Pass the "Leave No Trace" Ordinance

Over the last few years, especially during the summer season, the public beach on St. George Island, Florida has become increasingly cluttered with hundreds of beach tents, canopies, cabanas, umbrellas, chairs, and other personal property items being left overnight. The beach clutter has grown to the extent that it has created a hazard for the public and barriers for nesting and hatching sea turtles. Included in this environmental destruction are crater-like holes left behind at the end of the day which create an extreme danger to those who walk or jog along the beach, especially at night.

This situation can be remedied through passage and enforcement of the proposed "Leave No Trace" Ordinance. Compliance with the ordinance will require those visiting the public beach to remove all personal belongings and fill in the holes they dug when they leave the beach at the end of the day.

This is important to the economic well-being of our community and its tourist economy as well as for the protection of marine life including endangered sea turtles.