A new draft of the five-year update to the Gopher Tortoise Management Plan for the state is available for review. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is asking for public input.

The threatened gopher tortoise is classified as a keystone species, because its extensive burrows offer shelter to more than 350 other species such as the federally threatened eastern indigo snake. Gopher tortoises were identified more than 235 years ago by naturalist William Bartram as he explored Florida.

“Gopher tortoise burrows average 6.5 feet deep and 15 feet long, provide a home for hundreds of other species and offer great amenities: constant temperature, refuge from fires and bad weather, and protection from predators,” said Deborah Burr, the FWC’s gopher tortoise plan coordinator. “When gopher tortoises decline, so do the occupants of their burrows, such as indigo snakes, gopher frogs and burrowing owls.

“The revised draft Gopher Tortoise Management Plan for the first time addresses the total picture of the tortoise and its tenants,” Burr said.

The draft plan and link to comment on the plan are available at MyFWC.com/GopherTortoise. Public comment will be accepted on the draft plan through June 25. More than 100 individuals and stakeholders already have made suggestions on improving the original 2007 plan, through written input and a public meeting.

The draft revisions to the Gopher Tortoise Management Plan are scheduled to go before the FWC’s Commissioners at their Sept. 5-6 meeting.

The objectives of the draft plan are:

• Minimize loss of gopher tortoises by ensuring humane, responsible relocation from lands slated for development;
• Increase and improve species’ habitat;
• Enhance and restore populations where the species no longer occurs or has been severely depleted;
• Maintain its function as a keystone species by also conserving commensal species.

Florida’s first Gopher Tortoise Management Plan was approved by the FWC in 2007 and was scheduled to be updated five years later.

Under the original plan, Florida has made progress in slowing the decline of gopher tortoises by providing options to move tortoises off lands slated for development as well as opportunities for homeowners and landowners interested in conserving tortoises on their property.

Since 2007, the plan has restored and managed an annual average of 36,000 acres of gopher tortoise habitat, expanded protected tortoise habitat by more than 6,500 acres, and humanely relocated than 4,000 gopher tortoises from development sites to public and private properties that afford the species long-term conservation.

Stakeholders in the Gopher Tortoise Technical Assistance Group were instrumental in the development and implementation of the Gopher Tortoise Management Plan and continue to provide input during the plan’s revision process. Assistance group representatives come from a wide range of interests: industry, conservation, land development, state and local government, universities and research, commercial services, private landowners, large federal and state land managers, animal advocacy and the general public.

In Florida, it is illegal to harm gopher tortoises or their burrows.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will conduct regional workshops to present information on the management plan and permitting guidelines for gopher tortoises.

The goal of these workshops is to identify ways local governments can participate in protecting one of Florida’s threatened species. In addition, the FWC will discuss financial incentives available for local governments to help conserve gopher tortoises.

Scheduled for June 4, 5, 7 and 11 are workshops in Gilchrist, Orange, Hernando and St. Lucie counties. Representatives from neighboring counties are encouraged to attend. The workshops are free, but registration is required, as space is limited.

To register, please send your name and the name of your organization to Alexandra.Perryman@MyFWC.com.

Workshops will be held in additional counties in upcoming weeks. For more information, including the proposed draft revisions and public comment on the Gopher Tortoise Management Plan, visit MyFWC.com/GopherTortoise and click on “Management Plan.” Written comments on this draft plan will be accepted until June 25.

The FWC is lead manager of an area covering 2,923 acres represented by Lease No. 4245.

The purpose of this hearing is to receive public comment on a draft of a 10-year management plan the FWC is developing for the portion of the Okaloacoochee Slough WMA in Hendry County. Components of the draft management plan will be presented to the public, followed by a question-and-answer session and public testimony.

