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

A minimum five years of semi-annual monitoring will be conducted by the SWFWMD of the two wetland
restoration areas (13 acre marsh in Hillsborough basin, 22 acre forested wetland associated with Colt Creek).
Monitoring will include a comprehensive qualitative assessment of habitats, including but not limited to plant
health & survivorship, recruited plant species, cumulative plant coverage, exotic & nuisance species coverage,
wildlife activity, and recommended & proposed actions necessary to ensure and further enhance habitat
conditions. Annual monitoring reports will be prepared to document habitat conditions evaluated during the
previous year, with the first monitoring report including qualitative and photo documentation of pre-construction
conditions, construction activities, and habitat conditions within the project area. The monitoring reports will
document the habitat conditions, any problems and solutions, and anticipated maintenance & management
activities for the following year. After success criteria is achieved, sufficient monitoring will be periodically
conducted each year through the SWFWMD to evaluate the habitat conditions and presence of exotic and
nuisance species, and to coordinate maintenance events. Monitoring locations to demonstrate hydrologic
restoration are being evaluated and will include monitoring wells with automated data recorders, similar to the
nine wetland monitoring wells used within the mitigation areas on the adjacent Hampton Tract. Annual monitoring
of the upland enhancement and restoration projects will provide qualitative and photo documentation, and details
on current and future plans.
Success criteria varies and dependent on the habitat areas. For the forested wetland restoration, criteria will
include a minimum 95% survivorship of planted material, and 30% canopy for trees over 10 ft. tall and shrubs
over 5 ft. tall. Herb cover for the marsh restoration will include 85% cover of desirable species and less than 5%
cover of exotic and nuisance species. Appropriate wetland hydrology and hydroperiods are also required in the
restored wetlands. For the enhanced wetlands, documentation of restored hydrologic conditions and hydraulic
flow patterns, stabilization and appropriate stability of the ditch blocks. Shifts in vegetative cover and diversity
will be noted in the monitoring reports, but no specific success criteria is proposed since the major transitions and
regeneration of desirable species will gradually occur. Success criteria for the enhanced upland habitat include
implementation of a prescribed fired program and creating a vegetative shift from fewer hardwoods and more
pine generation. For the upland pastures that will be gradually enhanced and restored to flatwood habitat,
success criteria requires documenting implementation of a program that will include removal of cattle, planting
establishment, and implementation of a sustained prescribed fire program.
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