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MANATEE PROTECTION PLAN for

VOLUSIA COUNTY

ANNUAL REPORT 2010

Background Florida has been a home to the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) for thousands of years. The abundant number of freshwater, brackish, and marine ecosystems throughout the state have historically provided good habitat for the manatee to thrive and reproduce. However, the increase in the human population of Florida has in recent years become more of a threat to manatees. This increased threat led to several important federal protection measures, including the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and the Endangered Species Act of 1973, both of which prohibit harassment and harm to the species. In 1978, the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act declared the entire state as a manatee refuge, and later in 1989, 13 counties, including Volusia County, were listed as key to manatee survival.. Under the 1989 mandate each of the 13 key counties were required to develop a Manatee Protection Plan (MPP). Volusia County completed an MPP that included a marina siting element, as well as educational and outreach components. A Boating Activity Study, which was completed in 1996 and updated in 2000, is the underpinning for many of the policies outlined within the MPP. The Volusia County MPP strives to balance manatee protection and resource preservation with recreational and economic demands. We divided the plan into two phases in order to fully address all of the components. The goal of both Phase I and Phase II is to achieve and maintain an optimal sustainable manatee population within Volusia County. Phase I deals with manatee conservation efforts through education, outreach, habitat enhancement, scientific research, and interagency coordination. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved Phase I in February 2001. Phase II of the MPP includes the boat facility siting plan, which outlines methods for boat facility placement in order to minimize watercraft related injuries to manatees. The boat facility siting element creates policies that address protection of the manatee population, as well as preservation of manatee habitat. Phase II was approved by the FWC in October of 2005.

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Phase I Phase I of the Volusia County Manatee Protection Plan (MPP) addresses issues such as habitat inventory, law enforcement, habitat protection, education and awareness, scientific research, and governmental coordination. The objective of Phase I is to evaluate current impacts to manatees, and implement strategies to increase public awareness, facilitate interagency coordination, and promote scientific research. Volusia County has designed and developed a number of projects to increase manatee conservation and habitat protection in order to address the objectives of Phase I. We have implemented the following initiatives to relative to the issues in Phase I. MONOFILAMENT LINE RECYCLING The goal of the Volusia County Monofilament Line Recycling Program is to minimize the negative impacts of improperly discarded fishing line by decreasing the amount of fishing line entering the environment, increasing the amount of fishing line being recycled, and by fostering awareness of the potentially harmful effects of improperly discarded line. Monofilament fishing line causes numerous threats to the environment, wildlife, and humans. The program strives to place monofilament recycling bins in all areas of pronounced fishing activity, as well as at all county boat ramps. Individuals, school groups, civic organizations, and business groups then volunteer to maintain the bins. Bin maintenance includes, empting the bin, removing garbage, sinkers, bobbers, hooks, and lures, and properly disposing of all items. The volunteers then take the clean monofilament line to an indoor recycling center. Volunteers fill out data sheets each time they empty their bin and send the sheets to county staff, usually on a quarterly basis. The data sheets allow program staff to determine how much line is being recycled and which bins are used most often. 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. We have added five new bins this year bringing the total number of bins within the county to 130, with a recovery of approximately 182.6 pounds of line that will not be entering the environment. Our online data entry form makes the reporting process much easier for our volunteers; it allows them to e-mail the collection data directly to the program coordinator once they submit the form. This eliminates the need for scanning, copying or mailing in data sheets. This year we have continued the construction of personal recycling containers, called “mini-bins”, which can be attached to belts, boat railings, or other structures via a carabiner clip. The mini-bins are constructed using discarded tennis ball tubes, loose-leaf rings, carabiners, and with decals placed on the outside and educational literature on the inside. VCEM staff, with the help of the Edgewater Boys and Girls Club, produced and distributed over 150 of the mini-bins. The Volusia County Schools

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Environmental Service Learning Legacy Project students also continue to use the lesson we developed on recycling and construction of the mini-bins within their program. In an effort to remove monofilament line and other debris that has already entered the environment the monofilament recycling program organized and conducted four underwater cleanup events along the north jetty at Ponce Inlet. This was a record number of successfully implemented dives. Teams of divers, spotters and boat captains worked together to remove rope, nets, anchors, lures, fishing poles, and thousands of feet of fishing line from this important manatee, sea turtle, and other marine wildlife ingress and egress point. During these cleanup events, divers also always free entangled animals, including fish and crab species when encountered. The 2010 events were extremely successful; 60 participants worked together to remove 456 pounds of debris. Volunteers also contributed 106 hours, which is equal to $1,950 dollars. Staff submitted a cleanup application to remove derelict blue crab traps to the FWC for approval, however due to the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill the blue crab trap closure was waived for the 2010-2011 fishing year in all waters of Volusia County. The FWC took this action in order to relieve economic hardships on fishing communities in Florida that might have occurred due to the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The purpose of the closures and the subsequent cleanups is to remove un-pulled fishable traps, derelict traps, and trap debris left in the waterway. These all have the potential to be a threat to marine life and navigation. Monofilament line recycling program staff also continued the distribution of the volunteer update, the “Recycler’s Review” that we developed to increase volunteer awareness and involvement. The Review informs the volunteers on current recycling numbers, new initiatives, reminders, and highlights outstanding volunteers on a quarterly basis. A conservative evaluation based on the monofilament bin recycling volunteers alone shows that the volunteers contributed approximately 347 hours in 2010. This is the equivalent of $6,385 dollars. MANATEE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH Manatee conservation education for both students and adults continues to be an important objective. Volusia County Manatee Protection Program education and outreach includes the development and distribution of original lesson plans, manatee activities, participation in community festivals and other educational events, and transmitting information to the public via the program website. We have correlated the educational curriculum to skill sets outlined in the Florida Sunshine State Standards (SSS), with the goal of providing a complete educational package in a “ready-to-use” format. The state has revised the SSS, it is now called the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards. Teachers can correlate a particular manatee educational lesson to the learning skill they are focusing on at the time. We provide teachers curriculum access through the manatee education webpage, through

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personal requests, and through the Volusia County Schools Environmental Service Learning Legacy Project (VC ESLLP). We also post other educational activities on the webpage, along with links to other related resources. In 2010 Manatee Protection Program staff conducted manatee related education and outreach at 14 community festivals and events. For example, Blue Spring Manatee Festival, Elementary Science Night, Turtle Day, Estuary Day, Rotary Riverfest at Gemini Springs, Wings on the Wind, Marine Resources Council, Volunteer Appreciation Day, Safety Saturday, Adopt-An-Estuary Field Day, the Scrub Jay Festival, the Halifax/Indian River Cleanup, the St. Johns River Cleanup and the Coastal Cleanup. Activities at these events included staff distributing educational handouts, answering manatee related questions, giving mini-talks on manatees and their habitat, and encouraging children to participate in age appropriate games and activities. Staff developed a new “Manatee ID” curriculum in 2010 for use with students participating in the Marine Science Center Summer Camp Programs. Students were given the opportunity to kayak/canoe to a manatee observation area, record breaths, and scar patterns, and take photographs. Special manatee education programs for the public were also given at the Marine Science Center throughout the year. The Manatee Threats curriculum activities and monofilament line recycling education lessons were used at all three VC ESLLP Legacy Program sites (Rose Bay, Bi-Centennial Youth Park, and the Lyonia Environmental Center). We also conducted additional education programs for the Orange City and Osteen Head Start Programs, Edgewater Boys and Girls Club, and at the Elementary Expo, which involved all elementary schools within Volusia County. Staff also volunteered to be judges for several K-12 Science Fairs. The combined manatee education days for the Legacy and Marine Science Center Programs totaled 90 individual outreach events. MANATEE WATCH The Manatee Protection Program established Manatee Watch as a volunteer network to assist county staff in gaining a better understanding of how manatees are utilizing Volusia County’s waterways. Now in its sixth year, the Manatee Watch program has continued to grow with increased numbers of data reports, and more new volunteers. In 2010, we conducted training for new volunteers in May. Staff updated the Powerpoint presentations to improve the quality and consistency of material. Blue Spring State Park manatee specialist, Wayne Hartley assists in the training by presenting slides and descriptions of how the manatee identification process works. Manatee Watch volunteers are not trained nor authorized for manatee rescues, or any sort of intervention, however, once trained to be able to recognize the difference between an animal in distress and natural behavior, they are valuable assets in reporting distressed animals to us and then to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. We have been collaborating, since 2006, with the U. S. Geologic Survey Sirenia Project, which maintains a statewide photo identification

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system (MIPS) database. We send manatee sighting reports and photos to the MIPS program via CD on a regular basis. The addition of 25 new volunteers who took the training and signed the protocols in 2010 brings the total number of Manatee Watchers up to 142, with 93 sighting reports concerning 253 animals turned in this year. In addition to new volunteers, we have a list of 71 potential volunteers, who have expressed interest in the program, but have been unable to attend training sessions to date. We have added their names to our e-mail list, and in the coming year every effort will be made to find training dates and times to accommodate as many potential volunteers as possible. We send the volunteers a Manatee Watch update as needed, which keeps them current with sightings reported throughout the county, as well as with upcoming training events and recent news stories. CLEAN MARINA The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) developed the Clean Marina Program as a voluntary designation process for marinas that assists them in becoming more environmentally friendly. The Manatee Protection Program serves as the county liaison for the state program, and assists with marina designation by organizing workshops, offering technical assistance, and through participation on the final walk-through and checklist verification. Two more Volusia County facilities have received the Clean Marina designation in 2010, bringing the total number of designated marinas within the county to 12. In association with Clean Marina Program, the Clean Vessel Act (CVA) of 1992 was signed into law to reduce pollution from vessel sewage discharges, prohibiting the discharge of raw sewage into fresh water or within coastal salt-water limits. The act established a federal grant program administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The program, housed within DEP’s Office of Sustainable Initiatives, provides grants for construction and installation of sewage pumpout facilities and purchase of pumpout boats and educational programs for boaters. INTERGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION The Manatee Protection Program staff continues to participate in working groups and interagency task forces at the state and federal levels in order to enhance their knowledge of issues relating to scientific research, public interest, available grants, and education and outreach efforts. This also creates opportunities for collaboration with other government agencies, and helps to inform staff of new initiatives. Additionally, participation allows the county to have direct input at both the state and federal level.

