RECREATIONAL BOAT TRAFFIC SURVEYS OF ST JOHNS, FLAGLER, AND BREVARD COUNTIES, FLORIDA

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1 RECREATIONAL BOAT TRAFFIC SURVEYS OF ST JOHNS, FLAGLER, AND BREVARD COUNTIES, FLORIDA FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION CONTRACT FINAL REPORT M.YE MARINE LABORATORY Submitted to: Leslie Ward Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRl) th A venue Southeast St. Petersburg, FL Submitted by: Mote Marine Laboratory Center for Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Research 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway Sarasota, (941) (941) FAX Jay F. Gorzelany 30 April 2008 Mote Marine Laboratory Technical Report Number 127 '1 28

2 Title of Project: Recreational Boat Traffic Surveys of St. Johns, Flagler, Brevard County Principal Investigator: Mote Marine Laboratory, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, Goal of the Project: The goal of this study was to design and implement a series of countywide aerial surveys of recreational boat traffic in St Johns, Flagler, and Brevard Counties. These data will provide new information on recreational boat traffic patterns in these areas, along with assisting in the development and enhancement of established methods for assessing speed zone effectiveness and risk assessment Background and Rationale: As the number of recreational vessels in Florida coastal waters increases, so does the need for enhanced public access, maintenance of waterway infrastructure, boater safety and education, and environmental protection (Sidman et al., 2006). Assessments of human activity, particularly recreational boating activity, have been identified as an important resource tool for both waterways management and resource protection (Gorzelany, 2006). In Brevard County, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission () received a request to provide additional high speed corridors within existing slow speed zones. This request provided an opportunity to develop and refine the established methods for assessing speed zone effectiveness and risk assessment. Along with both statewide synoptic surveys ( ) and power plant surveys (Reynolds and Wilcox, 1994), several manatee aerial survey projects have been conducted in Brevard County (FDNR, 1987; Provancha and Provancha, 1988, 1989; Ackerman, 1992); 29

3 however, no county-wide aerial surveys of recreational boat traffic had been conducted until Aerial surveys of boat traffic were initiated by Florida Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) and Mote Marine Laboratory (MML) in 2006; however, due to delays in the project start date (primarily due to wildfires in northeastern Florida), the targeted number of survey dates weas not completed during the fiscal year. Discussions with research staff also concluded that a larger sample size (n=20), focusing in particular on weekends, may be more effective in assessing use patterns and conducting risk assessment in this area. Therefore, additional aerial surveys of Brevard County were conducted during FY in order to provide an adequate survey sample size for risk assessment testing. In response to emerging issues related to future management actions in other Florida counties, a series of aerial surveys was initiated in two additional areas of interest: St. Johns and Flagler Counties. These areas are among the fastest growing counties in the United States, and are expected to be the focus of resource management activities in the near future. By initiating the collection of baseline data on recreational boat use in these areas, changes in boating patterns resulting from various management actions can be more accurately evaluated and determined. Surveys in St. Johns and Flagler Counties were planned to begin in spring 2007; however delays in the start of Brevard County surveys resulted in the inability to initiate St Johns / Flagler surveys during the state contract period. As a result, surveys of St Johns / Flagler Counties were initiated during summer 2007, and extended though spring This report summarizes boat traffic studies conducted during FY involving the completion of aerial surveys of recreational boat traffic in Brevard County, and the initiation of a similar aerial survey project in St. Johns and Flagler Counties. 30

4 Methods: County-wide, low-level aerial surveys of Brevard, St Johns, and Flagler Counties were performed using a Cessna 172 or 182 fixed-wing aircraft. The single observer/videographer method, used successfully during similar boating surveys (Gorzelany, 1998, 2002, 2005) was employed. For this method, a single observer/videographer was seated in the right or left front seat of the survey aircraft. In Brevard County, a standard survey route was flown over the entire county with the exception of the Federal No Motor and NASA No Entry Zones established within the northern portion of the Banana River. The aerial survey track was approximately 223 nautical miles in length (Figure 1). All coastal waters in both St. Johns and Flagler Counties (excluding the St. Johns River) were surveyed. Surveys also extended northward into Duval County along the Intracoastal Waterway to the convergence with the St. Johns River (Figure 2). The aerial survey track was approximately 127 nautical miles in length. Surveys were conducted at an altitude of approximately 750 feet; but the altitude varied occasionally in order to avoid conflicts with other air traffic. An image-stabilizing Sony Digital 8 camcorder with date and time imprint was used to record all vessels in use. A vessel "in use" was defined as either 1) a vessel underway, or 2) a stationary vessel in the process of being used. The latter category (i.e., "being used") included fishing, picnicking, sightseeing, or similar recreational activities, along with vessels at short-term dockage or anchorage sites such as waterside restaurants, fuel docks, waterside bait and tackle shops, fishing piers, boat ramps, beaches, spoil islands, or sand bars. "In use" did not include stationary vessels located at long-term storage facilities such as anchorages, wet and dry storage marinas, or yacht clubs. Stationary (moored) vessels located at single family or multi-family residential docks also were not considered "in use". When possible, the aerial observer also provided voice-over audio recording of both location information and vessel information through a remote microphone attached to an aircraft headset. 31

