Completed: Sep 18, 2019
Sea Turtle Protection Project
Meet with Dominion
Sep 18 2019
Determine best lumineer
Completed: Mar 24, 2020
Oct 31 2019
Correct Issues with 6 lights installed
Completed: Mar 24, 2020
Nov 30 2019
Order Protect Sea Turtle Magnets
Completed: Sep 25, 2019
Sep 25 2019
Dominion Agreement
Completed: Oct 8, 2020
Oct 8 2020
US Dept of Interior Fish and Wildlife Grant
Completed: Apr 8, 2020
Apr 8 2020
Install Fixtures and lights
Completed: Apr 19, 2021
Dec 31 2020
Finalize Project/Obtain Grant Funds
Completed: Dec 31, 2021
Dec 31 2021
In 2018, the Town began implementing steps to protect sea turtles. Phase I has been implemented and 6 turtle friendly lights were installed at locations that ranked highest for hatching misorientations. Although the new street lights were changed to provide more protection to sea turtles, they did not resolve issues with misorientations of sea turtles.
Before installing additional fixtures along the beachfront, the Town tested several fixtures to determine if they reduced misorientations. After the testing phase was completed, a fixture was selected and the Town negotiated an agreement with Dominion for the next phase which includes installing 47 dimmable turtle friendly streetlights.
In April 2020, the Town acquired a $50,000 US Fish and Wildlife Service grant titled "Edisto Beach Sea Turtle Lighting Project". This grant will offset a portion of the costs associated with the new turtle friendly streetlights.
Staff also contacted homeowners with homes that have unshielded visible lights in parking areas or on walkways. The Town has ordered magnets to educate the public regarding sea turtle protection.
Patrick Brown, Project Manager
Dominion Energy
US Fish and Wildlife Service
Documents
United States Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Grant
Fish and Wildlife Service Grant F20AC00027
Dominion Agreement
Dominion Agreement Turtle Friendly Lights 2020
Project Updates
Dominion Presentation at the Council Retreat
Wednesday, February 26, 2020
Mr. Garvin, the lighting services manager for Dominion, attended the Council retreat on February 26, 2020 to discuss their role in turtle friendly street lighting. Last year, the Town installed 6 turtle friendly light fixtures that did not perform as intended.
Mr. Garvin, presented several street lighting fixture options to the Town ranging from Shepard's Crook styles, shielded, louvered and dimmable. The consensus was Dominion would obtain samples of different types of fixtures. These fixtures should be installed prior to turtle season so the Town, with input from the Turtle Patrol, can determine which lighting option functions best.
Light Repairs
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Dominion had crews on the beach to repair or replace the turtle friendly lights at beach access 1A and beach access 3. Both lights were repaired (wires had been cut) and since they were turtle friendly amber colored lights yet still caused misorientations, the lights were moved to other locations and replaced with the old hubble shielded high pressure sodium lights while decisions are made on how to proceed with making Palmetto Boulevard lighting turtle friendly.
Discussions involved lowering the lights, replacing lights with lower wattage lights, using dimmable features, shielding the newer turtle friendly lights, etc. The decision was made to use the old style lights while the Town works with Dominion to implement dimmable lights.
Dominon also worked on other streetlights while in the area.
NIght Meeting Dominion
Monday, October 7, 2019
Councilman Kizer, Ms. Hill, and Ms. Viars met with Robert Garvin of Dominion to discuss the issues that the Town had with the sea turtle safe lights at Beach access 3 and 129 Palmetto. Work is ongoing to resolve this issue.
Meeting with Dominion
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Staff met with representatives from Dominion to discuss the 6 turtle friendly street lights that were previously installed and the issues with misorientations that have been reported. Specifically, misorientations occured at the street lights located at beach access 3 and 129 Palmetto. Dominion plans to inspect these lights to ensure they are, in fact, amber turtle friendly lights. The Town does not want to continue installing these specific lights, if they are not solving the issues with misorientation of sea turtles.
In addition, discussions included shielding the lights already installed (there is no shield for the 6 street lights installed and if the town did fabricate and install shields it would invalidate the warranty), changing to a lower lumen light (the new lights appear brighter than the current street lights), converting to dimmable lights, or using a different type of lumineer altogether.