Titusville Utility Gopher Tortoise Relocation

The City of Titusville was seeking to construct a new potable water pipeline, but the construction area contained gopher tortoise burrows, which are a protected species.

DRMP was contracted to permit the relocation of gopher tortoises and protected commensal species out of the construction footprint of the City’s new pipeline, running approximately 15-miles, from the Area IV wellfield to the City’s water treatment plant.  DRMP’s authorized gopher tortoise agents conducted a gopher tortoise burrow survey and located 100 perecent of the burrows within the construction easement.  During the survey, two eastern indigo snakes and 111 burrows were observed.  A relocation permit for gopher tortoises was obtained from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). DRMP staff excavated the burrows and transported 37 tortoises to a long-term recipient site, where they were released.  No protected commensal species were recovered during the burrow excavations.

DRMP’s ecological service allowed the City to continue with the construction of the new potable water pipeline. The long-term recipient site will hold the gopher tortoises where they will remain in a protected area permanently.