County gets turtle light study grant
Published December, 1st 2008.
By John Johnston
Managing Editor
Palm Beach County commissioners have approved a $75,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) to fund a countywide coastal lighting assessment project through June 30, 2009.
County beaches provide important nesting habitat for two species of endangered sea turtles, the green and the leatherback, “and serve as one of the largest nesting habitats for the loggerhead sea turtle in the western hemisphere,” commissioners said, adding that coastal lighting visible from the beach may deter female sea turtles from nesting, and that the county “also records a significant amount of sea turtle hatchling disorientation” caused by coastal lighting.
Palm Beach County Environmental Resources Management (ERM) will conduct countywide coastal lighting surveys during the 2008 and 2009 sea turtle nesting seasons. The surveys will then be used “to improve the identification and correction of non-compliant coastal lighting and reduce the incidence of sea turtle disorientation events,” commissioners said.
The NFWF grant will reimburse $75,000 for project costs using National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) funds; no county funds will be used.
Mosquito Money
Commissioners also said the county would spend more than $2 million in county funds through Sept. 30, 2009 for mosquito control services performed by ERM staff.
Added to this will be a recently approved $39,000 grant from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, commissioners said, and which will be used to purchase chemicals.
Exotic Work
Separately, commissioners approved a reimbursement agreement between ERM and the Bureau of Land Management for up to 50 percent reimbursement for the planned exotic treatment work at the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area.
The planned work is expected to cost $34,586, with up to $17,293 reimbursable.
Less Hauled
Commissioners also approved a $91,588 change order with American Earth Movers, Inc. (AEM) quantity under runs on the Chain of Lakes Restoration project
The original contract called for removal of 105,463 cubic yards when in fact the contractor excavated and hauled/stockpiled just 92,379 cubic yards, a reduction of 13,084, commissioners said. The original contract received $1.3 million from Parks & Recreation Department impact fees, $800,000 from a Florida Department of Environmental Protection grant and $400,000 from a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission grant.
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