Appendix_2007_Std_Manatee_Conditions_Boating_Facility_Signs.pdf

2007 Standard Manatee Conditions for Boating Facilities Savannah District- U. S .Army Corps of Engineers

January 2008

a. The permittee agrees that all personnel associated with the project will be advised that there are civil and criminal penalties for harming, harassing or killing manatees, which are protected under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 and the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. The permittee and contractor will be held responsible for any manatee harmed, harassed, or killed as a result of construction activities.

b. Siltation barriers will be made of material in which manatees cannot become entangled, are properly secured, and are regularly monitored to avoid manatee entrapment. Barriers must not block manatee entry to or exit from essential habitat.

c. All vessels associated with the project will operate at "no wake/idle" speeds at all times while in the construction area. All vessels will follow routes of deep water whenever possible.

d. All on-site project personnel are responsible for observing water-related activities for the presence of manatees. All construction and activities in open water will cease upon sighting of manatees within 50 feet of the project area. Construction activities will not resume until the manatees have left the project area for at least thirty minutes.

e. Extreme care will be taken in lowering equipment or materials, including, but not limited to piles, sheet piles, casings for drilled shaft construction, spuds, pile templates, anchors, etc., below the water surface and into the stream bed; taking any precaution not to harm any manatee(s) that may have entered the construction area undetected. All such equipment or materials will be lowered at the lowest possible speed.

f. The permittee agrees that all manatee collisions, injuries and mortalities shall be reported immediately to the US Army Corps ofEngineers (912-652-5347), the US Fish and Wildlife Service Coastal Suboffice (912-265-9336), and Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GDNR; 800-2-SA VE-ME). Any dead manatee(s) found in the project area must be secured to a stable object to prevent the carcass from being moved by the current before the authorities arrive. In the event of injury or mortality of a manatee, all aquatic activity in the project area must cease pending section 7 consultation under the Endangered Species Act with the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the lead Federal agency.

g. The permittee agrees that the contractor shall keep a log detailing sightings, collisions, or injury to manatees, which have occurred during the contract period.

h. The permittee agrees that following project completion, a report summarizing the above incidents and sightings will be submitted to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, 4980 Wildlife Drive, NE, Townsend, Georgia 31331 and to the GDNR, Nongame Conservation Section, 1 Conservation Way, Brunswick, Georgia 31520.

i. All temporary construction materials will be removed upon completion of the work, and salt marsh areas will be restored. No construction debris or trash will be discarded in the water.

j . The permittee shall regularly maintain all hoses, faucets, and/or freshwater discharges to prevent freshwater leakage into manatee habitat. This minimizes attraction of manatees to the marina where boats are concentrated and a potential for increased boat/manatee collisions exists. Oil and sewage spill contingency plans should be in place for the marina to protect manatees.

k. The permittee shall identify one or more individuals associated with the facility who can be contacted regarding manatee sightings, boat strikes, or other manatee-related concerns. Such individuals' contact information shall be submitted to the US Fish and Wildlife Service and GDNR at the addresses listed in condition "h". Any subsequent changes in contact information shall be reported also.

1. Prior to initiation of construction, the permittee shall install temporary manatee awareness construction signs as outlined in the attached "Marine Facility Manatee Signs Procedures" (Attachment A). The signs shall be displayed and maintained throughout construction and shall be removed by the permittee upon completion of construction.

m. Prior to operation ofthe facility, the permittee shall install two or more permanent manatee waterway signs on either end of the facility and in locations clearly visible from the navigation channel, as outlined in the attached "Marine Facility Manatee Signs Procedures" (Attachment A).

n. Prior to operation of the facility, the permittee shall install one or more permanent manatee boater education signs as outlined in the attached "Marine Facility Manatee Signs Procedures" (Attachment A).

o. Prior to operation of the facility, the permittee shall submit a notarized verification letter to the US Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District Office, stating that all required permanent manatee signs have been installed (as outlined in "m" and "n" above and in Attachment A). It shall be the responsibility of the permittee to insure that permanent manatee signs are maintained in a clearly visible condition for the life of the facility.

p. Prior to operation of the facility, the permittee shall develop and implement a manatee boater education and awareness program. The objectives of the education program shall be to educate all users ofthe facility about: 1) manatee biology, 2) the impacts of watercraft on manatees, and 3) ways that boaters can reduce the probability of impacting manatees. The permittee shall be responsible for overseeing development of the educational program, developing a strategy for implementing the program, and paying for all costs associated with development and implementation of the educational program. The permittee shall submit copies of all educational materials to the US Fish and Wildlife Service and GDNR Nongame Conservation Section for approval prior to implementation of the program and operation ofthe facility. For information on education programs and manatee facts, please visit the web pages for the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission, Bureau of Protected Species Management, Manatee Program (http://floridaconservation.org/psm/manateeD and Save the Manatee Club (www.savethemanatee.org/). The US Fish and Wildlife Service also has examples of educational material.

