles” pre-production plastic pellets, microbeads, film, and fibers. Researchers have continued to see large increases of these particles in our oceans over the past 10 years. Due to a growing concern about the potential impact of microplastics in the marine environment, staff decided to take a closer look at the problem.

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Fiber – Guide to Microplastic Identification, Microbead - Maia McGuire, UF/IFAS Marine & Environmental Research Institute Extension, Flagler County, FL

Fragment - Maia McGuire, UF/IFAS Nurdle - Maia McGuire, UF/IFAS Extension, Flagler County, FL Extension, Flagler County, FL

The program has been very successful in bringing awareness, to both students and adults, about a growing problem that most people did not know existed until very recently. Scientists are still assessing the possible transfer of microplastics through our food web, and the extent of the harm microplastic pollution is causing to the marine environment, and to human health.

In 2018, we will continue training Volusia County education staff on microplastics testing in order to educate more people about this emerging issue. Staff will emphasize it in their education and outreach programs, and identify ways to reduce microplastics in our environment.

MANATEE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH

Manatee conservation education for both students and adults continues to be an important program 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 education program website at: https://www.volusia.org/services/growth-and-resource-management/environmental- management/natural-resources/florida-manatee/education/

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The educational curriculum is correlated to skill sets outlined in the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards or Common Core, 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. We provide teachers manatee curriculum access through the manatee education webpage shown above, through personal requests, through the Volusia County School’s Project IBIS (Investigating Biomes in Science) program, the Marine Science Center, the Lyonia Environmental Center, and Explore Volusia programs. We also post other educational activities on the webpage, along with links to related resources.

The Manatee Protection Program provides education on manatees, manatee habitat, marine mammals, monofilament line recycling, marine debris, and microplastic pollution at the two IBIS Program sites, Rose Bay and the Lyonia Environmental Center, as well as at the Marine Science Center and during outreach programs.

The primary focus of Project IBIS is on high school students in Honors or Pre-IB Biology, in AP Biology, and in AP Environmental Science. At the Project IBIS sites, an emphasis is placed on teaching FCAT skills and incorporating Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS). One of the goals of Project IBIS is to help improve students’ scores on the mandatory statewide End Of Course (EOC) exams for these classes.

The IBIS program is primarily for high school students; however, elementary age students are the focus at the Lyonia Environmental Center and at the Marine Science Center. Manatee activities were created appropriate to the students’ grade levels as an enhancement to their learning experience. All activities are designed to complement the curriculum maps for each part of the school year, address specific NGSSS, and to address topics found on the EOC exams.

The activity, “How Long Will it Take to Decompose?” based on facts from the workbook, “Talking Trash and Taking Action”, by the Ocean Conservancy and NOAA Marine Debris continued to be used with high school students attending the IBIS program at Rose Bay. Students were given a type of marine debris commonly found during beach, shoreline and underwater cleanups, and asked to guess how long it would take their item to decompose in the marine environment. During this time the students were also asked other questions, for example, what is marine debris, how does each marine debris item affect the marine environment, what can we do to prevent this item from getting into the marine environment, and why does their item decompose at a faster/slower rate than another?

One of the items used in this exercise was fishing line. When this was discussed, it gave the opportunity to educate the classes about the Volusia County Monofilament Recovery and Recycling Program. Students were amazed to hear about the 600 year decomposition rate of monofilament, as well as the efforts that were taking place around the county to help prevent the problem and to restore our waterways. It also led to discussions concerning marine debris in general and microplastic pollution. This activity

10 also included a hands-on marine debris cleanup of Rose Bay at the end of each session. During the cleanups, students are educated about the different types of mangroves commonly found on the East coast of Florida and the importance of the estuary they are helping to preserve. The students typically might remove 10-12 bags of marine debris and several hundred pounds of chemically treated wood during each cleanup.

Through native plant educational walks and talks, the IBIS students learn about the value of estuaries as habitat and as natural buffers to storms. They also learn why estuaries are one of the most productive ecosystems in the world. The walks/talks teach students to identify local species of mangroves, and other estuarine plants, and demonstrate how these plants have developed the necessary individual adaptations that allow them to live in such a harsh, saline environment.

In 2017, staff continued incorporating education of microplastics and water sample collection, into the education programs with Project IBIS, the Marine Science Center, Lyonia Environmental Center and Explore Volusia programs. An Activity Lesson was produced in conjunction with the Project IBIS program, which outlines how a microplastic experiment for high school students can be conducted within a 30-45 minute timeframe. The lesson also describes the needed equipment, the water sample collection protocol, and the process for filtering for microplatics utilizing the Microplastic Awareness Project guidelines.

Education programs conducted for the IBIS program, the Marine Science Center, and the Lyonia Environmental Center students reached more than 900 students in 2017.

