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

Entity responsible for monitoring and maintenance: The maintenance was conducted by a private consultant on
contract to the SWFWMD; monitoring by the SWFWMD. Additional details are available from the FDOT
Mitigation Program Manager.
Timeframe for implementation: Commence: Bridge construction was conducted from 2001- 2004, planting
conducted in July, 2004 Complete: semi-annual monitoring and quarterly maintenance was conducted for two
years when dense mangrove conditions limited the opportunity for exotics regeneration. Periodic annual
monitoring conducted to ensure conditions are maintained.
Project cost:
$26,000 (total)
Planning, Design, Site Evaluations, Contract Management $5,000
Planting (4.57 acres) $9,000
Maintenance & Monitoring (3 years) $12,000
Note: these costs do not include some necessary minor earthwork grading conducted by the bridge contractor to
restore appropriate wetland grades at the three sites
ATTACHMENTS
1. Description of existing site and proposed work. Refer to previous discussion and site photos.
2. Location map, aerial & site photographs of pre-post site conditions. Refer to Figures A& B, photos.
3. Success criteria, maintenance and associated monitoring plan. Success criteria included 90% survivorship of
planted stock which included white mangroves (Laguncularia racemosa), black rush (Juncus roemerianus), and
saltmarsh bulrush (Scirpus robustus). These same species have naturally recruiting and regenerating at the site,
the supplemental plantings were concentrated within the less vegetated areas. Success criteria required a
minimum 80% cumulative cover of desirable vegetation, since ground cover within mature mangrove systems
are generally sparse. With the proper grading, tidal waters restrict the generation of exotic/nuisance species,
which were eradicated during a 2-year monitoring period. The monitoring was conducted on a semi-annual basis
through 2006, followed by annual evaluations to ensure the successful habitat conditions are maintained. The
pre-post construction habitat conditions at each of the three wetland crossings are observed within the site
photographs.
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