April 2023 Project Status Report

Department of Environmental Resources Management

Sea Turtle Lighting: As sea turtle nesting continues on County beaches, ERM staff have been conducting routine night time lighting inspections focusing on regulatory lighting compliance and enforcement in areas within the County’s jurisdiction Artificial lighting poses a major threat to both nesting female sea turtles and their hatchlings. In an attempt to minimize this threat, ERM staff patrol the beach at night documenting any non-compliant lighting visible from the beach Staff work closely alongside coastal property managers and home owners to discuss and implement recommended corrections for achieving compliance

Monceaux Park Living Shoreline: More than forty students, teachers, and administrative staff headed to the Lake Worth Lagoon this month to help ERM plant the two living shorelines along the park’s seawall The group planted 100 red mangroves (donated by MANG) and 700 grass seedlings in planters lined with rocks The students also got up-close and personal with some of the creatures living in the lagoon. Getting wet and muddy with the students were Conniston Middle School Science Teacher Elizabeth Eck, Principal James Thomas, Chief Operating Officer Joseph Sanches, and Superintendent of the School District of Palm Beach County Michael J Burke The Monceaux Park Living Shoreline is a partnership between ERM and The City of West Palm Beach to bring valuable wildlife habitat to seawall-lined sections along Lake Worth Lagoon

Tarpon Cove Planting: Students and teachers from Palm Beach Day Academy planted 300 red mangroves on the newly created island. This was the 7th and final planting event at Tarpon Cove In total, 228 volunteers helped to plant over 2,300 mangroves and 8,000 saltmarsh cordgrass seedlings this year

Weeding for the Birds: ERM staff and volunteers spent several hours removing vegetation and trash from two islands at Tarpon Cove restoration area in Lake Worth Lagoon The group focused on the raised sandy areas that are a favorite for nesting shorebirds The volunteers removed 20 bags of vegetation and trash.

Wading Bird Rookery: ERM staff documented another successful breeding season at the rookeries in the Loxahatchee Slough Natural Area. Staff documented 198 nests of several species, including Little Blue Heron, Tri-Colored Heron, Snowy Egret, Cattle Egret, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, and Black-Crowned Night Heron Our restoration efforts have been successful in providing critical habitat for these wading bird species.

Currie Park Earth Day Cleanup: In coordination with Visit Palm Beach, Beach Bucket Foundation, City of West Palm Beach, Keep West Palm Beach Beautiful, ERM, Live Freediving, and Business Flare, 74 volunteers (and 23 paddlers) removed over 400 pounds of trash from the shoreline and throughout the park

Invasive Species: ERM staff led an interagency workday to treat a newly established invasive species, Scleria microcarpa This plant is native to parts of the Caribbean and South America, and it has known invasive populations in Polk and Osceola Counties. In Florida, it forms dense stands in the understory of cypress and hardwood swamps, out-competing native species At least six agencies within the Treasure Coast Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA) worked together to map and treat this species. This was done as part of an early detection and rapid response strategy that will aid in extirpating this invader before it becomes widely spread in our area

Adventure Awaits: Register NOW for a FREE event at PBCERM.EVENTBRITE.COM!

Upcoming Erm Events

• May 12: TRAIL RUN at Cypress Creek North

• May 14: SUNSET AT THE ROOST at Pine Glades

• May 27: INVASIVE SPECIES WALK at Frenchman’s Forest

Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners

Palm Beach International Airport Traffic Report

for the period ended March 2023

(1) Estimated Seat Capacity; Adjusted Innovata/OAG Scheduled seats, actual capacity may vary

(2) Percentage Change in load factor is stated in absolute difference

(3) Freight plus mail in US Tons

(4) Landings plus Takeoffs, includes cargo carriers

(5) Per FAA Tower

Palm Beach County Department of Airports

846 PBIA, West Palm Beach , FL 33406-1470 www.pbia.org