A management prospectus for the Okaloacoochee Slough Wildlife WMA is available upon request from the FWC’s Conservation Acquisition and Planning group. Call Rebecca Shelton at 850-487-9982, or Michael Hallock-Solomon at 850-487-9767, or email Rebecca.Shelton@MyFWC.com  for the prospectus. For more information, go to MyFWC.com/Conservation and select “Terrestrial Programs” then “Management Plans.”

Sarasota, along with Stuart/Martin County, Monroe County (Marathon and Key West), St. Augustine and St. Petersburg, was chosen as a site for a legislatively directed anchoring and mooring pilot program.

The goal of the program is to explore potential options for regulating the anchoring or mooring of non-live-aboard vessels outside the boundaries of public mooring fields. Among other things, this should help promote public access to Florida’s waters, enhance navigational safety and protect the marine environment.

The local government for each participant site is responsible for soliciting public input for its ordinance development process. The city of Sarasota held public input meetings to gather suggestions and information on local problems related to anchoring and mooring in the area.

The FWC’s role is to provide consultation and technical assistance. The Sarasota ordinance has been posted at MyFWC.com/Boating (click on “Anchoring & Mooring”). Members of the public are asked to provide comments through May 16. For more information on the pilot program, visit MyFWC.com/Boating (click on “Anchoring & Mooring”) or call 850-488-5600.

Flagler County is getting new manatee protection zones, which will be in effect from May 1 through Sept. 7 once signs are posted.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) worked closely with Flagler County and other stakeholders to establish zones on the Intracoastal Waterway that will improve manatee protection while limiting the impact on local businesses and boaters.

On Thursday, the Commissioners approved the new manatee conservation measure, which had been published and also discussed at a Feb. 29 public hearing in Bunnell.

“In summer, when the new manatee protection zones are in effect, the time needed for a boater to travel the entire length of the Intracoastal Waterway in Flagler County will increase by about 15 minutes,” said Kipp Frohlich, leader of the FWC’s Imperiled Species section.

There will be 2.7 miles of slow-speed zones on the 18.6 miles of Intracoastal Waterway channel within the county.

Manatee protection zones will be posted in these areas:

• near Hammock Dunes Parkway Bridge in Palm Coast;
• near Flagler Beach from the Highway 100 bridge to the Silver Lake area, including the Lehigh Canal; and
• in the vicinity of Gamble Rogers State Recreation Area.

Summer months are when manatees are most likely to be found in the Intracoastal Waterway in Flagler County, and that is also the time when increased boat traffic presents a greater risk of injury to manatees. As a result, the manatee protection zones in Flagler County will be in effect annually from May 1 through Sept. 7, to include Labor Day.

On Wednesday in Crystal River the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved, with one contingency, the city of St. Petersburg’s proposed boating ordinance for the anchoring and mooring pilot program coordinated by the FWC.

Local governments for the five communities participating in the pilot program are responsible for soliciting public input and adopting local ordinances within their jurisdictions. These ordinances must be approved by the FWC and will continue to be evaluated by the FWC and the Legislature. Since June 2011, when the final participant was selected for the program, FWC staff has been attending the sites’ public-input meetings to provide information on the pilot program.

“The city of St. Petersburg’s ordinance addresses local issues related to anchoring and mooring in the area, such as navigational safety, protecting marine infrastructure, promoting public access and deterring improperly stored, abandoned or derelict vessels,” said Maj. Jack Daugherty, leader of the FWC’s Boating and Waterways Section. “It also specifies penalties for violating the regulations.”

The ordinance prohibits hazardous vessels from anchoring in city of St. Petersburg waterways and prohibits any vessel from anchoring in a manner that would cause a navigational hazard or interfere with other vessels. It also restricts any vessel from anchoring within 200 feet of any marina or any publicly owned boat ramp. Anchoring is also prohibited in the Port of St. Petersburg, Central Yacht Basin and South Yacht Basin.