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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 2010, the North Central Florida Maritime Alliance continued to have regular meetings. Participating members include the U.S. Coast Guard, the State Division of Law Enforcement, the Volusia County Sheriff Marine Unit, neighboring county law enforcement, local municipality on-the-water enforcement, Homeland Security, and other security related agencies. These regular meetings allow the different agencies to coordinate with each other in order to maximize their presence and effectiveness. Manatee Protection Program staff attend these meetings, 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, and boaters are prevalent. This information then allows officers to do directed patrols in areas where extra enforcement is needed. Staff also directly contacts the Sheriff’s Marine Unit concerning manatee related enforcement issues that arise from citizen calls, which precipitates a timely on-the-water response. MARINE MAMMAL STRANDING TEAM The purpose of the Volusia County Marine Mammal Stranding Team is to provide a quick and organized local marine mammal stranding response, which is vital to the survival of live stranded marine mammals, offering them the best chance at successful rehabilitation, and also allows for the quick collection of data and disposal of dead animals. Collection of data from dead stranded marine mammals provides an opportunity to learn about the life history, ecology and health of species that are inherently difficult to study in the wild. These animals also serve as indicator species and serve to gauge the health of our marine ecosystems. The Marine Mammal Stranding Team members are primarily county employees, which provides for continuity in team membership and facilitates increasing the level of training and expertise of the Team as a whole. The Stranding Team works closely with the Environmental Health Lab, the Sea Turtle Program, Beach Services, and the Marine Science Center, and is an effective instrument for gathering stranding data efficiently, and then removing the animal from the beach as quickly as possible. This in turn elicits an interest in marine mammals from visitors on the beach, and provides a method for distributing information about marine mammal strandings to the public. The Volusia County Stranding Team works under the Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute’s (HSWRI) Stranding Agreement with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Fisheries Service when dealing with cetaceans (dolphins and whales). Team members work extensively on increasing their level of knowledge and experience, and because of this hard work and dedication, the Stranding Team has attained the “Designee” status under the HSWRI Stranding Agreement.

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When dealing with manatees, the Stranding Team takes direction from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). The Stranding Team applied for and received a Letter of Authorization from the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) for the designation of manatee “Verifier”, which allows Team members to be first responders to manatees under the direction of FWC staff. The Team continues to work extensively with FWC staff, primarily in the Jacksonville Field Station, but also with FWC staff stationed in Vero Beach and with FWS staff in Jacksonville. We conducted a Stranding Team training in the spring of 2010; the training sessions serve as continuing education for Team members, and deal with efficient stranding team response, recent stranding events and new research. Team members attended a Prescott Stranding Training in November. Additionally, two Team members attended a Marine Mammal Protection and Rescue Basics Workshop in Melbourne held by Sea Grant in cooperation with the FWC, Hubbs SeaWorld, DEP, and the Marine Animal Rescue Society. Three Team members attended a manatee necropsy at the Marine Mammal Pathology Lab in St. Petersburg, and one Team member attended a Dolphin Radio Telemetry Workshop at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (HBOI) in Ft. Pierce. Team members also participated in Manatee Health Assessment Captures in October, December, and February at Crystal River, and HERA Dolphin Captures & Radio Tracking held by HBOI in June. Additionally, all Team members were required to complete the online BP Oil Spill Response Training. In 2010, we added three new members to the Team and added them to our monthly on-call calendar as members in training. Typically, two Team members respond to stranding events, however members in training accompany two experienced Team members, and occasionally other stranding events require additional team member support. This year the Team responded to 68 reports regarding marine mammals in distress and/or dead on Volusia County beaches and waterways. The Team responded to 34 manatees (Sirenians), 22 alive and 12 dead, and 29 whales and dolphins (Cetaceans) of which 11 were alive and 18 were dead. There were also four responses to unknown, or could not be confirmed, species, and one other, which was an American alligator. The following charts reflect the stranding responses by year and by species.

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

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

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

Table 2

Estimated Annual Values of the Indian River Lagoon to Residents and Visitors of Volusia County, 2007 in Dollars

Environmental Condition of Lagoon in 2007 Indian River Lagoon Related                             Value     Recreational Expenditures  Daily Expenditures ‐                                        $234,880,000     Boat Expenditures in Florida ‐                       $120,966,000 Recreational Use Value ‐                                $184,808,000 Non‐Use Value in Existing Condition ‐              $1,208,000 Real Estate Value, annualized ‐                        $39,000,000 Income Generated in IRL Counties From Daily Recreation Expenditures  ‐                                                    $77,000,000 Restoration, Research, Education Expenditures  Not          allocated to counties Commercial Fishing Dockside Value    Total Economic Value                                    $658,000,000    Economic Contribution of the Daily Recreation Expenditures (a)  

 

Output                                                                $167,783,000 Income                                                                  $76,996,000 Employment, number of full and part time jobs       2,382 Tax Revenue                                                        $10,573,000 Number of Recreation Person‐Days (b)                       2,847,000   a    b  

Does not include the economic contribution of boat expenditures in Florida. Also, see foot‐notes under Table ES.3 for definitions of Output, Income, Employment and Tax Revenue.  A person‐day is one person participating in a recreation activity for all or a part of one day. Only the primary recreation activity that day was counted. If a person participated in more than one recreation activity that day only the primary activity, as chosen by the survey re‐spondent, was counted.  

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The Estuarine Restoration Program’s efforts in 2010 included removal of exotic invasive plants, native vegetation plantings, oyster re-nourishment, shoreline cleanups, and education/outreach. Restoration goals, techniques, and targeted areas are outlined in the Estuarine Habitat Restoration Plan (EHRP), which was created as a guidance document for the program’s efforts. The long-term goals of the plan are to improve water quality, dissipate wave energy, reduce shoreline erosion, and re-establish essential habitat for a diversity of wildlife. Implementation of the EHRP includes exotic vegetation removal, mangrove and Spartina plantings, oyster bed restoration, seagrass plantings, and long term monitoring. As in previous years, an important part of the program is the cultivation of partnerships with other county departments, coastal cities, civic organizations, environmental groups, non-profit organizations, and state and federal agencies. Staff, in conjunction with numerous partners and volunteers, work to increase awareness of the importance of estuaries, and to implement the program’s projects and activities. NATIVE PLANTINGS In 2010, many of our previous school partnerships with ten of the Volusia County Agri-science school programs were put on hold until funding levels permitted a resumption of the program. The school program objective is for students to learn about mangroves by growing out propagules and one-gallon mangroves. Students cared for the plants and stepped them up into larger containers as the plants grew. In order to learn about mangrove growth habits the students experiment with different growing techniques and water salinity levels. Staff assists with technical support, and when funding is available, supplies soil, pots, and small plastic wading pools to provide a proper growing environment for the young plants. At the end of the school year, students then travel to different staff-designated locations in order to plant the grown mangroves and to observe mangrove interactions within the estuarine environment. The ten participating schools have been Atlantic High School, DeLand High School, New Smyrna Beach High School, Pine Ridge High School, Hinson Middle School, New Smyrna Beach Middle School, DeLand Middle School, River Springs Middle School, Pathways Elementary School, and Manatee Cove Elementary School. This year only Pathways Elementary School was able to participate, however the resulting new mangrove plants were planted in April in honor of Earth Day. The students planted the red mangroves in an eroded area at Canaveral National Seashore; they learned to use a refractometer in order to measure water salinity levels, and were instructed in proper seine netting techniques. They also were able to visit Turtle Mound to view area native plants and to learn about the Native American Timucuan culture. Additionally, we built two new floating beds at our mangrove nursery at Bottle Island and planted them with red mangrove propagules. In order to stock the floating beds, we held two workdays in the fall during which we harvested free-floating red mangrove

