Project Page

Beach and Dune Habitat Protection at Gulf Islands National Seashore

Implementing Organization

US Department of the Interior

Overview

DWH Project Funding

$853,821

Known Leveraged Funding

$0

Funding Organization

Natural Resource Damage Assessment Trustees (NRDA)

Funding Program

Natural Resource Damage Assessment NRDA

Details

Project Category

Environmental

Project Actions

Habitat Restoration and Enhancement

Targeted Resources

Other

Project Description

The project will protect beach-dune habitat and associated wildlife in the Perdido Key, Fort Pickens, and Santa Rosa areas at Gulf Islands National Seashore (GUIS) from three different threats: 1) human disturbance; 2) vehicle collisions on paved roads; and 3) predators. The project will last for three years. Specifically, this project will: 1) identify sensitive areas and use both temporary symbolic fencing and permanent post-and-rope fencing to close those areas to protect habitat, wildlife, and bird nests, and to prevent dune trampling; 2) if feasible, establish wildlife viewing areas at the edge of major bird colonies; 3) educate visitors on habitats and wildlife (including breeding birds) with public outreach materials provided at the entrance stations, such as score cards of hatches and mortality; 4) set up temporary signage and speed bumps and establish law enforcement patrols to monitor and control speeding vehicles and reduce vehicle collisions with wildlife; 5) implement predator management techniques such as perch deterrents and enclosures around bird and turtle nests; 6) survey animal burrows, bird nests, and colonies for predator activity and human disturbance; and 7) monitor bird nest success and fledging rates. This information will provide insights into causes of mortality and allow for adaptive management throughout the project by identifying the most effective closure areas and protection methods.

Contact

Mark Van Mouwerik
(970) 420-4734
mark_vanmouwerik@nps.gov
Project Website
Project Partners

None

Affiliated Institutions

For official trustee information regarding the Deepwater Horizon NRDA, including information regarding the NRDA process and the status of projects, see https://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/

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