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

ATTACHMENTS
1. Description of existing site and proposed work. Refer to previous text; additional habitat and wildlife
information, and work activities included in the attached Conner Preserve Restoration Plan.
2. Aerial and site photographs. Refer to Figure 2 (2009 aerial) and Conner Preserve Restoration Plan.
3. Location map and design drawings of existing and proposed conditions. Refer to Figures 1 & 2 – Location &
Habitat, and Conner Preserve Restoration Plan.
4. Detailed schedule for work implementation, including any and all phases. Refer to previous discussion and
the Restoration Plan, including Tables 1-3 – Projected & Detailed Task Schedules & Activities. The project's
restoration plan was completed in 2004 and implementation commenced in 2005. The upland buffer restoration
areas were gradually implemented based on availability of donor seed from other WMD property, with initial
preparation, seeding and planting completed within all five former pastures by 2010. Habitat improvements such
as mechanical thinning of vegetation and prescribed fire rotations have also been conducted by 2010. Additional
herbicide treatments and supplemental seeding and plantings within the previous pasture areas are periodically
continued, with success criteria expected to be achieved gradually for the entire site by 2015. After the mitigation
has been deemed to meet success criteria, mitigation-related activities and associated funding will continue as
part of the WMD’s perpetual land management activities to ensure proper density and diversity of the vegetative
cover is maintained and continuation of the prescribed fire program.
5. Proposed success criteria and associated monitoring plan. The monitoring plan includes qualitative and
quantitative evaluation of wildlife, vegetative, and habitat conditions. Habitat evaluations are conducted semiannually
with annual monitoring reports. Success criteria includes (1) achieving and maintaining bahiagrass
cover to below 20% cover in the former pastures, (2) obtain greater than 80% cover by desirable sandhill and
flatwood species in the former pastures, (3) successfully implement prescribed fires through the site, (4) achieve
and maintain less than 2% cover of exotic and nuisance species coverage in the wetlands and (5) reduction and
maintenance to exclude dense vegetation from re-establishing in the outer zones of the wetlands and adjacent
upland buffers. Refer to the Conner Preserve Restoration Plan for details.
6. Long term maintenance plan. After initial eradication of exotic and nuisance species, the maintenance and
land management activities will continue to be implemented to achieve and maintain success criteria. Refer to
the Conner Preserve Restoration Plan for details.
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