Additional educational activities focusing on manatee genetics, taxonomy, and protection to promote conservation of the endangered Florida manatee are available online at https://www.volusia.org/services/growth-and-resource- management/environmental-management/natural-resources/florida-manatee/

Community events and activities also provided numerous opportunities for education and outreach. These additional education programs were conducted for groups such as: the Ortona Elementary School Earth Day, Marine Science Center microplastics, marine debris and seine netting activities, the Manatee Festival, the Water Festival in DeLand, marine debris and microplastics talks at the Lyonia Environmental Center (LEC), the Marine Science and AP Bio Teacher’s Workshop, the Native Plant Society, Earth Day in the Rotunda, the Home and Garden Show in Daytona Beach, Explore Volusia programs, Ormond Discovery Center, Lowe’s Safety Event, Elementary Expo, the Coastal Cleanup, Saint Johns River Cleanup, Apopka Elementary, Champion Martial Arts in Deland, Atlantic High School Science Fair, Turtle Day, and Wings on the Wind at the Marine Science Center and The Wildlife Festival at LEC. These educational events reached well over 5,577 children and adults.

At many of the outreach events students and adults were able to make manatee related crafts such as manatee puppets, manatee fans, and colored manatee bookmarks. They

11 also played educational games that relayed important information about manatees and their habitats. Additionally, the manatee education pages at www.volusiamanatees.org are updated on a regular basis.

Manatee display, handouts and games at the Blue Spring Manatee Festival

Manatee display, activities, and games at the Wings on the Wind Festival

Manatee display and Sun catcher activity at Wings on the Wind

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MANATEE WATCH

In 2005 the Manatee Watch program was established as a volunteer network to assist MPP staff in gaining a better understanding of how manatees are utilizing Volusia County’s waterways. Now in its twelfth year, the program continues to play an important part in understanding manatee movement and activities within Volusia County.

In 2017, we conducted two training sessions for new volunteers, the first was held on March 17 at the county’s TCK Building in DeLand and the second training was held on March 25 at the Marine Discovery Center in New Smyrna Beach. The trainings introduce the Manatee Watch program to potential volunteers, and provide education on manatee biology and physiology, manatee identification and scar pattern recognition, and manatee regulatory law.

Former Blue 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. Mr. Hartley regularly attends the trainings, presenting his slide images and giving valuable insight and information about the manatee identification and documentation process. The volunteers report valuable information and send photos that can be very helpful in identifying known manatees.

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 also 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 e-mail or CD whenever we receive good photographic documentation.

As part of the training participants use a scar matching game to help them learn how to properly document manatee scarring and injuries. Trainees are given a photo of a manatee and a scar documentation sheet, and subsequently asked to document all scars or injuries seen in the photograph. They are then able to verify their work by finding the completed manatee scar sheet that looks most like theirs. This is a great way for them to get hands-on experience filling in the scar sheets while staff is there to help them.

One way we maintain contact with our valued volunteers is through our Manatee Watch Updates (See photos below), which help to keep them current with sightings, upcoming training events, manatee facts, and sighting tips. Feedback from the volunteers has been positive and we have noticed increased participation since the establishment of the updates. Another way we encourage volunteers to participate is by rewarding each volunteer that sends in three data sheets with a unique Manatee Watch t-shirt! (See t- shirt photo below)

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Manatee Watch Updates

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Manatee Watch t-shirt worn while documenting a manatee sighting.

In 2017, with the addition of 15 new volunteers our trained Manatee Watchers number reached 275 , with 180 active members due to volunteer attrition and relocation. In addition to the new volunteers, there is also a list of several potential volunteers. These people have either recently expressed interest in joining the program or have been unable to attend other training sessions. They have been added to an email list so that they can be individually notified when the next training session is scheduled.

Also in 2017, there was an increase in the number of reports submitted. Manatee Watch Volunteers sent in 45 sighting reports. This is the highest number of reports sent in, over the last 7 years! Many reports consisted of multiple animals sighted at the same time, bringing the total number of manatees sighted in 2017 to 230, which was also a record for the past seven years. The sighting reports were sent in by eleven different volunteers, in which manatees were documented in 10 different bodies of water.

Figure 2. Charts showing reports submitted and total manatees reported from 2012 - 2017

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The Manatee Watch Program is fortunate to have a dynamic group of volunteers with varied experience and knowledge working to collect manatee sighting information throughout the county. A well-trained group of volunteers is able to gather far more information and cover more territory than staff members alone would be able to, and they provide a valuable service to the county’s Manatee Protection Program. From this data, we gain a better understanding of how manatees use Volusia County waterways and information such as behavior, size, associations, movement, and even individual identification proves to be extremely valuable in management decisions. Manatee Watchers have also proved invaluable by alerting staff when they observe a manatee that is injured or in distress. This is a great asset for our Marine Mammal Stranding Team’s ability to respond to potentially compromised manatees in our waterways.

The Manatee Watch program continues to grow and adapt in response to incoming volunteers, new data, and participation in beneficial collaborative efforts.

Manatee Observer Program

In 2014, we held our first Manatee Observer training, which is a more advanced, level of Manatee Watch. The program is a cooperative effort between the Save the Manatee Club (SMC), Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Sea to Shore Alliance (S2S), Volusia County Environmental Management (VCEM) and Blue Spring State Park (BSSP). The goal of the Manatee Observer program is to provide trained volunteers when Blue Spring State Park reports a manatee or multiple manatees in the swim area during the summer months (March – October), when the manatees stay for an extended period of time (>2 hours). Ideally, there is a volunteer in a kayak and one on the boardwalk or the swim/diver entry dock, to provide park visitors with information and address manatee education questions. This effort helps to prevent manatee harassment by swimmers and divers.

