ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – Beach tilling in St. Johns County to help maintain sea turtle nesting habitats began on April 3 and will continue in phases throughout the week.
St. Johns County Coastal Management began the tilling, which is part of the county’s five-year plan, on St. Augustine Beach last week. That portion of the project will finish up on Monday.
Beachgoers are asked to be cautious and considerate as they make their way across the areas slated for tilling this week:
- St. Augustine (Pope Road to A Street): April 7; Mobilizing Via Pope Road Access
- Vilano (Serenata to 3200 Coastal Highway): April 7-8; Mobilizing via Surfside Park
- South Ponte Vedra (2539 SPV Blvd to Serenata): April 9-10; Mobilizing via 2700 South PV Blvd
- Ponte Vedra (51 PV Blvd to 1461 PV Blvd): April 10-11; Mobilizing via Micklers
“The beach tilling involves heavy machinery that plows the beach sand, making it more compatible for successful sea turtle nesting to occur,” said Sloane Stephens, Coastal Environment Project Manager. “Tilling is part of the permit monitoring requirements following beach restoration projects. For each area, the tilling will begin at daybreak, and spotters will be utilized to ensure the safety of the public.”
This is all part of the county’s bigger picture. As News4JAX reported in March, another key component of the county’s strategy is monitoring sea turtles and nesting shorebirds as part of its Habitat Conservation Plan.
This includes tasks such as escarpment knockdowns, where small cliffs formed on the beach after storms are leveled to ensure turtles can nest without obstacles.
To enhance these conservation efforts, St. Johns County has partnered with Coastal Conservation Group for the next five years, which was approved by the County Commission.
The contract with Coastal Conservation Group is capped at $14 million, and the county’s efforts are cost-shared with state and federal partners.
In the past five years, St. Johns County recorded nearly 5,000 sea turtle nests.
In 2023, the county recorded triple-digit green sea turtle nests on its beaches at 133.
“This process helps sea turtles successfully dig their nest chambers and strengthens our ecosystem,” said Ashley Raybould, Environmental Supervisor of the County’s Habitat Conservation Program.