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propagules and then inserted them into the floating bed platforms. Each floating bed holds approximately 900 mangrove propagules. Currently we have four beds, which is equivalent to around 3,600 red mangrove plants. VCEM staff also participated in two marsh cordgrass, Spartina alterniflora, plantings in conjunction with the St. Johns River Water Management District’s Northern Coastal Basin (NCB) SWIM Program. One planting was conducted at North Peninsula State Park as part of a grant funded shoreline restoration effort. The other Spartina planting project occurred on the Dunlawton Causeway in Port Orange as part of another grant funded restoration project in cooperation with the City of Port Orange and the NCB program. At the North Causeway location, oyster mats and bags were also placed seaward of the plantings in order to restore the local oyster beds, and to create wave breaks to reduce on-going erosion at the site. EXOTIC INVASIVE PLANT REMOVAL - COUNTER INVASIVE AGENTS (CIA) The CIA volunteer effort is a citizen-initiated group, which was formed because of public recognition that exotic invasive plants were harming Volusia County’s natural landscapes. Staff initially recruited and organized individual experts from such groups as the Master Gardeners, Master Naturalists and the Native Plant Society to serve as a core source of expert advice and help during our removal events. We then recruited other involved citizens and held training and removal events. Training consists of exotic invasive plant ID, proper removal and disposal methods, tool safety, and hazardous materials awareness. The focus of the CIA group is to first educate the public about the harmful effects of exotic invasive plants, and then to remove these plants from the county’s public lands. Additional outcomes are that volunteers utilize the knowledge they have gained in order to motivate them to remove exotic plants in their home landscapes, and to reinforce the concepts and advantages of planting native plants, being water wise, and using fertilizers and pesticides responsibly. Exotic invasive plant removal is also one of the primary components of the EHRP. The initial focus was on the east side of the county, where the worst invasive plant offenders are Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius) and Australian pine (Casuarina equisetifolia). However, the program extended itself to the west side of the county where other invasives are prominent, such as coral ardisia (Ardisia crenata) and air potato (Dioscorea bulbifera). In 2010, staff coordinated and supervised three volunteer workdays during which we removed invasive exotic plants. We held the first removal at Gateway Park in DeBary, where the primary exotic plant removed was air potato. For this removal event 94 volunteers participated, and the pastor of the church group held a cook-out afterwards for all of the volunteers. The next two exotic removal events were held at Green Springs where coral ardisia was the primary exotic removed. During these three workdays, volunteers contributed 315 hours, which is equal to $5,796 dollars.

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ESTUARINE EDUCATION During 2010, staff worked closely with the Volusia County Environmental Teacher on Assignment, and the Environmental Service Learning Legacy Project (VC ESLLP). Our goal for the education and outreach program is to educate students about the estuarine environment, water quality, native species, and exotic species. Throughout the year staff conducted educational classes on a regular basis to elementary, middle and high school students at the three VC ESLLP environmental education sites located at Rose Bay, Bi-Centennial Youth Park and Lyonia Preserve. Lessons consist of native and exotic plant recognition, water quality testing, estuarine functions, and the life cycles and importance of mangroves and oysters in the estuary. Older students also have the opportunity to develop their own activities and lesson plans, and then they teach to younger students; this peer teaching activity is a very effective technique. 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 learn about sea turtles and shorebirds first hand as they tour the on-site turtle and bird re-hab hospitals. The combined estuarine education days for the Legacy and Marine Science Center Programs totaled 133 individual outreach events. The Marine Science Center also offers intensive weeklong Summer Camp programs for grades 2-12 schoolchildren. In 2010, there were eight weeks of Summer Camp, with an average of 14 students per week. Campers focused on four groups of ecosystems during their week of environmental learning. The four groupings were: Beach and Shoreline, Ocean and Coral Reef, Mangrove and Estuary, Salt Marsh and Mud Flats. Students kept journals throughout the week and then were required to do a presentation about the ecosystem groups for their families and other students at the end of the week. The Estuarine Restoration Program staff conducted estuarine related education and outreach at 14 community festivals and events. For example, Head Start, Elementary Science Night , Turtle Day, Estuary Day, Rotary Riverfest at Gemini Springs, Wings on the Wind, Marine Resources Council, Volunteer Appreciation Day, Safety Saturday, Adopt-An-Estuary Field Day, the Scrub Jay Festival, the Halifax/Indian River Cleanup, the St. Johns River Cleanup and the Coastal Cleanup. Activities at these events included staff distributing educational handouts, answering estuarine plant and animal related questions, giving mini-talks on manatee habitat, and encouraging children to participate in age appropriate games and activities. ADOPT-AN-ESTUARY The Adopt-An-Estuary Program is funded through a grant from the St. Johns River Water Management District’s Indian River Lagoon License Tag program, and is being

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implemented as a cooperative effort with the District’s Watershed Action Volunteer Program and the Volusia County Environmental Service Learning Legacy Project (VC ESLLP). The goals of the Adopt-An-Estuary (AAE) program are to collect base-line estuary health data, educate and train schoolchildren and adults to monitor estuaries, increase public awareness about estuarine issues, and provide a website portal for easy access to estuary information and data. The ultimate goal was to help develop environmentally sensitive citizens through AAE training who would be more aware and informed about issues concerning their local environment. First, an AAE Coordinator was hired, and then an initial assessment of the Coastal Georgia Adopt-A-Wetland visual survey and protocols was done. From that initial assessment, the first iteration of the Adopt-An-Estuary visual survey was then produced. The Georgia Adopt-A-Wetland program provided a model for us to work with and adapt to Florida’s estuaries. The AAE program’s two main products are a Training Manual and a Curriculum Guide. The Training Manual provides the guidance necessary for the continuation of the program and creates a solid foundation for the inclusion of future study information. And, the Curriculum Guide ensures that the program will be utilized by Florida teaching professionals in the classroom because it ties the hands-on activities that illustrate the AAE concepts back to the standards that are now required in our schools (Next Generation Sunshine State Standards). Throughout 2010, four Teacher Workshops were conducted as well as 22 educational events where schoolteachers and students participated in hands-on training. In total, 1,135 students and 61 teachers attended. Students and teachers were educated on estuarine ecology, and specifically on how to recognize and document the Visual, Physical/ Chemical, and Biological components of estuaries, and how to follow the AAE protocols. The AAE program also has an adult volunteer track, where 20 volunteers received training during four Adult Workshops following the same AAE protocols. The adults also register their own estuary monitoring sites, and complete and post data sheets on a monthly or quarterly basis. Additionally, 135 students from the Marine Science Center Summer Camp Program were able to the complete Visual Survey component of the AAE program. Each camp was one week long, and during each of the nine weeks students performed visual surveys on two days at different estuarine locations. Visual surveys were also completed by 21 students participating in the Summer Camp program offered by the Marine Discovery Center in New Smyrna Beach. OYSTER RESTORATION VCEM staff participated in an Oyster Mat Deployment at Canaveral National Seashore conducted by Dr. Linda Walters, University of Central Florida, and Anne Birch of the Nature Conservancy. The project goals are to scrape down dead oyster reefs to remove the dead margins, and then to lay in new oyster mats to create suitable substrate for the

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oysters to recruit and adhere to. This will assist the native oyster population in regenerating reefs that have been adversely affected by boat wakes. By learning different restoration methods, we gain a better understanding of possible oyster re-nourishment strategies. Additionally, staff assisted the Marine Discovery Center in the loading of 10 yards of oyster shell from St. Augustine, and in transporting the shell back to New Smyrna Beach. The shell is used to create the oyster mats that are a major component in several on-going restoration projects. The goal of oyster restoration is to increase local oyster reefs, inhibit erosion and stabilize shorelines, and improve water quality through the filtration effects of the oysters themselves. One oyster is capable of filtering an estimated 60 gallons of water a day. Oyster reefs also provide habitat (food and shelter) for many important estuary creatures, which include commercially and recreationally important fish, and invertebrates like blue crabs and shrimp. CHICKEN ISLAND RED MANGROVE/OYSTER RESTORATION DEMONSTRATION PROJECT In 2008, we were awarded the Chicken Island Red Mangrove/Oyster Restoration Demonstration Project grant from the St. Johns River Water Management District’s Indian River Lagoon License Tag program. The contract was finalized late in the fall of 2008, with most of the work to be executed in 2009. Monitoring of the Chicken Island project site is scheduled to continue through the spring of 2012. Throughout 2010, staff monitored the site an average of once every two months, weather and tide conditions permitting. Monitoring parameters include salinity levels, air and water temperatures, tidal conditions, mangrove viability, oyster recruitment, and commensal species presence. During the winter of 2010, the area suffered an extended cold period, which caused a serious die-back of the red mangroves, however some mangroves did manage to survive the cold weather. Oyster recruitment has continued to increase on the reef ball pods and the surrounding oyster mats. ENVIRONET VOLUNTEER PROGRAM Citizens are encouraged to become involved by becoming a volunteer in one of many programs offered by VCEM to the public. Each Natural Resources program area has volunteer opportunities available, and these are highlighted through outreach displays and online website pages. Staff knowledge of each other’s programs allows us to encourage citizens to become volunteers in whatever area most interests them. In some cases, citizens volunteer for multiple programs, and thus become very environmentally knowledgeable about our county. Community events present an opportune time to answer questions and pass out educational materials. This allows interested community members to receive the information they need on how to get involved as a volunteer in a very personal way. Educational events are also essential for exchanging valuable information, networking among colleagues, and improving the volunteer programs for the future.