5 Once a survey was completed, original aerial survey footage was transferred to DVD-R format for review and GIS mapping. Each recorded vessel in use was hand plotted onto a series of digital orthophotos ( 1999 or 2004) using ArcGIS 8.3. Once GIS mapping was completed, a quality assurance (QA) check was performed on each survey plot for accuracy and completeness. The QA check included a review of all survey para including vessel type, size, activity, speed, and location from a random subset of plotted boats for each survey flight. With input from research staff and Law Enforcement, a revised set of data codes developed. These data codes were designed to be more consistent and compatible with State of Florida boat registration data. The revised data dictionary, including new boat data codes, is provided in Table 1. Along with vessel attribute data, environmental conditions including weather conditions, wind speed and direction, air and water temperature, surface conditions, were also recorded and maintained in a separate database. Boating conditions were also qualitatively evaluated as Poor, Fair, Good, or Excellent. All GIS data, including.shp,.shx,.dbf files, attribute tables, associated metadata and dictionary files were provided as the final project deliverable to IFWRI. All original video footage (in both Digital 8 and DVD R format) was retained and archived. Results: Aerial surveys of Brevard County were initiated by FWRI in April 2006, with survey flights conducted during April, June and July In August 2006, Mote Marine Laboratory assumed coordination of the remainder of the flights, along with data transfer, GIS mapping, and quality assurance (QA) of all survey data. A total of 20 Brevard County surveys have been completed, digitized, and QNQC checked. Final shapefiles were submitted to IFWRI in 32

6 November A final summary matrix for the Brevard County work is provided in Table 2. Metadata for all Brevard County survey flights are provided in Appendix A. A total of 14 aerial surveys of St lohns / Flagler Counties have been completed to date. Of these, 11 flights have been digitized. Video footage from duplicate flights conducted on September 22, October 10, and December 1 have been archived. Two additional survey flights (May 2 and June 8) are scheduled under the current FY 2008 contract period. The remaining survey flights are planned during the FY 2009 contract period. A summary of work completed to date is provided in Table 3. Metadata for St lohns / Flagler County survey flights completed to date are provided in Appendix B. Discussion: While this report represents a final project report for fiscal year , it is actually a progress report because the St lohns / Flagler project is ongoing and continuing into FY All deliverables for the Brevard County portion of the FY contract have already been completed and provided to both FWRI (R. Flamm) and ISM (S. Calleson) for analysis. dictionary. These de1iverables included all final shapefiles and associated metadata and data Survey flights of S1. lohns and Flagler counties are ongoing, with 7 additional surveys planned during FY (20 surveys total). During FY 2007/08 there were 4 instances where 2 complete surveys were flown on the same day. Based on discussions among FWRI and ISM staff, it was concluded that only 1 survey should be flown on a single day and that the entire study should have 5 surveys per quarter for a total of 20 flights. To correct for the days of 2 surveys each, 4 flights will occur during the next fiscal year. 33

7 Literature Cited: Ackemlan, B.B Aerial surveys of manatees: a summary and progress report. In T.J. O ' Shea, B.B. Ackennan, and H.F. Percival, eds. Population biology of the Florida manatee. National Biological Service Tnfol111 ation and Technology RepOJi TO. 1. Pp Pp F IOJida DepaJiment of Tatural Resources (FDNR) Brevard County Manatee Aerial Surveys. Florida Depaliment of latural Resources / FIOJida Fish and Wildli fe Conservation Commission Results of statewide synoptic surveys. State of Florida technical mem oranda; Gorzelany, l.f Evaluation of boat traffic pattems and boater compliance in Lee County, Florida. Final report submitted to the Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection, 109 pp + app. Gorze1any,l.F., A characterization of boat traffic in Terra Ceia Bay, Florida. Final report submitted to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. 42 pp. Gorzelany, l.f Boat traffic surveys of Broward County, Florida. Final report submitted to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. 87 pp + app. 34

