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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/
2.
Gopher Tortoises
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.
Volusia
County's Draft
Gopher Tortoise Protection Ordinance is being developed and will be
available on this site when complete. To view the Florida
Wildlife Conservation Commission's gopher tortoise
management plan follow the link.
3. Bald Eagles
4. Manatees
5. Ospreys
6. 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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Copyright © 2001 Volusia County, Florida.
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