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

areas were further restored with the planting of trees (total 54,350) and shrubs (total 12,920). The associated
earthwork and much of the open water areas throughout the restored wetlands were also planted with herbs
(total 454,390) on 3-ft. spacings (species listed in Attachment A). Along with the wetland restoration, pines
and myrtles were planted within an adjacent upland buffer where there were no existing forested habitats
buffering the south-central boundary of the marsh habitat. Perpetual semi-annual monitoring and bi-monthly
herbicide maintenance have been conducted by a private contractor working for the SWFWMD since 2006,
Land management activities for the remaining non-mitigation portion of the property is conducted by the Polk
County Natural Resources Department. Overall, the constructed activities have resulted in restoring
substantial wetland habitats not only within the Reserve, but enhancing over 40 acres of forested wetland
habitat west of the property boundary that received impounded surface water as a result of the western
boundary levee. The levee substantially restricted the historic Banana Creek flow from entering the tract and
the previous landowner blocked contributing flow altogether during flood events. This additional
enhancement of forested wetlands within property owned by the City of Lakeland and USF-PCC Campus is
not accounted for with mitigation credit. The Reserve is now considered by Audubon as one of the premier
waterfowl and wading bird destinations in the region, and there is substantial use by a diverse assemblage of
wildlife species. Additional information is provided in the attachments. The enhancement & restoration for the
designated mitigation area includes the following:
Marsh Restoration & Enhancement
Obligate Marsh & Open Water Restoration
Forested Wetland Enhancement
Forested Wetland Restoration
Upland Buffer Habitat Restoration
Marsh Creation
TOTAL
362 acres*
83 acres
91 acres
64 acres
19 acres
4 acres
623 acres
*Note – the marsh components include 64 acres that was historically forested wetland habitat. If desired,
there may be a future decision that appropriate tree species (e.g. cypress, red maple) may be planted to
restore additional forested wetlands.
D. Brief explanation of how this work serves to offset the impacts of the specified DOT project(s): The
majority of the wetland impacts are associated with disturbed marsh and mixed forested wetland fringes along
FDOT R/W within the Peace River watershed; particularly along US Hwy. 27 and US Hwy. 17. The roadway
wetland impacts have been appropriately and adequately compensated with the restoration and enhancement of
large-scale, diverse and regionally-significant wetland ecosystems that benefit the Peace River watershed.
E. Brief explanation of why a mitigation bank was/was not chosen, in whole or in part, including a
discussion of cost: The permitted mitigation banks currently selling credits in the Peace River watershed basin
include the Boran Ranch Mitigation Bank in DeSoto County and Peace River Mitigation Bank in Hardee County
(SW 53 & SW 85 in the FDOT plan), These banks have been selected to provide appropriate mitigation for
wetland impacts associated with many roadway projects within the basin. Prior to the establishment of the Peace
River Mitigation Bank and after all the available forested wetland mitigation credits were purchased from the
Boran Ranch Mitigation Bank, it was necessary to add an additional mitigation project to the FDOT program that
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