8 Gorzelany, J.F., Recreational boat traffi c surveys of Sarasota County, Florida. Pmi 2: Aeri al surveys. Final report submitted to Sarasota County Natural Resources. March pp. Provancha, l.a., and MJ. Provancha Long-tenTI trends in abundance and distribution of manatees (Trichechus manatus) in the noli hern Banana River, Brevard County, Florida. Maline Mammal Science 4 (4): Provancha, J.A., and M.J. Provancha Summary of 1987 and 1988 manatee aerial surveys at Kennedy Space Center. TASA Technical Memorand um No Reynolds III, J.E., and J.R. Wilcox Observations of Florida Manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) around selected power plants in winter. Marine Mammal Science, 10(2): Sidman, c., R. Swett, T. Fik, S. Fann, and B Sargent A recreational boating characterization for Sarasota County. January Florida Sea Grant Publication TP

9 Table 1. Revised data dictionary used for recent aerial surveys. DATA DATA FIELD CODE DESCRIPTION FID 1... numeric starting at 1 SHAPE ID 0 MONTH MM month of the flight DAY DD day of the month YEAR yyyy year of the flight WINDOW AM morning start PM afternoon start TIME XXXX military time BOAT ID XXXXx time plus sequential letter TYPE AR airboat OM CB CF SA IN IN HB PT PW HP KC TG BG open motorboat cabin motorboat commercial fisherman sailboat jonboat inflatable houseboat pontoon boat personal watercraft high performance / racer kayak / canoe commercial tug / tender commercial barge TR commercial transport EN enforcement SIZE 15 < 16 feet in length feet in length feet in length feet in length feet in length 110 > 109 feet in length COMMENTS internal numeric assigned by arcmap. Numbers start at 0 and increment by 1 until last boat is entered. parameter assigned intemally by ArcMap parameter assigned internally by ArcMap 2-digit numeric, added after GIS mapping completed 2-digit numeric, added after GIS mapping completed 2-digit numeric, added after GIS mapping completed 2-letter character string, added after GIS mapping completed 4 digit numeric character string (ex; 1000a, 1000b, 1000c.... ) 2-digit character string includes open fisherman, jonboats, flats boats, deck boats, sport/runabout/ski boats includes all closed-cabin boats, including yachts, cruisers, trawlers, cuddy cabin-type, etc. crab boat, net boat, trawler, etc. includes both sail and auxiliary sailboats includes all tiller-steered power boats zodiac or other inflatable-type vessel scarab / cigarette-type boat inc. construction barges, dock & davit, etc. Note - includes barges that are being moved by other types of vessels. water taxi, ferry, sightseeing includes local, state, federal (USCGS), etc. Numeric Numeric Numeric Numeric Numeric Numeric 36

10 Table 1 (Continued). DATA DATA FIELD CODE DESCRIPTION COMMENTS ACTIVITY T travel movement in one prevailing direction M milling movement but no prevailing direction A drift / anchor a vessel being used, but not underway U under sail self explanatory S ski includes skiing, tubing and wakeboarding R recreation other watersports-type activity, typically associated with PWC's (thrill-riding). SPEED 0 anchor/drift vessel in use, stationary 1 under sail sailboat with sails up 2 idle / slow includes sailboats under power 3 plowing planing hull vessels - only 4 cruising non-planing hull vessels-only 5 planing planing hull vessels - only DIRECTION 0 stationary anchored or drifting degrees compass heading degrees compass heading degrees compass heading degrees compass heading degrees compass heading degrees compass heading degrees compass heading degrees compass heading degrees compass heading degrees compass heading degrees compass heading degrees compass heading degrees compass heading degrees compass heading degrees compass heading degrees compass heading 365 milling no consistent direction COMMENTS text string additional information, as needed X COORDINATE X.XXXXX calculated value calculated by ArcMap after plotting is completed Y COORDINATE X.XXXXX calculated value calculated by ArcMap after plotting is completed 37

