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

will be diverted by a weir to equally discharge into Marshes #3 and #4 (Figure C). This will provide water quality
treatment before both marshes discharge into Alligator Lake.
FLUCCS #427 – Live Oak – At 10.0 acres, the live oak hammocks account for the largest proportion of land
area in the north parcel. Though composition and habitat quality vary considerably, all areas mapped as this
habitat are dominated by live oak, occupy the highest elevations of the parcel, and exhibit varying amounts of
fire suppression. Other canopy species include laurel oak, water oak, longleaf pine and southern magnolia
(Magnolia grandiflora). Saw palmetto and live oak saplings co-dominate the subcanopy/shrub layer, with
additional coverage provided by cabbage palm and American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana).
There are exotic and nuisance species such camphor tree (Cinnamomun camphora) and various vine species
have become a problem in the oak hammocks, so occasional thinning and possible burning will open up some of
the canopy and understory to provide more opportunity to establish more ground cover vegetation. This will be
valuable for the gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) located in the north parcel. Their foraging opportunities
are primarily limited to the bahia grass lawn surrounding the on-site residence.
Attachment B – Maintenance & Monitoring, Success Criteria
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, scheduled for at least quarterly during the first
five years after construction 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 naturally recruited and planted desirable species. Exotic and nuisance species will be limited to
less than 5% coverage within both the enhanced, restored and created habitast.
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