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Four Stormwater Treatment Areas (STAs) were established
as Public Small Game Hunting Areas and are open for duck and coot
hunting. STA 1 West (Palm Beach Co.), STA 2 (Palm Beach
Co.), STA 3/4 (Palm Beach Co.), and STA 5 (Hendry Co.) will be open for
the special September duck season, both phases of the waterfowl and coot
seasons, and the youth waterfowl hunt. There will be a morning
hunt and an afternoon hunt on all areas except STA 2 (morning hunts
only).
For the special
September duck season, individuals are limited to one permit per hunter at STA 1W,
STA 2, STA 3/4,
or STA 5. For the regular waterfowl and coot season, individuals are
limited to one permit per hunter per area. This means a hunter is allowed one permit for STA 1W,
one permit for STA 2, one permit for STA 3/4, and one permit for STA 5.
On STA 1, 3/4, and 5, the hunter must choose between an afternoon or
morning hunt. Only morning hunts are available on STA 2.
For
the youth waterfowl hunt, individuals are limited to one permit per
hunter at STA 1W,
STA 2, STA
3/4, or STA 5. Youths under the age of 16 may acquire a permit for the
Youth Waterfowl Day* in addition to one permit for each STA. There will
be twenty-five permits available for each morning hunt and twenty-five
permits available for each afternoon hunt for STA 1W. Twenty-five
permits will also be available for each morning hunt on STA 2.
There will be forty permits available for each morning and each
afternoon hunt for STA 5. On STA 3/4, there will be sixty permits
available for each morning and each afternoon hunt. Each STA Waterfowl
Permit is valid for two hunters and one non-hunting guest. Permits are
not transferable, except as provided at the check station on a
first-come, first-served basis to maintain the quota throughout the
hunt.
The start date for issuing
2008-2009 STA
permits is to be
announced. Worksheets will be available below
in mid-August 2008. The free STA permits are for waterfowl hunting in all STAs open to
hunting, and are available on a first-come, first-served basis through
the Total Licensing System. To apply for a permit, hunters must first
obtain an application worksheet at any FWC Regional Office, or from the
web at
MyFWC.com/hunting to select desirable dates and time
periods. The hunter then applies at any tax collector’s office, or for a
small convenience fee, via the internet at
MyFWC.com/license, or by phone at 1-888-HUNT-FLO
(486-8356). Permits are not available from license agents, such as
sporting goods stores or tackle shops. Applications are not accepted
through the mail.
*
Special note regarding YOUTH HUNTERS:
Access to the STAs by
non-hunters during periods open to hunting is prohibited.
However, during the supervised youth hunts, each permit allows access to
the STA for two youth hunters and either one or two non-hunting adults
to supervise the youth hunters.
These waterfowl hunting areas are a cooperative effort
of the South Florida Water Management District and Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) in order to provide additional
opportunities for recreation on public lands in South Florida.
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Stormwater Treatment Area One-West (STA-1W)
is a 6,700 acre constructed wetland located in central Palm Beach
County. This STA is designed to reduce phosphorus loading to the
northern Everglades and Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge.
Stormwater
Treatment Area Two (STA-2)
is a 9195-acre constructed wetland located about 3 miles north of the
Palm Beach / Broward County line on HWY 27. This STA is designed to
reduce phosphorus loading to the northern Everglades and Loxahatchee
National Wildlife Refuge.
Stormwater
Treatment Area Three-Four (STA-3/4)
is a 17,000 acre constructed wetland located at the intersection of the
L-5 levee and US 27 at the Palm Beach / Broward County line. This STA
is designed to reduce phosphorus loading to the northern Everglades and
Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge.
Stormwater
Treatment Area Five (STA-5) is a 5,200 acre constructed wetland
located in eastern Hendry County at the Hendry / Palm Beach County
line. This STA is designed to reduce phosphorus loading to the northern
Everglades and Rotenberger Wildlife Management Area.
The plants inside these
constructed wetlands are consuming phosphorus as they grow, eventually
depositing much of the nutrient in the soils. Previously under
agricultural practices for decades, phosphorus from fertilizers and
organic soils has been carried into the Everglades by storm runoff,
causing a change in the Everglades landscape. Too much of this
essential nutrient has allowed cattail to invade the River of Grass,
reducing the coverage of sawgrass and open water sloughs. Unfortunately,
cattail does not provide the habitat necessary to support many of the
plant and animal species that are unique to the Everglades. The
construction of STAs was mandated by the State of Florida’s Everglades
Forever Act with a primary goal of reducing the amount of phosphorus
that reaches the Everglades ecosystem. In time, these STAs will help
sawgrass replace cattail and return the entire ecosystem to a healthier
condition. The numerous levees, water control structures and monitoring
equipment within the STAs are critical to the success of the phosphorus
control program. Any damage to these facilities as a result of public
access could restrict the continued public use of these areas.
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Other Waterfowl Hunting Areas
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