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

REGIONAL MITIGATION PLAN
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Mitigation Project: Lake Lowery Tract Project Number: SW 76
County: Polk
Location: Sec. 10 T27S, R26E
IMPACT INFORMATION
(1) FM: 1976791, US 27 - SR 544 to Blue Heron Bay * ERP#: 43023431.000 COE #: 200202574 (IP-JPF)
(2) FM: 4038901, US 27 - Blue Heron Bay to CR 547 ERP#: 43023431.001 COE #: 200205885 (IP-JPF)
(3) FM: 2012041, I-4 - CR 557 to Osceola Co. Line (Seg. 6,7,9)**ERP#: 43011896.032 COE #: 1994-3591 (IP-
MGH)
Drainage Basin: Ocklawaha Water Body(s): Tower Lake SWIM water body? N
*Note – portion of this US 27 segment is within the Peace Basin and the associated wetland impacts are being
mitigated at the Circle B Bar Reserve (SW 66).
** Note – portion of this I-4 project is within the Withlacoochee Basin and the associated wetland impacts are
being mitigated at the Hampton Tract (SW 59). Another portion of this project is within the Kissimmee Ridge
Basin and the associated wetland impacts are being mitigated at the Reedy Creek Mitigation Bank (SW 49).
MITIGATION ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION
Mitigation Type: Preservation
Mitigation Area: 198 acres
SWIM project? N Aquatic Plant Control project? N Exotic Plant Control Project? N Mitigation Bank? N
Drainage Basin: Ocklawaha Water Body(s):Lake Lowery SWIM water body? N
Project Description
A. Overall project goal: The primary goal includes acquisition, preservation, and management of high quality
wetland habitat within the Lake Lowery floodplain. The 198-acre portion designated for mitigation credit is part of
a 397 acre parcel purchased in Feb., 2002 in a joint acquisition between the SJRWMD and Polk County. In 2003,
Legislative action resulted in the water management review and responsibility of a portion of Polk County
transferred from the SJRWMD to the SWFWMD, which included transferring the associated SJRWMD partial
ownership of this tract. In addition to providing mitigation for FDOT wetland impacts, the site fulfills overall
objectives of acquiring many parcels within the 100-year flood zone of Lake Lowery. The benefits of this
acquisition are further enhanced since the tract is adjacent to 5700 acres of habitat owned and managed by the
FFWCC (Figure A, Hilochee Wildlife Management Area, Osprey Unit), as well as located within the Green
Swamp Area of Critical State Concern.
B. Brief description of current condition: The majority of the entire 397-acre tract is a large palustrine marsh
with islands of forested wetlands and shrub wetlands, and a partial perimeter of forested wetlands within the
southern portion of the tract (Figure B). Dominant cover of the marsh includes pickerelweed and maidencane.
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