11 Figure 1. Aerial survey route - Brevard County /06. 38

12 Figure 1. Aerial survey route - Duval, St. Johns, and Flagler Counties. 8/14/07. Flagler Beach 39

13 - Table 2. Brevard County Boat Traffic Study project matrix. BREVARD COUNTY S w_ Dat --- 4/1/06 4/2/06 6/3/06 7/30/06 9/21/06 10/14/06 11/13/06 12/ /07 2/11/07 3/7107 Weekday I Weekend WE WE WE WE WD WE WD WE WD WE WD Survey Start Time Data Collection X X X X X X X X X X X Data Transfer X X X X X X X X X X X GIS Mapping X X X X X X X X X X X Quality Assurance X X X X X X X X X Number Of Boats S - ~-- Dat - 3/31/07 ~--- 4/26/07 5/12/07 5/22/07 5/27/07 6/11/07 7/14/07 8/12/07 8/14/07 8/28/07 9/8107 Weekday I Weekend WE WD WE WD WE WD WE WE WD WD WE Survey Start Time Data Collection X X X X X X X X X X X Data Transfer X X X X X X X X X X X GIS Mapping X X X X X X X X X X X Quality Assurance X X X X X X X X X X X Number Of Boats X - completed 40

14 -- 3/22/08 Table 3. SUohns / Flagler County Study project matrix ST JOHNS I FLAGLER COUNTY /12/07 8/14/07 9/22/07 9/22/07 10/10/07 10/10/07 12/ /1/ /08 1/ /2/ Weekday t Weekend WE WD WE WE WD WD WE WE WD WD WE Survey Start Time Data Collection X X X X X X X X X X X Data Transfer X X X X X X X X X X X GIS Mapping X X X X X X X X QAtQC Number Of Boats TBD TBD 293 TBD S Oat - ~ 4/1108 4/12/08 5/212008* 6/8/2008* FY 09 FY09 FY09 FY09 FY09 FY09 Weekday t Weekend WE WD WE WD WE Survey Start Time TBD TBD Data Collection X X X Data Transfer X X X GIS Mapping X X QAtQC Number Of Boats TBD TBD TBD * - scheduled survey date note - vessel counts are subject to change pending final QA t QC checks. 41

15 Appendix A. Metadata for Brevard County boat traffic aerial surveys /1106 j gorzy@mote.org GIS mapping complete; QA verification pending Jessica Atwell observer 1 videographer method 750 ft 501 This survey is considered reconnaissance and not part of the [mal dataset /2/06 i gorzy@mote.org GIS mapping complete; QA verification pending Jessica Atwell observer 1 videographer method 750 ft 435 This survey is considered reconnaissance and not part of the final dataset. 42

16 Appendix A (Continued) /3/06 j gorzy@mote.org GIS mapping complete; QA verification complete Jessica Atwell observer / videographer method 750 ft /30/06 j gorzy@mote.org GIS mapping complete; QA verification pending Jessica Atwell observer / videographer method 750 ft

17 Appendix A (Continued) /30106 j gorzv@mote.org GIS mapping complete; QA verification pending observer 1 videographer method 750 ft /14/06 j gorzv@mote.org GIS mapping complete; QA verification pending Jessica Atwell observer 1 videographer method 750 ft

18 Appendix A (Continued) /06 i gorzy@mote.org GIS mapping complete; QA verification complete observer 1 videographer method 750 ft /17/06 i gorzy@mote.org GIS mapping complete; QA verification complete Jessica Atwell observer 1 videographer method 750 ft

19 Appendix A (Continued) /26/07 jgorzy@mote.org GIS mapping complete; QA verification complete observer 1 videographer method 750 ft /11/07 Jay Gorze1any j gorzy@mote.org GIS mapping complete; QA verification complete Jessica Atwell observer 1 videographer method 750 ft

20 Appendix A (Continued) /07/07 j gorzy@mote.org GIS mapping complete; QA verification pending observer 1 videographer method 750 ft /31107 jgorzv@mote.org GIS mapping in progress, QA verification pending Jessica Atwell observer 1 videographer method 750 ft

21 Appendix A (Continued) /26/07 jgorzy@mote.org GIS mapping pending observer / videographer method 750 ft /13/07 j gorzy@mote.org GIS mapping in progress, QA verification complete observer / videographer method

22 Appendix A (Continued) /22/07 jgorzy@mote.org GIS mapping in progress, QA verification complete observer 1 videographer method /27/07 jgorzy@mote.org GIS mapping in progress, QA verification complete observer 1 videographer method

