THE NEWSCASTER-Nature Coast News
PAGE 8 - July 9, 2014
Passage Key National Wildlife
Refuged Wildlife Service (USFWS) officers were surprised last month when
Unexpectedly Reemerges
U.S. Fish an
patrolling waters south of Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge when they encountered a
reemerging sand bar over 4 acres in size within the boundaries where Passage Key National
Wildlife Refuge (NWR) once laid 7 years ago.
Passage Key National Wildlife Refuge is located in Manatee County at the mouth
of Tampa Bay right between Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge and Anna Maria Island.
What was most surprising to the USFWS officers was the presence of nesting
colonies of least terns and loafing colonies of royal and sandwich terns, black skimmers,
pelicans, oystercatchers and other shorebirds, amidst hundreds of visitors surrounding its
shores.
Stan Garner, USFWS supervisory law enforcement officer had no choice but to
close Passage Key NWR this past weekend by posting signs to exclude visitors and vessels
from the remerging 4 acres sand bar. "When Passage Key first started reemerging a few
months ago, we were under the impression that it would vanish in weeks, like it had been in
the previous 7 years. To everyone's surprise, the sand has been continually accumulating,
rising at several feet above the high water mark and birds are successfully nesting again on
it", said Garner.
League of Women Voters of Citrus County President Marie Pettibone (R) speaking with Sa-
Passage Key NWR's designation for wildlife conservation dates back to over a
matha Valente of Lecanto (L) at the Liberty Park 4th of July event held last Thursday eve-
century. It was the second established National Wildlife Refuge in the nation in 1905
ning. The League of Women Voters urge people of all political affiliations to be informed and
by Theodore Roosevelt, to preserve nesting colonies of native seabirds and wading birds.
register to vote. For more information about how to register to vote, visit them at Daystar
More than 50 species of birds have used this small area for nesting and loafing since then.
in Crystal River every 2nd & 4th Wed (see ad below for details). TheNewscaster/Mike Moore
College of Central Fla. Receives State
Passage Key is not only the second National Wildlife Refuge established, but also one of
the first to be federally designated a Wilderness Area (in 1970), under the Wilderness Act
of 1964. "This bird sanctuary has reemerged within its original acquisition boundaries and
Funding forreceive $4.3 million in state funding for construc-
Levy Campus
we (USFWS) are mandated to keep this island closed to all public activities year-round,
just like it has been historically", added Garner.
The College of Central Florida will
In the early 1900s Passage Key NWR was a 60-acre mangrove island with a fresh-
tion of a Levy Campus. CF received formal notice of the governor's approval today in a
water lake. Within a few weeks after its Centennial celebration in October 2005, Passage
letter from Sen. Dorothy Hukill, District 8.
Key began succumbing to the sea when hurricane Wilma took a severe toll on the small
"This is an exciting day for the College of Central Florida and Levy County," said Dr. Jim
island. Then in June 2006, Passage Key was for the first time, found completely under
Henningsen, CF president.
water, shortly after hurricane Alberto hit Florida.
This first phase of funding will allow CF to begin planning and infrastructure for
No one expected Passage Key to reemerge in such dramatic fashion, including the
the Jack Wilkinson Levy Campus, north of Chiefland. It is expected that the Florida Legis-
hundreds of summer boaters who enjoy visiting the shallow waters around the island. At
lature will appropriate funds for construction and equipment in 2015-2017.
this point, no one knows if it will continue to expand or if will begin shrinking. "We want
Construction of a Levy Campus has been a priority of CF since 2004 when the CF District
visitors to understand the ecological importance of this island. There aren't many sand
Board of Trustees approved a search for suitable properties. In 2006, Former trustee Loy
bars left for seabirds and shorebirds to nest and rest. As long as visitors remain in the water
Ann Mann and her husband, Jack, donated 15.4 acres of undeveloped land to the college.
around the island, the seabirds and shorebirds will successfully continue to nest in Passage
Also in 2006, Jack Wilkinson, a longtime Levy county teacher, donated $2.5 million. An
Key", said Ivan Vicente, Visitor Services Specialist for the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
additional $1 million has been secured from private donors. In 2007, additional acreage
Coincidentally, the nation is about to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Wil-
was purchased, expanding the site to 40.4 acres.
derness Act (1964) this coming August. The reemergence of this Wilderness island is
great news, but no one knows how long it will last. "Sea level rise and storms pose seri-
ous threats to all Florida barrier islands including Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge,
which continues to severely erode away", added Vicente. "For now, we will celebrate Pas-
sage Key's reemergence and its wildlife, while providing the protection it deserves".
The USFWS will once again enforce Passage Key NWR and expects visitors to
follow the following regulations:
-
No trespassing. Although the no-entry signs are posted on land, visitors are to
remain in the water and under no circumstances are to set foot on sand above the high water
mark.
-
No dogs or any pets are not allowed on Passage Key NWR. Boaters are expected
to keep their dogs in the water and under all circumstances pets aren't allowed on the sand
above the high water mark.
-
No beaching of vessels. Motorized and non-motorized vessels will not be allowed
to be on shore under any circumstances.
No kites or UAVs allowed. Visitors will not be allowed to fly kites or UAVs near
shores around Passage Key. Kites and UAVs disturb colonies of birds as they are fre-
quently mistaken by seabirds as predatory birds, causing flushing of nesting areas resulting
in the fatality of eggs and chicks.
-
Securing vessels to any structure is prohibited. All vessels (motorized and non-
Parasailing and kite-surfing are also prohibited around the shores of Passage Key NWR.
motorized) will be expected to be anchored away from shore and away from any existing
These activities also cause the birds to flush from their nests resulting in egg and chick
structures such as the signs posted on Passage Key.
mortality.
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