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We recruit volunteers for specific programs or events through our website and the online interactive volunteer form, press releases, and through personal emails and phone calls. Volunteers fill out applications on-site, on-line, or send them in by mail. Staff inputs and updates information, directs potential volunteers to the different program areas, and follows through with the required paperwork. We held a Volunteer Appreciation Day in November of 2010, and had 33 volunteers in attendance. The event was held at the new Lyonia Environmental Center, located next to the Deltona Library, and it included a greeting by County Councilwoman Pat Northey, introductory talks by each of the volunteer programs, displays, a raffle, a visit by Otis the screech owl, a trail hike and gallery tour, a pizza party and an “Edible Aquifer” dessert. Everyone had a great time, and all of the volunteers walked away with a certificate of appreciation, and above all our heartfelt thanks.

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MANATEE PROTECTION PLAN for VOLUSIA COUNTY PHASE I PROVISIONS

2006-2007 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 three additional officers.

The regional FWC office has a complement of three 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/

FWC

C.2. An annual group meeting that would establish a working relationship between enforcement agencies shall be developed.

The North East Law Enforcement Maritime Alliance is scheduled to meet monthly at the Coast Guard Station in Ponce Inlet. Manatee Protection staff attends, and the group consists of law enforcement entities throughout the central northeast region of the state.

FWC, VCEM

C.3. The County will actively explore ways to clarify and consolidate signage relating to boating regulations.

New state manatee zone signs (no new rules) were installed on the SJR, and the H/IR installation has been completed. See: For federal manatee zone signage see: http://myfwc.com/boating/waterway/markers/ and http://volusia.org/environmental/natural_resources/manatees/phaseII/default.htm Attachments F and G. Signage is available to warn citizens about manatee harassment regulations. Installation has been done at the Mary McCleod Bethune Park riverside

USFWS, FWC

C.4. The County will include the 1-888-404-FWCC phone number with information for reporting dead or injured manatees and any violations related to manatee protection and habitat degradation with all boater education and waterfront property owner

This has been implemented. See http://myfwc.com/contact/report/ The FWC wildlife hotline number has also been included on laminated Wildlife Emergency cards; these were re-printed and distributed.

VCEM

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information materials.

C.4.1. The County will attempt to inform all registered boaters, possibly through a mass mailing, of any regulatory changes that would impact them.

VCEM has posted the approved MPP for Volusia County on its website www.volusiamanatees.org along with other manatee information, and VCEM also sends out list-serve information. Mail-outs will be done as funding permits.

VCEM

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 Items outlined in the IRLNEP CCMP, and work in concert with the various agencies involved, to ensure that the goals and objectives of this plan are met. (See attachment for items*)

This has been implemented. See: http://www.sjrwmd.com/itsyourlagoon/publications.html

Funded by the respective agencies and Volusia County

D.1.1. The County will review the IRLNEP CCMP and related regulations, and determine how best to achieve a similar result in the Halifax River.

VCEM staff regularly attends meetings and reviews management plans as needed. See: http://www.sjrwmd.com/itsyourlagoon/

Volusia County

D.2.1. VCEMS will continue its water sampling program.

This has been and continues to be implemented. The monitoring program has been in place for over 20 years, sampling data from the last 15 years is available on the web. See: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/chd/volusia/EH/lab/data.html Also: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/storet/index.htm

VCEM, SJRWMD

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D.2.2. VCEMS shall establish a water quality monitoring sampling program on Strickland Creek, establishing several sampling sites that will be monitored on a monthly basis. This program will require 3-5 years of data before baseline water quality parameters can be established.

This has been implemented. Samples were collected between 2002-2009. There are seven years worth of monthly monitoring data for Strickland, Thompson and Dodson Creeks. See: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/chd/volusia/EH/lab/data.html under Tomoka River.

VCEM, SJRWMD

D.2.3. A. VCEMS will continue to work with the County and the coastal areas to explore ways in which to move some of the waterfront properties from septic tanks to direct sewer connection. B. VCEMS will also assist the County and the cities as they plan for the movement of homes from septic to sewer systems.

A. B.VCEM continues to work with the appropriate county departments, particularly Public Works, and the coastal cities. See: http://www.volusia.org/publicworks/water.htm VCEM also assists through the Rose Bay Task Force, which has helped to move Allandale and Harbor Oaks residents onto Port Orange City sewer. See: http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/restore/projects/rosebay.htm The Northern Coastal Basin SWIM Program, which with VCEM facilitation was designated in 2003, also addresses this issue. See: http://www.sjrwmd.com/northerncoastal/index.html

A. B. VCEM, SJRWMD, County and respective municipalities.

D.3. A. Volusia County will extend the Florida Yards & Neighborhoods program to property owners along the SJR system. B. Property owners on this water body will be surveyed to determine how their yards are being maintained. C. This information will be added to the database of ICW property owners. D. VCEMS will follow up with an informational mailing on tips for environmentally sound property maintenance.

A. The Florida Yards and Neighborhoods (FY&N) program is available to all Volusia County residents. This program is currently under IFAS http://fyn.ifas.ufl.edu/ also www.ifas.ufl.edu B. The Marine Discovery Center has a grant funded program for shoreline property owners. See: http://www.marinediscoverycenter.org/Restoration%20Files/shoreline%20landowner%20flyer.pdf C. Not yet implemented. D. VCEM distributes FY&N brochures and VCEM has incorporated the program into the county’s Waterwise Ordinance. See: http://www.volusia.org/environmental/pollution_abatement/waterresources/default.htm

A. IFAS B. IFAS D. WAV, VCEM

D.4. A. VCEMS will coordinate with FDEP on identifying areas along the SJR system where manatee habitat must be balanced with aquatic plant control. B. A plan, with timetables, will be developed

A., B., D. VCEM participates in the Blue Spring Aquatic Working Group meetings with FWC, FDEP, USACE and other agencies. This group has produced an Aquatic Plant Mgt. Plan, which prescribes when & where spraying can

A. B. C. D. VCEM, FDEP, USACE, Volusia County Mosquito Control

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for addressing these areas. C. VCEMS will also coordinate with ACOE to identify finger canals that have become clogged with vegetation and work with the homeowners to have the whole canal treated at once. D. VCEMS will meet with ACOE on the issue of how much spraying, if any, is needed to control nuisance vegetation. The results of this meeting will be disseminated to the public and managers of the ecosystems.

occur in the Blue Spring area. For other information on aquatic plant spraying see: http://el.erdc.usace.army.mil/aqua/ C. VCEM has facilitated the reduction of exotic aquatic vegetation in several of the St. Johns river creeks and canals, and communicates with the appropriate control agencies. The USACE is assisting in removing exotics in areas where Blue Way trails are present.

D.4.1. The County will explore how, where, and on what schedule re-vegetation of the St. Johns River (with native submerged and emergent vegetation, especially eel-grass) might be undertaken.

Re-vegetation of eel-grass and bullrush has been done in Lake Monroe. Lake Monroe currently exhibits healthy SAV growth. The LVI was created by the FDEP as a rapid screening tool (bioassessment) for ecological condition; it determines how closely a lake’s flora (aquatic plants) resembles that of an undisturbed lake. The LVI is conducted annually in lakes Jesup, Harney, and Monroe. See: www.seminole.wateratlas.usf.edu/.../Jesup%20_Harney_Monroe_5-9-2012_ge.pdf

FDEP

D.5. A. VCEMS will support the County’s Public Works Department by providing water quality monitoring to stormwater projects. B. VCEMS will also provide input to the Public Works Department on areas that they feel need attention, such as Strickland, Thompson, and Dodson creeks.

A., B. This cooperation has been ongoing. See: http://www.volusia.org/publicworks/stormwater2.htm

A. B. VCPW, VCEM

D.5.1. The County should develop a comprehensive strategy for stormwater management. It should coordinate with and make use of existing efforts, expanding these efforts to include current retrofitting standards, and to focus on the importance of stormwater management in the protection of aquatic habitat and manatees.

Volusia County Stormwater Management uses a three-pronged strategy: 1. Watershed/basin management plans 2. Stormwater requirements for new construction 3. Stormwater Utilities retrofitting and maintenance. It also utilizes county and city comprehensive plans. See; http://www.volusia.org/publicworks/stormwater2.htm There are ongoing cooperative efforts with the Northern Coastal Basin and IRL SWIM Programs as well. See:

VCSM

21

http://www.sjrwmd.com/northerncoastal/ and http://sjrwmd.com/programs/outreach/irlnep/irlnep.html FDEP also has instituted watershed basin requirements. See: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/watersheds/docs/bmap/bmap_activities.pdf

D.6. A. Volusia County will continue to actively pursue the purchase of the Spruce Creek CARL property, B. the Lake Woodruff corridor property, and C. other properties, or the development rights to those properties identified in the Indian River Lagoon Blueway project. D. The County will work with Tomoka Geo-Park to pursue their purchase of the Strickland, Thompson, and Dodson creeks confluence property.

A., C. The Volusia Forever Program has acquired or has a conservation easement on over 28,000 acres of conservation land since 2000, including Spruce Creek CARL property. See: http://volusiaforever-echo.com/forever/forever%20acquisitions.pdf B. The Lake Woodruff Wildlife Refuge has purchased at least part of this property. C. This project is ongoing. D. Tomoka GeoPark has purchased this property.

