Native Habitat Inventory Final Report 2004 - St. Lucie County

Site Number: 50
Site Rank: A–southwest portion, B- remainder Total Acreage: 344
Edge Acreage: 183 Percent Core to Edge: 53
Table 1. Ecological Criteria Scores by Natural Community Type. This is an areaweighted
average value score for each natural community present on site. Numbers in
bold have significant above average resource value (>3.0). Natural Communities in bold
have at least two of the content resource values (rarity, connectivity, and completeness)
above average (>3.0). Overall Ecological Value = 0.69
FNAI Natural
Community Rarity Connectivity Completeness Vulnerability Manageability
BW / Basin
Marsh 1.9 1.6 2.1 1.1 2.3
BW / Basin
Swamp 2.9 1.0 4.9 2.9 4.9
BW /
Depression
Marsh 2.0 1.0 4.1 3.0 4.1
L / Flatwoods
Lake 4.0 1.3 4.0 2.0 3.0
MF / Mesic
Flatwoods 3.5 2.3 4.6 3.5 3.8
Key Features – This site has a complex mosaic of several good quality plant
communities, including Mesic Flatwoods (some portions are nearly Dry Prairie and
others are very Sandhill-like), grading into Wet Flatwoods, Wet Prairie, Depression
Marsh, and Basin Marsh.
Importance – The integrity of some of the vegetation on this property is intact. This
area is noteworthy primarily because the southwest portion is a relatively large, fairly
intact natural area, probably still with ecosystem-level function. Even though no rare
species were documented, the communities are very good quality, and it is highly
probable that detailed seasonal inventories would find that there are many species here
that are not common in the region. This corner of the County is developing very rapidly,
with a lot of new roads and subdivisions in the general area. The southwest portion of
this site should be preserved quickly.
Connectivity – Within 500 feet of existing conservation lands.
Proximity to Urban Areas - Site is within the city of Port St. Lucie.
Proximity to primary and secondary roads – Within 500 feet of a major roadway.
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