Escambia County is hosting a Sea Turtle Lighting Workshop conducted by the Sea Turtle Conservancy Tuesday, Jan. 31 from 1-4:30 p.m. in room 1145 of the Escambia County Central Office Complex, located at 3363 West Park Place in Pensacola. The program also includes an optional field visit from 7-8:30 p.m.
This free workshop is targeted toward code enforcement personnel, city planners, builders, architects or other professionals who might benefit from learning more about sea turtle friendly lighting and the latest products and techniques available to meet sea turtle lighting ordinance requirements. The workshop consists of 3.5 classroom hours and a 1.5-hour field visit. Topics include:
- The Problem of Light on Sea Turtle Nesting Beaches
- Lighting Laws and Evaluating the Extent of the Problem
- The Best Practices for Managing Artificial Light
- Optional 1.5-hour night survey where properties with and without sea turtle lighting will be visited
The Escambia County Commission adopted a Pensacola Beach lighting provision in its land development code Nov. 30, 2016 to help protect wildlife and marine life like nesting sea turtles and their hatchlings from artificial light sources on the barrier island. All existing artificial light sources on Pensacola Beach, including utility-owned outdoor lighting, are expected to comply with new standards by Jan. 1, 2018, unless exempt. Click here to read the Barrier Island Lighting section of the LDC.
For more information about the Sea Turtle Lighting Workshop, contact Stacey Marquis, Sea Turtle Conservancy Development Coordinator/Lighting Project Specialist, at 352-373-6441 or [email protected].
