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

part of the Preserve. Prior to enhancement activities, dominant vegetation within this area included red maple,
Brazilian pepper, sweet bay, Carolina willow, primrose willow, elderberry, and grapevine over much of the outer
shrub components. Ground cover was sparse due to the heavy shade cover from B. pepper, elderberry and
grapevine, but there are various fern species present. Historically, the City could only annually budget and
conduct 5-10 acres of habitat enhancement at the Preserve. At that rate, exotics eradication could not be
successful due to the continuous seed source recruiting and generating back into previously enhanced areas.
Therefore, the combination of mitigation and grant funding allowed the City to hire private contractors to
eradicate exotics throughout the Preserve over a shorter duration. Additional information is provided under
Attachment A.
C. Brief description of conducted work: Commencing in 2004, the City contracted with private environmental
consultants and contractors to eradicate the extensive cover of nuisance and exotic vegetation. The dominant
species eradicated from all the areas is Brazilian pepper, which had moderate to very dense cover within the
wetland as well as upland habitats (refer to site photos). Secondary species eradication included herbicide control
and long-term maintenance of primrose willow, elderberry, guinea grass and grapevine. Pepper eradication
included a phased approach of herbicide treatment (Garlon) for initial mortality, hand tools and mechanical
removal, and transport to the on-site mulching facility. Areas of eradication have exhibited good vegetative
coverage of planted and regenerated desirable tree, shrub and herb species. An extensive schedule of herbicide
applications continues to minimize recruitment and regeneration of exotic & nuisance species. Additional
information is provided under Attachment A.
D. Brief explanation of how this work serves to offset the impacts of the specified DOT project(s): The
FDOT impacts designated for mitigation at the Preserve includes a dominance of freshwater forested and shrub
wetlands. The wetland enhancement areas at the Preserve include portions of a couple of the largest forested
freshwater wetlands remaining within peninsular Pinellas County. The Preserve is essentially an oasis for wildlife
and wetland functions that were substantially invaded by extensive nuisance & exotic species. With the other
habitat enhancements conducted at the Preserve, Boyd Hill provides adequate and appropriate mitigation for the
wetland impacts with large-scale, regionally significant and extensive habitat improvements. As observed in the
Figure A aerial, Boyd Hill is one of the few areas of remnant, large native habitats surrounded by an urban
landscape. As a result, the exotics eradication and planting were critical toward attracting and maintaining
important wildlife habitat in Pinellas County.
E. Brief explanation of why a mitigation bank was/was not chosen, in whole or in part, including a
discussion of cost: The Tampa Bay Mitigation Bank (TBMB) is the only mitigation bank within the Tampa Bay
basin. However at the time of mitigation selection, bank construction had not commenced and credit sales were
not available.
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