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

REGIONAL MITIGATION PLAN
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Mitigation Project: Apollo Beach Nature Preserve Project Number: SW 67
County: Hillsborough
Location: Sec. 16, T31S, R19E
IMPACT INFORMATION
DOT FM: 2557031 – SR 60, Cypress to Fish Creek ERP #: 43002958.003 COE #: 200205816 (IP-MN)
Drainage Basin: Tampa Bay Water Body(s): Spruce Street Drainage Canal
SWIM water body? N
This SR 60 project has a total wetland impact of 16.6 acres, 5.3 acres mitigated at Apollo Beach, 5.1 acres
mitigated at Tappan Tract (SW 62), 5.4 acres mitigated at Cockroach Bay – Saltwater (SW 75), and 0.8 acres
mitigated at Cockroach Bay – Freshwater (SW 56).
MITIGATION ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION
Mitigation Type: Creation
Mitigation Area: 13.8 acres
SWIM project? Y Aquatic Plant Control project? N Exotic Plant Control Project? N
Mitigation Bank? N Drainage Basin: Tampa Bay Water Body(s): Tampa Bay SWIM water body? Y
Project Description
A. Overall p roject g oal: The creation of various coastal habitats within an extensive spoil disposal area
constructed in 1955 from adjacent dredged material from Tampa Bay. The total project area is 38 acres, on a site
purchased through Hillsborough County’s Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection Program (ELAPP).
The tract is owned and managed by Hillsborough County Conservation Section, with the habitat creation
constructed in collaboration with the WMD-SWIM Section. The constructed habitats and associated acreage
include intertidal low marsh and mangroves (13.8 acres), intertidal high marsh (7.2 acres), intertidal open water
(10.8 acres), dunes (1.2 acres), and upland enhancement (5.0 acres). The designated area mitigating for the
FDOT wetland impacts include the13.8 acres of created low marsh, with mangrove species naturally recruiting in
the low marsh.
B. Brief de scription of pre-construction condition: Prior to construction in 2004, the majority of the site
included a relatively level spoil “plateau” essentially covered with a monoculture of cogon grass, and minor cover
provided by goldenrod, beggar’s-tick, dog fennel, ragweed, and several upland grasses (site photos, Figure B). A
narrow strip of white and black mangroves were established along the southern shoreline, couple areas of dense
concentrations as well as scattered Brazilian pepper; with scattered cabbage palm, salt-bush, wax myrtle, and
Australian pine. The site represented very low quality habitat, dominated by exotic vegetation, and minimal
benefits for wildlife use.
C. Brief description of constructed conditions: In 2004, the majority of the spoil material was hauled off-site
and the project site graded to create low and high marsh habitat. The construction emphasized an interconnected
network of open water channels and deeper pools, a myriad of planted marsh platforms at various elevations,
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