2012 FDOT Mitigation Plan - Southwest Florida Water Management ...

REGIONAL MITIGATION PLAN
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Mitigation Project: Tappan Tract Project Number: SW 62
County: Hillsborough
Location : Sec. 17, T30S, R18E
IMPACT INFORMATION
(1) FM 2557031, SR 60 - Cypress St. to Fish Creek* ERP #: 43002958.003 COE #: 200205816 (IP-MN)
Drainage Basin(s): Tampa Bay Coastal Water Body(s): Tampa Bay SWIM water body? Y
* Note: The total wetland impacts associated with this roadway project was 16.6 acres. Mitigation is provided at
Tappan for only the minor mangrove and substantial ditch and open water impacts associated with this roadway
project. Mitigation for the saltwater marsh impacts (10.7 acres) is provided at the Apollo Beach (SW 67) and
Cockroach Bay – Saltwater (SW 77) projects. The freshwater marsh impacts for this FDOT project (0.8 acre) are
mitigated at the Cockroach Bay – Freshwater project (SW 56).
MITIGATION ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION
Mitigation Type: Creation and enhancement
Mitigation Area: 8.38 acres
SWIM project? Y Aquatic Plant Control project? N Exotic Plant Control Project? N
Mitigation Bank? N Drainage Basin(s): Tampa Bay Drainage Water Body(s): Tampa Bay
SWIM water body? Y
Project Description
A. Overall project goal: The Tappan Tract is a SWIM-sponsored project constructed on property owned by the City of
Tampa along the eastern shoreline of Old Tampa Bay (Figure A).The goal of the project is to provide some unique
wetland and upland habitats on public lands adjacent to existing mangrove habitat along Tampa Bay (Figures A-C). The
project included the creation of tidal pool (0.41 ac.), salt marsh (1.19 ac.), and freshwater ephemeral marsh (0.55 ac.)
habitats (total 2.15 acres of wetland creation). Enhancement was also achieved to saltern habitat (0.53 ac.), tidal
pool/creek (1.18 ac.), mangrove habitat (0.77 ac.) and salt marsh (2.55 ac.) (total 5.03 acres of wetland enhancement).
Upland areas and spoil mounds were regraded tp restore and enhance into coastal hardwood hammock habitat (1.20
ac.).
B. Brief description of pre-construction condition: The Tappan Tract property covers approximately 33 acres,
including 9 upland acres and 24 wetland acres. Only the eastern portion of the property includes the habitat construction
and restoration activities, and the only area providing FDOT mitigation credit. Prior to the construction in 2003, the
upland area within the east central portion of the site was primarily a mowed open field with dominant cover of grasses,
sedges, scattered cabbage palm, exotic species (Brazilian pepper, Melaleuca), and a few live oaks along the eastern
boundary (Figure B, 1999 aerial, site photos). A ridge of stockpiled spoil material was located along the north and
northwestern perimeter of the construction area, approx. 10 ft. above natural grade, covered with a dense stand of exotic
and nuisance species such as Brazilian pepper, Melaleuca, pokeweed, caesarweed, and elderberry. A shallow-scraped
upland area in the southern portion of the property generated some high salt-marsh characteristics. Overall, the project
area represented low quality habitat conditions for wildlife use.
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