In 2017, two mandatory volunteer training sessions were held at Blue Spring State Park on April 1 and April 11, during which volunteers were educated about laws protecting manatees, proper manatee etiquette, manatee behavior, signs of distress in a manatee, available equipment, and proper etiquette to deal with park visitors.

Those volunteers interested in observing by kayak, attended an additional mandatory kayaking skills and safety course on either April 25 or May13. The training was conducted by the Manatee Watch Coordinator, an ACA certified level 2 Kayak Instructor. With the addition of new volunteers from the 2017 trainings, the program now has 32 active observers, 22 of which are approved for kayak use while observing. (See photos below.) In 2017 Manatee Observers provided 58 hours of volunteer time to help assist park rangers.

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Trained Manatee Observer

ACA certified level 2 Kayak Instructor conducting kayak training for Manatee Observer volunteers

In 1971, there were 11 manatees recorded at Blue Spring, which included one calf. In 2017, there were 582 manatees and 62 calves reported at Blue Spring State Park. These figures clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of the manatee protections that have been put into place on the St. Johns River and at Blue Spring State Park. The number of manatees utilizing the spring as a warm water habitat also show how important it is to maintain the health and flow of Volusia Blue.

CLEAN MARINA

Clean Clean Clean Marine Pumpout Marina Boatyard Retailer Facility

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) developed the Clean Marina Program as a voluntary designation process for marinas that assists them in becoming more environmentally friendly. The DEP has encouraged clean boating through the

17 development of several designations: Clean Marina, Clean Boatyard, Clean Marine Retailer, and Clean Pumpout Facility. These programs recognize facilities engaging in environmentally friendly practices, beyond regulatory requirements, in and around Florida’s waterways. The Manatee Protection Program serves as a county liaison for the state program. For more information on the Clean Marina Program, visit https://floridadep.gov/fco/clean-marina

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.

The Sustainability and Natural Resources Director and the Manatee Protection Program Manager attend periodic meetings of the FWC led Manatee Protection Plan Interagency group. The interagency group discusses topics of vital concern to the counties that have state mandated Manatee Protection Plans, as well as being of interest to all other agencies and non-profits in attendance.

The Manatee Protection Program Manager attends the annual Blue Spring Interagency Meeting, which deals with the removal of exotic aquatic vegetation in the St. Johns River and its potential effect on manatees. Maps and an herbicide spray schedule have been developed and are reviewed and adjusted if necessary on an annual basis. Attending agencies also give updates on their respective programs.

The Manatee Protection Program Manager participates in meetings of the Blue Spring Technical Advisory Committee, which works with the Blue Spring Minimum Flow Interagency Working Group. The Advisory Committee provides oversight for the testing and monitoring of the spring’s physical, chemical, hydrological and meteorological conditions, water quality monitoring, bottom contour mapping, manatee physiology and behavior monitoring, and general biological structure monitoring. Biological monitoring includes manatees, aquatic turtles, fish populations, periphyton surveys, macrophyte vegetation surveys, and macroinvertebrate population surveys.

The Manatee Protection Program Manager and staff attend the East Central Florida Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (ECF CISMA) working group meetings dedicated to building voluntary collaboration between public and private landowners to work on issues dealing with invasive species management, that have been prioritized by the CISMA membership. CISMAs can focus on all invasive species (plants, animals, pests). They include individuals from many agencies, non-profit groups, private landowners, and other interested parties, and are locally led volunteer partnerships that involve private landowners and land managers in a geographic area.

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CISMAs encourage local partners to meet throughout the year to work on invasive species projects and priorities.

The Manatee Protection Program Manager serves as a Technical Advisor on the Board of Directors for the Aquatic Preserve Alliance of Central Florida, which is the non-profit entity associated with the Wekiva River Aquatic Preserve and Tomoka Marsh Aquatic Preserve, which are managed by the DEP Aquatic Preserve Program. Aquatic preserves protect the living waters of Florida to ensure that they will be a home for bird rookeries, fish nurseries, and protect freshwater springs, salt marshes, seagrass meadows, and mangrove forests.

The Blue Spring Alliance is an important interagency group that also includes non-profit organizations and interested citizens. The Manatee Protection Program Manager has been assisting with this effort since 2008 when the group was initiated as the Blue Spring Working Group, as part of the Florida Springs Initiative. For more information on the Blue Spring Alliance visit http://bluespringalliance.org/

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 2017, 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.

Staff continues to maintain contact with the different agencies in order 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 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. For state related issues staff contacts the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Law Enforcement for our area.

The Volusia County Sheriff Marine Unit has been instrumental in assisting with manatee and dolphin captures, providing additional surveillance for the animals, and creating a safe perimeter while captures are underway. Additionally, the Sheriff Dive Team has greatly enhanced our efforts at marine debris recovery by participating in our underwater cleanup activities at Ponce de Leon Inlet.

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MARINE MAMMAL STRANDING TEAM

The purpose of the Volusia County Marine Mammal Stranding Team (VCMMST) 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 timely 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 County’s Surface Water Program, the Sea Turtle Program, Beach Services, the Marine Science Center, and with the Marine Discovery Center. The Stranding Team is an effective instrument for gathering stranding data efficiently, and then removing stranded animals 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, both with the Jacksonville Field Station, and with the FWC Indian River Field Station.

