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

REGIONAL MITIGATION PLAN
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Mitigation Project: Brooker Creek Buffer Preserve Project Number: SW 90
County: Hillsborough County
Location: Sec. 18, 19, T27S, R17E
IMPACT INFORMATION
1 – FM 2558935 – SR 574 (MLK Blvd.) at Interstate – 75 ERP: 44033776.000 COE:NPR- Isolated
2 – FM 4143481 – Tampa Airport, North Terminal Phase I (2011) ERP: 49008387.054 COE:2002-01521 (IP-CJW)
3 – FM 4143481 – Tampa Airport, North Terminal Airside 2 (2025) ERP: 49008387.000 COE:2002-01521 (IP-CJW)
4 – FM 4143481 – Tampa Airport, North Terminal Airside 3 (Post- 2025) ERP: 49008387.000 COE:2002-01521 (IP-CJW)
5 – FM 4143481 – Tampa Airport, North Terminal Airside 4 (Post- 2025) ERP: 49008387.000 COE:2002-01521 (IP-CJW)
6 – FM 4143481 – Tampa Airport, Taxiway A Extension (Post- 2025) ERP: 49008387.000 COE:2002-01521 (IP-CJW)
7 – FM 4143481 – Tampa Airport, South Development Area (Post- 2008) ERP: 49008387.000 COE:2002-01521 (IP-CJW)
8 - FM 4055252 - SR 60 (Adamo Drive) US 301 to East of Falkenburg ERP: ___________ COE:__________________
Drainage Basin: Tampa Bay Drainage Water Body(s): None SWIM water body? No
MITIGATION ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION
Mitigation Type: Enhancement and preservation
Mitigation Area: 193 acres
SWIM project? N Aquatic Plant Control project? N Exotic Plant Control Project? N Mitigation Bank? N
Drainage Basin: Tampa Bay Water Body(s): Brooker Creek SWIM water body? N
Project Description
A. Overall project goal: The Brooker Creek Buffer Preserve (Preserve) is a 489 acre tract located in northwest
Hillsborough County, along the boundary with Pinellas County (Figure A). The Preserve was acquired through
Hillsborough County's Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection Program (ELAPP) to preserve, restore,
connect and "buffer" the on-site habitat resources with the adjacent 7,500 acre Brooker Creek Preserve in
Pinellas County. Approximately half of the Preserve is comprised of wetland habitat, with much of this habitat
altered by a combination of large upland-cut rim ditches constructed around the perimeter of the wetlands, and
the construction of an elevated driveway berm across one of the wetlands (Figure B and photos) . Proposed
construction activities include minor earthwork grading of spoil material deposited adjacent to the ditches to
construct strategically placed ditch blocks and the replacement of a crushed culvert under the driveway to restore
drainage patterns and hydrologic connections for the on-site wetlands (Figure C). These activities will aid in
restoring appropriate hydrologic functions to enhance the wetlands. The graded upland spoil material and the
ditch blocks will be stabilized with appropriate seeding of grass. The proposed project was adopted to the
mitigation program in 2008 and expanded in 2009 as a result of a prior agreement to adopt an additional area to
the Preserve. FDOT mitigation funds ($1.2 million) reimbursed the County’s 2009 acquisition of an additional
66.5 acres of upland and wetland habitat adjacent to both the Buffer Preserve and Brooker Creek Preserve
(Figure D). This resulted in providing additional mitigation credits due to the substantial ecological benefits this
acquisition provided to preserve, protect and enhance the Brooker Creek wetland floodplain and adjacent
uplands to provide a continuous habitat corridor between the two Preserves.
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