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

conducted in 2004 and 2005; with $12 million expended by the WMD and the City of St. Petersburg. The
combination of the lake dredging and wetland enhancement provides substantial ecological improvement and
interdependent mosaic of wetland and surface water habitats. In addition, the City received grants toward funding
exotic and nuisance species removal within the remaining areas (primarily upland habitats) of the Preserve not
providing mitigation credit. This total eradication effort further minimizes the exotic and nuisance species seed
sources that recruit into the wetlands. Wildlife species depend on many upland and wetland ecosystems for
various functions and values within their life cycles. With the lake improvement, wetland and upland
enhancement activities conducted in the Preserve, this provides an exponential increase of overall ecological
value compared to just enhancing one habitat component.
Attachment B – Schedule, Maintenance & Monitoring, Success Criteria
The City contracted with private consultants to conduct the maintenance activities. The maintenance to eradicate
exotic and nuisance species includes manual removal and herbicide treatments that commenced in 2004. Since
exotic species regeneration is generally more problematic soon after initial eradication, bi-monthly herbicide
treatments continued through 2007, followed by quarterly treatments through 2009 when success criteria had
been achieved and maintained. Afterwards, the Preserve staff continues herbicide treatments to maintain and
exceed the successful habitat conditions. The City has exhibited substantial efforts toward eradication of exotic
and nuisance species from the upland and wetland habitats throughout the Preserve.
Monitoring includes qualitative analysis of the enhanced habitat on an annual basis. The qualitative information
is compiled into annual reports, which also documents maintenance activities and efforts toward maintaining
success. Monitoring reports were discontinued after 2009 due to the high success however annual evaluations
continue to evaluate conditions, management activities, and any additional need for other activities. Success
criteria requires less than 10% cover of Brazilian pepper, elderberry, grapevine, and primrose willow, and a
minimum 90% survivorship of planted stock within each of the two designated mitigation areas.
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