23 Appendix A (Continued) /11/07 i gorzy@mote.org GIS mapping in progress, QA verification complete observer 1 videographer method /14/07 i gorzv@mote.org GIS mapping in progress, QA verification complete observer 1 videographer method 644 survey route modified near MLB (weather issues) but all areas successfully surveyed 50

24 Appendix A (Continued) /12/07 j gorzy@mote.org GIS mapping in progress, QA verification complete observer 1 videographer method /14/07 jgorzy@mote.org GIS mapping in progress, QA verification complete observer 1 videographer method

25 Appendix A (Continued) /28/07 j gorzy@mote.org GIS mapping in progress, QA verification complete observer / videographer method 162 survey route modified near Patrick AFB (skydiving), but all areas successfully surveyed /8/07 j gorzy@mote.org GIS mapping in progress, QA verification complete observer / videographer method

26 Appendix B. Metadata for St Johns / Flagler County boat traffic aerial surveys. SURVEY START: St Johns 1 Flagler County Boat Traffic Aerial Survey 811 2/07 i gorzy@mote.org GIS mapping complete, QA verification pending 1332hrs observer 1 videographer method 497 south > north survey route SURVEY START: St Johns 1 Flagler County Boat Traffic Aerial Survey 8114/07 i gorzy@mote.org GIS mapping complete, QA verification pending 0955hrs observer 1 videographer method 142 north > south; area near Mayport could not be surveyed due to flight restrictions 53

27 Appendix B (Continued). SURVEY START: St Johns 1 Flagler County Boat Traffic Aerial Survey 9/22/07 j gorzy@mote.org archive - only 0957hrs observer 1 videographer method TBD south > north; archive-only - not digitized SURVEY START: St Johns 1 Flagler County Boat Traffic Aerial Survey 9/22/07 jgorzy@mote.org GIS mapping complete, QA verification pending 1244hrs observer 1 videographer method 305 north > south survey route 54

28 Appendix B (Continued). SURVEY START: St Johns I Flagler County Boat Traffic Aerial Survey 10/10107 j gorzy@mote.org GIS mapping complete, QA verification pending 1014hrs observer I videographer method 107 south > north survey route SURVEY START: St Johns I Flagler County Boat Traffic Aerial Survey 10/ j gorzv@mote.org archive only 1244hrs observer I videographer method TBD north > south: archive-only - not digitized 55

29 Appendix B (Continued). SURVEY START: St Johns 1 Flagler County Boat Traffic Aerial Survey 12/01 /07 j gorzv@mote.org GIS mapping complete, QA verification pending 1056hrs observer 1 videographer method 293 south > north survey route SURVEY START: St Johns 1 Flagler County Boat Traffic Aerial Survey 12/01107 j gorzy@mote.org archive only 1244hrs observer 1 videographer method TBD north > south: archive-only - not digitized 56

30 Appendix B (Continued). SURVEY START: St Johns 1 Flagler County Boat Traffic Aerial Survey j gorzv@mote.org GIS mapping complete, QA verification pending 0957hrs observer 1 videographer method 106 south > north survey route SURVEY START: St Johns 1 Flagler County Boat Traffic Aerial Survey 01 /31108 Jay Gorze1any j gorzv@mote.org GIS mapping complete, QA verification pending 1242hrs observer / videographer method 94 south > north survey route 57

31 Appendix B (Continued). SURVEY START: St Johns 1 Flagler County Boat Traffic Aerial Survey 03/02/08 j gorzy@mote.org GIS mapping complete, QA verification pending 1039hrs observer 1 videographer method 371 south> north survey route SURVEY START: St Johns 1 Flagler County Boat Traffic Aerial Survey 03/22/08 j gorzy@mote.org GIS mapping complete, QA verification pending 0952hrs observer 1 videographer method 339 north> south survey route 58

32 Appendix B (Continued). SURVEY START: St Johns 1 Flagler County Boat Traffic Aerial Survey 04/01108 j gorzv@mote.org GIS mapping complete, QA verification pending 1039hrs observer 1 videographer method 194 south > north survey route SURVEY START: St Johns 1 Flagler County Boat Traffic Aerial Survey 04/12/08 j gorzy@mote.org GIS mapping underway, QA verification pending 0952hrs observer 1 videographer method TBD south > north survey route 59