MANAGEMENT PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Management Authority and Responsibility

The Pinellas County Department of Environmental Management, Division of Environmental Lands, is charged with the responsibility of administering the Shell Key Preserve Management Plan. In fact, the Department of Environmental Management created the Division of Environmental Lands for the purpose of managing important natural areas for their beneficial functions and for the public’s enjoyment of those resources. The Shell Key Preserve is managed in accordance with these principles. The Division of Environmental Lands includes three sections - Land Management, Education and Research, and all three are utilized in managing the preserve. This division currently manages many environmental lands within Pinellas County, such as the 8500-acre Brooker Creek Preserve and the 1500-acre Weedon Island Preserve.

The Department of Environmental Management also includes the technical support of several other sections that are involved in the implementation of this plan. Staff for the Pinellas County Water and Navigation Control Authority are housed within the same Department and they provide personnel experienced in coastal and submerged ecosystems. The Authority was created by Special Act 31182, Laws of Florida, and brings its powers to this plan as well. In addition, the Department of Environmental Management also includes sections that can assist with any permitting required to implement this plan and sections that can assist with any water quality issues that may arise. The Pinellas County Department of Real Estate Management also supports this plan with staff to research and implement any land purchases and the Pinellas County Department of Coastal Management within Public Works assists with the placement of any signage or channel markers within the waterway. Decisions regarding management of the preserve are made in accordance with the resource management and public use components of this plan. Concurrence from other agencies, such as the Florida Department of Environmental Protection or the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and other user groups, such as the St. Petersburg or National Audubon society and recreational boaters, will be sought where appropriate.

Management Coordination

The Shell Key Preserve is managed by Pinellas County in accordance with this management plan and all applicable Florida Statutes and administrative rules as well as in conformance with Pinellas County laws and policies for public lands. The vast majority of the preserve is within public ownership, being owned by either Pinellas County or the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund. Agencies and groups having a role in the management of this area are discussed below.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection approves this management plan and all activities within the leased areas outside of the scope of the management plan. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission assists Pinellas County in determining and posting appropriate boundaries of the core bird protection areas. In addition, both above agencies provide technical expertise to assist in managing the preserve. The St. Petersburg and National Audubon Societies currently assist in providing volunteer staffing and expertise for the installation of signage or barriers and the monitoring of the island. The Tampa Bay Estuary Program currently assists with grant money for seagrass signage (a project that was underway and subsequently delayed to coincide with this management plan) and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Department Marine Unit is the primary agency for enforcement. The Florida Marine Patrol also has jurisdiction within this area. When possible, other volunteer groups are solicited for assistance in managing the preserve.

A great deal of emphasis was placed on involving all user groups in the drafting of this plan. A list of groups and individuals represented on the original Shell Key Preserve Advisory Committee is included in Addendum 3. This group was convened in order to assist with the drafting of a management plan that represents as many interests as possible. In order to summarize the progress of the plan and the types of comments received, minutes from the committee meetings are included in Addendum 4 along with a chart summarizing the major issues addressed in the drafting of the plan.

The Anclote Key State Preserve Unit Management Plan, approved in 1998 by the State of Florida, was used as a template for the drafting of the Shell Key Preserve Management Plan. Due to the similarity in ecosystems and uses, much of the information and format was taken from that plan. Approval of this management plan by the Trustees in no way waives the authority and/or jurisdiction of any state or government entity that may have an interest in this project.

Other Designations

The Shell Key Preserve is not designated as a Critical Wildlife Area as defined in Section 380.05, Florida Statutes. It was recommended for this designation by staff of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, however, it was decided to first attempt to protect the natural resources of the area through the Aquatic Preserve program and a management plan. The site lies completely within the Boca Ciega Bay Aquatic Preserve which was designated as an aquatic preserve under the provisions of the Florida Aquatic Preserve Act of 1975 (section 258.35, Florida Statutes).

