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

the FDOT mitigation program. Of the 720 acres, 7 acres of an existing access road R/W are not accounted for
mitigation credit.
Even though Colt Creek S.P. provides important ecological value for the region, there have been substantial
activities conducted on the property during the past six decades to improve conditions for ranching operations
and cattle production. The network of extensive large and small ditches has altered the hydraulic and hydrologic
features and conveyances within the property, as well adjacent public and private lands. Many upland habitat
communities and some wetland areas within the tract were sufficiently drained to gradually convert into improved
pasture. Remaining native upland habitats in the Hillsborough basin portion of the tract have not been
incorporated into regular prescribed burn cycles. As a result, pines (Pinus elliottii) and hardwoods such as live
oak (Quercus virginiana), laurel oak (Quercus laurifolia), and red maple (Acer rubrum) have recruited and
generated within the forested wetlands as well as former pine flatwoods. The wetland hydroperiods have been
altered to a minimal depth and duration as a result of the ditching and short-circuiting of drainage flow patterns.
This has allowed facultative vegetative species to recruit and encroach upon wetland ecosystems that were
historically vegetated by obligate species and canopy dominated by bald cypress (Taxodium distichum). As a
result, regeneration of appropriate hydrophytic vegetation is minimal, particularly the lack of cypress saplings.
This altered transition of vegetative species is exhibited in the site photographs.
Colt Creek State Park – Proposed Conditions
For purposes of providing wetland mitigation, activities will primarily include enhancing and restoring wetland and
upland buffering habitats within the 713 acre portion at Colt Creek located within the Hillsborough River
watershed (Figure C), enhancing and restoring forested wetland habitats within a 170 acre-portion of the Colt
Creek floodplain (Figure E) and 440 acres of the northern Gator Creek floodplain within the Withlacoochee River
watershed (Figure F). Additional wetland enhancement opportunities are anticipated within the southern portions
of the Gator Creek floodplain however the exact acreages will not be designated into the plan until completion of
the current surface water modeling effort. The following information further describes the proposed activities.
Wetland Restoration (Hillsborough - 13 acres, Withlacoochee – 22 acres) – There are two former wetland
areas historically ditched and converted to improved pasture. These include an area in the southwest pasture
adjacent to CR 471 (Figure C), and an 22 acre former forested wetland in the Colt Creek floodplain (Figure E –
Wetland Restoration Area #1).
The southwest pasture area that was historically a forested wetland has been restored to a shallow marsh habitat
buffered with a forested and shrub component in the outer zone and perimeter. Grading is complete and planting
scheduled for 2011-2012. Herb species will include bare root material planted on 3 ft. centers. Dominant species
will include soft rush (Juncus effusus), arrowhead (Sagittaria lancifolia), pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata),
spikerush (Eleocharis interstincta), sand cordgrass (Spartina bakeri).
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