Coast Guard Patrolling For 'Man-Made Erosion'

Jupiter Inlet- The Coast Guard is getting in the business of protecting wildlife and vegetation. The move comes after boaters trying to party and have fun in the Jupiter inlet have instead caused a "nature emergency".

"Every hour that I spend over here is an hour that I can't spend on doing more pressing matters" says Coast Guard Petty Officer James Mullinax. He is steaming mad about what he calls "man-made erosion". Specifically, at a coast guard-owned tract of land in the Jupiter inlet. "The natural area has 22 species of plants and creatures that are unique to Florida, some are even endangered," he said.

The area has been attractive to boaters because there are small beaches right off the inlet, right next to 20 feet-tall hills that people seem to want to climb, dig holes in, and slide down. All the while, this precious habitat is losing ground. "I would say conservatively this summer, we lost 3 feet in area on the property that has gone down in the water," said Mullinax as he took CBS 12 News on patrol in the Jupiter Inlet. This weekend, Mullinax and his crew will start enforcing the area, telling people they are trespassing on federal property. Boaters are not even allowed to get on the beach sternly saying "you may not come on the land and set foot on land here."

He could spend the weekend intercepting drugs or looking for undocumented migrants, instead the mission is to protect wildlife."They are potentially removing another square foot for a gopher tortoise to live on or a scrub jay," he said. The Coast Guard won't necessarily fine people or arrest them, but they will kick you out of the area.