2017 has been eventful and productive for the Volusia County Marine Mammal Stranding Team. Team members have been involved in a number of meetings, conferences, training events, strandings, and health assessments as well as making significant improvements to the program. The Team also welcomed three new members.

New member training presentations are given to familiarize all new Team members with Stranding Team protocols and basic marine mammal biology. New members are also added to our monthly on-call calendar as a member in training. Typically, two Team members respond to each stranding event, however, we have members in training

20 accompany an experienced Team member, until they have reached a certain level of competence. Occasionally a stranding requires a higher level of Team member response, and more than two members may be necessary to deal with the stranding event. At those times, other Team members and Hubbs SeaWorld (HSWRI) volunteers are asked to respond. The Stranding Team regularly works with local Hubbs SeaWorld trained volunteers in order to provide the highest level of response possible.

The Team has five stranding kits throughout the county. The kits are in place so that when a stranding occurs, the responding team members are fully equipped for any situation. The VCMMST coordinator regularly inventories and restocks all five kits to ensure that they are ready to go with all necessary stranding event supplies.

The VCMMST Leader continued assistance HUBBS, under the HSWRI permit of authorization with dolphin photo identification surveys. Assistance included captaining the research boat, and recording habitat and behavioral data while HSWRI staff photographed dolphin dorsal fins.

In 2016, HSWRI received the Bycatch Reduction of Marine Mammals in Mid-Atlantic Fisheries grant to begin vessel based photo identification surveys in order to estimate dolphin abundance and better understand the current distribution of these animals in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), including the Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon. This survey project is a collaboration between HSWRI, VCMMST, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (HBOI), and the Georgia Aquarium Conservation Field Station (GACFS).

For this survey the waterways were divided into transects from Ponce de Leon Inlet, down to the Banana River in Brevard County. They were conducted in the summer and fall of 2016, and concluded with surveys in the winter and spring of 2017. During each season, the study area was surveyed once a week for three consecutive weeks. Due to the size of the area being covered, the study area was broken into three sections: North, Middle and South. The sections were surveyed on back-to-back days, in order to gain the most accurate results. SeaGrant and NOAA approved protocols were followed to photograph and observe the bottlenose dolphins.

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Map of VCMMST transect. (Mosquito Lagoon)

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Data sheet used to document each sighting

In May, Team members received the required HCP training from the Sea Turtle Program to ensure that they understand the proper regulations and safety precautions for driving on beaches.

In 2017, there were no Prescott funded Florida Stranding Training Workshops offered in St. Petersburg. The Level I training usually includes a Stranding Network overview, live animal response, carcass response, a review of Level A data forms, basic cetacean anatomy, identification of human interaction, a cetacean necropsy, and a written quiz. The more advanced Level II training, includes a Stranding Network overview, reporting and sample collection, advanced cetacean anatomy, a hands-on necropsy, and a written quiz. If this training is offered in the future the VCMMST members will avail themselves of this opportunity.

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 23 techniques. During the assessments, members have the opportunity to help with the capture net, transference of animals from the capture location to the medical tents, as well as the release the animals. Some may also have the chance to help with respirations, giving oxygen, monitoring carbon dioxide, taking blood samples and inserting pit tags.

The captures at Crystal River, led by USGS research staff, 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 captures involve members of multiple agencies, universities and non-profit groups. On February 08 of 2017, VCMMST was able to send two team members to a Crystal River Manatee Capture and Health Assessment, and on December 05 & 06, three Team members were able to attend the the captures.

Group photo of the participants at the February 8th capture

In 2017, the VCMMST responded to 80 stranding calls. There were 36 cetacean (33 dolphins and 3 whales) and 42 sirenian (manatee) calls. There were 2 call-outs that were in the “other” category, they were part of a shark and a derelict boat. As seen in Figure 3, since the three Unusual Mortality Events or UMEs (Mid-Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins, Indian River Lagoon Bottlenose Dolphins, and Indian River Lagoon Manatees), took place in 2013, the number of responses for cetaceans has continued to remain significantly lower. The number of manatee responses decreased from last year.

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Figure 3. Chart showing the stranding responses by year, 2007 - 2017

Of the 36 responses for cetaceans, 13 were for verification of animals, that were found to be in good health or not able to be located. There were seven cases where the animal needed to be monitored for a period of time to ensure that it was demonstrating normal behavior. Eleven of the calls were for either partial or full necropsies, and there were five live cetacean strandings or rescues in 2017. (See Figure 4).

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Figure 4. Cetacean responses by type

In 2017, there were 42 manatee calls to which the Volusia County Marine Mammal Stranding Team responded. Figure 5 below is a breakdown of all manatee calls by type in 2017.

Figure 5. Comparison of Sirenian responses by type in 2015 and 2016

This year 23 calls were for verification in which the manatee was either not able to be located, or the manatee was reported as showing normal behavior. The VCMMST

26 responded to several calls regarding mating herds during which they used the opportunity to educate the public about the event and the dangers involved in getting too close to the animals. They also informed the public about ways to tell when a manatee is in distress.

Six of the calls that the team responded to were for carcass retrieval where the team member would locate the carcass and secure it to the nearest boat ramp or dock for FWC retrieval. Often the animal would have to be towed by boat or kayak in order to do so. Ten of the calls were for live responses/rescues.