Commissioners discussed, asked questions and heard public comment, ultimately approving the ordinance with the contingency suggested by staff that no vessel shall anchor in Bayboro Harbor for more than 10 days out of any 30-day period. With this approval, the city can make the required changes and adopt the ordinance to make it effective. All ordinances adopted under the pilot program expire on July 1, 2014, unless re-enacted by the Legislature.

Public meetings have also been held in the other four participant sites: Monroe County, in coordination with the cities of Marathon and Key West; Stuart, in coordination with Martin County; and the city of Sarasota. The ordinances for St. Augustine have already been approved, and the developing ordinances from the remaining areas will be presented at future Commission meetings.

The goal of the anchoring and mooring pilot program is to explore potential options for regulating the anchoring or mooring of non-live-aboard vessels outside the boundaries of public mooring fields. The FWC’s role is to provide consultation and technical assistance on the issues. For more information on the pilot program, visit MyFWC.com/Boating or call 850-488-5600.

The Babcock-Webb shooting facility is the most popular of the FWC’s seven public ranges in the state, hosting more than 60,000 shooters last year. With its growing popularity, having a sufficient number of range safety officers on duty at peak-use times is central to the safety of shooters using the range, and it is the main reason for having to adjust its hours of operation.

As part of its process, the FWC is soliciting public comments on an adjustment proposal made by the Babcock-Webb Shooting Range Working Group. This group is composed of agency staff and local shooters who use the Babcock-Webb range. The FWC established the group several years ago to provide input on a variety of issues concerning management of the shooting range, one of which is public safety.

Presently, the range is open from sunup to sunset except for Mondays and Thursdays, when it opens at 10 a.m., after cleaning. It is also closed on Christmas, New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving and the Friday after Thanksgiving until noon.

The working group submitted for public comment and suggestions the following proposal for changes to the hours of operation.

• During Daylight Saving Time the range would be open on Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. until 7 p.m. On Mondays and Thursdays the range would be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• During Eastern Standard Time, the proposal is to operate the range on Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. On Mondays and Thursdays the range would be open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Closed days would include New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, the Friday after Thanksgiving until noon and Christmas.

“We don’t anticipate the new proposed operating hours will significantly affect those who use the range, but we’d like to have as much information about the public’s preferences before a final decision is made,” said John Weatherholt, FWC Hunter Safety Administrator for the Southwest Region.  

Please go to www.surveymonkey.com/s/webbrange to register your comments.

“In this continuing series of public meetings, we want to keep abreast of what business owners, property owners, anglers, hunters, bird watchers, airboaters and others who have a vested interest in the chain of lakes are thinking,” said Danielle Schobl, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) invasive plant management biologist.

Public input from the wide variety of user groups on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, which includes lakes Kissimmee, Hatchineha, Cypress, Jackson, Tohopekaliga and East Lake Tohopekaliga, is critical to maintaining a well-balanced approach to managing hydrilla and other invasive aquatic plants.

FWC staff will give overviews of the current status of hydrilla management, the status of emergent habitat management and a snail kite nesting update. After staff presentations, the public may ask questions about key areas of interest and provide comments about the conditions they desire. The FWC will continue to incorporate public input in developing future aquatic plant management plans for the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes.

“This ongoing process is part of a regular dialogue with stakeholders about aquatic plant management on the Kissimmee Chain. We hope everyone interested in aquatic plant management efforts will attend this meeting and provide input,” Schobl said.

For more details about the meeting, contact Danielle Schobl at 863-534-7074.

On the first day, following recognition of individual FWC employees for their marine fisheries conservation efforts, the focus shifts to the consent agenda, a report by FWC Executive Director Nick Wiley and staff updates on the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council.

Items on the marine fisheries agenda include final approval of amendments that would set the 2012 Gulf of Mexico recreational red snapper season, and three of the consent agenda items: the management of roundscale spearfish and language updates to reef fish recreational bag limits and to the Spiny Lobster Trap Certificate Program.

