| 5/21/24 @ 12:45 p.m. We have some very exciting new for this week's Turtle Talk Tuesday. The Amelia Island Sea Turtle Watch announced yesterday that after 38 years of documenting sea turtle species on Amelia Island, we finally received a visit from the very rare Kemp's Ridley! These are the most endangered of all the species of sea turtles and they are the only species known to nest in the daylight. They have shared a video of the Kemp's Ridley, as well as the below message they released yesterday after this amazing find. RARE SPECIES OF SEA TURTLE NESTS ON AMELIA ISLAND The Amelia Island Sea Turtle Watch has always been happy to boast of 3 species of sea turtles nesting on the island. For the past 38 years, we have documented Loggerhead, Green and Leatherback Sea turtles nesting here. Today, we added a very rare species to our list of nesters. A very rare Kemp’s Ridley (Lepidochelys Kempi) crawled onto the beach this morning about 9:00 AM. Kemp’s are the only species known to nest in daylight. They are the most endangered of all the species. It is a small turtle with a circular to heart-shaped keeled carapace that in some adults is as wide, or wider, than it is long. Estimates of age at maturity range from 7 to 15 years. Adult Kemp’s are found in the Gulf of Mexico, particularly along the Louisiana coast near the mouth of the Mississippi River and the Campeche, Mexico region. Although Kemp’s Ridleys were often seen in the Gulf of Mexico, the location of their nesting beaches remained a mystery for many years. In 1947, the mystery was solved. A Mexican engineer filmed a mass emergence of tens of thousands of Kemp’s Ridley turtles in broad daylight on a remote beach in Rancho Nuevo, Mexico. The beach was about 200 miles south of Brownsville, Texas. The film showed the feverish activity of the females as they dug their nests and covered them. So many turtles were nesting at once that they climbed over each other and dug up each other’s eggs. This synchronized emergence of nesting females is called an arribada. Wondering why this species nests in arribadas, perhaps wind velocity and direction, lunar cycles, or water temperature my play a role in this event. From the estimated 40,000 nesting females documented in the film from Rancho Nuevo, the population has been reduced to 300 to 350 nesting females per year. In recent decades, population reductions have resulted in the fragmentation of arribadas into small groups or nesting by solitary individuals. The nesting that occurred on Amelia Island may well be one of the solitary individuals along the SE coast. Several other nearby beaches have also reported nesting Kemp’s this season. Because of this rare nesting event on Amelia Island, it is even more important to protect our coastal habitat. Please protect our sea turtle nesting habitat by keeping the beach Clean, Flat, and Dark. -Sabrina Robertson Public Information Officer |
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![]() 5/20/24 @ 4:45 p.m. - At the Wednesday, May 15 meeting, the Board of County Commissioners approved Proclamation No. 2024-025 proclaiming the week of May 19-May 25, 2024 as "Emergency Medical Services Week" in Nassau County, Florida. Representatives from Nassau County Fire Rescue and the City of Fernandina Beach Fire Department were in attendance. Emergency Medical Services is a vital public service. Members of emergency medical services teams are ready to provide lifesaving care to those in need twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week. Access to quality emergency care dramatically improves the survival and recovery rate of those who experience sudden illness or injury as they fill the gap by providing important, out-of-hospital care. Emergency medical services consists of first responders, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, emergency medical dispatchers, firefighters, police officers, educators, administrators, pre-hospital nurses, emergency nurses, emergency physicians, trained members of the public, and other out of hospital medical care providers. Please join us in celebrating Emergency Medical Services Week by recognizing the value and accomplishments of emergency medical providers across the Country, and here in Nassau County. -Sabrina Robertson Public Information Officer Please see the below Press Release from the Department of Health-Nassau.
Contact: Michael Godwin [email protected] 904-557-9150 The Florida Department of Health in Nassau County (DOH-Nassau) today advised residents there has been an increase in mosquito-borne disease activity in areas of Nassau County. Several sentinel chicken flocks have tested positive for Eastern equine encephalitis virus infection. The risk of transmission to humans has increased. Amelia Island Mosquito Control and DOH-Nassau continue surveillance and prevention efforts. DOH-Nassau reminds residents and visitors to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes and to take basic precautions to help limit exposure. To protect yourself from mosquitoes, you should remember to “Drain and Cover”: DRAIN standing water to stop mosquitoes from multiplying.
COVER skin with clothing or repellent.
COVER doors and windows with screens to keep mosquitoes out of your house.
For more information on what repellent is right for you, consider using the Environmental Protection Agency’s search tool to help you choose skin-applied repellent products. The Department continues to conduct statewide surveillance for mosquito-borne illnesses, including West Nile virus infections, Eastern equine encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis, malaria, chikungunya, and dengue. Residents of Florida are encouraged to report dead birds to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s site. For more information, visit the Department’s website or contact DOH-Nassau at 904-875-6100. 5/20/24 @ 1:30 p.m.
