CAMPING
PERMIT
Shell
Key Preserve - Update
The 2007
Shell Key Preserve Management Plan
was approved by the Pinellas County
Board of County Commissioners and the Florida
Department of Environmental Protection's
Acquisition and Restoration Council (ARC)
in December 2007. The Environmental Lands
Division has developed regulatory signs
and informational brochures that define
the new rules of the Preserve.
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
08-29.
- The
possession and/or consumption of
alcoholic beverages is prohibited in
the Preserve (including islands and waterways)
in accordance with Ordinance 08-29.
- All
overnight camping requires a
permit issued by the County and limited
to the southern public use area of Shell
Key. CAMPING PERMIT
- The
former public use area located mid-island
has been closed and incorporated
into the Bird Preservation Area (BPA).
Click
here to view map.
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 seagrass beds. Shell Key has
been designated as one of the State's most
important areas for shorebird nesting and
wintering. 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 its 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. |
