Long Term Nesting Habitat Protection for Sea Turtles
Implementing Organization
US Department of the Interior
Overview
DWH Project Funding
$7,500,000
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
Species Restoration
Targeted Resources
Sea Turtles
Project Description
This project will protect high-density nesting beach habitat and enhance sea turtle hatchling productivity and survival at Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge (ACNWR) located on the Atlantic Coast of Florida. ACNWR hosts the highest nesting density beach habitat in the western hemisphere for loggerhead sea turtles. It is also the most significant area for green sea turtle nesting in North America, and is becoming increasingly important nesting habitat for leatherback sea turtles. The sandy shorelines at ACNWR serve as nesting habitat for sea turtles that spend a portion of their lives in the Gulf of Mexico. The project will provide strategic protection of priority parcels by working with willing sellers to: • minimize fragmentation; • reduce risk of additional coastal armoring (e.g. rip rap, rock walls, sheet metal pilings); and • contribute to overall sea turtle protection, conservation and management objectives. The Trustees will work with multiple partners to implement the project. We expect that additional funding sources will be leveraged to meet overall ACNWR protection goals. We will pursue acquisition of priority parcels through either fee-simple acquisition or less-than-fee easement acquisition from willing sellers. Conservation of this valuable habitat will reduce human-caused disturbances and future threats, and support sea turtle hatchling survival. The project will target green and loggerhead sea turtles but will also benefit an abundance of coastal resources. Activities in years one through three will focus on property acquisition including property appraisals, due diligence tasks, and negotiations with willing...click on "More Info" link below
Contact
Luke Anthis(251) 517-8002
luke_anthis@fws.gov
Project Website
None
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/