The following pie chart shows total strandings for each species including bottle nose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris), a pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps), a dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima) a Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) and a grey spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris) .

Figure 7. Marine mammal strandings by species

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The photos below show stranding team members aiding in the rescue of an entangled dolphin calf and a manatee struck by a watercraft.

Bottlenose Dolphin Rescue: Hawaiian Manatee Rescue: Water craft injury Sling entanglement (Port Orange) (Daytona Beach)

Manatee Rescue: Crab trap Entangled Bottlenose Dolphin Rescue: Bungee Cord (Ormond) entanglement (Edgewater)

Figure 8 on the next page shows the locations of all strandings for 2017.

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Figure 8. Map of the stranding call out locations in 2017

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ESTUARINE EDUCATION

During 2017, the Manatee Protection Program Associate worked closely with the Marine Science Center staff and with the Volusia County Environmental Teacher on Assignment’s Investigating Biomes In Science (IBIS) program. Our on-going 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 to a certain extent Common Core curriculum. There are also mandatory End of Course exams for each subject.

The IBIS educational classes are conducted on a regular basis with high school AP, IB and Honors students. There are now two IBIS environmental education sites, which are located at Rose Bay, and Lyonia Preserve. Lessons include, among other subjects, native plant identification, exotic plant recognition and removal, halophytic and xerophytic plant descriptions and adaptations, water quality testing, estuarine functions, species biology, and the life cycles and importance of mangroves and oysters in the estuary. In 2017, staff was able to provide ~100 educational hours, and reached 433 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 and other marine mammals, marine debris, and 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 with walk-in guests in the afternoon. During the Summer Camp programs students are taught about the value of estuaries, and how mangroves and oysters provide important services to the ecosystem. In total, staff interacted with many students and hundreds of visitors at the Marine Science Center in 2017.

Between the education activities with the IBIS program and the Marine Science Center, staff was able to reach 493 students, not including the many visitors to the Marine Science Center.

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. These events reached thousands of residents and visitors.

On December 1st, the annual ShORE Symposium was held in New Smyrna Beach at the Brannon Civic Center. The acronym ShORE stands for Sharing Our Research with Everyone. It was designed to facilitate high school and college students in presenting their research along with environmental science professionals. Students presented their findings on such varied topics as plastic data availability, seagrass survival, oysters, and dolphins in the Indian River Lagoon to a biological survey of the Ponce Inlet jetty. 30

ShORE Symposium 2017

February 8th and 9th, staff attended the annual Indian River Lagoon Symposium held at Harbor Branch, in Fort Pierce. The focus this year for the scientific presentations was “Linking Research with Management”, and it covered many scientific topics related to the health of the Lagoon. The intent of the forum is to help facilitate better communication among scientists, decision makers, students, education and outreach professionals, and the interested public. Staff regularly attends the conference in order to keep abreast of the scientific findings concerning the Indian River Lagoon.

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MANATEE PROTECTION PLAN for VOLUSIA COUNTY PHASE I PROVISIONS 2017 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 LE 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. Manatee Protection staff attends when held, 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 (with a minor change to USFWS, FWC and consolidate signage relating to boating rules) were installed on the SJR in 2013, and the H/IR regulations. installation was completed in 2012. For federal manatee zone signage see: http://myfwc.com/boating/waterway/markers/ and http://www.volusia.org/services/growth-and-resource- management/environmental-management/natural- resources/florida-manatee/manatee-protection- plan/phase-two-boat-facility-siting.stml Attachments F and G. Signage is available to warn citizens about manatee harassment regulations. Installation has been completed at the Mary McCleod Bethune Park riverside

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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 have been re-printed and boater education and waterfront property owner distributed. 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 http://www.volusia.org/services/growth-and- regulatory changes that would impact them. resource-management/environmental- management/natural-resources/florida-manatee/manatee- protection-plan/ along with other 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. In 2014 staff participated in Funded by the Items outlined in the IRLNEP CCMP, and work in the State of the Lagoon forum on IRL awareness, and respective agencies concert with the various agencies involved, to ensure attended the annual IRL Symposium. See: and Volusia County that the goals and objectives of this plan are met. http://www.sjrwmd.com/itsyourlagoon/ (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/

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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.epa.gov/storet/dbtop.html Also: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/storet/index.htm 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: http://www.epa.gov/storet/dbtop.html require 3-5 years of data before baseline water under Tomoka River. quality parameters can be established. 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/services/public-works/ and respective from septic tanks to direct sewer connection. B. See also: http://volusia.floridahealth.gov/programs-and- municipalities. VCEMS will also assist the County and the cities as services/environmental-health/onsite-sewage- they plan for the movement of homes from septic to disposal/index.html VCEM also has assisted through the sewer systems. Rose Bay Task Force, which helped to move Allandale and Harbor Oaks residents onto Port Orange City sewer. http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/Portals/44/docs/Congressio nalFS/R/Rose_Bay_Aquatic_Ecosystem_Restoration_FL_ 206_CFS14.pdf The Northern Coastal Basin SWIM Program, which with VCEM facilitation was designated in 2003, also addresses this issue. See: http://www.sjrwmd.com/rosebay/ D.3. A. Volusia County will extend the Florida Yards A., B. The Florida Yards and Neighborhoods (FY&N) A. IFAS B. IFAS D. & Neighborhoods program to property owners along program is available to all Volusia County residents. This WAV, VCEM the SJR system. B. Property owners on this water program is currently under IFAS http://fyn.ifas.ufl.edu/ also body will be surveyed to determine how their yards www.ifas.ufl.edu The Marine Discovery Center has are being maintained. C. This information will be information for coastal shoreline property owners. See: added to the database of ICW property owners. D. http://www.marinediscoverycenter.org/community- VCEMS will follow up with an informational mailing restoration/ C. Not yet implemented. D. VCEM distributes on tips for environmentally sound property FY&N brochures and VCEM has incorporated the program