A. C. Volusia Forever B. Lake Woodruff Wildlife Refuge C. Volusia Forever D. State of Florida

D.6.1. An inventory of irreplaceable resources should be developed which should include developed areas, any areas important to manatees including any feeding, calving, nursing, cavorting, resting, and freshwater areas, and any manatee migratory routes.

Information concerning the areas most important to manatees has been included in Phase II (marina siting) of the MPP. See: http://www.volusiamanatees.org/mpp.htm FNAI has also developed the Critical Lands & Waters Inventory Project report. See: http://www.fnai.org/

VCEM

D.6.3. A. VCEMS will work with SJRWMD, FDEP, and EPA, if appropriate, on the feasibility of using computer models for pollution load reduction and development impacts. B. VCEMS will research the legal implications and the costs associated with setting up such a system.

A. The USEPA requires that Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) standards are met nationwide. FDEP and the County help to implement them. The USEPA will identify non-point sources and allocate each a TMDL through modeling. See: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/tmdl/index.htm and http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/watersheds/docs/bmap/bmap_activities.pdf B. FDEP is responsible for this.

A. B. USEPA, FDEP

D.7. A. All dredged material shall be contained on an upland site. (FDEP Policy Dredge and Fill Requirements) B. New and maintenance dredging projects on the Intracoastal Waterway should be

A. FDEP current policy, also in Phase II of the MPP. See: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/wetlands/erp/wetperm.htm#VII B. This is part of Phase II of the MPP See:

A. B. C. FDEP, WMD’s, USACE

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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

performed during the period of November 15 through March 15, when feasible, to minimize potential impacts to manatees (would require a new policy.) C. Dredging in areas of abundant seagrasses will be prohibited. (would require a new County policy or Countywide Minimum Standards.)

http://www.volusiamanatees.org/phaseII/default.htm C. This is also in the marina siting segment (Phase II) of the approved MPP for Volusia County. FDEP, the Water Management Districts and USACE currently regulate dredge and fill activities. See: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/wetlands/docs/erp/62-343-900_1.pdf

E.1. The on-going support of the education initiatives will be coordinated through VCEM’s assigned staff. Due to the importance of manatee education

Council approved the position 9/7/2000. We have an active college intern and volunteer program. In addition, one contract service employee has been hired to expedite

VCEM, VCPLIPAD

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initiatives, governmental coordination and implementation of all MPP components it is recommended that a position be created and funded. Interns, with close guidance of assigned staff, will be responsible for helping with the execution of the education portion of the plan. In addition, volunteers are available. (Short Term)

the implementation of Phase I provisions. There was also one contract service employee working on estuarine restoration for part of 2010. See: http://www.volusiamanatees.org And http://www.volusiaestuaries.org

E.2. A. Manatee education brochures will be developed and distributed with all new boat registrations. (Near Term) B. Floatable manatee-shaped key chains to be distributed with all new boat registrations. These key chains would show the 1-888-404-FWCC phone number that should be called if a dead, injured, orphaned or harassed manatee is observed. C. Manatee informational stickers (decals) should be created and distributed to all rental 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.

A. Manatee speed zone booklets are distributed through the county tax & tag offices. B. Floatable keychains have been given to boat rental firms. C. Decals have been given to all boat rental and marine related businesses. The decals and floatable keychains were found by a state study to be the most effective method for dispersing manatee awareness messages, and the Volusia County program was used as a model. Checklist not yet implemented. D. Not yet implemented.

A. FIND B. VCEM C. FWCC D.

E.3. Manatee educational brochures should be developed and distributed to residents. (Short Term)

In the past, the EnviroNet Manatee Newsletter has been distributed to all marine businesses, public libraries, 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 its listserv. Educational brochures involving manatee habitat protection on Estuaries, Oysters, Brazilian pepper and Australian pine have been created and printed. Two more brochures have been planned, one of which will be on Mangroves. See:

FWCC, VCEM, VCPLIPAD

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http://www.volusia.org/environmental/natural_resources/intracoastal/estuarinerestoration.htm

E.4. Boating education courses should be developed and include the following information: how to identify manatees in the water, manatee habitat areas, how to reduce the impact of boating on the environment, marine debris, the law against disturbing manatees, and how to report a dead, injured, orphaned or harassed manatee. B. A video or slide show along with an educator’s guide would be used to convey this information. (USCG Auxiliary and the US Power Squadron) (Near Term)

The Sheriff’s Marine Unit officers give presentations at boating education classes given by both the USCG Auxiliary and the U.S. Power Squadron - For Boat Smart See: http://www.boatsmart.org/boat_safety_course.htm This educational material includes extensive information on manatee speed zones and manatee awareness while boating. The Boater 101 course also has a section on Manatee Awareness under the FL state laws heading. See: http://www.boater101.com/Course/StudentManual.aspx The Sheriff’s Marine Unit, and many of the coastal cities’ marine units hand out manatee educational brochures when issuing warnings and citations. B. Two videos have been produced by the FWC, A Closer Look at Manatees and The State of Manatees, which VCEM uses as educational tools.

Volusia County Sheriff’s Marine Unit

E.5. A. A series of public service announcements on manatee education have already been developed by the Save the Manatee Club, FDEP, and Duval County, and could be utilized by Volusia County to educate the public. B. A series of slides for movie theater previews would be another outlet for conveying manatee and safe boating information. (Short Term)

A. We have the PSA’s from the SMC, but they have not yet been aired. B. Not yet implemented.

A. SMC

E.6. At high use ramps and/or key manatee areas visited by the public (areas with high manatee presence), a covered kiosk with a graphic illustration of manatee awareness information will be established. (Long Term)

Kiosks are maintained at County boat ramps and they all have manatee awareness information. A survey of all the park/ramp kiosks was completed in 2010 and all kiosks were updated and supplied with current information.

VCLS, VCEM

E.7. The County will coordinate with the organizers of fishing tournaments to provide the participants

VCEM provides educational materials at fishing tournaments. Mini-monofilament recycling containers are

VCEM

25

with information regarding manatees (Short Term) handed out to fishers at events. E.8. A. Signs will be developed, with the assistance of Volusia County’s GIS department, that contain a map illustrating a particular ramp’s location in relation to relative speed zones. The map will include a five mile sphere of influence for each ramp. The signs will be visible from boat ramp lanes. (Near Term) B. Volusia County will identify those ramps and marinas that do not display education materials and coordinate the effort to have the signs posted. (Short Term)

A. Funding for this is being actively pursued. B. All county ramps display educational material and a survey is planned for municipal, and private marinas and ramps. This is an ongoing activity.

A. B. VCEM

E.9. Incentives should be established to encourage marinas to display manatee brochures and information. Special displays should be designed to specifically promote manatee information. (Short Term)

Special countertop display holders for the EnviroNet Manatee Newsletter and the decals were provided to all marinas. Aluminum signs were also developed to be displayed at bait & tackle shops depicting the benefits of using bilge socks. See: http://volusia.org/environmental/environet/bilge_socks.htm

VCEM

E.10. A Traveler’s Information Manatee Alert (30 second broadcast) will be developed and included in 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)

This was investigated and NOAA had no interest in doing it at this time.

E.11. An interactive manatee educational computer program should be developed for various age levels and distributed to schools. This program would include information on manatee habitat and biology, and the rules about not disturbing manatees. (Long Term)

Interactive manatee displays have been created for the Lyonia Environmental Center at Lyonia Preserve, which opened in October 2009. See: http://lyoniapreserve.com/LECfieldtrips.pdf and http://lyoniapreserve.com/lec.htm

E.12. A. Volusia County has an established Internet home page, which includes Environmental

A. Most of this information and more is available on the VCEM website: www.volusiamanatees.org B. Links to

A., B. VCEM

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Management’s home page. Manatee information which can be accessed by the public will be added to these systems. Information would include, but not be limited to: manatee habitat, manatee speed zones, manatee migratory patterns, special events, lectures, current manatee information (Blue Spring counts, etc.), sources of additional manatee information and brochures, and prop guard information. (Short Term) B. The Internet page would provide links to other sites containing manatee information, such as Save the Manatee Club’s site and DEP’s Web site.

SMC at: www.savethemanatee.org/ and DEP at: www.dep.state.fl.us/ as well as many other sites, including the FWC at: http://www.myfwc.com/ have been provided.

E.13. Monofilament Line Recycling Program. To create incentives for increased clean-up and recycling of monofilament, receptacles should be placed at high-use boat ramps. Partnerships with service groups could be utilized to maintain receptacles, collect the line, and return it to the line manufacturers. (Near Term)

This is an on-going project. As of the end of 2010 there are 130 recycling bins installed and a volunteer network to empty them is in place. More businesses have been recruited to collect the line and ship it back to the manufacturer. We will be building more bins for future sites. See: http://volusia.org/environmental/environet/monofilament_line_recycling.htm VCEM is also part of the statewide Monofilament Recovery and Recycling Working Group, and contributes to their website: www.fishinglinerecycling.org/index.asp

VCEM

E.14. SMC has developed an educational sign that warns against the dangers of feeding and watering manatees and explains the legality of such actions. SMC has provided signs to Volusia County to be placed at high interaction areas. (Short Term)

This has been implemented in identified problem areas, and will be an ongoing project. The FWC also has developed a similar sign warning against manatee harassment, which has been placed at the Mary McCleod Bethune Park riverside. The FWC has also developed a brochure outlining how to interact with manatees. See: http://myfwc.com/media/415226/Manatee_FLTreasure_bklt.pdf

SMC, VCEM

E.15. A. Manatee educational curriculum should be made available to compulsory schools (K-12) and adult education programs (such as DBCC). B.