Below are public meetings scheduled for this week: Development Review Committee Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. Commission Chambers, 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL 32097 Planning & Zoning Board Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. Commission Chambers, 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL 32097 Open House of the Nassau County-Amelia Island Tree Commission Wednesday, May 22, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. Secondary Chambers, 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL 32097 Workshop of the Nassau County-Amelia Island Tree Commission Wednesday, May 22, 2024 at 5:35 p.m. Secondary Chambers, 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL 32097 Conditional Use & Variance Board Thursday, May 23, 2024 AT 6:30 p.m. Commission Chambers, 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL 32097 Agendas can be located on our website. -Sabrina Robertson Public Information Officer 5/17/24 @ 3:15 p.m. - Below are pictures from the week of May 10 - May 17, 2024. -Sabrina Robertson Public Information Officer 5/17/24 @ 10:45 a.m. - On Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at 5:00 p.m., the Nassau County Amelia Island Tree Commission will hold a Open House to allow the public an opportunity to discuss proposed revisions to the Land Development Code, Section 37.02, Unincorporated Amelia Island tree protection and replacement, and Section 37.08, Canopy/Scenic Roads. The draft Ordinance can be found here. The Open House will be followed immediately by a Workshop of the Nassau County- Amelia Island Tree Commission.
If you have any questions, please contact the Planning Department at (904) 530-6320 or via email at [email protected]. -Sabrina Robertson Public Information Officer 5/17/24 @ 10:00 a.m.
Congratulations to Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau President and CEO Gil Langley on being selected for the Nassau American Values Award. He was recognized by the Boys Scouts of America at their American Values Luncheon held on April 30, 2024. This award is given annually to recognize an individual who exemplifies traits required of a Scout in the Scout Oath to "do his duty to God and his country, help others at all times and to remain mentally awake and morally straight". Mr. Langley is known for his commitment to civic leadership and community involvement and we appreciate all he does to make Nassau County great! -Sabrina Robertson Public Information Officer ![]() 5/17/24 @ 9:45 a.m. - The Nassau County Economic Development Board has partnered with Nassau County Emergency Management to offer a hurricane preparedness workshop "Weathering the Storm". Listen to experts discuss improvements in hurricane preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation. The Workshop will take place on Thursday, May 30, 2024 from 9:00-11:00 a.m. at the Emergency Operations Center located at 77150 Citizens Circle, Yulee. This event is FREE however seats are limited to 50 participants. Reserve your spot today at: lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/aruvbju. Refreshments will be served. Questions? Call the NCEDB at (904) 225-8878. -Sabrina Robertson Public Information Officer Contact: Marci Larson
904-306-7513; 904-307-2888 [email protected] May 10, 2024 Citizen Input Needed for Two Initiatives Federal Certification and Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) The North Florida Transportation Planning Organization (North Florida TPO) is seeking public comments from citizens in its four-county area for two major initiatives. Every four years, the North Florida TPO undergoes a certification process to ensure we’re meeting federal requirements. The USDOT conducted the North Florida TPO 2024 certification review May 2. As part of that review, they would like to hear from the public. Please share your thoughts on the North Florida TPO’s work by submitting comments by June 2 at https://northfloridatpo.com/certification. The second is the annual Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), a staged multi-year program of transportation projects to be implemented during the next five-year period in the North Florida TPO area. The 2024/25-2028/29 TIP encompasses over $4 billion in investments. Those interested in offering comments may do so in our survey or during one of our virtual meetings at https://publicinput.com/tip2024. The public can also submit comments on individual projects via our Interactive TIP maps. Please see https://northfloridatpo.com/planning/tip for details. Comments must be submitted by June 2. The TIP identifies all regionally significant transportation projects requiring Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and/or Federal Transit Administration (FTA) approval. The TIP also includes a listing of projects that are financed with non-federal dollars which assists local governments within the TPO area with their transportation planning efforts. Projects listed in the TIP include recommended improvements consistent with the approved Long Range Transportation Plan, and the adopted comprehensive plans of member local governments within the TPO area. . The TIP is adopted following input from member governments, transportation agencies, the TPO committees and the public. The North Florida TPO is the independent regional transportation planning agency for Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties. The agency leads our region's efforts in planning, funding and mobilizing resources to develop and maintain our transportation system. Plans and programs include the regional Long Range Transportation Plan; five-year Transportation Improvement Program; annual traffic count and mobility reports; coalitions for Smart North Florida and Clean Fuels; freight mobility; Cool to Pool rideshare commuter services; and public private partnerships. The TPO is governed by a 15-member board of elected officials and transportation agency representatives. Learn more at www.northfloridatpo.com. ![]() 5/16/24 @ 4:55 p.m. At the Wednesday, May 15 meeting, the Board of County Commissioners recognized Nassau County Emergency Management for their efforts in helping Nassau County be designated as StormReady by the National Weather Service (NWS). Nassau County has been recognized as a StormReady County since 2012, recertifying every two years. In addition, the County has been recognized as a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador. Being a StormReady County and a Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador are more than designations. They demonstrate Nassau County's commitment and dedication to protecting and preserving lives in the face of severe weather. Thank you Nassau County Emergency Management for all you do! -Sabrina Robertson Public Information Officer |
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