St. Johns County to till beaches ahead of sea turtle nesting season

St. Johns County Coastal Management will begin beach tilling on Monday, April 6, to help maintain sea turtle nesting habitats. Beachgoers are asked to be cautious and considerate as they traverse these working areas.

The specific locations and dates are subject to change:

• April 6-9: Ponte Vedra (51 Ponte Vedra Blvd. to 1461 Ponte Vedra Blvd.). Mobilizing via Mickler’s (no closure)

• April 10: Vilano (Serenata to 3200 Coastal Highway). Mobilizing via Surfside Park (no closure). Equipment will be stored over the weekend next to the Surfside beach access.

• April 13-15: St. Augustine (Pope Road to A Street). Mobilizing via Pope Road Access (temporary closure). The Pope Road Beach parking area will be temporarily closed for the drop-off and for the removal of equipment. These temporary closures are expected to occur early morning on April 13 and again in the evening of April 15. Pedestrian access will stay open while the equipment is being demobilized.

Beach tilling involves heavy machinery that plows the beach sand, making it more compatible for successful sea turtle nesting to occur. Tilling is part of the permit monitoring requirements following beach restoration projects. For each area, the tilling will begin at daybreak, and spotters will be utilized to ensure the safety of the public.

The 2025 sea turtle nesting season in St. Johns County was a success with 999 documented nests along the coast. This is a slight increase from the 2024 season and a positive sign for the continuation of an increasing trend into the future. However, due to persistent high tides towards the end of the season, the hatch success for many of the nests was below average, which produced fewer recruits into the endangered population than expected. Monitoring and protection efforts will continue with the hope of an even more successful 2026 season.