A. A manatee education curriculum that is consistent with Florida Sunshine State Standards has been developed for K-5; finished activities are available on the VCEM website,

A. VCEM

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Volusia County will be responsible for providing balanced packets of information which describe all threats to the manatee. This packet may include that fact sheet to be developed by the County, as well as information from other interested groups. (Short Term)

with more to follow. See: http://volusia.org/environmental/natural_resources/manatees/education.htm 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. B. Not yet implemented.

E.16. It is recommended that the State of Florida develop enhancements to the existing mandatory education programs for boat operators under 16 years of age and for boating regulation violators. These enhancements should include manatee and habitat information, safe boat operation, rules of the road, basic navigation, and the effects of such boating operations as prop scarring and fuel discharges. Provided through the existing programs provided by the U.S. Power Squadron and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. (Near Term)

A Boater Education Identification Card may be obtained by taking a course approved by the FWC and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, and is a requirement for boaters under 16 years of age. FWC offers a “How to Boat Smart” correspondence course See: http://www.boat-ed.com/fl/fl_internet.htm or the on-line version at: http://www.boat-ed.com/fl/index.htm and also “The Boater 101 Program” See: http://www.boater101.com/ which is an interactive online program for teachers and youth.

FWC

E.17. Volusia County should establish a bi-annual effort for cleaning up abandoned traps and nets on both the SJR and ICW. This program would require coordination from the FWCC, Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, Volusia County Environmental Management, and the Enviro-Net program. Volunteers should be recruited to participate in this effort. This effort could also be coordinated with the Center for Marine Conservation’s (now the Ocean Conservancy) annual coastal clean-up. (Near Term)

In the recent past it has been illegal for unauthorized persons to tamper with or remove traps or trap lines, even if deemed abandoned. A new rule has been implemented (Chapter 68B-55.001 FAC) that allows pulling traps under very specific conditions and with an approved removal plan. A rotating closure rule for the state has been passed, it identifies closure dates for each area. In 2010 the closure was waived due to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, so Volusia County did not conduct a cleanup. VCEM staff is part of the State Entanglement Working Group and has participated in past crab trap clean-ups in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

VCEM, VCPLIPAD

E.18. “Please Watch for Manatees” signs are provided free of charge by SMC. Volusia County Environmental Management will bring a supply of the

This has been implemented, and is an ongoing project. See: http://www.savethemanatee.org/boatertips_public_awaren

SMC, VCEM

28

signs, when available from SMC, to the County for distribution. This service would be provided as a courtesy to private residents. (Short Term)

ess_sign.htm

E.19. Aquatic Plant Control. Volusia County should disseminate information to all waterfront property owners in existing County database regarding the following: 1. The dangers and risks of spraying yards. 2. The dangers and risks of spraying for exotic plants. 3. The potential for using mechanical means to control aquatic plants. 4. The value of replanting with native species.

The Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Program (now entitled Florida Friendly Landscaping) disseminates such information through lectures, classes, news articles, letters, and the IFAS website at: http://ifas.ufl.edu/ and also the Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants website at: http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/ . Native plant information can also be found on the VCEM website at: www.echotourism.com/arboretum/default.htm This information is available to all Volusia County residents, including waterfront property owners.

IFAS, VCEM

E.20. Volusia County should disseminate information to marina owners on the proper use of cleaning agents and other chemicals used by the boating industry.

This is being implemented through the “Clean Marina” program. See: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/cleanmarina/ Also, literature disseminated with the Bilge Sock Distribution Program See: http://volusia.org/environmental/environet/bilge_socks.htm includes the “Clean Boating Habits” booklet, the “Clean Vessel Act” brochure, a Clean Boater pledge card and decal, and two brochures on monofilament recycling.

FDEP, VCPLIPAD, VCEM

E.21. Boat Speed Definitions. The County will include and disseminate these definitions with all appropriate boater education materials.

This information is available on the Manatee Protection Program website as a link to the FWC website at: http://myfwc.com/boating/boating-regulations#nogo Manatee speed zones are also included in Phase II of the MPP for Volusia County under Attachments F and G at: http://volusia.org/environmental/natural_resources/manatees/phaseII/default.htm

FIND

E.22. Volusia County will develop a manatee fact-sheet. It should discuss and place in context all threats to manatees and be widely disseminated to the public.

This fact sheet is the insert in the EnviroNet Manatee Newsletter, which has previously been distributed. There is also a manatee mortality facts webpage on the county website at: http://volusia.org/environmental/natural_resources/manate

FWC

29

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 causes of high perinatal mortality among manatees is ongoing, Volusia County recommends that these efforts be increased. B. Additional research by FDEP should also address hormone disrupting chemicals and their origins.

A. B. FWS has identified this issue in their Manatee Recovery Plan. VCEM has completed a sediment study in areas of high perinatal mortality, which investigates the possible presence of toxins. The study conclusion was that the available information 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://www.mote.org/index.php?src=gendocs&ref=Aquatic%20Toxicology&category=Ecotoxicology

VCEM, VCPLIPAD .

F.1.2. VCEMS will coordinate with the SJRWMD to develop a comprehensive water quality data analysis and reporting program.

This is an ongoing project that has been addressed through the Storet program and the VCEM Health Lab. See:

SJRWMD, VCEM

es/faq_mant.htm E.23. Boater Handbooks. The County will disseminate these to boaters with boat registrations.

The FIND boater’s handbooks have been available at Tag and Title offices in the county. An updated version includes federal speed zones.

FIND, VCEM

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http://www.doh.state.fl.us/chd/volusia/EH/lab/surface.html Water quality data can be viewed at: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/chd/volusia/EH/lab/data.html

F.2. A. Additional research by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on manatee use patterns in Volusia County should be conducted. B. VCEMS will coordinate with U.S.G.S. on this research and will provide resources (staff, volunteers, boats, etc.) to assist in this endeavor.

A. FWC has flown aerial transect surveys of the H/IR, looking at manatee distribution. These were completed in 2004. The specific purpose of the program called Manatee Watch is to document and report manatee presence in Volusia waters. The Manatee Watch program has been in place since 2005. In 2010 there were 142 trained volunteers, who sent in 93 reports concerning 253 manatees. See: http://volusia.org/environmental/natural_resources/manatees/watch.htm B. Manatee Watch is a cooperative project that shares data with the USGS/Sirenia MIPS program. See: http://cars.er.usgs.gov/Manatees/Manatee_Sirenia_Project/manatee_sirenia_project.html

FWC, USGS, VCEM

F.3. The boating activity study completed for this report should be repeated every five years on a smaller scale. It could be updated by flying two aerial survey flights in the summer and two flights in the winter, with one being a holiday and the other a normal weekend day; completing the marina inventory in the summer (could be done over the telephone); and the boat ramp census in the summer and winter (one weekend day and one weekday).

A boating activity study update on marina/boat ramp inventory was completed in 2001 and 2005. It was deemed that a more thorough (on the ground) marina/ramp inventory would be more accurate than phone calls. See: www.volusia.org/environmental/natural_resources/manatees/phaseII/default.htm The 2010 marina inventory update has been completed.

VCEM

F.4. Volusia County will coordinate with FWCC and other interested parties in designing and implementing a speed zone compliance study to determine the effectiveness of current speed zones. The group eventually identified to conduct this study will be agreed upon by all parties.

The FWCC Law Enforcement Division keeps compliance records that VCEM has access to. Shapiro (2001) also conducted an enforcement study in New Smyrna Beach in which compliance ranged between 51-89%, dependent upon law enforcement presence. (NSB had the highest rate of compliance in the study.) This is an ongoing project. Under State Statute 370.1202(3) the FWC will be

FWC, FDEP

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conducting compliance studies at designated locations throughout the state.

F.5. If funding becomes available, research should be conducted by involved agencies on the economic impact of manatee protection.

Not yet implemented.

F.6. In order to better understand the range of threats to manatees, the scientific community should continue to collect data on environmental stressors which may affect manatee health.

FWCC/FMRI, USGS, USFWS as well as other groups and agencies continue to study this issue.

FWC/FMRI, USGS, USFWS

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 mechanism whereby FMRI will send the County mortality summaries and rescue reports for each quarter beginning in 1998.

This has been implemented. FWRI maintains a list-serve that alerts subscribers to current updates on manatee mortalities, as well as red tide events, and news of importance. The manatee mortality statistics are available on the FWRI website. See: http://myfwc.com/research/manatee/rescue-mortality-response/mortality-statistics/

FWRI

G.2. Volusia County shall establish a reporting mechanism with the rangers at Blue Spring State Park to provide the County with Blue Spring manatee counts on a monthly basis. This shall take place

Blue Spring maintains yearly counts, as well as a register of specific animals. VCEM records annual numbers and informal monthly updates are communicated. This is an ongoing project.

