Mission: To preserve, protect and restore Volusia County’s natural resources for the benefit of its citizens.

What they are doing to be more “green”

Environmental Management, by definition, is the leader in green initiatives at Volusia County Government. The division takes every opportunity to promote the environment and increase public awareness about the impacts of people’s actions. The division provides advice to the public about environmental issues, wildlife and native plants on a daily basis.

Environmental Management consistently focuses on recycling, whether at public events like cleanups or festivals, or in the office. Environmental Management uses post recycled content paper for printing and copying; recycled printer cartridges, that are returned to the manufacturer to be re-filled; and recycles batteries and cell phones. The division uses rechargeable batteries and reuses office supplies, wherever possible, before recycling them. The division was the pilot project for the use of hybrid vehicles in the county and currently uses six hybrid vehicles.

There is a long list of green initiatives that are directed by Environmental Management:

Lyonia Environmental Center (LEC)– Although the center isn’t due to open until July 2009, programs have been in process for months that highlight the importance of the environment within Volusia County. These programs promote and encourage exploration of the county’s ecosystems and promote stewardship of our natural resources. The LEC aims to foster community involvement in the conservation of wildlife and the habitat that we share. To that extent, green building elements will be incorporated into the facility and green building practices will be promoted by the LEC.

Volusia County Manatee Protection Plan

• Monofilament recycling program -Volusia County Environmental Management implemented a successful recycling program that focuses on removing used monofilament fishing line from the environment. Discarded fishing line causes entanglements and accounts for many tragic wildlife deaths. Even line that makes its way to the landfill creates hazards for wildlife unless it is cut into small pieces. Monofilament line can be recycled and made into tackle boxes and artificial fish habitats.
   
• Manatee Watch - The Manatee Watch program uses volunteers trained by Environmental Management staff to document manatee sightings, photograph manatees, and sketch manatee scarring patterns. Volunteers provide information, including the condition, behavior and location of manatees sighted. The information collected provides a better understanding of how manatees are using Volusia County waterways.
   
• Bilge socks –The bilge sock is a long fabric tube, filled with absorbent material which, when placed in the bilge compartment of a boat, soaks up gas and oil. Bilge socks are distributed through a grant-funded program to help keep Volusia's waterways cleaner. These fuels usually are discharged into the marine environment through bilge pumping, fueling and accidental spills. The bilge socks being distributed also are landfill-friendly.
   
• Clean marina program – Marinas and boaters may not be aware of the environmental laws, rules and jurisdictions that might apply to them. The goal of program is “Clean Marina Designation” which lets boaters know that the designated clean marina businesses adhere to – or exceed program criteria – including Marina Environmental Measures (MEMs). MEMs are simple, innovative solutions to day-to-day marina operations that protect the environment.

Sea Turtle Habitat Conservation Program (HCP) - Volusia County is dedicated to the protection of sea turtles and the habitat shared by people and animals. For years, the county has put forth more time, effort and energy into protecting sea turtles than most other counties throughout the state. The county’s Environmental Management sea turtle protection, rescue, and educational measures have been incorporated into all aspects of our beach management programs, from law enforcement activities to trash collection.

• Sea turtle nest protection- HCP staff participates with local nonprofit groups to collect nesting information and to GPS all nests to ensure their protection throughout the season. Staff and volunteers remove obstacles nightly, conducting lighting inspections at nest locations, and remark nest locations in the event of vandalism or washouts.
   
• Beachfront lighting – To help protect sea turtles from bright lights which can disorient them, Volusia County has developed a Beach Lighting Management Plan and is working with ocean front property owners to reduce lighting problems along our beaches.
   
• Sea turtle Washback Watchers volunteer program – This program uses trained volunteers who work under a permit to find and rescue young sea turtles that wash ashore due to heavy winds and surf each August through November.
   
• Piping plover and shorebird monitoring – The Piping plover, charadrius melodus, is listed as the top species of Highly Imperiled Global Concern in the 2004 U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan. Volusia County’s own Ponce Inlet is a wintering home to these precious birds. Environmental Management carries out piping plover monitoring during the bird’s wintering season which runs August through May.
   
• Adopt-a-beach volunteer program – One mile of beach is adopted by individuals, families and organizations that are committed to doing four annual beach clean-ups in their adopted mile. In exchange, volunteers get recognition with a sign placed in their honor within their mile of beach.

Marine Mammal Stranding Team – Marine mammal strandings are common along the Florida coast and occur when live animals beach themselves or dead animals wash ashore. When a stranding occurs in Volusia County, a team of volunteers, the Volusia County Stranding Network, working under the Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute, are notified to assess the situation. The data collected from a stranded animal can help researchers determine if environmental causes may be creating problems for marine life or humans, or whether the stranding was a natural occurrence. This data may help to determine the cause of death, along with expanding our knowledge of cetacean physiology, including feeding and reproductive habits.

Shoreline restoration programs – Environmental Management carries out estuarine restoration which includes the removal of Brazilian pepper and the planting mangroves and shoreline grasses. Brazilian pepper is an exotic invasive (it does not naturally occur in Florida) that grows and spreads rapidly threatening our native ecosystems. Shoreline restoration reduces erosion and creates habitat for crabs, juvenile fish, birds and many other animals.

Environmental cleanups – Environmental Management manages a number of environmental cleanups in Volusia County. These cleanups include the coastal cleanup, the Halifax-Indian River, the St Johns River and DeLeon Springs. Volunteers are recruited to spend a morning removing trash which degrades ecosystems and creates hazardous conditions for wildlife.

