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

Upland Habitat Enhancement (40 acres) – Enhancement is proposed for two separate upland habitat
communities bordering the northern high marsh habitats. As depicted on Figure E, a long and narrow area of the
upland enhancement area #1 is technically not within the portion of the Preserve's boundary owned by Pinellas
County. Except for a 1.3 acre area in the middle of Upland Enhancement Area #1 (refer to Figure E), this
segment is owned and preserved by the City of Oldsmar. But as part of an agreement between the County and
the City, the upland will be enhanced as part of the County's enhancement and management of the adjacent
upland habitat. Dominant canopy is provided by longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) with scattered live oak (Quercus
virginiana) and cabbage palm (Sabal palmetto). Understory includes moderate to dense coverage of saw
palmetto (Serenova repens). However, there is also moderate coverage of Brazilian pepper that will only
continue to recruit and generate without eradication, which will be conducted with herbicide (Garlon) by a
licensed applicator. The County will also evaluate the use of either mechanical roller-chopping and/or cool
weather prescribed burns to minimize some of the dense palmetto coverage. The remaining 1.3 acre parcel is
privately-owned but is being pursued for acquisition by the City. Unless acquired by the City, enhancement of this
parcel will not be proposed for FDOT mitigation credit.
ATTACHMENT B – Maintenance & Monitoring Plan, Success Criteria
For estuarine restoration and enhancement projects, with proper construction of appropriate wetland grade
elevations to allow for sufficient tidal connectivity and appropriate fluctuations, maintenance-associated activities
are typically associated with erosion control of sediment, removing debris, and conducting supplemental planting
when and where necessary. Salt water limits the re-establishment of exotic vegetation, particularly B. pepper.
The eradication and control of nuisance/exotic vegetation within the project area will be conducted by a licensed
herbicide applicator. Maintenance will be conducted as needed, expected to be quarterly for the first three years
after construction activities, and at least semi-annually thereafter for a minimum of two additional years and until
success criteria are met. Afterward, maintenance activities will be conducted as part of the perpetual
management of the tract to maintain success.
Monitoring for FDOT mitigation credit will be conducted semi-annually for a minimum five years postconstruction.
The monitoring evaluations will include vegetative and habitat conditions, water level relative to
flow regimes and inundation, wildlife use, and coverage of nuisance and exotic vegetation. Annual monitoring
reports will be prepared to document conditions and various activities implemented during the previous year. The
same designated monitoring stations will be designated throughout the monitoring period for photo references.
However habitat conditions will be annually documented for the entire site, not just at the monitoring stations.
Success criteria includes a minimum of 90% survivorship of planted material for a year after planting, and a total
85% coverage of recruited and desirable species. Planted material is proposed for the new pond littoral zones
and the created oligohaline creek & marsh. If necessary, within a year post-construction, supplemental plantings
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