No driving on Porpoise Point during 4th of July

Local St. Johns County reporters learned that a quarter mile of Porpoise Point in Vilano Beach will be temporarily closed to vehicles, effective immediately, due to the nesting of two protected species of shorebirds, according to an announcement received by Historic City News.

“The temporary closure will be in place until the end of shorebird nesting season or as soon as there are no longer chicks present,” said Billy Zeits with the St. Johns County Department of Recreation and Parks. “Last year, the posting was removed by early August.”

The closure, which is on the north side of the inlet, is to ensure Least Tern and Wilson’s Plover chicks have safe passage to the water.

Although vehicles will not have access through the posted area, full access remains available for pedestrians, fishermen and anyone else who may want to spend the day at Porpoise Point. Additionally, vehicles are still allowed to use the beach access ramps at both Porpoise Point and Vilano Beach throughout the nesting season; however vehicles cannot drive on the beach from one ramp to the other.

The recommendation to temporarily restrict access comes from both state and federal agencies, including the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The temporary closure demonstrates the County’s ability to manage public access of the beaches while also protecting species that use the beaches for their habitat.

Porpoise Point is one of the last remaining critical nesting sites for these protected species, and St. Johns County has an obligation to protect them through the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and other state laws. Shorebird stewards will be present along the nesting sites on weekends to help identify the birds through binoculars and to answer questions regarding the life cycles of these federally protected birds.

Photo credits: © 2010 Historic City News contributed photograph by Dave Macri