Dune plantings – Environmental Management facilitates dune plantings on Volusia County beaches. A variety of native coastal dune plants (including sea oats, bitter panic grass, dune sunflower, and rail road vine) are used in the plantings. The plants help to stabilize the dune system and provide habitat for beach dwelling animals from shorebirds to gopher tortoises and sea turtles.

Tree grants – Environmental Management collects funds from applicants for replacement of trees removed on development sites. These funds are distributed to cities, schools and other nonprofit agencies through a grant program. Funds are used to purchase native trees and plants in demonstration gardens throughout Volusia County.

Water conservation

• Water Wise ordinance – Volusia County has a Water Wise Landscape ordinance that provides additional protection to Florida's water resources through water conservation and the preservation and protection of the state’s natural resources. The ordinance limits the amount of irrigation that can be installed, dividing systems into high/medium/low and no irrigation zones. The ordinance promotes the use of native plants in landscaping, and encourages the reduction of fertilizer and pesticide use. Using Florida native plants that are adapted to local conditions reduces the costs of the landscaping (from plant loss) and the maintenance needs of the landscape (including energy usage).
   
• Non-point source pollution awareness – Storm water that drains into our watersheds is a pollution source that is sometimes overlooked. Environmental Management initiated a grant-funded storm-drain marking program that alerts the public to the effects of non-point source watershed pollution. The markers read, “No dumping drains into waterways.”
   
• Pollution control – The purpose of Environmental Management’s pollution control activity is to protect water resources. This is accomplished by conducting surface water quality and quantity monitoring, ensuring the proper disposal of solid waste, waste water and hazardous waste, and developing educational programs to encourage water conservation.
   
• Environmental health laboratory – The surface water system in Volusia County hosts a wide variety of recreational and commercial events and is sensitive to the infiltration of pollutants. The environmental health laboratory provides water testing services to the public. Laboratory staff also manage the county’s surface water program by conducting surveys of the Halifax River, St. Johns River and Mosquito Lagoon water basins. More than 70 stations are monitored each month for 16 parameters to follow and pinpoint pollution sources. The laboratory also tests water in Blue, DeLeon, Gemini and Green Springs.
   
• Hazardous waste program – This program identifies hazardous waste generators (businesses or individuals) within the county. Hazardous waste includes explosives, poison, corrosive and flammable materials. The program notifies generators of their responsibilities under federal, state and local laws regarding hazardous waste storage and disposal. On-site visits and technical support help to ensure the waste is stored and disposed of in the correct manner.
   
• Solid waste – This program enforces county ordinances and state laws regulating the establishment and operation of solid waste management facilities. Site inspections assist operators and prevent minor problems from developing into violations. In addition to monitoring permitted facilities, staff also investigates complaints of illegal disposal of solid waste, the majority consisting of construction and demolition debris.
   
• Domestic waste – This program is responsible for enforcing county ordinances and state rules governing the treatment and disposal of domestic wastewater.

Environmental permitting - Environmental permitting is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the county's tree protection and wetland protection ordinances. Permitting staff provide site inspection and review for a variety of environmental resources including trees, wetlands and wetland buffers, and threatened and endangered species.

• Protected species permitting – The county’s permitting process requires additional documentation for any protected species found on properties permitted by the county. The county works with homeowners and the governing agency for the species (federal or state) to ensure that species issues are addressed. Scrub jay, gopher tortoise, and bald eagle nests are mapped and monitored by the permitting activity.
   
• Tree removal – Removal of trees is regulated through a tree preservation ordinance. This ordinance identifies which circumstances require the issuance of a tree removal permit, and outlines the requirements for obtaining a permit including the protection of existing on-site trees and any replanting requirements.
   
• Wetlands –The overall goal of the Volusia County Wetland ordinance is "no net loss of wetland function or acreage" to ensure the protection of Volusia County’s water resources and native habitat. Wetlands provide vital functions in the hydrologic cycle and ecological systems. The more wetlands are altered, the more flood damage to property. Volusia County has a strong desire and commitment to protect its wetlands by regulating activities that may alter them and their upland buffers.
   
• Habitat -planting guidelines – Environmental Management provides Volusia County residents with tree replacement and habitat planting guidelines that contain Florida native plants for specific habitat types. Native plants are adapted to the Florida environment and provide habitat for native wildlife.
   
• Indian River Lagoon overlay – Environmental Management works to protect and improve the water quality of the Indian River Lagoon by regulating on site storage of stormwater and ensuring that at least 35 percent of the natural vegetation on a property is preserved (or replanted if disturbed).

Petroleum storage systems – More than 90 percent of the water that Floridians drink is groundwater from the Florida aquifer. One gallon of gasoline has the potential to contaminate a million gallons of groundwater

• Petroleum cleanup – The program cleans leaking storage tanks through the removal and treatment of petroleum contamination in soils and groundwater. Staff members supervise the cleanup process from discovery and assessment through the end of cleanup efforts.
   
• Compliance – The Compliance Inspection Program is responsible for educating owners and operators of petroleum storage facilities to minimize the potential for discharges. All registered facilities are inspected annually in Volusia County, ensuring that the facilities are utilizing appropriate pollution prevention equipment and are adhering to correct tank management practices in accordance with FDEP rules and guidelines.

For more information about Environmental Management’s green initiatives, visit http://volusia.org/environmental/default.htm