Tuesday, May 31, 2011 - Turtle-Friendly Beaches Brown Bag Lecture June 10

On Friday, June 10, the Manatee Observation and Education Center and the University of Florida / St. Lucie County Cooperative Extension will be conducting a brown bag lunch presentation titled "Turtle Friendly Beaches." This presentation will be conducted at the Manatee Center by Extension Agent Ken Gioeli, beginning at noon. This program is free of charge. Ken Gioeli and Lesley Vincent Ryder, Manatee Center Education coordinator, are Florida Master Naturalist Program instructors.

Learn how you can comply with sea turtle friendly lighting requirements and how to be "turtle friendly" on Treasure Coast beaches.

According to St. Lucie County Code, exterior light sources directly visible from the beach or illuminating areas seaward of the primary dune must be turned off between sunset and sunrise during nesting season which run March 1 – Nov. 15. Existing artificial light sources should not be directly visible from the beach and cannot illuminate areas seaward of the primary dune. Lights illuminating beach access points, dune crossovers, beach walkways, piers or any other structure seaward of the primary dune designed for pedestrian traffic must be shielded so they are not directly visible from the beach.

To prevent interior lights from illuminating the beach, window treatments are required on all windows of single and multi-story structures if these windows are within the line of sight of the beach. Blackout draperies or shadescreens are preferred. Alternatively, window tint may be applied to beachfront windows. It is encouraged that people turn out all unnecessary interior lights during nesting season.

For additional information about this program, please contact Lesley at the Manatee Center at 772-466-1600 ext. 3333 or www.manateecenter.com

What:    Brown Bag Lunch Program: Turtle Friendly Beaches
When:   Friday, June 10, starting at noon
Where:  Manatee Observation and Education Center, 480 Indian River Drive, Fort Pierce
Information:  772-466-1600 ext. 3333