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

REGIONAL MITIGATION PLAN
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Mitigation Project: Hidden Harbour Project Number: SW 80
County: Manatee
Location: Sec. 17, R19E, T34S
IMPACT INFORMATION
1 – FM 1960224, SR 64 – Lakewood Ranch to Lorraine Rd. (Seg. 3) ERP #:43025776.000 COE #: 2004-734-JPF
2 – FM 4226031, US 301 (Segment B), Erie Road to CR 675 ERP #:43012295.005 COE #: 2008-1430 (IP-JPF)
3 – FM 4161201, SR 64 – Carlton Arms Blvd. to I-75 (Undetermined) ERP #:44035561.000 COE #: 2010-01414
4 - FM 4279951, US 301 CR 765 to Moccasin Wallow Rd. ERP #:____________ COE #: __________
Drainage Basin: Manatee
Water Body(s): Manatee River SWIM water body? (Y/N) Yes
MITIGATION ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION
Mitigation Type: Creation, restoration and enhancement Mitigation Area: 101 Acres
SWIM project? (Y/N) N Aquatic Plant Control project? (Y/N) N Exotic Plant Control Project? (Y/N) Y
Mitigation Bank? (Y/N) N Drainage Basin(s): Manatee River Water Body(s): Manatee River, Gamble Creek
SWIM water body? (Y/N) Y
Project Description
A. Ov erall project goal: The Hidden Harbour tract (Figure A - 229 acres) was acquired by Manatee County in
late, 2004 and portions of the property were adopted to the mitigation program in 2005. Within the southeastern
portion of the property, there is the presence of a unique, inter-related mosaic of parallel, alluvial deposits that
formed along the convergence of Gamble Creek and the Manatee River (Figure B). The habitat on these
deposits formed into forested wetland hammocks alternating with brackish marsh and inter-tidal creeks. These
hammocks are in need of habitat enhancement by eradication of Brazilian pepper. Additional habitat
improvements planned for mitigation credit include freshwater marsh enhancement. The combination of wetland
enhancement will be buffered by upland habitat restoration and potentially some marsh creation (not for
mitigation credits) to provide more habitat diversity and buffer from proposed school and recreational facilities
currently planned for the central portion of the tract. The goal of conducting these habitat improvements will
provide wetland and riverine buffers that will benefit water quality functions, floodwater attenuation, and wildlife
habitat corridors adjacent to the Manatee River and Gamble Creek. Due to the existing and potential ecological
benefits this tract provides for the Manatee River and Gamble Creek, the tract was also previously listed within
the SWFWMD's Florida Forever Plan prior to the County’s purchase for public land acquisition.
B. Brief description of current condition: The hammocks (Figure B, FWE 1-3, total 57 acres) have dominant
tree cover of live oak, laurel oak, cabbage palm, with subdominant coverage of Brazilian pepper, red cedar, and
slash pine. Sub-canopy and understory vegetation include the same species with additional cover provided by
saw palmetto, wax myrtle, myrsine, greenbriar, swamp fern; with black rush and leather fern along the
marsh/hammock transition. The freshwater marsh (ME 1, 1.8 acres) has seepage hydrology contributing
downstream to the adjacent hammock (FWE 3) and brackish marsh. The marsh also has a small abandoned
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