Mosquito Lagoon PoleTroll Zones Merritt Island NWR

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Mosquito LagoonPole/Troll Zones Merritt Island
NWR

• Design Details
• November 2004

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Background Information
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Quick Refuge Facts Primary Purpose Migratory
Birds gt141,000 Acres Overlay of NASAs KSC -
1963 National Seashore Overlay - 1975 16
Federally Listed Wildlife Species 1.1 Million
Annual Visitors
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Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Mosquito
Lagoon Detail
Quick Mosquito Lagoon Facts 21,000 Estuarine
Acres 1/2 lt3 Feet Deep Intracoastal
Waterway Corridor Highest Quality Seagrass
Beds Essential Fish Habitat Designation National
Seashore Overlay Redfish Capital of the World 100
Commercial Recreational Fishing Guides Estimated
gt123,000 Annual Boats 2 Million People Live Nearby
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Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Mosquito
Lagoon Detail
Fishing Tournament The Hunt for Reds in October
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Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Mosquito
Lagoon Detail
Mosquito Lagoon Study, 2002 All Observed Boats
during 100 Overflights
Snapshot of public use in Mosquito Lagoon
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Seagrass Scar Database 1999, FMRI, FFWCC
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Why Are They Here?
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Good Habitat MeansAbundant Fish
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More BoatsLess Waterfowl
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Boats vs. Birds
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Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Mosquito
Lagoon Detail Prop Scarring Examples
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Prop ScaringDegrades Habitat
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BIRD ISLAND
Historic nesting island
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SOUTH OF V-4
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SOUTH OF THREE CABBAGE ISLAND
Heavy prop scarring
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WSEG RAMP CHANNEL
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Objectives

• Reduce Prop Scarring
• Reduce Wildlife Disturbance
• Improve the Quality of Fishing
• Reduce User Conflicts

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Summary of Comments from Public Meetings

• Preserve/Improve the Quality of Fishing
• Have Buy-in from Fishermen and Can be
  Self-Regulating
• Education is Important
• Low Sign Density
• Able to Adapt to Changing Conditions and New
  Information

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Pole/Troll Zones
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Design Details

• Establish 2 Zones Tiger Shoal WSEG
• Pole and Troll only W/I Zone
• Marked Running Lanes (3 permanent 2 seasonal)
• Restricted draft of 12 or less
• Zone delineated with buoys
• Channels marked with PVC pipe
• Signs on the water boat ramps
• Voluntary 1st year
• Permanent fall of 2005

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Regulatory Buoy
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Boundary Marker
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Marks Entrance of Running Lane
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PVC Channel PostPT Wooden Sign Post
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Mounting Detail
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Running Lane
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Boat Ramp Sign
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