PCB Lighting Dec Janet Mizzi & Lorna Patrick U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Panama City, Florida December 2007 The Benefits of a Beachfront Lighting Ordinance on Panama City Beaches

PCB Lighting Dec The ordinance will minimize effects of the nourishment project The benefits of a beachfront lighting ordinance Beach nourishment = a wider and higher beach. The first few years after nourishment turtles nest closer to the water because the beach is wider and flatter. Water Land

PCB Lighting Dec The benefits of a beachfront lighting ordinance The turtles are exposed to more beachfront lighting Brevard County, FL % increased disorientations in the nourished area; disorientations on beaches not nourished remained constant same result was when another beach in the County was nourished and the disorientations increased by 480%. Ocean Ridge, Palm Beach County, FL, , % of disorientations in nourished area % of disorientations in nourished area Bay County, ,2004, 2005 No Controls

PCB Lighting Dec The benefits of a beachfront lighting ordinance The existing Bay County pilot ordinance worked Disorientations of sea turtle hatchlings have been reduced Difference between the number of disoriented nests within and outside the ordinance area

PCB Lighting Dec Cost sharing is available to change out lights on existing properties FWS Partners - Of the total $177,000, $33,750 have been provided in Bay County FL Sea turtle license plate – local gov’t may apply for funds for changing lighting on their properties FWS Private Lands stewardship – Larger grant awards to individual property owners Ramsgate: balcony and underneath parking lights The Shores: pool and balcony lights Pinnacle Port: pool, balcony lights, in progress parking lot lights Sugar Sands motel: balcony lights, deck and walkway lights The benefits of a beachfront lighting ordinance

PCB Lighting Dec Bay County & PCB will be consistent with the rest of coastal Florida 63% of all coastal counties that have turtle nesting and 47 municipalities have ordinances SANTA ROSA COUNTY The benefits of a beachfront lighting ordinance

PCB Lighting Dec Bay County & PCB will be consistent with the rest of coastal Florida Join NW Florida in sharing the responsibility Franklin County 1998Franklin County 1998 Gulf County 2001Gulf County 2001 City of Mexico Beach 2001City of Mexico Beach 2001 City of Destin 2004City of Destin 2004 Santa Rosa County 2005Santa Rosa County 2005 Escambia County (being drafted)Escambia County (being drafted) Walton County (being drafted)Walton County (being drafted) Bay County pilot 2002Bay County pilot 2002 The benefits of a beachfront lighting ordinance

PCB Lighting Dec Human safety and security are addressed; lighting regulations can be met in most situations No evidence that implementation of sea turtle lighting has resulted in an increase of crime or accidents Sarasota County 3 Gulf front beach patrol zones – 1996 – 2001; ordinance went into effect 1997 The benefits of a beachfront lighting ordinance

PCB Lighting Dec Human safety and security will be assured; lighting regulations can be met New developments are able to meet sea turtle lighting and regulatory requirements when properly planned Existing developments – solution provide limited regulatory relief “Existing developments that can not meet lighting level regulations with standard sea turtle lighting shall use sea turtle lights supplemented with full cut-off high pressure sodium lighting to minimize lighting that may illuminate the beach." The benefits of a beachfront lighting ordinance

PCB Lighting Dec Light on the ground Not up in the sky where it causes glare and is wasted Reduces lighting pollution of the night sky Enhances vision by placing light where needed The benefits of a beachfront lighting ordinance

PCB Lighting Dec Go Green & Profit by it Incandescent bulbs = 1,000 hrs CF bulbs = 6,000 -8,000 hrs LEDs = 50,000 – 100,000 hrs Low pressure sodium LPS = 12,000 – 18,000 hrs The benefits of a beachfront lighting ordinance Reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. Sea turtle light bulbs are energy efficient, saves energy and money

PCB Lighting Dec Ecotourism is and is a fast-growing sector of Florida tourism. Tourists: are interested in the environmental issues relevant to the destinations; want to learn about the issues both before they travel and while they are at their destination; seek pristine environments to visit and that their trip will not damage local ecosystems; and are interested in patronizing hotels that protect the local environment and view local environmental and social stewardship as a responsibility of the businesses they support. Add a market of eco-friendly travelers to our visitors. Go Green & Profit by it The benefits of a beachfront lighting ordinance Become a certified Wildlife Lighting Development, free advertisement on FWC website and use of logo for marketing

PCB Lighting Dec Proposed ordinance: New & Existing developments Provide more flexibility in use of turtle lights Add roadway, parking lot, signs and other infrastructure or development associated lights for clarity Add window film as an option Existing developments where qualified allow a combination of turtle and HPS lights voluntary interior light reduction Pilot ordinance: Provide more flexibility in use of turtle lights where qualified allow a combination of turtle and HPS lights Proposed Ordinance and/or use pilot ordinance with a few revisions The benefits of a beachfront lighting ordinance

PCB Lighting Dec Revise proposed ordinance or expand the pilot lighting ordinance (with a few revisions) and minimize beachfront lighting impacts to nesting and hatchling sea turtles across the beaches of Bay CountyRevise proposed ordinance or expand the pilot lighting ordinance (with a few revisions) and minimize beachfront lighting impacts to nesting and hatchling sea turtles across the beaches of Bay County Provides lighting for safety and security where neededProvides lighting for safety and security where needed Addresses conflicts in regulatory lighting issuesAddresses conflicts in regulatory lighting issues Allows flexibility for property owners and managersAllows flexibility for property owners and managers This is a balanced approach The benefits of a beachfront lighting ordinance

PCB Lighting Dec The benefits of a beachfront lighting ordinance We appreciate the opportunity to provide comments and are available to answer questions during the workshop