Shell
Key Preserve - Update
The 2007
Shell Key Preserve Management Plan
has been approved by the Pinellas County
Board of County Commissioners and the Florida
Department of Environmental Protection's
Acquisition and Restoration Council (ARC).
The Environmental Lands Division is developing
regulatory signs and informational brochures
that define the new rules of the Preserve.
The recently approved rules are currently
in effect, though Pinellas County Sheriff's
Deputies will use their discretion in issuing
warnings to violators during a two-month
grace period. This approach will allow
visitors an opportunity to get accustomed
to the new rules.
Please review all of the updated 2007
Shell Key Preserve Management Plan concerning resource management and public
uses to avoid receiving a warning or fine
for violation of the rules. Some major
changes to the rules include:
- Pets
and other domestic animals, including
dogs, are prohibited in the Preserve
at all times in accordance with Ordinance
2-6.
- The
possession and/or consumption of
alcoholic beverages is prohibited in
the Preserve (including islands and waterways)
in accordance with Ordinance 2-6.
- All
overnight camping will require a
permit issued by the County and limited
to the southern public use area of Shell
Key. The camping permit program will
be developed by County staff and stakeholders
before May 2008.
- The
former public use area located mid-island
has been closed and incorporated
into the Bird Preservation Area (BPA).
If you have any questions please feel
free to contact us at:
Pinellas County Environmental
Lands Division
3620 Fletch Haven Drive
Tarpon Springs,
FL 34688
phone: (727)-453-6900
email: shellkeypreserve@pinellascounty.org
Shell Key Preserve
- Overview
Shell Key Preserve
was established in 2000 through a lease
agreement with the Florida Department of
Environmental Protection (FDEP). The
2000 Shell Key Preserve
Management Plan was adopted in October
2000 by the Pinellas County Board of County
Commissioners (BOCC) and the FDEP. The lease
agreement requires that the property be managed “only
for the conservation and protection of natural
and historical resources and for resource-based
public outdoor activities and education which
are compatible with the conservation and
protection of these public lands”. This 1,800-acre Preserve includes one of the County's largest undeveloped barrier islands (Shell Key) as well as numerous mangrove islands and expansive sea grass beds. Shell Key has been designated as one of the State's most important areas for shorebird nesting and wintering and it serves as an important study area for these species. It also is an important area for recreation. A balance for both uses was established by restricting public use to the northern and southern ends of the island. A central core area for conservation is off-limits to the public. Boating, camping, and beach-going activities are permitted in public use areas of the Preserve.
Shell
Key Preserve – Management
Plan Update Chronology
An update of the Plan was conducted in 2007.
Pinellas County's Environmental Lands Division
(ELD) held three public meetings in which
stakeholders and interested citizens were
invited to participate by suggesting updates
to the 2000 Shell Key Preserve Management
Plan. The first meeting was held on February
20, 2007 at the Weedon Island Preserve Cultural
and Natural History Center and 16 people
attended, including County staff. The second
meeting was held on March 20, 2007 at Tampa
Bay Watch and 25 people attended, including
County staff. The third meeting was held
on April 25, 2007 at Tampa Bay Watch and
was attended by 125 people, including County
staff. Through this process a list of suggestions was
developed.
The first draft of the Plan was written
by County staff and was sent to members of
the Shell
Key Advisory Group and
the Environmental
Science Forum (ESF)
for review on July 25, 2007. The Plan was
made available to the public for review on
July 30, 2007.
The ESF approved the draft plan with a few
recommendations.
These recommendations were presented to the
County at the ESF meeting on August 9, 2007.
The Shell Key Advisory Group public meeting
was held on August 29, 2007. More than 130
people attended to comment on the draft Plan.
Comments
from all participants were recorded.
ELD staff compiled all stakeholder comments
received on the draft Plan and made revisions
accordingly. The Pinellas County Board of
County Commission (BOCC) reviewed the revised
version of this draft Plan. The Plan was
presented to the BOCC on September 15, 2007
at a workshop in which the public was invited
to comment. The BOCC offered no recommended
changes to the Plan at this workshop. The
2007
Shell Key Preserve Management Plan was unanimously approved by the BOCC at their
regular meeting on October 2, 2007.
On December 14, 2007, the Florida Department
of Environmental Protection's Acquisition
and Restoration Council unanimously approved
the 2007 Shell Key
Preserve Management Plan. |
