Official Links
& Documents

Shell Key
Management Plan

State Lease Agreement
Board of County Commissioners
Blog/Discussion
(St. Pete Times)
IMAGES
Tide Charts
Weather
Updates

Activities/Science

Astronomy (Update!)
Wildlife Observation
Volunteer!

Projects
Wildlife Preservation
Island Cleanup
Tree Restoration
Signage

Leisure
Boating
Camping
Kayaking


MAPS:

Preserve Boundaries

Puiblic Use Areas

Waterays & Navigation

THE RULES




LINKS:

AUDUBON


Tampa Bay Watch

St. Pete Astronomy
Club (SPAC)


Click the Aerial Image


FRIENDS OF
SHELL KEY:

 

www.surveys.us

 



This natural treasure is
located at the mouth of Tampa Bay & requires a boat to visit.

Our web site is devoted to balancing responsible and open usage of Shell Key Preserve with meaningful wildlife and environmental protection.

Last Updated on 04/29/08
  What's going on with Shell Key?
The Pinellas County Commission has approved the proposed updates to the Shell Key management plan. Alcohol and pets have been banned from the entire preserve. Camping by fee-based permit only will be allowed on the southern public use areas.


A brief history of the
Shell Key Management Plan...

In 2000, Pinellas County acquired a lease from the State of Florida to establish Shell Key as a Wildlife Preserve. At that time, new rules regarding alcohol and public use were enacted to comply with the requirements of the state lease.

In 2007, the plan came up for it's scheduled review and update. After several months of public debate and pressure from various interests, County staff began formulating proposals to restrict camping, alcohol and pets from Shell Key.

Beginning in April, 2007 we offered the idea of camping by permit as an alternative to the proposed camping ban.

After consulting with other campers, environmental groups and county staff, we began to receive support for our ideas from campers, representatives of environmental groups as well as County staff in the Environmental Lands division.

** see our original plan to find practical solutions to the challenge of balancing public use with environmental protection.

By October of 2007, County staff formally included camping by permit into the draft plan. In December, The County Commission formally approved the plan.

Please see the update stories listed at the right of this page for the most recent updates.


This web site is maintained by:
Jack Coletti

Shell Key Advisory Committee
info@shellkey.org
Contributors: Dr. Brett Mensh MD, PHD; Timyn J Rice (DEP); Larry Joe Davis, Esq.



View Larger Map

 

 

LATEST NEWS

04/29/08
Fee-Based Camping Permits Announced!

01/17/08
Campers discuss new rules with County.

10/02/07
Camping Compromise Reached!

10/02/07
Pet Compromise Fails.


09/16/07
County law
(o. 2-6) allows for dogs.


09/11/07
Bay News 9 Interview


09/11/07
Report - Final BOCC Workshop

09/11/07
Workshop Video


09/11/07
Final BOCC Workshop Address (dog ban) - J.Coletti.

09/12/07

Audubon Gets New Preserve.

09/02/07
County Admin. asks for LIMA Funding

08/29/07
Final Advisory Group Meeting Report

(Meeting: Campers' comments by J.Coletti)

07/25/07
Draft Plan Released

05/29/07
County considers Licensing

05/28/07
Memorial Day Weekend Report

05/28/07
Campfires Prohibited

05/24/07
Reported Grass Fire

04/25/07
Stakeholders Meeting Report

04/08/07
County Proposes Camping, Pet Ban


PLEASE JOIN OUR
MAIL LIST BELOW.

Name:
Address:

City:

E-mail:
I am willing to Volunteer for SKMP:
113 members

YOU ARE VISITOR #
13644
since 04/05/2000