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Important Information for Coastal Property Owners
- Rebuilding Sand Dunes: By building back sand dunes that have been damaged from storms or human activity, you protect your home as well as those of the animals that share this environment with you. You can rebuild and protect dunes in several ways:
- Plants anchor the dune thereby allowing it to grow as sand gets trapped in the plant stems. Sea oats (Uniola paniculata) should be planted first and cover 60-80% of the total area. Bitter panicum (Panicum amarium) can be planted in the remaining areas. Seedlings should be planted at least 6' deep and 24' apart in alternate staggered rows in early spring or fall.
- Sand fencing, particularly the wood slat type, also traps wind driven sand. However to maximize benefit, it is important the fence is continually raised. The fence, usually 2-4 high, must also be placed so as to not impede the paths of sea turtles. Contact us for detailed information. Sand Fence installation requires a permit from the DEP.
- Construct and Use Dune Walkovers permit required
- Lighting Compliance: During sea turtle season (May 1-Oct. 31) lights illuminating the beach can disrupt nesting and hatching turtles. Monitoring data for St. Joseph Peninsula beaches indicates marine turtles nest more frequently on dark beaches than lighted ones. Equally, hatchlings emerging on a dark beach are less likely to become disoriented and end up in a parking lot or road, dehydrated, or eaten by a raccoon, ghost crab, or birds.
 Note how much darker the beach is on the right where property owners complied with local lighting ordinances.
Gulf Coast Conservation Association has a program to assist local property owners with lighting compliance inspections and an annual mail-out prior to season. Note: Any light source that is directly visible from the beach is considered a violation. When a light violation has been identified, efforts are made to assist owners to correct the problem. Any violations not corrected are turned over to Gulf County Code Enforcement for further action.
Look for these Turtle-Friendly Properties on Cape San Blas:
Barrier Dunes
Beach Cliff
Do Me Good
Fantasy Five
Greenhouse
Hilton House
Hooper House |
My-Place
Parador
Pelican
R-Place
Rish Park
Sandscape
Sunrise-Sunset #A-5 | |
Help Us Reduce Hatchling Disorientations
- Exterior lights that can not be turned off for safety reasons can be shielded with foil or painted with black, heat resistant, oven paint on the beach facing side.
- Low wattage, yellow lights (preferably low pressure sodium vapor lights) are less attractive to the turtles and are good replacements for white lights.
- Closed blinds and curtains can shield bright interior lights that would normally shine on the beach.
- Inform your property manager if you notice lights that are too bright.
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