The Florida Trustee Implementation Group invites you to submit project ideas for restoration in Florida.
For our upcoming Restoration Plan 2, we would like your input regarding restoration of a range of natural resources:
- Habitat projects on federally-managed lands.
- Oysters, sea turtles, marine mammals, and birds.
- We will also consider project ideas that enhance recreational fishing opportunities.
Click the “Florida Restoration Plan 2 Project Idea Submission Guidelines" link below for more detailed information about the goals, restoration types, approaches, techniques, natural resources and specific species we will consider. Links to the project suggestion portals are also in the expanded text below.
We will accept project ideas through September 20, 2019.
The Florida Trustee Implementation Group will accept project ideas for the upcoming Restoration Plan 2 until September 20, 2019. Ideas should focus on the following goals and restoration types as described in the Trustees’ Programmatic Restoration Plan (specific sections to reference are identified under each listed goal):
Goal: Restore and Conserve Habitat
- Restoration Type: Habitat Projects on Federally Managed Lands: focuses on the habitats that were injured on lands managed by federal agencies, which in Florida includes restoration of dunes and beaches at Gulf Islands National Seashore and St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge. (Programmatic Restoration Plan Sections 5.5.3 and 5.D.1)
Goal: Replenish and Protect Living Coastal and Marine Resources
- Restoration Type: Oysters: will address the range of injuries to oysters, emphasizing projects that address recruitment issues. For this restoration plan, we are requesting project ideas that address development and implementation of habitat suitability studies. (Programmatic Restoration Plan Sections 5.5.9 and the Strategic Framework for Oyster Restoration Activities)
- Restoration Type: Sea Turtles: will address the key threats to sea turtles and emphasize activities that are consistent with their recovery plans. For this restoration plan, we are requesting project submissions that address the following:
- Florida Panhandle (from Escambia to Franklin County) only:
- Reducing beachfront lighting by implementing programs and coordinating with local municipalities to minimize artificial lighting visible from the nesting beach.
- Statewide:
- Removal of abandoned or derelict fishing gear or other permanent/semi-permanent materials that create an entanglement or entrapment risk to sea turtles or that act as barriers to sea turtle nesting.
- Evaluating, developing, and implementing conservation measures to reduce sea turtle bycatch in pier- and shore-based recreational fisheries.
- Activities that minimize sea turtle vessel strikes in areas of critical importance for sea turtles and areas previously identified as vessel strike hot spots.
- Characterize the scale and potential impacts of commercial and recreational fisheries in Florida relative to sea turtle bycatch.
- Florida Panhandle (from Escambia to Franklin County) only:
(Programmatic Restoration Plan Sections 5.5.10, 5.D.4.1, 5.D.4.3, 5.D.4.4, and 5.D.4.7 and the Strategic Framework for Sea Turtle Restoration Activities Module 4 – Approach 1: Technique 5, Approach 3: Techniques 2 and 6, Approach 4: Technique 1, Approach 6: Technique 6, and Approach 7: Technique 2)
- Restoration Type: Marine Mammals: will address stressors that cause mortality (death) and morbidity (illness that reduces fitness) to marine mammal stocks. For this restoration plan, we are requesting project submissions that address the following:
- Reducing lethal and harmful impacts on dolphins from hook-and-line fishing activities and related mortalities from retaliation.
- Addressing gaps and enhance capacity in the current capabilities of the Marine Mammal Stranding Network throughout the Gulf of Mexico to improve timeliness of response and diagnosis of illness and cause of death.
- Improve the ability of stranding network partners to detect and rescue free-swimming marine mammals that are entangled, entrapped, or out of habitat.
- Reducing lethal and harmful impacts on dolphins from illegal feeding activities by effectively changing human behaviors.
(Programmatic Restoration Plan Sections 5.5.11, 5.D.5.2, 5.D.5.3, 5.D.5.5, and 5.D.5.7 and the Strategic Framework for Marine Mammals Restoration Activities Module 4 - Approach 2.3: Technique 2.3.1, Approach 2.4: Techniques 2.4.1 and 2.4.4, and Approach 2.6: Technique 2.6.1)
- Restoration Type: Birds: will enhance bird reproductive success and survival. For this restoration plan, we are requesting project submissions that address the following:
- Shorebirds:
- Nesting and foraging area stewardship.
- American Oystercatchers:
- Create or enhance intertidal oyster shell rakes and beds.
- Pelicans/Wading Birds:
- Enhance habitat through vegetation management.
- Nesting and foraging area stewardship.
- Provide or enhance artificial nest sites.
- Create or enhance coastal wetlands through placement of dredged material.
- Restore or construct barrier and coastal islands and headlands via placement of dredged sediments.
- Acquire lands for conservation.
- Develop and implement management actions in conservation areas and/or restoration projects.
- Translocate chicks and/or attracting breeding adults to restoration sites.
- Shorebirds:
(Programmatic Restoration Plan Sections 5.5.12 and 5.D.6.1 and the Strategic Framework for Bird Restoration Activities Module 4 - Approaches 1 and 2)
Goal: Provide and Enhance Recreational Opportunities
- Restoration Type: Provide and Enhance Recreational Opportunities: provides recreational opportunities through infrastructure, access and education. For this restoration plan, we are requesting project submissions that enhance recreational fishing opportunities. (Programmatic Restoration Plan Sections 5.5.14 and 5.D.8)
More Information
Additional information about these restoration types is available in Chapter 5 of the programmatic restoration plan and the Strategic Frameworks for Oysters, Sea Turtles, Marine Mammals, and Birds. In particular, please refer to Chapter 5 sections 5.5.3, 5.5.9 – 5.5.12, and 5.5.14 and Appendix D sections 5.D.1, 5.D.4, 5.D.5, 5.D.6, and 5.D.8 for guidance on our goals, restoration strategies, and implementation considerations for each of these restoration types.
We may choose to focus on a subset of these restoration types as planning progresses. In addition, we may apply the following additional criteria to evaluate proposed ideas:
- Restoration projects will seek to leverage other restoration projects and activities, including, but not limited to, Deepwater Horizon early restoration, RESTORE Act and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund.
Submit Your Project Ideas
You may submit a new project idea or a revision of a previously submitted project idea through the Trustee Council’s portal or the Deepwater Horizon Florida portal. We will also consider projects that pertain to multiple restoration types or that will be implemented in phases—these submittals should include information about all project phases. We will consider your project proposals and may develop one or more draft restoration plans. We may also develop our own restoration projects for consideration.
Project ideas submitted by September 20 will be considered in development of Restoration Plan 2. We will also consider previously submitted project ideas to either of the above portals. Project ideas submitted after the deadline will be considered in future planning. This planning period is anticipated to utilize a portion of the settlement funds, including years three, four, and part of five, for the specified restoration types.
Project ideas will be evaluated for their ability to meet the goals of the Programmatic Restoration Plan and the Oil Pollution Act of 1990.
If you have any questions or need further assistance, please contact Amy Raker, Amy.Raker@myfwc.com.