35 maintenance. into the county’s Waterwise Landscape Irrigation Ordinance. See: http://www.volusia.org/services/growth- and-resource-management/environmental- management/pollution-control/waterwise-landscape- irrigation-ordinance/ 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 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/programs.cfm?Topic=apcrp& the homeowners to have the whole canal treated at Option=Program also http://myfwc.com/license/aquatic- once. D. VCEMS will meet with ACOE on the issue plants/ C. VCEM has facilitated the reduction of exotic of how much spraying, if any, is needed to control aquatic vegetation in several of the St. Johns river creeks nuisance vegetation. The results of this meeting will and canals, and communicates with the appropriate be disseminated to the public and managers of the control agencies. The USACE is assisting in removing ecosystems. exotics in areas where Blue Way trails are present. 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: http://www.seminole.wateratlas.usf.edu/ 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/services/public-works/road- monitoring to stormwater projects. B. VCEMS will and-bridge/stormwater-management-program.stml also provide input to the Public Works Department on areas that they feel need attention, such as Strickland, Thompson, and Dodson creeks.

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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/services/public-works/road-and- habitat and manatees. bridge/stormwater-management-program.stml There are ongoing cooperative efforts with the Northern Coastal Basin and IRL SWIM Programs as well. See: http://www.sjrwmd.com/northerncoastal/ and http://sjrwmd.com/waterbodies/ 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 also http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/watersheds/ and http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/watersheds/bmap.htm In 2014 the Volusia County Council adopted a fertilizer ordinance, see: http://www.volusia.org/services/growth- and-resource-management/environmental- management/pollution-control/Fertilizer-Ordinance.stml 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 38,000 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/foreveracquisitions.pdf State of Florida Blueway project. D. The County will work with B. The Lake Woodruff Wildlife Refuge has purchased at Tomoka Geo-Park to pursue their purchase of the least part of this property. See: Strickland, Thompson, and Dodson creeks http://www.fws.gov/lakewoodruff/ C. This project is confluence property. ongoing. D. Tomoka GeoPark has purchased this property. See: http://www.floridastateparks.org/tomoka/ D.6.1. An inventory of irreplaceable resources should Information concerning the areas most important to VCEM

37 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.volusia.org/services/growth-and- feeding, calving, nursing, cavorting, resting, and resource-management/environmental- freshwater areas, and any manatee migratory routes. management/natural-resources/florida-manatee/manatee- protection-plan/phase-two-boat-facility-siting.stml FNAI has also developed the Critical Lands & Waters 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 or FDEP will development impacts. B. VCEMS will research the identify non-point sources and allocate each a TMDL legal implications and the costs associated with through modeling. TMDL’s are in place for the North IRL, setting up such a system. Central IRL, the Banana River, and Volusia Blue Spring. See: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/watersheds/bmap.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/rules/index.ht WMD’s, USACE Requirements) B. New and maintenance dredging m B. This is part of Phase II of the MPP See: projects on the Intracoastal Waterway should be http://volusia.org/services/growth-and-resource- performed during the period of November 15 through management/environmental-management/natural- March 15, when feasible, to minimize potential resources/beach-and-sea-turtles/marine- impacts to manatees (would require a new policy.) C. mammals/manatees/manatee-protection-plan/phase-two- Dredging in areas of abundant seagrasses will be boat-facility-siting.stml C. This is also in the marina siting prohibited. (would require a new County policy or segment (Phase II) of the approved MPP for Volusia Countywide Minimum Standards.) 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

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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:

PROVISION ACTION FUNDED BY E.1. The on-going support of the education initiatives County Council approved the Manatee Protection Program VCEM, VCPLIPAD will be coordinated through VCEM’s assigned staff. Manager position on 9/7/2000. There is also an active Due to the importance of manatee education college intern and volunteer program. In addition, one initiatives, governmental coordination and contract service employee has been hired to expedite the implementation of all MPP components it is implementation of Phase I provisions. In 2017, there was recommended that a position be created and funded. no contract service employee working exclusively on Interns, with close guidance of assigned staff, will be estuarine restoration. See: responsible for helping with the execution of the http://www.volusiamanatees.org education portion of the plan. In addition, volunteers And http://www.volusiaestuaries.org 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

39 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 was 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. Educational brochures involving manatee habitat protection dealing with Estuaries, Oysters, Brazilian pepper and Australian pine have been created and printed. See: http://www.volusia.org/services/growth-and- resource-management/environmental- management/natural-resources/estuaries/adopt-an- estuary.stml The FWC provides manatee brochures http://www.myfwc.com/education/wildlife/manatee/ and Save the Manatee Club also provides similar information at: http://www.savethemanatee.org/news_pr_banners_signs_ 9_15.html 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

