A historic sea turtle nest is being carefully monitored on Huntington City Beach near Tower 15, and a team of local, state, and federal partners is working together throughout incubation. The City of Huntington Beach is working closely with experts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and other local, state, and federal partners as the nest continues to develop. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has jurisdiction over the nesting site and is evaluating current conditions to determine what, if any, additional actions may be appropriate. As wildlife experts continue to evaluate the nest, they are helping the City better understand which environmental factors may affect the developing eggs. “Loud sounds from human activities, light, and vibrations have negligible impact on the development of the eggs,” said NOAA scientist Jeff Seminoff. “Instead, the biggest hurdles these developing baby turtles face will be cold temperatures as we get deeper into the fall, and the potential for inundation from the extreme high tides that are common this time of the year.” The nest is naturally exposed to the changing coastal environment, including surf, tides, sand conditions, temperature, and other factors. In coordination with NOAA and our partner agencies, we established a larger, more secure protected area around the nest to minimize human disturbance while wildlife experts continue to monitor conditions and evaluate the appropriate path forward. How can you help: • Keep your distance. Stay outside the protected perimeter and do not enter, cross, or reach through the fencing. • Do not disturb the nest. Please do not touch the fencing, signage, sand, or anything within the protected area. • Give the area extra space. Avoid gathering, sitting, or setting up beach equipment next to the protected perimeter. • Leave no trace. Remove beach equipment and belongings when you leave, and help keep the surrounding beach clear of debris. • Report a sea turtle sighting. If you see a sea turtle on the beach, give it plenty of space and report the sighting to a lifeguard or by calling NOAA at (562) 506-4315. Wildlife experts and our partner agencies are closely monitoring this nest as they evaluate changing environmental conditions throughout the incubation period. Your cooperation is an important part of keeping the nesting site protected from human disturbance. Please admire from a distance and help us protect this special nesting site.