VCEM

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during the months when manatees are congregating at the Spring, beginning in ___?____. G.3. A. Volusia County shall request additional data and input from USFWS, FWCC/FMRI and BPSM as necessary. B. Volusia County will request that 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.

A. This has been implemented, and is an ongoing effort. B. This is an ongoing effort.

A. B. VCEM and appropriate agency

G.4. The final draft of the MPP shall be reviewed to ensure that it is consistent with Volusia County’s Comprehensive Plan and vice-versa in order to ensure full implementation.

This has been completed. The MPP for Volusia County was approved by the FWC and FWS on October 19. 2005. See: http://volusia.org/environmental/natural_resources/manatees/mpp.htm

VCPD, VCEM

G.5. Annually, Volusia County will convene a meeting with the appropriate programs to share information and concerns and develop action items for the coming year. Preliminary groups include: VCEMS, FWCC/FMRI and BPSM, USFWS, and the Sirenia Project. All interested groups will receive invitations and the meeting will be noticed as a public meeting.

VCEM participates in a state interagency working group dedicated to facilitating manatee recovery in Florida. The group is organized under the FWC, with staff members of ISM, FWRI, FWS, USGS, DEP, and other local governments attending.

G.6. Volusia County shall establish a formal communication link with Tomoka Geo-Park to exchange data of manatee use in the Park as well as the Tomoka River. The exact form of this communication link will be developed by the County and the Park rangers.

Links to the park have been established, and anecdotal manatee sightings are communicated. The type of formal data that can be transmitted is currently being considered. Manatee Watch volunteers also collect sighting data within the park. See: http://volusia.org/environmental/natural_resources/manatees/watch.htm

VCEM, Tomoka GeoPark

G.7. A. Volusia County will contact each municipality to request that an individual be assigned to the position of liaison for manatee-related issues. B. The

A. VCEM has contacts that handle manatee permitting issues within each city, however formal liaison positions have not been created by the cities. B. VCEM meets

A. B. VCEM

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County will periodically request time on commission agendas to update the municipalities about the status of manatee protection measures in Volusia County and around the state.

periodically with all concerned cities, and several MPP workshops for city staff have been held. A dock permitting workshop was held in May 2006 and again in March 2009. City Managers/Mayors are updated as needed on current manatee issues, at their monthly meetings. VCEM staff attends City Commission meetings when requested.

G.8. Volusia County will work together with the waterfront cities on water quality issues, including sharing of data gathered from the County’s water sampling program.

This was addressed in part through the Bilge Sock Distribution Program, which has helped to improve water quality, and which also provides water quality educational literature. See: www.volusia.org/environmental/environet/bilge_socks.htm Good water quality is also a goal of the Clean Marina/Clean Vessel Act programs. See: http://www.volusia.org/environmental/natural_resources/manatees/Clean%20Marina%20&%20Vessel.pdf Other water quality issues may be addressed through the county Estuarine Restoration Program. See: http://www.volusiaestuaries.org Water quality data is available through the VCEM Health Lab and through the VCEM Health Lab website. See: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/chd/volusia/EH/lab/surface.html

VCEM

G.9. VCEMS will contact the Volusia County School Board to discuss the feasibility of a public school manatee information coordinator to assist with distribution of educational materials.

The Volusia County School Board, with input from VCEM, has appointed a Teacher on Assignment for Environmental Education that has assisted with the development of a manatee curriculum and with the distribution of manatee educational material. The manatee education curriculum is consistent with Florida Sunshine State Standards, which will allow teachers to incorporate it into their lesson plans. See: http://www.volusia.org/environmental/natural_resources/manatees/education.htm

G.10. Incorporate USGS telemetry data which the County has formally requested from the Sirenia

The data has been incorporated by reference into Phase II (marina siting) of the MPP which is available at:

USGS/Sirenia, VCEM

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Project into the Manatee Protection Plan. http://www.volusia.org/environmental/natural_resources/manatees/phaseII/default.htm

* D.1. Indian River Lagoon Comprehensive Conservation & Management Plan Background Information D.1. Volusia County has assisted and supported the efforts of the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program (IRLNEP) in defining objectives on maintaining the quality of the Indian River through collaborating with them on water quality monitoring programs and providing technical support and review during the development of their management plan. IRLNEP has existed for five years and has done extensive research in regards to the preservation and conservation of the Lagoon. IRLNEP has produced the final draft of the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (IRLCCMP) that outlines various objectives for habitat protection in the Lagoon. Volusia County EMD is one of the reviewers of this document, and has been involved in the development process from the beginning. The final draft of the IRLCCMP has been approved by Governor Chiles and Carol Browner, the EPA Administrator, and has been endorsed by the Volusia County Council. The Volusia County Council supports the habitat recommendations for the North Indian River, that area of the river from Ponce Inlet south to the Brevard/Volusia County line. In addition, some of the CCMP action plans, such as the management of septic tanks, can be applied to all waters of the County and should be analyzed for inclusion to all water bodies. The IRLCCMP includes Action Plans which address the following issues: A. Water and Sediment Quality

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

B. Biodiversity Preservation & Restoration - Biodiversity Research & Management-Objective: Develop and implement a coordinated research and management strategy

to preserve, protect, and restore biodiversity in the Indian River Lagoon. - Seagrass Restoration-Objective: To protect and restore seagrass integrity and function in the Indian River Lagoon by

attaining and maintaining water quality capable of supporting a healthy submerged aquatic vegetation community to a depth of 1.7 meters

- Wetlands-Objective: Preserve, protect, restore and enhance the wetland resources of the Indian River Lagoon Region. - Impounded Marsh Restoration & Management-Objective: Restore the functions of marshes impounded for mosquito control

purposes. - Land Acquisition-Objective: Develop and implement a coordinated strategy to protect environmentally endangered habitats

within the Indian River basin through acquisitions. - Endangered & Threatened Species-Objective: Protect endangered and threatened mammals, birds, fish, reptiles,

amphibians, and invertebrates of the Indian River Lagoon. - Fisheries-Objective: Conserve and protect fin and shell fisheries of the Indian River Lagoon. C. Public and Government Support and Involvement - Public Governmental Support & Involvement-Objective: Facilitate implementation of the Indian River Lagoon CCMP through

public involvement and education. - Future IRLCCMP Implementation-Objective: Establish a modified management structure that will oversee the implementation

of the Indian River Lagoon Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan and provide for an organization to support the activities of the modified management conference.

- Data & Information Management Strategy-Objective: Develop and implement a strategy to coordinate the management and dissemination of data and information concerning the Indian River Lagoon.

- Monitoring-Objective: To develop and maintain a monitoring network which will provide adequate and reliable data and information on water quality, sediment quality, and the biological resources of the Indian River Lagoon on which management decisions may be based.

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Phase II BACKGROUND Phase II of the Manatee Protection Plan for Volusia County (MPP) is the Boat Facility Siting Plan. The goal of Phase II is to provide direction to those wishing to expand or construct new marine facilities, to decrease the potential direct impact to manatees through watercraft collisions, and to minimize potential indirect impacts to manatees and their habitat. The primary method for determining boat facility placement is the use of area specific slip-to-shoreline ratios established by a criteria-based evaluation of the manatee data and manatee habitat, by state and federal agencies. Another essential part of Phase II is the funding mechanism incorporated within the plan, which provides for increased on-the-water enforcement of manatee speed zones. The boat facility siting plan also includes site-specific criteria such as water depth, water quality, presence of submerged aquatic vegetation, zoning and land use policies, etc. Guidelines for best management practices are also included as recommendations for facility structure and management. These provisions utilized together result in a dock density that is appropriate for Volusia County. CITY PARTICIPATION Volusia County is essentially surrounded by water, with the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway on the east side of the county, and the St. Johns River on the west side. These waterbodies, and all lakes, and tributaries connected to these primary waterways, which are traversable by manatees, are included in the Manatee Protection Plan (MPP), and are covered by the provisions of the plan. On the coastal side of the county, there are ten existing municipalities with shoreline that would be affected by the provisions of the plan, and on the west side, there are two such municipalities. Coastal Volusia

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. In 2010, slips were increased by two facilities, including one slip at the City of New Smyrna

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Beach Riverfront Park, and three slips at the western section of the North Causeway boat ramp, which is also in New Smyrna Beach. The only slip deduction from a city slip pool was the one allocated for the Riverfront Park facility, as the North Causeway slips are located in the “preferred” area, where no slip to shoreline ratios are applied. 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. 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 new Lyonia Environmental Center. In fiscal year 2009-2010 $2,070 MCF dollars was 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.

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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 following table shows the law enforcement funding distribution for 2010.

