Protected Species Permitting

 
Danielle Dangleman
ddangleman@co.volusia.fl.us		 386-736-5927 x2734

There are a number of protected species that may occur on lands within Volusia County. The County’s permitting process requires that you provide additional documentation for any protected species found on your parcel prior to issuance of County permits.   It is the county's goal to help the public work in cooperation with any other governing bodies, whether Federal or State, to take the appropriate steps in the permit process regarding protected species.  Please contact our office prior to clearing or building on any parcel if you are unsure of the existence of protected species.

Listed below are some of the species that will require additional permitting through Federal and/or State agencies.  These species are protected by Federal and/or State law. 

  1. Florida scrub-jays 

Protocols: Volusia County, in cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, has created a system that will notify permit applicants how to avoid activities that may violate the United States Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act) with regards to Florida scrub-jays.

Maps: The parcels in red are identified by Florida Natural Areas Inventory (FNAI) and/or Volusia County Environmental Management (VCEM) as Landcover with Florida scrub-jays.  Prior to the issuance of any permits for these parcels, a scrub-jay survey* will be required by Volusia County. 

Parcels in blue are identified by FNAI and/or VCEM as Scrub Natural Communities (oak scrub, sand pine scrub, scrubby flatwoods, xeric hammock, coastal strand.)  These parcels may be occupied by the Florida scrub-jay*.  Prior to the issuance of any permits, VCEM may require that a scrub-jay survey be carried out on. 

Prior legally permitted activities within red or blue areas may exempt a parcel from the review process.

Also, there is the potential for scrub-jays to occur on sites not identified by red or blue in the FNAI survey.  Since the 2004 hurricanes, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service  has suggested that scrub jays may occupy sites where they were not previously recorded; therefore, if scrub oaks are identified on site there is the potential for the occurrence of scrub-jays.

* See Volusia County protocols for the type of survey required.  Information on requirements for FWS Florida scrub-jay surveys can be found on http://northflorida.fws.gov/

  1. Gopher Tortoises 

Volusia County's Draft Gopher Tortoise Protection Ordinance is being developed and will be available on this site when complete. Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission's gopher tortoise draft  management plan has been adopted, as well as the approval of listing the species as Threatened by the FWC Commissioners on September 12, 2007 . This is of course not the end of a process but the beginning of the plan implementation that FWC intends to progress rapidly.  We anticipate that stakeholders will continue to have an important role as the plan is implemented.

Effective 8 Nov 2007   
68A-27.004

The gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus), the listing status having been revised after June 23, 1999 , is hereby declared to be threatened, and shall be afforded the protective provisions specified in this subsection. No person shall take, attempt to take, pursue, hunt, harass, capture, possess, sell or transport any gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) or parts thereof or their eggs, or molest, damage, or destroy gopher tortoise burrows, except as authorized by Commission permit or when complying with Commission approved guidelines for specific actions which may impact gopher tortoises and their burrows. A gopher tortoise burrow is a tunnel with a cross-section that closely approximates the shape of a gopher tortoise. Permits will be issued based upon whether issuance would further management plan goals and objectives.

Adoption news release can be viewed by clicking here.

  1. Bald Eagles

  2. Manatees

  3. Ospreys

  4. Sea Turtles

PLEASE NOTE species other than those listed above may require additional permits.  Permits are required for most land clearing activities.   Please visit the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission web site for a complete list of protected species in Volusia County.  

Agency contact information:

U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service
North Florida Field Office
6620 Southpoint Drive South, Suite 310
Jacksonville, FL 32216-0958
Phone: (904)232-2580
Fax: (904)232-2404

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