Specifications

Section 2 Existing Conditions/Affected Environment
EAA Storage Reservoirs Revised Draft PIR and EIS February 2006
2-30
wetlands or agricultural areas. They typically range over large areas with adult
males traveling as much as 158 HA to 224 HA in the summer.
2.11.5.8 American Alligator
The American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) is a common inhabitant of
freshwater and estuarine lakes, ponds, sloughs, swamps, and canals throughout
South Florida. It is protected as a threatened species by the federal government
due to its similarity of appearance to other endangered crocodilian species. The
American alligator is commonly found in aquatic habitats within the EAA. This
project is not likely to have an effect on the alligator, and as such, will not be
addressed any further in alternatives analysis.
2.11.5.9 Sea Turtles
The endangered leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) is the largest of
the sea turtles. The leatherback turtle regularly nests on the east coast of
Florida, with the nesting and hatching season lasting from mid-February to mid-
November. The adults are highly migratory and spend the most time in the
pelagic zone compared to the other sea turtles. They have been found to exhibit
broad thermal tolerances (NMFS & USFWS, 1995). Nesting females prefer
high-energy beaches with deep, unobstructed access. Based on surveys of nests
in South Florida, they nest mainly in Palm Beach County, and secondly Martin
County. Leatherback turtles appear to feed primarily on jellyfish. The status of
leatherback populations in the U.S. is not known; intensive studies of nesting
leatherback turtles have occurred at Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge in
U.S. Virgin Islands (USFWS, 1999).
The endangered hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata imbricata) is
commonly found in the Caribbean Sea and waters on either side of Florida. In
particular, they are regularly seen in the waters of the Florida Keys and reefs off
Palm Beach County. In contrast to the green and loggerhead sea turtles, the
hawksbill sea turtle nests in low densities on South Florida beaches, with
aggregations typically in the range of a few dozen individuals. Hawksbill turtles
inhabit the pelagic zone in their early years, then come closer to shore near coral
reefs, but may also inhabit mangrove-fringed bays and estuaries. In the near-
shore habitat, they primarily feed on sponges (USFWS, 1999).
The endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) is the smallest
and most endangered (in the western hemisphere) of the sea turtles, and is
extremely rare in Florida. Juvenile turtles may be found along the eastern
seaboard and in the Gulf of Mexico. Nesting in Florida is very rare, with only
five reported occurrences. Kemp’s ridley turtles are mostly carnivorous, eating
mainly crabs and other shallow, benthic organisms. The current estimate of
nesting females, based on nest surveys and various factors for clutch size and