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

had forested wetland credits. This resulted in accepting Polk County’s request to nominate the Circle B Bar
Reserve to the program. The substantial habitat improvements completed at the Reserve provide the availability
of 226 mitigation credits for the 623 acres of mitigation area, with only 19 credits debited through 2010 since
there has been a substantial decrease in the estimated roadway wetland impact. With the conservative budget of
$6.7 million for the completed construction and perpetual maintenance of the habitat improvements ($30,000 per
credit), the Reserve has become more cost-effective than the credit prices requested by the currently available
mitigation banks.
F. Brief explanation of why a SWIM project was/was not chosen as mitigation, in whole or in part,
including a discussion of cost, if the anticipated impacts are located within a SWIM water body: Even
though enhancement and restoration of the wetland floodplain is not considered a specific SWIM sponsored
project, the site is located between two SWIM-sponsored projects, Banana Lake Restoration (conducted in the
late 1980’s) and the proposed improvements for Lake Hancock. By restoring and enhancing the wetland
functions and values at the Reserve, additional water quality treatment and attenuation reduce the nutrients
previously allowed to flow directly into Lake Hancock via the Banana Creek Canal. The enhancement of the
entire Peace River watershed has required substantial emphasis on the hydrologic improvements to water quality
and quantity within the headwater areas in the basin. In turn, these improvements result in improved water
quality and quantity flowing into Charlotte Harbor, another designated SWIM water body.
MITIGATION PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION
Entity responsible for construction: SWFWMD Operations Department constructed in 2005 and 2006.
Entity responsible for monitoring and maintenance: SWFWMD contract for monitoring & perpetual maintenance
Timeframe for implementation: Commence: January, 2001
Complete: Spring, 2006 (Construction & Planting, followed by semi-annual monitoring and bi-monthly herbicide
maintenance.
Project cost:
$6,730,000 (total);
Planning, Design & Permitting $280,000
Construction & Planting $1,960,000
Perpetual Maintenance & Monitoring $4,490,000
ATTACHMENTS
1. Description of site conditions and activities. Refer to previous discussion and Attachment A. Construction plan
design can be obtained from the FDOT Mitigation Program Manager.
2. Aerial and pre-post construction photographs. Figures B (1999 aerial) & C (2009 aerial) depict preconstruction
and current post-construction conditions.
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