Attachment A: Marine Facility Manatee Signs Placement Procedures, Temporary Construction Signs, Protect Georgia's Manatees Sign, Manatees Basics for Boaters

MARINE FACILITY

MANATEE SIGNS

PLACEMENT PROCEDURES

The West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) is an endangered species throughout its range. Manatees are protected at the Federal level by the Endangered Species Act of 1973 and the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended. Protection measures such as these signs are necessary to increase boater awareness. The increased level of Georgia coastal development and associated marinas and boat traffic will increase the probability of negative impacts to the seasonal manatee population. Manatees inhabit Georgia waters from March through November. The main threat to manatee populations is human related boat/barge collisions. Raising boater awareness and educating the public is necessary for manatee conservation in Georgia waters and has been proven effective.

The informational/educational display sign, "Manatee Basics for Boaters" and waterway display sign, "Protect Georgia's Manatees", are intended to increase boater awareness of manatees that are present in Georgia waters.

These signs inform boaters of the potential threat boats pose to the animals and how to help decrease negative impacts caused by those recreational vessels.

Although the placement of these signs is mandatory and required by permit, they are informative and non-regulatory in nature.

Procedure for Approval of Sign Installation:

1. The applicant should forward a project site plan, including the proposed location for the permanent signs to: Manatee Sign Approval, Nongame Conservation Section, Department of Natural Resources, One Conservation Way, Brunswick, Georgia 31520. The applicant should also include a chart indicating the location of the facility in relation to waterways, location within a given county (specify county name), Contact person with phone number, and the Permit and/or Lease number associated with the project

2. The Nongame Conservation Section of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GDNR) will review the proposed sign placement site plan and will respond to the applicant within 30 days. If the proposed location is unacceptable, guidance on an alternate site will be provided. The contact person should notify the Nongame Conservation Section when sign placement has been completed (912-264-7218). A photograph(s) of the posted manatee signage at your facility must be submitted with the required permit compliance form to the Marsh and Shore Regulatory Program of the Coastal Resources Division/Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

3. If during a site visit, approved signs, and their locations are found not to be in compliance with the instructions given in this document, relocation or addition of signs will be required . Annual site visits will be conducted to document sign placement and condition. All signs locations will be recorded in the GDNR manatee database.

Sign Placement Requirements:

Both "Manatee Basics for Boaters" and "Protect Georgia's Manatees" permanent signs are required for all facility types (marinas, community docks, etc.). Private single or dual family docks are not required to have manatee signs.

Approved Sign Suppliers:

The signs are available through the companies listed below and may also be available from other local suppliers throughout the state. Permit/lease holders, marinas, and boat docking/launching facilities should contact sign companies directly to obtain pricing information and arrange for shipping and billing.

Approved Suppliers of Manatee Signs:

Grafix, Inc.

455 Montgomery Street Post Office Box 1028 Savannah, Georgia 31402 Voice: 912-691-1117 Fax: 912-232-3845

Image Sign Company 785 King George Blvd., Bldg. 3 Savannah, Georgia 31419 Voice: 912-961-1444 Fax: 912-961 -1499

Doug Bean Signs, Inc.

160 Dean Forest Rd Savannah, Georgia 31408 Voice: 912-964-1 900 Fax: 912-964-2900

Fendig Signs 411 Arno ld Rd Saint Simons Island, Georgia 31522

Good & Associates Saint Simons Island, Georgia

(912) 638-7664

Temporary Construction Signs

MANATEE HABITAT

CONSTRUCTION AREA ,

1- 800- 2- SAVE ME

CAUTION

MANATEE AREA

I 1-800-2-SAVE ME

Permanent Signs

USE IDLE SPEED

PROTECT GEORGIA'S

MANATEES

"Protect Georgia's Manatees" sign -At least one sign will be required to face the waterway for each facility. This is dependent upon the size of the facility and the number of docks/piers present. The number and placement of signs will be determined on a site-by-site basis by GDNR biologists. Each approach to the marina from the waterway to the facility will need a visible sign. This sign is intended to alert any passing boater that may or may not be associated with the facility that manatees may be present and again raise awareness of this endangered species.

"Manatee Basics for Boater" sign - One sign is required for each entry point to any dock /pier space. It should be placed where anyone boarding or launching a boat will easily see the sign. This sign is intended to provide detailed information about manatees, how to avoid negative impacts to manatees, and to raise awareness of their presence in Georgia to any person using the facility. Sign placement approval by the Nongame Conservation Section is required .