40 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: http://www.myfwc.com/boating/safety-education/id/ Squadron) (Near Term) 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; SMC airs them A. SMC manatee education have already been developed by periodically as part of their outreach program. B. Not yet the Save the Manatee Club, FDEP, and Duval implemented. 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) 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. Surveys of all the presence), a covered kiosk with a graphic illustration park/ramp kiosks are implemented periodically, and all of manatee awareness information will be kiosks are then updated and supplied with current established. (Long Term) information. 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 conducted every five years for public, municipal, and relation to relative speed zones. The map will include private marinas and ramps, which indicates whether the

41 a five mile sphere of influence for each ramp. The facility displays educational material. This is an ongoing signs will be visible from boat ramp lanes. (Near activity. 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://www.volusia.org/services/growth-and-resource- management/environmental-management/natural- resources/florida-manatee/bilge-socks.stml 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 and a video have been program should be developed for various age levels created for the Lyonia Environmental Center at Lyonia and distributed to schools. This program would Preserve, which opened in October 2009. See: include information on manatee habitat and biology, http://www.volusia.org/core/fileparse.php/5619/urlt/LECLibr and the rules about not disturbing manatees. (Long arybrochure.pdf and Term) http://www.volusia.org/services/growth-and-resource- management/environmental-management/natural- resources/lec/ 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/ and the live manatee

42 which can be accessed by the public will be added to web cam at: these systems. Information would include, but not be http://www.savethemanatee.org/savethemanateecam.html limited to: manatee habitat, manatee speed zones, and DEP at: www.dep.state.fl.us/ and the US Fish and manatee migratory patterns, special events, lectures, Wildlife Service at: current manatee information (Blue Spring counts, http://www.fws.gov/northflorida/Manatee/manatees.htm etc.), sources of additional manatee information and as well as many other sites, including the FWC at: brochures, and prop guard information. (Short Term) http://www.myfwc.com/ and have been provided. 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 2017 there are VCEM create incentives for increased clean-up and 109 recycling bins installed and a volunteer network to recycling of monofilament, receptacles should be empty them is in place. Businesses have been recruited to placed at high-use boat ramps. Partnerships with collect the line and ship it back to the manufacturer. We service groups could be utilized to maintain will be building more bins for future sites. See: receptacles, collect the line, and return it to the line 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 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 Next Generation Sunshine State Standards has adult education programs (such as DBCC). B. been developed for grades 2-5; finished lessons are

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Volusia County will be responsible for providing available on the VCEM website, 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/ There are also activities Term) for younger students on the webpage. In addition, VCEM 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 These enhancements should include manatee and sponsors an online “How to Boat Smart” course See: habitat information, safe boat operation, rules of the https://www.boat-ed.com/florida/ which also offers other road, basic navigation, and the effects of such alternatives. See: http://www.myfwc.com/boating/safety- boating operations as prop scarring and fuel education/courses/ and the Outdoor Education course discharges. Provided through the existing programs which teaches boating skills. See: provided by the U.S. Power Squadron and the U.S. https://www.flvs.net/part-time/courses#highschool 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 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, Volusia County is effort. This effort could also be coordinated with the in even years. In 2016 there was a closure in the coastal Center for Marine Conservation’s (now the Ocean area and on the SJR. A total of 66 traps were removed Conservancy) annual coastal clean-up. (Near Term) from Volusia waters along with 27 pieces of trap debris.

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VCEM staff is part of the State Entanglement Working Group and has conducted and participated in past crab trap clean-ups; in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge as well. See: http://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/blue-crab/ and http://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/trap-debris/ 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://fyn.ifas.ufl.edu/ yards. 2. The dangers and risks of spraying for exotic and also the Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants plants. 3. The potential for using mechanical means website at: http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/. Native plant to control aquatic plants. 4. The value of replanting information can also be found on the county website at: with native species. http://www.volusia.org/visitors/echotourism/ecological.stml 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 Boating Habits” booklet, the “Clean Vessel Act” brochure, a Clean Boater pledge card and decal, and two brochures on monofilament recycling.

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E.21. Boat Speed Definitions. The County will This information is available on the FWC website at: FIND include and disseminate these definitions with all http://myfwc.com/media/107062/Boat_WaterwayMarkerGu appropriate boater education materials. idelines.pdf and http://myfwc.com/boating/waterway/markers/ 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/ and http://myfwc.com/research/manatee/rescue-mortality- response/mortality-statistics/ 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.

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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 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 VCPLIPAD ongoing, Volusia County recommends that these study in areas of high perinatal mortality, which . efforts be increased. B. Additional research by FDEP investigates the possible presence of toxins. The should also address hormone disrupting chemicals study conclusion was that the available information and their origins. did not support a conclusion that 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://mote.org/research/program/ecotoxicology FDEP has ongoing research on this subject. See: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/bioassess/docs/bcp ost/2013/ESOC-Presentation-Oct2013.pdf and http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/medicati ons/ and the World Health Organization has more information. See: http://www.who.int/ceh/risks/cehemerging2/en/ 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 EPA and DEP Storet program and the VCEM

47 and reporting program. Health Lab. See: http://www.epa.gov/storet/dbtop.html Water quality data can be viewed at: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/storet/index.htm 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://www.volusia.org/services/growth-and-resource- management/environmental-management/natural- resources/florida-manatee/manatee-watch/ 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 /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, 2010, and 2015. It smaller scale. It could be updated by flying two aerial was 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 Attachment N, Boating Activity Study normal weekend day; completing the marina inventory Update: http://volusia.org/services/growth-and-resource- in the summer (could be done over the telephone); management/environmental-management/natural- and the boat ramp census in the summer and winter resources/beach-and-sea-turtles/marine- (one weekend day and one weekday). mammals/manatees/manatee-protection-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.) In a statewide study done in 2007 by the FWC it was stated that from previous

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studies boater compliance ranged from 50-70%. 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 Funding has not become available. 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.