Roundscale spearfish harvest has been prohibited in state waters since 1999 because the fish rarely come into Florida waters. The consent agenda item on roundscale spearfish will align how Florida manages roundscale spearfish with recent changes to federal management efforts. The proposed final rule would allow harvest of roundscale spearfish, adding it to the marlin and sailfish one-fish bag and possession limit.

Also on the consent agenda are two draft rule items that propose updating rule language. These updates are part of a recent effort to clarify marine fisheries rules and make them easier to understand.

The first change will update the multi-day charter trip and off-water possession limits for reef fish. The Spiny Lobster Trap Certificate Program consent agenda item will make FWC rule match Florida Statute by shortening the length of time trap certificate fees can go unpaid before the certificate reverts back to the FWC and can no longer be reissued.

Hunting issues are also on the consent agenda. Staff will request approval of rules to expand gray squirrel season on private lands and, in concert with this change, to retain current gray squirrel seasons on wildlife management areas and environmental areas.

Next, the agenda turns to an anchoring and mooring pilot program ordinance for St. Petersburg. The city ordinance applies to anchoring or mooring non-live-aboard vessels outside the marked boundaries of public mooring fields. Approval by the Commission is required before the ordinance can be enforced.

Following that, staff will report on wild hog management in Florida and how it provides for hunting opportunities and other tools to control feral hogs.

Before recessing the May 2 portion of the two-day meeting, the public will be invited to comment on items not on the agenda.

The second day also starts with recognition of conservation excellence and a presentation of a Youth Hunting Program Landowner of the Year award.

Next on the agenda is a proposed rule to establish new state zones that limit allowable motorboat speeds in portions of Flagler County from May 1 to Sept. 7, remove existing zones in Flagler County that are a part of the Volusia County rule, and provide a reference to the location of maps illustrating the zones.

An update on the Central Everglades Restoration Project is next, followed by other staff reports and public comment on items not on the agenda.

Anyone requiring special accommodations to participate in the meeting should advise the FWC at least five calendar days prior to the May 2 meeting by contacting the FWC's Office of Human Resources at 850-488-6411. If you are hearing- or speech-impaired, contact the FWC using the Florida Relay Service at 800-955-8771 (TDD) or 800-955-8770 (voice).

To see the full agenda and links to background reports, go to MyFWC.com/Commission.

The revised draft Black Bear Management Plan is available online at MyFWC.com/Bear and is ready for public input. It incorporates previous public feedback on the nearly 200-page draft plan released last November. The public is invited to comment on the revised draft plan through June 1.

About 2,500 public comments were received on the original draft plan, which establishes for the first time a statewide framework to manage Florida black bears to ensure they are never again at high risk of extinction. Public workshops on the draft plan were held in four cities, in addition to the opportunity for people to comment online and by email or regular mail.

Last February, FWC Commissioners directed staff to further refine and revise the draft plan and give careful consideration to stakeholder and public input. At their upcoming June meeting, the Commissioners are scheduled to consider approval of the revised draft plan.

Once the plan receives final approval, the black bear will no longer be on the state’s list of threatened species. The bear currently does not meet the criteria of being at high risk of extinction, based on a 2011 Biological Status Review.

In June, the Commission also will consider a new FWC rule making it unlawful to injure or kill bears, protections similar to the ones granted to bears as a threatened species. The proposed rule additionally affirms the FWC will work with landowners and regulating agencies to guide future land use to be compatible with objectives of the bear plan. That proposed rule, as well as an FWC rule change to remove the bear from the state’s threatened species list, is currently being advertised in the Florida Administrative Weekly.

Seven black bear management units (BMUs) would be created under the plan to involve local citizens and stakeholder groups in the management of specific bear populations and habitats.

The black bear is among 62 wildlife species that soon will join the list of Florida species, like the bald eagle, already under an FWC management plan. Florida’s new threatened species conservation model requires that management plans will be created for all species that have been state-listed and updated at specified intervals. The management plans give citizens an active role in Florida’s efforts to conserve its diverse wildlife for future generations.