Johnson Beach Access Management and Habitat Protection
Implementing Organization
US Department of the Interior
Overview
DWH Project Funding
$3,200,000
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
Habitat Restoration and Enhancement
Targeted Resources
Other
Project Description
This project will improve the beach-dune habitat of the two-mile stretch of barrier island along Johnson Beach Road in the Perdido Key Unit of Gulf Islands National Seashore by managing visitor access to the north and south shorelines. Specifically, the project will: - Replace all roadside parking along the narrow two-lane, two-mile road with three designated paved parking lots north of the road (in addition to the existing main parking lot) - Install post-and-rope fencing, primarily around the new parking areas, to guide visitors onto dune crossovers to access the shoreline and stay out of sensitive beach-dune habitat - Convert the easternmost 0.5 miles of the existing road to a narrower (12-foot wide) bicycle-pedestrian-only path - Replace 11 existing dune crossovers with eight new raised ones at the north and south ends of each new parking area, at the end of the new bicycle-pedestrian-only path, and at the main parking/pavilion area. The new crossovers will have handrails, educational signage, and be raised enough to allow wildlife to pass under them, thus increasing habitat functionality and connectivity in these areas. - Implement human and predator disturbance-deterrent measures such as: temporary closure (e.g. using symbolic fencing) of sensitive areas to protect habitat, wildlife, and nests (including pre-season posted areas suitable for nesting snowy plovers) and to prevent dune trampling and disturbance; speed humps at road crosswalks and other speed attenuation measures; handrails on dune crossovers; law enforcement patrols to address parking and speeding violations; trash collection and disposal, including predat...click on "More Info" link below
Contact
Nanciann Regalado(678) 296-6805
nanciann_regalado@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/