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:

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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. The SMC also has a manatee cam and during the months when manatees are congregating blog with daily manatee counts. See: at the Spring, beginning in ___?____. http://www.savethemanatee.org/savethemanateecam.html 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. 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://www.volusia.org/services/growth-and-resource- ensure full implementation. management/environmental-management/natural- resources/florida-manatee/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-

50 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. City of manatee protection measures in Volusia County Managers/Mayors are updated as needed on current and around the state. manatee issues. 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 provided water quality educational 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://www.dep.state.fl.us/cleanmarina/ 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.epa.gov/storet/dbtop.html and http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/storet/index.htm 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

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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- boat-facility-siting.stml

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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.

- 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.

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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 are affected by the provisions of the plan, and on the west side, there are two such municipalities.

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

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West Volusia  City of DeBary  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 2017, slips were increased by three facilities; 18 slips for the Riverfront Park Daydocks in Daytona Beach, ten slips for the Kennedy Park Boat Ramp in Edgewater, 44 slips for the Swoope Boat Ramp in New Smyrna Beach, and 68 slips in unincorporated Volusia County.

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 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 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 2013-

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2017 no MCF education funds were disbursed, however funding from the general fund was used for manatee education supplies, tools, implements, and literature.

In 2011, the MCF reached and exceeded the $500,000 threshold, and only interest is able to be used for grant disbursement after that threshold has been met. Because of this limitation MCF funds available for grants has been significantly lowered. Due to the very low amount of interest accrued in the fund in 2015 the MCF grant funding available for distribution in 2016 and 2017 has been reduced from earlier years. Therefore, no cities applied for the grant funding this year.

Table 1 Percentage of Enforcement Funding Available to Each Participating City 2017

Enforcement % of Available Funds River Miles Funds EAST SIDE Ormond Beach $3,809.25 4.00% $152.37 Holly Hill $3,809.25 1.40% $53.33 Daytona Beach $3,809.25 4.10% $156.18 South Daytona $3,809.25 1.50% $57.14 Port Orange $3,809.25 1.60% $60.95 Daytona Beach Shores $3,809.25 0.30% $11.43 Ponce Inlet $3,809.25 2.30% $87.61 New Smyrna Beach $3,809.25 3.30% $125.71 Edgewater $3,809.25 2.70% $102.85 Oak Hill $3,809.25 1.90% $72.38

WEST SIDE DeBary $3,809.25 5.50% $209.51 Deltona $3,809.25 0.30% $11.43

SUBTOTAL $1,100.87

County Marine Unit $4,050.12 71.10% $2,708.38

TOTAL $3809.25

Eleven of the participating cities qualified for the MCF grant in 2017. The Sheriff’s Marine Unit applied for the MCF grant, and subsequently received funding. Their funding was:

Sheriff’s Marine Unit - $2,708.38

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

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Southeast Regional Marine Patrol. They share jurisdiction, and in some years leverage their combined funding to create consistent and more even law enforcement coverage in the 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 Volusia County Sheriff’s Marine Unit has participated in the Manatee Conservation Fund grant program since its inception, actively patrolling the county’s waterways. They proposed to complete 52.25 overtime hours, patrolling the manatee speed zones countywide, however they in fact completed 56.5 overtime hours, above their grant commitment. During the grant period, the Marine Unit handed out 21 manatee educational flyers to boaters at the Sheriff’s Office expense, as well as covering usage costs for their vessels. A total of two citations were issued, and the officers also issued 24 written warnings. The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit is very involved in efforts to conserve and protect manatees, and have assisted in numerous manatee carcass recoveries and a number of rescues. They also educate the boating public about manatee awareness, and assist with underwater marine debris collection in Ponce de Leon Inlet. The Sheriff’s Marine Unit has also been instrumental in conducting directed patrols in areas where human and manatee interaction has occurred.

North East Law Enforcement Maritime Alliance

The North East Law Enforcement Maritime Alliance did not meet on a regular basis in 2017. However, this group is an important law enforcement alliance, and is comprised of officers representing law 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, when held, as this provides an excellent vehicle for disseminating information

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MANATEE 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 2017 there were a total of 39 manatee mortalities in Volusia County. This total includes all categories of mortality, human related as well as deaths from natural causes. Of the 39 manatee deaths, 13 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.

There were seven mortalities listed as perinatal deaths in 2017. 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.

There were 13 undetermined, one cold stress, 3 natural, one human related deaths in Volusia County in 2017 and 1 unrecovered carcass.

The following charts reflect the manatee mortality in Volusia County for 2017 by mortality category.

Figure 13. Manatee mortality by category

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