Volusia County outlines beach‑driving limits, sea turtle protections ahead of May nesting season

David Zylo, Volusia County sea turtle habitat conservation plan program manager, told a county training that the Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) and associated federal permits guide how the county restricts beach driving and protects nesting wildlife.

The Endangered Species Act of 1973 and an incidental take permit underpin the HCP’s rules, Zylo said, and the county combines restrictions, mitigation and volunteer monitoring to reduce accidental harm. “This act is a federal law and it’s aimed at protecting species from extinction,” Zylo said. He also noted the county relies on mitigation partners: “The Marine Science Center is thus far cared for, I believe, 250 stranded green turtles this year,” he said.

Why it matters: Volusia County’s sea turtle nesting season starts May 1 and runs through October; county staff and volunteers plan to mark nests, smooth vehicle ruts that block hatchlings, and enforce time‑and‑area driving limits intended to cut incidental take and protect shorebird habitat. Zylo framed those measures as part of a broader effort to allow beach driving while reducing harm to turtles, shorebirds and other species.

The training…