Choctawhatchee Beach Mouse Habitat New Permit Requirements

[SoWal Staff]

The Choctawhatchee Beach Mouse (CBM) is a federally endangered species endemic to Walton County that is protected by the Federal Endangered Species Act.

Walton County has been provided a map by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) that identifies an area of suitable habitat for the CBM. The CBM suitable habitat area consists of all lands located south of Scenic Gulf Drive (Old 98) eastward from the Okaloosa County line to its intersection with U.S. Highway 98, then south of U.S. Highway 98 to County Road 30A, onward south of County Road 30A eastward to the juncture of U.S. Highway 98 and continuing south of U.S. Highway 98 to the Bay County Line. (See attached map showing CBM suitable habitat).

Please be advised that all land disturbance and construction activities, including redevelopment, that fall within this suitable habitat require coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This coordination is to determine if a permit or other protection measures from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be required.

The property owner or applicant must contact Kristi Yanchis with the FWS at (850) 769-0552 or kristi_yanchis@fws.gov, to begin the process.

It is advised that you coordinate with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service early in a project or building design as this can be a lengthy process.

For additional information or questions, please contact Walton County Environmental Manager, Scott Caraway, at 850-892-8108.

 

[John G]

Well, it appears that yet another Federal Law Enforcement Agency has come to Walton County and is pealing back the layers of another rotten onion.

I was wrong when I said in prior posts that the "chickens are coming home to roost", it looks more like the Mice are coming back to nest...

This all due to the over development all rubber stamped by our County Government. Way to Go!

Beach mouse could delay Walton development

Walton County has been notified that federal wildlife authorities frown upon construction on the home turf of the Choctawhatchee beach mouse.U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials were apparently made aware recently that work was being done on a home in an area near Grayton Beach State Park.Following a visit, the agency determined the construction was being done in beach mouse habitat, and reminded the county it needs to know about work in places where endangered species roam.

“Walton County has been provided a map by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that identifies an area of suitable habitat for the Choctawhatchee beach mouse,” the memo said. “Please be advised that all land disturbance and construction activities, including redevelopment, that fall within this suitable habitat require coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.”County spokesman Louis Svehla confirmed Fish and Wildlife had contacted the county, but added “we were not given any details” about the event that led to the memo being sent.Kristi Yanchis with the FWS said the requirement to obtain a federal permit for construction or land disturbance has always existed.

She said “the catalyst” that opened the most recent discussion of the permit issue was a noticeable increase in development “and the amount of calls we are receiving informing us of actions taking place in CBM habitat without a permit from us.”With the Choctawhatchee beach mouse, Yanchis said, protecting critical habitat, areas that the tiny, nocturnal rodents are known to populate, is important because the mice are seldom seen and populations shift.“If you impact their habitat, you are likely impacting the CBM,” she said.

Walton County’s critical beach mouse habitat consists of all land located south of Scenic Gulf Drive extending eastward from the Okaloosa County line to the intersection with U.S. Highway 98, a county news release issued Monday said.Critical habitat area further stretch south of U.S. 98 to County Road 30A and south of 30A east to the juncture of U.S. 98 and continuing south of U.S. 98 to the Bay County line, it said.

If no permit is obtained from the Fish and Wildlife Service to legally “take” beach mice, a landowner could be subject to law enforcement action, Yanchis said.Svhela said the Fish and Wildlife Service’s delineation of its permitting requirements could impact Walton County projects as well as private construction.Dune walkovers can be built without a permit, Yanchis said, if federal dune walkover guidelines are followed.Yanchis said it is conceivable that obtaining permits for construction or land disturbance activity could take longer with the Fish and Wildlife Service requiring permits.

 

[Jimmy T]

It's interesting that the NWFDN article specifically mentions a house near Grayton Beach state park. Sounds like it might be this one:

 

[Kurt]

Choctawhatchee Beach Rat