Corpusfishing.com

[Tyler]

Not as long this time with it ending July 5th, the pdf says June 5th but that is an error.

Details here http://cacrights.org/docs/2-22%20Long%20Announcement%20Final.pdf

[Rebecca of Sunnybrookfarm]

folks, follow the link and read the info.

wow, very interesting stats in there. I was not aware that the turtles nesting on PINS represents about half a percent of the total population. For some odd reason I thought it was more.

join CAC folks, thanks for the link Tyler, and keep us informed when that EA hits public notice.
PF
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[Tyler]

Yes, I read the same thing .6 of a percent! That's a lot of regulation for such an insignificant number given that no turtles have been run over during nesting season on PINS.

[Mad Dog]

Let's see 117 nests discovered in 2009 over 60 miles of beach and 120 days in the 2009 season.

That equals less than one nest per day in 60 miles. So if you traveled to the Mansfield Pass stayed over night and drove back there is the chance that you would have crossed paths with one turtle coming ashore to do her business. The odds of actually seeing one are even more remote considering the hours in a day.

I know figures can lie and liars can figure but the probablilities are very small.

Also, I liked the part about the speed limit applying to the turtle hunters too. Priceless.

MD
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Ego piscor, ergo sum

http://s175.photobucket.com/albums/w150/cstockton/Aquasport/

[HsBnAtty]

Tyler, thanks for catching the date mistake. We will correct the PDF

[Mudflap]

But, what if a natural disaster wiped out their primary nesting area? Isn't that mother nature determining their fate? If that were to happen, 117 nests is not going to bring them back, at least not for decades. This sounds like a complete waste of time and is driven by the feel good aspect of it and maybe some know it all ego some in the enviro movement have. Yes, people like to see the turtles released. It gives one a warm all over feeling. But, wouldn't the millions of dollars spent here be best used protecting them in Mexico? Anyone have an idea of how much money is spent annually on this at PINS? If so, divide that by 117 and find out the cost per nest.

[jebsays]

From what I can understand, the base summary is as follows:
2008:
$4.16m

2009:
$5.07m

2010:
$5.9m

This figure is supplemented by a number of different programs though (specifically mentioned in the NPS Report is cyclic maintenance, Natural Resources Preservation Program, Drug Enforcement Program - could be some, all or none; it's non-specific to PINS but overall for Texas Parks).

It also "does not include funding for Trails and Other Affiliated Areas that are not park units, nor programs from other appropriations such as General Management Plans, Land Acquisition and Line Item Construction.".

I did find a budget increase request in the FY2010 Green Book asking for a 700k increase in the base park funding plus 9 full-time employees specifically "to enhance protection of Endangered Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtles."

Padre Island National Seashore, Texas
$700,000 and 9.0 FTE to Enhance Protection of Endangered Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtles Funding is requested to increase support of the Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle Recovery Program. This program has become a signature project for the park, and past success has led to increased nesting and increased associated workload. Funding would be used to maintain detection and protection efforts and expand activities in the southern half of the park, thereby decreasing response time and increasing egg and turtle survival. Funding would also be used to mitigate employee safety risks per the Operational Risk Review recommendations following a fatal accident in 2007. The park would ensure that eggs are
protected from various threats, increase the number of employee base of operations areas from two to three, increase the number of egg protection sites from one to three, and enhance hatchling emergence
rates. This funding would result in greater resource protection, improved employee safety, and enhanced visitor access and satisfaction.

The latest visitor numbers available are from 2008 and indicate 596k visitors.

I don't see the latest FTE numbers, but at the end of 2008 it was 55.


http://home.nps.gov/applications/budget2/downloads.htm

http://home.nps.gov/applications/budgetweb/FY2010/sbtoc.htm

[larry meinert]

5.9 million, or whatever, a year for a program that is a total failure for 40 years amazes me. The worst part is the stretch of beach they stole. In there own summary of their program, they proved the nests on Padre Island were stragglers from Mexico but if somehow their program started to show even slight improvement, it would surly be the closure of South Beach maybe the whole Island from driving during nesting season. L

[jebsays]

[HungerBuster]

I've been a member of the Board for a while, and do not post often. But I have to comment on this. I've followed the issue on the Breakaway site and here for the last 18 months. The best...and I mean the absolute best... reason I have heard to eliminate the reduced speed limit is from Billy: the Turtles typically...if not always...move in weather where YOU WOULD ALMOST NEVER DRIVE OVER 15MPH ANYWAY. The National Park Service knows this. The Sierra Club knows this. We know this. No need for the reduced speed "limit." Mother Nature does that just fine on her own. Nuff said.
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Fish ON!

[Tyler]

[UnderDog]

On the upside, the Billy's Dogs might enjoy the lower speed limits and get to some nests before any human.
Mother Nature always wins.

[dwdart]