complete agenda - Florida Department of Environmental Protection

To: Ellen Stere
From: Katy NeSmith
Date: 25 August 2010
Subject: Reevaluation of boundary of Osceola Pine Savannas Florida Forever BOT
Project (Osceola County)
Site 1. The three parcels comprising this site are residential and two of the parcels
have very little, if any, undisturbed habitat remaining. The third parcel (ca. 11 acres)
borders the north boundary of Kaschai Conservation Easement (St. Johns Water
Management District). It consists of mesic flatwoods, a narrow, rectangular dugout
pond, and disturbed xeric/mesic hammock where a residence is located. Although the
small amount of flatwoods remaining in this parcel would provide additional buffer to
the conservation easement, it does not contribute significant resources to the Florida
Forever project overall.
Site 2. Site consists of two parcels that are part of a larger agricultural operation. No
natural habitat exists in these parcels.
Site 3. The northern, denser, block of parcels in Site 3 is mostly 1 to 5-acre lots with
residences scattered throughout. The undeveloped parcels within this area consist of
mesic flatwoods, dome swamp, depression marsh. The more southerly developed
parcels are fewer and more widely scattered, which leaves some larger blocks of
flatwoods and dome swamp intact; there are also some county owned parcels in this
area.
Site 4. The northernmost group of parcels consists of two larger, cleared parcels with
residences that were formerly scrub, a smaller middle parcel that is half cleared and
half baygall, and a small, undeveloped roadside (US 441) parcel, which if left in
would square off the boundary in this area; this parcel (ca. 1.3 acres) has some
remnant hammock at the edge of pasture. The center parcel that abuts US 441
consists of baygall in the western 2/3 and a residence, watering hole, and pasture in
the eastern third. The two southernmost parcels are mostly pasture with residences
and small areas of disturbed dome swamp and flatwoods; the easternmost of these
parcels includes a narrow fringe along Bull Creek.
Site 5. Site consists of three parcels; the small northernmost parcel has a cell tower
and the two southernmost, lakefront parcels form a long, linear piece that has multiple
buildings and an access road associated with a fish camp.