Most of the waters within the preserve are designated as Outstanding Florida Waters, pursuant to Chapter 62-302 Florida Administrative Code. Administered by the Department of Environmental Protection, this program was created by Section 403.061, Florida Statutes, to address water bodies that are "worthy of special protection because of their natural attributes".

The Land Use Map in the Pinellas County Comprehensive Plan identifies Shell Key as a Preservation Area to remain in essentially a natural state. In addition, the submerged lands within the preserve are managed consistent with the laws and policies of the Fort DeSoto Aquatic Habitat Management Area where natural resource protection is the main objective, but where public uses consistent with resource initiatives are also allowed.

Other significant land and water resources exist in the vicinity of the preserve to the south in Ft. DeSoto Park and in the Ft. DeSoto Park Aquatic Management Area. The Pinellas National Wildlife Refuge, managed by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is within one mile east of the Shell Key Preserve, however, the urbanized island of Tierra Verde lies between it and Shell Key. The aerial photograph in Figure 3, shows the resources immediately surrounding the preserve.

Optimum Boundary

As additional needs are identified through use, development, and research, and as adjacent land uses change on private properties, modification of the preserve’s boundary may occur for the enhancement of natural and cultural resources, public uses and management efficiency. At this time, there is no plan to extend the boundary for the Shell Key Preserve shown in Figure 3 and which is currently believed to be the optimum boundary for managing this area. This boundary was established to provide for cohesive management of an ecologically sensitive area which has natural boundaries from the mainland to the east, Bunces Pass to the south and the Gulf of Mexico to the west. The northern boundary is set by Collany Island and existing boating channels. The preserve is intended to border and compliment the Ft. DeSoto Aquatic Habitat Management Area to the south and its boundaries were placed to allow for appropriate management of activities affecting the barrier island and surrounding habitat and to accommodate changes in the geomorphology of Shell Key.

No surplus lands have been identified within the preserve.

Existing Use of Adjacent Lands

An assessment of the conditions that exist beyond the boundaries of the preserve can identify any special development problems or opportunities that exist because of the area’s unique setting or environment. This also provides an opportunity to deal systematically with various planning issues such as location, adjacent land uses and the area’s interaction with other facilities.

The adjoining portion of Tierra Verde to the east is developed with single-family residential properties. At the north end of the preserve, there is commercial property that is mostly undeveloped at this time. This includes an existing restaurant, Collany Island (a mostly undeveloped island) and an undeveloped tract for which a high-and-dry marina is currently proposed. North of this is the heavily urbanized areas of Tierra Verde and Passe-a-Grille Beach. Overall, Tierra Verde is heavily developed and consists mainly of single-family and multi-use residential properties with some commercially developed areas. Two large marinas are located to the north of the preserve. The southern boundary of the preserve is bordered by Bunces Pass and south of the pass lies the Ft. DeSoto Aquatic Management Area, a large seagrass protection zone managed by Pinellas County. South of this is Ft. DeSoto Park, a Pinellas County Park, that contains an extremely active boat ramp, campground and fishing piers. The park also has a strong historical element. To the west of Shell Key is the open Gulf of Mexico.

Within the preserve itself, there is no development except for a structure on Panama Key that houses the Pinellas Marine Institute.

Planned Use of Adjacent Lands

Land uses surrounding the preserve are not expected to change drastically. Approximately 50% of the single-family lots on the shoreline to the east are currently vacant and these can be expected to be developed in the near future. In association with this, approximately ten to fifteen more single-family docks can be expected on this shoreline. It is expected that the vacant commercial tracts at the north end of the preserve will be developed with some type of commercial water-dependent use. Most of the rest of Tierra Verde is near build out.

The waterways surrounding the preserve are heavily used by recreational boaters. Recreational boating in Pinellas County has grown tremendously over the years and is expected to continue to increase. Currently, there are over 55,000 boats registered in Pinellas County alone. It is expected that the Shell Key area will continue to be a popular destination for boaters.