Percentage of Enforcement Funding Available to Each Participating City

2010

Enforcement % of Available Funds River Miles Funds EAST SIDE Ormond Beach $50,916.52 4.00% $2,036.66 Holly Hill $50,916.52 1.40% $712.83 Daytona Beach $50,916.52 4.10% $2,087.58 South Daytona $50,916.52 1.50% $763.75 Port Orange $50,916.52 1.60% $814.66 Daytona Beach Shores $50,916.52 0.30% $152.75 Ponce Inlet $50,916.52 2.30% $1,171.08 New Smyrna Beach $50,916.52 3.30% $1,680.25 Edgewater $50,916.52 2.70% $1,374.75 Oak Hill $50,916.52 1.90% $967.41 WEST SIDE DeBary $192,218.05 5.50% $2,800.41 Deltona $192,218.05 0.30% $152.75 SUBTOTAL $14,714.87 County Marine Unit $192,218.05 71.10% $36,201.65 TOTAL $50,916.52 All of the participating cities qualified for the MCF grant in 2010 (must have a signed MOU with the county and participate in the FWC slip allocation process). Six of the cities, and the Sheriff’s Marine Unit applied for the MCF grant, and subsequently received funding. They were: City of Daytona Beach - $2,087.58 City of South Daytona - $763.75 City of Port Orange - $813.00 Town of Ponce Inlet - $1,171.08 City of New Smyrna Beach - $1,680.00 City of Edgewater - $1,374.75 Sheriff’s Marine Unit - $32,971.00

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It should be noted that the cities of Port Orange, Ponce Inlet, New Smyrna Beach, and South Daytona have formed a cooperative on-the-water enforcement patrol called the Southeast Regional Marine Patrol, sharing jurisdiction, and leveraging their combined funding to create consistent and more even law enforcement coverage in this very active boating area at and adjacent to Ponce Inlet. Their collective efforts have allowed them to increase their law enforcement presence during periods of high boating activity within this area. The sharing of equipment has maximized their MCF dollars. The City of Port Orange used their funding for their marine unit on-the-water law enforcement, which enabled the city to deploy officers on an overtime basis. The city is a member of the Southeast Regional Marine Patrol and they were able to participate by providing 24 overtime hours of enforcement, or the equivalent of three days on patrol. Their deployment was primarily in the area between the Dunlawton Bridge in Port Orange, and the South Causeway in New Smyrna Beach. The three days of deployment were Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and Labor Day, which are the most active boating days in Volusia County. This resulted in their officers issuing six written warnings. The officers also actively promoted on-the-water manatee awareness by handing out the “Manatee Awareness and Protection” pamphlet and the laminated “Mind Your Waterways Signs” card. Their participation in the Southeast Regional Patrol has resulted in increased law enforcement presence on the waterways, and with this increased visibility minimal violations were observed. The Town of Ponce Inlet utilized their funding for overtime pay for on-the-water law enforcement. The officers provided 32 enforcement hours. As a member of the Southeast Regional Marine Patrol, they were able to make 16 public relations contacts during which time they distributed the “Manatee Awareness and Protection” pamphlet. The officers also issued four citations during this time period. The Town is located at the northern tip of the Ponce Inlet cut, where a large amount of boat traffic occurs. Because of this strategic location, their marine unit on-the-water presence is especially important. The City of New Smyrna Beach used their MCF grant funding for overtime hours of on-the-water law enforcement. The officers completed 79.5 overtime hours and issued four citations, two written warnings, and one verbal warning during this time period. The 79.5 hours represented almost double the required grant hours of 48 hours. They also made contact with the boating public, providing them with manatee awareness packets consisting of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and Volusia County Sheriff’s Office literature. As a member of the Southeast Regional Marine Patrol they were able to support the Patrol by participating throughout the summer months, including the three main holidays, Memorial Day, July 4, and Labor Day. In 2010, the city was able to participate in Operation Traveling Sea Cow, a special detail organized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which operated between July 2 and July 4. The City of Edgewater utilized their MCF grant funds to pay for overtime on-the-water law enforcement, and fuel for their vessel. The city matched the grant by paying for the

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printing costs for the “Manatee Awareness and Protection” pamphlets. During the grant period law enforcement officers issued 13 citations, and made 33 boat operator contacts in order to distribute the “Manatee Awareness and Protection” pamphlets and provide for manatee education to boaters. Sworn law enforcement officers distributed the pamphlets on the waterways, and their Citizens Assisting Police (CAP’s) volunteers distributed the pamphlets at boat ramps. The officers logged 53 on-the-water hours, during which time they also issued verbal warnings. There were no boat related manatee mortalities discovered during the program period, so they felt that educating the public and the visible law enforcement presence reduced the risk to manatees from boat collisions. The City of Daytona Beach focused this year on providing their on-the-water law enforcement unit with necessary additional safety and vessel equipment, and oil. The city provided a grant match of $120 dollars for the printing of Manatee Awareness and Protection brochures, and used their own funding for on-the-water officer’s pay. With the grant funding the city’s Marine Unit purchased on-board battery chargers with a permanent mounted charging plug, a Teleflex helm, a helm seat cover, a search light, two life vests, and motor oil. The Daytona Beach Marine Unit removed two derelict vessels within the city’s jurisdiction in order to increase boater safety. The city also facilitated a Boating Safety class for the Daytona Beach Fire Department, which emphasized safe handling practices when dealing with vessels, and the importance of adhering to Manatee Speed Zones. The city’s Marine Unit logged 225 on-the-water hours, they did 145 vessel checks, 123 safety inspections, and issued 34 citations. Their Marine Unit continues to collaborate with the Volusia County Sheriff’s Marine Unit, FWC Law Enforcement, and the U.S. Coast Guard. The City of South Daytona utilized their funding for overtime on-the-water law enforcement, and to defray fuel and oil costs. South Daytona has joined in the multi-agency marine unit partnership with the cities of Port Orange, Ponce Inlet and New Smyrna Beach. This has allowed them to leverage their grant funding dollars to best advantage. The grant provided for 40 hours of overtime, with the city contributing 16 of those hours. Officers handed out manatee awareness information during their 33 public contacts and 13 boating safety exams. Their officers issued two written warnings. The grant funding allowed for increased law enforcement presence during the peak boating months from June through September. The Volusia County Sheriff’s Marine Unit had a productive year proactively patrolling the county’s waterways. They provided 632 of overtime hours, and logged 632 hours of vessel usage, during which time 400 manatee educational flyers were distributed to boaters and marinas. A total of 186 citations were written, and the officers also issued 284 written warnings. Additionally the grant funding provided for the purchase of boat motor fuel and a 55 gallon drum of oil. The Marine Unit has also attained a 98% compliance rate for marine sanitation (MSD) checks, thereby reducing the pollution of our waterways.

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The Sheriff’s Marine Unit assisted again this year with a number of manatee rescues during the grant period, both on the Intracoastal Waterway and on the St. Johns River. They also participated in a crab trap cleanup in the Indian River Lagoon, providing vessels and officers to assist with the cleanup. They helped to recover derelict crab traps, old fishing nets, and other hazardous marine debris. The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit is very involved in efforts to conserve and protect manatees, and educate the boating public about manatee awareness. The North East Law Enforcement Maritime Alliance continues to meet on a regular basis. This group is comprised of officers representing law enforcement and other entities within the central northeast region of the state. Representatives are: the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the National Park Service, Division of Homeland Security, North Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, National Insurance Crime Bureau, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency, Florida Division of Law Enforcement, Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, Volusia County Environmental Management, Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, City of Daytona Beach Police Department, Town of Ponce Inlet Police Department, City of New Smyrna Beach Police Department, City of Edgewater Police Department, City of South Daytona Police Department, and the Marine Industry Association of Central Florida. The formation of this group has led to much greater cooperation between law enforcement agencies, and has introduced more integrated strategies for many marine related situations, including manatee speed zone enforcement. Other environmental violations, such as marine sanitation device (MSD) lock-down regulations, have also been increasingly addressed. Environmental Management staff continues to attend the meetings as this provides an excellent vehicle for disseminating information on manatee boat related mortality and existing or potential “hot spots”, and results in effective directed patrols in these areas. MORTALITY The Florida Wildlife Research Institute, which is the research branch of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), maintains an on-line manatee mortality database. This database indicates that in 2010 there were a total of 27 manatee mortalities in Volusia County. This total includes all categories of mortality, human related as well as deaths from natural causes. Of the 27 manatee deaths, six 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. Out of the six watercraft related manatee deaths, five occurred on the coastal side of the county, and one in the St. Johns River system. Coastal deaths were located in the Halifax River (2 in September), the Mosquito Lagoon (1 in May, 1 in July, 1 in

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September). On the west side of the county there was one watercraft related death in the St. Johns River (1 in March). There were five mortalities listed as perinatal deaths in 2010; 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. All but one of the five deaths occurred on the east side of the county. East coast deaths were in the Tomoka River (1 in April, 1 in July), and the Mosquito Lagoon (1 in May, 1 in September). On the west side of the county there was one perinatal death in the St. Johns River (1 in January). There were six deaths listed as undetermined. All of the six undetermined deaths occurred on the east side of the county, in the Halifax River ICW (1 in June, 1 in September), in the Mosquito Lagoon (2 in June), and in the Tomoka River (2 in March). This year there were record numbers of cold stress deaths due to prolonged low temperatures across the state as well as in Volusia County. There were 10 documented cold stress deaths in Volusia, seven of which occurred on the east side of the county. There were two in the Tomoka River (2 in January), three in the Halifax River (2 in January, 1 in February), one in the Atlantic Ocean (1 in March), and one in the Mosquito Lagoon (1 in March). On the west side of the county there were three cold stress related mortalities, one in Lake Beresford (1 in January), one in Lake Woodruff (1 in January), and one in the Norris Dead River (1 in December). The following charts reflect the manatee mortality in Volusia County for 2010 by mortality category, by location, and by gender.

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