Loggerhead Island Report

Special considerations we made to protect the sea turtles included dark hours for the nearby houses, no other buildings in that area, and boat restrictions so the wakes don't disturb the turtles or worm reefs. Special considerations we made when determining a good site for the fishing pier were that it couldn't be too close to the turtles or worm reef. We made it near the lagoon, but restricted it to only fishing rods and kayaks- no boats or fishing nets- so the dolphins and manatees are not disturbed. Some of the potential problems that might arise from the proposed golf course are that golf balls might enter the ocean, which is why we didn't make it near the lagoon or turtle nesting site. That's the best we can do to reduce impact. Chemicals in the grass might also disturb the ecosystem, so we can make a less harsh impact with an environmentally friendly course and less chemicals. The economic benefits to the community of Loggerhead County if the development was done with the least amount of environmental impact would be that tourism would be booming, which would raise a lot of money. Energy, water, etc. could also be cheaper if we used natural resources as much as possible and didn't pollute the area. Humans negatively impact coastal ecosystems such as this one by polluting the ocean/ground/sky, eroding the shoreline with the construction of buildings and roads, hurting the native animals with activities such as boating and fishing, and covering habitats with paved roads. Maintaining natural vegetation can help us to reduce the damage caused by oceanic events such as hurricanes, tsunami and continued beach erosion by keeping the shoreline in place and therefore not disrupting wave patterns/currents. I did not hear any ideas that I would have used if I thought about it before-hand, but a few new ideas could be making sure that any waste was not polluting the environment (waste from the restaurant, club, etc.), creating a communal compost pile, and making the villa into a natural getaway with hiking routes and natural spas rather than something like a casino. 

7. After listening to the other groups make their presentations, were there any ideas they had you would have used if you had though about it before-hand? You should list at least three different ideas and indicate why their idea is actually better for the environment than yours.